We've all been there: that moment when someone on TV or someone in the room confuses Free Trade and Fair Trade. We all recognize the error, immediately open our mouths to respond...and find the confusion is infectious!

This video from Fair World Project is clear, concise, and quotable.  And if you feel uplifted...

 Take Action: Tell Chocolate Mega Company: Keeping Farmers in Poverty is Not OK.

 Want to know more about Fair Trade? Celebrate World Fair Trade Month with a four week OLLI class at Bradley University. (Wednesdays, 12:30-1:30 pm).

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Bradley University (OLLI) is an organization of over 1000 Peoria-area residents, from age 50 to 98, who want to stay vital and active as they reach and enjoy retirement. One way to do that is to keep learning, so they participate in the many programs of OLLI that include educational travel, classes, lectures, cinema events, and study groups

Registration is open now. For more information go to https://bradley.edu/academic/continue/lifelong/olli/register/

October 4 – Nancy Long: Fair Trade – An Alternative to Migration
Nancy will discuss the fair trade movement, compare free and fair trade, discuss principles of fair trade, and talk about the fair trade shop in Peoria Heights.

October 11 – Tracy Fox: Fair Trade Artisans Worldwide
Tracy will tell transformative stories from fair trade artisans, describe how community development empowers women by allowing them living wages, and discuss how artisans find outlets through fair trade.

October 18 – Eve Brimberry: Fair Trade Farming and Production
Eve will cover the history of fair trade farming, stories of small farm co-ops, food products as a global village, and will conduct a taste test of fair trade chocolate and
coffee.

October 25 – Steve Zika: Executive Director of Kidknits and Social Entrepreneur
Steve will discuss how trade has transformed communities in Africa and South America through the development of curricula regarding world economic issues.

March 8 is International Women's Day. This year the organizers of the Women's March In Washington, D.C are calling for a general strike "A Day Without Women" on March 8.  In a post on the Occupy Democrats website, dated 02/15/17, author Marisa Manfredo said, "The Day Without Women will highlight the critical roles that women play in all areas of society. Women still play a disproportionately large role in household work, childcare, and caring for relatives; but they also work in every sector and represented (although often underrepresented) at every job level. If women all take the day off, America will stop."

Global Village will be closed on Wednesday, March 8, to honor the women farmers and artisans who work in Fair Trade cooperatives in India, Nepal, the Philippines, Chili, Ecuador, Guatemala, Ghana, Rwanda, and places in between.  During March, which is Women's History Month, we will be featuring in our front windows products produced by women farmers and artisans.  Like the members of Bhaktapur Women Craft Paper who make our new gift paper:

"Nepali’s have been producing handmade paper in their villages for over a thousand years and still use it in their daily lives.  The paper, made from the bark of the Daphne or 'lokta' bush, is renowned for its exceptional durability and wonderful texture.  [The owners of Ganesh Himal Trading] work directly with the women of BWCP to design beautiful and functional journals, card sets, stationary, wrapping paper, gift bags, gift cards, picture frames and more.

"The women at BWCP are committed to community development and they continue to work closely with the rural villages around Baglung that produce the handmade paper.  As sales climb they will try to buy as much of the paper as these villages can produce.  Although the original UNICEF project no longer exists, the concept of a worker owned, women run, fair trade company producing sustainable paper products sourced from Nepali villages is alive and well thanks to Ganesh Himal Trading’s commitment to keeping alive this long standing fair trade partnership."

It's July; It's our 15th anniversary!  Thank you for your loyal support.  And thank you to our faithful volunteers, past, present, and future.  We weathered the Great Downturn of 2008 and we are adjusting to the changing mix of businesses in the Heights.  In the coming months prepare for a fresh look for Global Village outside and inside.

 Our Annual Progressive Sale is in full swing. Now through July 20, save 20% on you entire purchase.  July 21-31, save 30% off your entire purchase!  Have you had your eye on a special something?  This is the time to claim it for your own.  This is also an excellent time to start your Christmas shopping!  We have some unique nativity sets for you.

July is also the time to play "Where's Waldo?"  That charming, colorful guy is hiding at Global Village (and 14 other Heights businesses). Pick up your "passport" at Global Village or any other participating business, get your passport stamped in each location, and return it by July 31 to I Know You Like a Book.  You will be eligible to win exciting Waldo prizes.

http://peoriaheightschamber.com/wheres-waldo/


IN AUGUST

We are eagerly anticipating two of our favorite events:  IGNITE Peoria! and India Fest.

August 13, we will be at the Peoria Civic Center for IGNITE Peoria!  "Central Illinois is rich in diverse cultures. The World IGNITES Peoria will feature food, cultural booths and performances representing how Peoria is a true crossroads of the world."  We will be bringing our own Global Village spark. Join us from 9am to 5pm

http://www.ignitepeoria.com/

And the following Saturday,August 20 from 3pm-5 pm, find us at the Peoria Riverfront for India Fest. Food!  Yum!  Music!  And cool river breezes!   We had so much fun last year.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1746373278939226/

Spring is here at Global Village, and we have busy month ahead of us.  March is Women's History Month.  Celebrate with us and save 25% off jewelry, bags, and accessories.


Wednesday, March 9, 7 pm, we will be joining members of Central Illinois Healthy Community Alliance and other environmental groups at the ICC Performing Arts Center  for a showing of Merchants of Doubt, a 2014 documentary that looks at pundits-for-hire who present themselves as scientific authorities and speak about topics like toxic chemicals, pharmaceuticals and climate change.

While the subject is sobering, the movie has a satirical tone that will keep you  entertained.  It's informative: the filmmakers interviewed people on both sides of the debate, but there is no doubt where their sympathies lie. 

The showing is free.  Bring your friends and family.

Thursday, March 17, 7pm, we will have guest at our monthly board meeting at Forrest Hill Methodist Church in Peoria.  Oliver Koh will talking briefly with us about the educational system in his homeland in the area of Mentang-Fundong in Cameroon, West Africa.  Join us for Oliver's program and then stay, if you like, for our business meeting
 
The school system includes nursery, primary, secondary, high and professional schools.Mentang has two primary schools and one secondary school. There are 69 primary schools in the Fundong council, which is like our city council and mayoral system, has provided basic minimum didactic material, text books, benches, some solar lamps and most importantly scholarships for the children to go to school. The scholarships range between $ 5.00 and $ 10.00 per student. The council has also constructed 2 classrooms, supplied roofing sheets, constructed pit toilets, and extended water pipes. As you can read from these items the villages are in need of the most rudimentary items especially, education.

This spring volunteers and customers of Global Village will be raising money for these children and the classroom.  This can be done in two ways 1.) Donate through the bird cage in the shop while you are there or 2) come to the World Hunger Dinner  on April 5 at the Universalist Unitarian Church in Peoria where all entry donations will go to support these children.  The World Hunger Dinner will be part of our Annual Board meeting.  We will also have guest speaker Jim Goetsch from Friends of the Third World that evening.  More details to come.  Like our Facebook page or give us a call at the shop 309-681-8180