12 December, 2005 

This was the forth edition of Taste the World for KKĠ. The slogan used during 2005's Taste the World was "Colour the difference" and indeed there were many contrasting opinions during the debate, unique Fair Traded goods on display and a warm and friendly environment.


Fair Traded Goods: Colour the difference 

In the morning volunteers setup several large Fair Trade stalls at St. James Cavalier. The three distinguished stalls sold handicrafts, costumes, jewellery, textiles and accessories from the Asian, South American and African. Close by where other stalls selling food items and musical instruments. Products by refugees who are in Maltese detention centres were being sold in a small stall, amongst other fair traded products. During the day there was free tasting for a selection of food products sold at l-Ħanut L-Arka.



Seminar on international trade: Colour the difference


Between 9 and 12 a seminar on International Trade was organised by StoPoverty! (www.stopovertymalta.org), a coalition of Maltese NGOs, whose job is to lobby the local authorities to do their part in the brining an end to extreme poverty.

The spokespersons at the seminar were Mr. Richard Adams, H.E. Sir Vincent Fean, Mr. Vince Caruana, Dr. Vanessa Camilleri and Mr. Stephen Sultana. Mr. Caruana, the speaker of the seminar, started the debate by the screening of a short film entitled "WTO: Reality Check", a film calling for a reform of the current global trade practices, especially within the WTO.

The film provoked a debate between the attendants and panel of speakers. The later believe that no radical change in global trade needs to take place. While some like Mr. Richard Adams, advocate for fairer values in trade, other like Dr. Camilleri and Mr. Sultana are strong supporters of the WTO.



Fair Trade in Sri Lanka: Colour the difference

Isabelle Żammit and John Axiak, two members of the cooperative's committee visited Sri Lanka in September 2005, on a Tsunami Disaster Development Project. The two are working on the establishment of a fair trade factory with partners in Sri Lanka for Tsunami Survivors. In the evening Isabelle and John gave a short presentation about different Fair Trade producers in Sri Lanka.

Live Music

The fair trade festival Taste the World will be held on Saturday, 3 December, at St. James Cavalier in Valletta between 9.30am and 10.00pm. The theme of this year's edition is Colour the Difference, a tribute to the beauty and vibrancy of the diverse cultures of the global South represented by fair trade. The special foreign guest is the fair trade expert and activist Richard Adams, a member of the Economic and Social Committee of the EU, who will be talking about alternatives to the unjust world trade system. Entrance to all stalls and events, including the concert of live music that starts at 8.00pm, is free.

4 - 5 June, Independence Gardens in Sliema

The Echo Environmentfest at the Independence Gardens in Sliema, spread over Saturday and Sunday, starts at 5 p.m. on Saturday with the opening of stands and various activities, followed by entertainment for children by Xummiemu and Eko-Skola, Eco Forum, chaired by Marie Briguglio, and quiz and games.

From 8.30 p.m. onwards, there will be music, starting with Junkfunk, a band using instruments made out of recycled material, Sayary, a Peruvian band, and Screamdaisy.

Sunday will feature more or less the same activities, with Peppi Azzopardi chairing Eco Forum, and Nafra playing authentic Maltese instruments, and alternative band Beangrowers.