Fair Trade has 1001 destinations for You

You are probably sitting on your couch or behind your desk at work or at home...We're guessing the sun is probably up and you feel it's quiet warm, you are probably wondering which window to open and let some wind in. Lebanon is actually starting to get hot...We guess we're on the same pace as Canada and Europe today.

So here is the deal...we selected some products that would freshen up your day. Products of Fair Trade, some we tasted & loved, and others we would like to come across real soon.

The aim is to give you a glimpse of many items available in the realm of Fair Trade and show you how this movement thrives to be truly global and affect as many small producers as possible.

ETHIQUABLE launched a Thai Rice beer! Must be great with barbecues.

You can also taste Alter Eco's Green Tea leaves picked in India and flavored with Jasmine

Or how about some spicy banana chips from Ecuador? (We tasted those, so crunchy!)



Also, OXFAM has selected a wide range of coffee beans exported from Latin American countries

ALTER ECO brings us some great chocolate as well; The white Chocolate with Coco is deliciously addictive. You will eat the whole bar all by yourself (trust me.)

We still haven't mentioned the Mango Juice from Peru, the Cashew Nuts from Africa, the Sugar Cane from Haiti...Ah this is mind-torturing!!

Welcome to our World...You are now stuck with us!

Have you heard of Lebweb.com?

..Whether it's Arts, Business, Computers, Government, Education, Health, News, Recreation, Environment, Shopping, Culture, Social Organizations, Travel and Tourism...it's all listed on Lebweb.com!

Lebweb's mission is to organize a wealth of information about Lebanon, making it universally accessible and useful.

The website has recently listed Fair Trade Lebanon, here.

By using Lebweb.com, you will most certainly find the information you're looking for quickly and effectively. Take a look at their directory here. The guys didn't miss any important reference that's for sure!

Follow the updates on Twitter @lebweb

Purchase with Responsability

Your choices matter and make a difference!


Dear Bloggers and Friends!


During one week, you can enjoy a 15% DISCOUNT on our products sold at the FTL office (in our modest showroom) and a FREE HOME DELIVERY:

Our offer includes:

• 1 Fruit in Syrup: you may choose between Eggplants & Almonds, Whole Figs, Diced Pumpkins and Dates stuffed with Almonds.

• 1 Bottle of Virgin Olive Oil, 50 cl… savour it ZAATAR, salads and steaks!!

• 1 Bottle of Ketchup Organic, made from IMC certified organic tomatoes, 100% natural. Try it with your pasta to replace industrial tomato paste, with your grilled steaks and home-made pizzas.

• 1 Syrup: you have the choice between Mulberry syrup, Rose Syrup or our famous Bitter Orange Syrup! Ever had cakes decorated with cranberries and dipped in Mulberry syrup? You don’t know what you are missing!.

• 1 Pack of Grilled & Salted WHEAT (250g), nibble it as an appetizer, delicious, light and very healthy!
  

So enjoy our offer with the approach of summer...ALL THE ABOVE FOR ONLY 20$, delivered to you in Lebanon via phone call or by commenting this post.

We look forward to meeting you!!

Phone: 05 - 952 153

Bonne dégustation !

Summer is here and so are we!

This summer, go crazy, no workouts for losing weight no...Just pure indulgence.

If you are craving some sun and summer breeze, then we have all what you need...Bitter orange peels in syrup, figs and sesame, Dates and almonds, Pumpkins, Eggplants and Rose petals.

Let the Mediterranean swift you off your feet and take you on a culinary journey. Savour exotic flavors of natural syrups...

With just a little water, treat yourself for a mulberry drink! Or try the rose syrup with your cakes and the bitter orange one with your fresh cheese.

The good news is that all of the above is probably just one click or a couple of miles away from you.

...So tell us, are you going to break? ; )

In Lebanon, we are at: Aziz (Zalka highway), Carpaccio (Rabieh main road), Caliprix (Maameltein highway), St Rita's House (Achrafieh, Sassine road), O&C Fresh Market (Antelias highway), Organically Food for Life (Jal el Dib, Mallah Yammine building).

Call our office for home delivery in Lebanon + 961 (0) 5 952 153 (our showroom is available if u wish to buy products in Hazmieh, Beirut).

Online, we are on Lebanonmart.com for worldwide delivery through DHL.

In Montreal, send us your address and we'll direct you to the closest boutique.

In France and Europe, buy them on Artisanat SEL's website.

L'Orient Le Jour & Fair Trade Lebanon

After the Press Conference…the articles…

Fair Trade Lebanon thanks the journalist Rana Andraos from L’Orient Le Jour, the French daily in Lebanon, for her valuable article and support. Today, more than ever, FTL is dedicated to raise awareness for fair trade and local unity in Lebanon. It is our responsibility to contribute to the improvement of our society.

In the article, Rana highlights FTL’s membership to the World Fair Trade Organization, as well as its current implementation in the Lebanese market and the success story behind FTL’s new-born product, the fair trade WINE. Not only is it a Lebanese wine produced by a cooperative, but its grapes have actually been cultivated as a replacement to illicit crops in the region of Deir El Ahmar!

Dear readers, we are proud to give you stories of achievements and worthy of scenarios! All we want from you is to enjoy them with us, to get into these positive vibes and play your part as active citizens, consumers and decision makers.

Lesepicuriens.fr blogs about us!

An epicurean is a person whose devoted to the pursuit of sensual pleasure, especially to the enjoyment of good food and comfort!

We met Benedicte during our exhibition at the National Forum of Fair Trade last week in Lille. She attended our product tasting, wrote down some quick recipes and posted a note about us in her blog.

It's funny how Cuisine can create common interests and surprises!

Why not add up a Lebanese touch to your french menus?

You can check out the post here.

Press Conference 17th of May 2010

Fair Trade (FT) continues expanding in Lebanon and Fair Trade Lebanon strengthens its position as a key player in sustainable development in Lebanon.

In fact, Fair Trade Lebanon (FTL), the NGO founded in January 2006 by Philippe Adaime, Samir Abdelmalak, Johanne Karkour, Gabriel Debbané and Jad Bitar in order to support small producers in the South, the Bekaa valley and the North of Lebanon, finds itself today rewarded by the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO), which recognizes it as a member of this organization.

The motto of Fair Trade being "Trade not Aid", it entails its actors to offer fair prices to producers, adopt the principles of transparency and preserve agreement and continuity in trade partnerships. It aims to help small producers –located in the South in general- to sell their products in "Northern" countries, without intermediaries, in a transparent manner from producer to buyer.

Thus, during its short history, FTL has successfully developed more than fifty food-processed products from a dozen cooperatives, which are now distributed in France and Canada. Over 72% of sales revenues go directly to producers' cooperatives, and this activity affects approximately 350 direct beneficiaries. Also, by being present at the National Forum of Fair Trade in Lille, France, during the Fair Trade fortnight, FTL has managed to establish new partnerships in Belgium and Germany.

Finally, and following the growing Lebanese demand for products of quality and social solidarity, FTL launches its brand Terroirs du Liban in local market, through selective outlets, small supermarkets and over the internet.

For more information about our activities, you may visit our website and follow our Facebook page.

Day 3 Lille Forum: If you like Lebanon you will love this !

Philippe Adaime, co-founder of FTL participates in a debate around FAIR TRADE IN ECONOMIES OF CRISIS

FTL introduces lebanese jams the french way !!

Cuisine and yum oh! Zaatar, Olive Oil, Jams, Syrups and fair trade WINE!

French people tasting our products and discovering new flavors and aromas...was quite a success...

Awaited pic, traditional tarbouch!

At the forum in Lille

Tarbouchna mish 3al Tour Eiffel, tarbouchna 3a rasna...!!

FTL is live from Lille, France

Day One, 8th of May: The race, communication, work and fun are all ON !

Our stand at the French National Fair Trade Forum

Product tasting: Almonds, grilled wheat, zaatar & olive oil, Fleur de Sel & Capers

More pics of us wearing traditional Tarbouch and info coming up!!

Au revoir Beyrouth..

Philippe, Benoit and Randa headed to France.

First stop today is Paris.

We are meeting with the CCFD (Comite Catholique contre la Faim et pour le Developpement) and the SIDI (Solidarite Internationale pour le Developpement et l'Investissement) representatives.

Later at night, diner with Amid, good friend of ours and former trainee at FTL!

We are sleeping in Paris and heading to Lille by train tomorrow morning.

Nobody is tired, yet.

:)

Join us in Paris on the 12th of May 2010

Paris Paris here we come...

Fair Trade Lebanon will have the pleasure to meet you at the SIDI (Solidarite Internationale pour le Developpement et l'Investissement).
You're most welcome to come and take part of the discussion around Fair Trade in Lebanon, its opportunities and challenges.

Address:
12 rue Guy de la Brosse – 75005 Paris (Metro Jussieu)
Date and time:
Wednesday 12th of May, from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm.


You can join the event on Facebook here.

We will be in Lille, FRANCE

Fair Trade Lebanon will be in Lille at the National Forum of Fair Trade. Pay a visit to our stand in the Food section.

Join us 0n Sunday the 9th of May:

-From 11:00 am until 12:00 pm : FTL will host a cuisine workshop and share some Mediterranean recipes with the crowd.

-From 2:00 pm until 3:00 pm: FTL will take part of a general debate around the topic of Development and Fair Trade in economies of crisis.


Practical Info:
Dates: from 8th until 10th of May
Time: Everyday from 10:00 am until 6:00 pm.
Address : Lille Grand Palais - hall Paris 1, Boulevard des Cités Unies 59000 Lille
Website: http://www.forumequitable.org/

Home Delivery Worldwide!

Fair Trade Lebanon goes worldwide with Lebanonmart.com, a Lebanese shopping mall on the Internet!

With Lebanonmart, your orders will be shipped from Lebanon right to your door anywhere in the world. You can find a wide variety of Lebanese and oriental food, sweets, souvenirs, handcrafts, music, DVD, books and more.
The finest Lebanese brands combined to a very secured website and great service. Also, the team is very dynamic and is ready to receive your emails and phone calls for any specifications you may need.

Search for our fair trade products by brand, type “Terroirs du Liban” and access the whole range available. Or click here.

So no more excuses, to all my cousins living in the US, and all my friends studying in Montreal, and all…. Okay okay you got my point…Give It A Try and let us hear your feedback!!

Yalla bye ! ; )

An Inconvenient Truth

Enjoy this song...

"I need to wake up" by Melissa Etheridge.

2005 was the hottest year on the record.

We release 70 million tons of CO2 into the atmosphere every single day.

In 2000, it rained in Antarctica.

In 2004, for the first time in recorded history, there was a hurricane in the South Atlantic.