Author | Lightnews

Koen Van Troos @koenvantroos.bsky.social · Jul 9

🌱 Belgium’s #chocolate future hangs in the balance – will our MEPs act? Intensive #cocoa farming is destroying the very forests it needs to survive. Without #EUDR our iconic chocolate industry faces an existential threat, as mentioned by Thiery Noesen, CEO of Belvas. #belgianchocolate

La Libre @lalibre.be · Jul 8

L’avenir du chocolat belge passe par le combat contre la déforestation

En Afrique, la déforestation engendre une dynamique qui menace l’avenir du cacao comme les équilibres écologiques globaux. D’où la nécessité de faire respecter par tous le Règlement sur la Déforestation Importée (RDUE), menacé par des exceptions. ... %

www.lalibre.be

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Fairtrade Belgium @fairtradebelgium.bsky.social · Jun 24

The 2024 Fairtrade Belgium annual report is out 💥

Nearly €4 Mio in Fairtrade premiums generated in Belgium: directly supporting farmers and workers around the world.

Check our report:
NL ➡️ www.fairtrade.net/be-nl/nieuws...
FR ➡️ www.fairtrade.net/be-fr/actual...

#Fairtrade #AnnualReport

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Fair Trade Advocacy Office (FTAO) @fairtradeftao.bsky.social · Jun 24

🛑 The #FairTrade Movement regrets the Council’s position on #CSDDD. It weakens due diligence, sidelines smallholders, workers and responsible businesses & risks long-term harm to EU competitiveness.

We urge MEPs to defend a truly risk-based, full supply chain approach.

📄 bit.ly/3GcwrJE

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Senator Bernie Sanders @sanders.senate.gov · Jun 24

While the world watches Israel's war with Iran, Netanyahu's extremist government continues to starve and massacre Palestinians in Gaza.

Today, Israeli forces again opened fire on people desperately trying to collect food aid, killing dozens. Over 56,000 have been killed so far.

The Associated Press @apnews.com · Jun 24

BREAKING: Palestinian witnesses and hospitals say Israeli forces opened fire toward hundreds of people waiting for aid trucks in central Gaza, killing at least 25 people.

Israeli forces fire on people waiting for aid in Gaza, killing 25, witnesses and hospitals say

Palestinian witnesses say Israeli forces and drones opened fire toward hundreds of people waiting for aid trucks in central Gaza.

bit.ly

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Fair Trade Advocacy Office (FTAO) @fairtradeftao.bsky.social · May 22

Today, the FTAO team was at the Port of Antwerp with @fairtradebelgium.bsky.social & a delegation of cocoa producer representatives from Ghana & Côte d'Ivoire 🌍🍫

The visit was a fascinating look at a crucial stage of the supply chain: from ship to storage, including quality control & traceability.

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Fair Trade Advocacy Office (FTAO) @fairtradeftao.bsky.social · May 20

"Have we asked ourselves why, despite the numerous interventions on #LivingIncomes, the gap still remains? If projects only last 1-2 years, how can we expect farmers not to revert to their original situation once the support ends?"

🗣️Solomon Boateng, Executive Secretary of Kuapa Kokoo Farmers Union.

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Fair Trade Advocacy Office (FTAO) @fairtradeftao.bsky.social · May 20

Delighted to hear from Guillaume Delautre, from @ilo.org, delivering the keynote speech at our #LivingIncomes & #LivingWages Conference.

He brought powerful insights on how the ILO works with governments, employers & workers to implement living wages in agricultural supply chains & beyond. 🏢🤝👷‍♀️

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Fair Trade Advocacy Office (FTAO) @fairtradeftao.bsky.social · May 19

Today at @europarl.europa.eu, we brought together smallholder farmers & representatives with EU policymakers to discuss the impact of EU policies on smallholders & the need for fairer trade & sustainability laws.🌍⚖️🌱

Thanks to MEP @saskiabricmont.bsky.social for hosting this vital conversation 🤝

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Fair Trade Advocacy Office (FTAO) @fairtradeftao.bsky.social · May 20

"If tomorrow, each of us implemented a small change - be it in our policies, our procurement or simply in how we talk about fairness - the ripple effects would be huge."

🗣️ Opening remarks from FTAO’s @virginiaenssle.bsky.social at the #LivingIncomes & #LivingWages conference at @eesc.bsky.social.

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Fair Trade Advocacy Office (FTAO) @fairtradeftao.bsky.social · May 20

🌍🚀 Kicking off the #LivingIncomes & #LivingWages Conference at @eesc.bsky.social!

We are thrilled to bring together policymakers, companies & civil society to bridge policy & practice for fairer agricultural supply chains.

Hosted by Fairtrade International & FTAO - stay tuned for key insights 👇

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Lectrr @lectrr.bsky.social · Feb 28

#cartoon #goldeonoldie uit 2017 die gewoon achteraf bekeken recht in de roos was. (Via www.lectrr.com)

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Fair Trade Advocacy Office (FTAO) @fairtradeftao.bsky.social · Feb 26

The EU promised to protect people & planet, but now it's backtracking.❌

The #Omnibus threatens key sustainability laws & protection for 600M smallholder farmers worldwide.

✊ We urge co-legislators to reject these rollbacks & uphold the #CSDDD.

Our statement⤵️
fairtrade-advocacy.org/posts/145-om...

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Solidaridad Network @solidaridadnetwork.org · Feb 26

A bad call overall: EU Omnibus Package Risks Livelihoods of Millions of Smallholders Worldwide.

Read our statement with Fairtrade International, @fairtradeftao.bsky.social, @rainforestalliance.bsky.social
www.solidaridadnetwork.org/news/omnibus...

#CSDDD

OMNIBUS PACKAGE RISKS LIVELIHOODS OF MILLIONS OF SMALLHOLDERS WORLDWIDE - Solidaridad Network

The European Commission presented its first Omnibus simplification package, proposing sweeping changes to key legislation that was meant to ensure corporate accountability. If adopted, these drastic c...

www.solidaridadnetwork.org

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Koen Van Troos @koenvantroos.bsky.social · Mar 1

"Waarheid, wetenschap en wapens, dat zijn de pijlers waarop de EU voortaan moet steunen"

Koen Van Troos @koenvantroos.bsky.social · Feb 13

www.tijd.be/opinie/algem...

Ontwikkelingssamenwerking schrappen is een valse besparing

De uitspraak van MR-voorzitter Georges-Louis Bouchez dat de uitgaven voor ontwikkelingssamenwerking helemaal geschrapt mogen worden past in een internationale trend. Maar ontwikkelingssamenwerking red...

www.tijd.be

Koen Van Troos @koenvantroos.bsky.social · Feb 13

“Ken de boer, is de boodschap. Waar komt mijn koffie vandaan? Heeft die boer een eerlijke prijs gekregen? #Fairtrade koffie is misschien iets duurder dan de koffie in de supermarkt, maar zo weet je tenminste dat de boer een eerlijke prijs heeft gekregen ». @de morgen www.demorgen.be/cs-b936170f/

‘Er komt geen koffie in de rekken als de supermarkten niet willen betalen’

Waar er een paar weken geleden nog pakken koffie stonden, zijn in Nederland de rekken nu leeg. Koffie-expert Bregje Deben vertelt waarom. ‘Zelfs in Azië en het Midden-Oosten is er meer vraag.’

www.demorgen.be

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Rikolto in België @rikolto.be · Jan 23

100% akkoord met @11.be.
Bovendien: Hakken in internationale samenwerking zal ook gevolgen hebben voor Belgische bedrijven. De chocolade- en koffie-sector, is bijvoorbeeld afhankelijk van stabiele waardeketens. Klimaatverandering en instabiliteit in productielanden bedreigen hun aanvoer.

11.11.11 @11.be · Jan 23

Laat ons glashelder zijn: Deze besparingen zijn kortzichtig en gevaarlijk.

Besparen op ontwikkelingssamenwerking is een keuze voor een wereld met nog meer instabiliteit, chaos en onveiligheid. Dat kan niemand zich veroorloven.

Wanneer de wereld brandt, is solidariteit geen luxe of voetnoot. 🧵

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OxfamBE @oxfam.be · Jan 23

⚠️ La nvelle super-note sur la table de l’Arizona prévoit une réduction de 25% du budget de la coopération au développement. À l'heure où les conflits et les catastrophes climatiques se multiplient, cette réduction si elle est actée serait dramatique. Notre réaction👇
oxfambelgique.be/coupes-impor...

Coupes importantes dans la coopération au développement : l’Arizona tire un trait sur la lutte contre les inégalités

oxfambelgique.be

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Samantha Rose Hill @samantharhill.bsky.social · Jan 20

"Businessmen became politicians and were acclaimed as statesmen, while statesmen were taken seriously only if they talked the language of successful businessmen."

— Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism

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Fair Trade Advocacy Office (FTAO) @fairtradeftao.bsky.social · Jan 21

Today, as the #ECOFIN Ministers Council discuss the #Omnibus package, we urge leaders to reject the false trade-off between reducing regulatory burden & advancing sustainability.

Weakening the #CSDDD risks uncertainty, harms committed companies & delays progress on human rights and the environment.

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Belga_English (Belga News Agency) @belgaenglish.bsky.social · Jan 20

Belgium to investigate Apple's alleged use of Congolese 'blood minerals'

Belgium has launched an investigation into allegations that US technology giant Apple sourced 'blood minerals' from the Democratic Republic of...

www.belganewsagency.eu

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Koen Van Troos @koenvantroos.bsky.social · Jan 20

Ideaal moment om naar dont look up op netflix te kijken en een idee te krijgen over wat ons komende 4 jaar te wachten staat #eyeopener www.netflix.com/be/title/812...

Watch Don't Look Up | Netflix Official Site

Twee astronomen gaan op mediatour om te waarschuwen dat er een allesvernietigende komeet op weg is richting de aarde. Maar niemand is geïnteresseerd in echt nieuws.

www.netflix.com

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Amanda Gorman @amandagorman.bsky.social · Jan 20

Four years ago I wrote my inaugural poem The Hill We Climb. Both when I wrote it and performed it, I did so while continuously reflecting on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and Coretta Scott King’s legacy.

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Jean Van Wetter @jeanvanwetter.bsky.social · Jan 17

Make Belgium the country of #fairtrade! This is what we promoted yesterday at our annual fair trade breakfast at the Belgian federal Parliament, in the presence of the speaker Peter De Roover, together with Belgian coffee and chocolate actors such as Rombouts and Galler #enablingchange

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maxhavelaarfrance.bsky.social @maxhavelaarfrance.bsky.social · Jan 14

🚨Plus de 160 organisations de la société civile, syndicats et activistes disent #NoToOmnibus
Nous voulons une UE qui soit exemplaire en matière de protection des humains et de la planète. Affaiblir la #CSDDD, #CSRD & #EUTaxonomy est une trahison faite aux engagements européens.

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