A Story of “Care Trade”
In celebration of World Fair Trade Day, Tim O’Brien, founder and President of Tropical Salvage, a fair trade wood furniture manufacturer, visited one of their retailers, Ten Thousand Villages while also providing great insight into the company’s history. Tropical Salvage’s tagline, “positive change through sensible commerce,” sums it up perfectly. What started out as a remarkable vision was soon realized and has become a successful company embodying social and environmental values.
After working for many years as trader, traveling through Southeast Asia buying textiles, antiques and immersing himself into different cultures, O’Brien became aware of the vast amount of undervalued natural resources. All across Indonesia, wood mosques were being torn down and replaced with concrete structures. The hundreds of years-old wood remains were simply being burned or left in piles to decompose in the earth. It was then that O’Brien not only saw a business opportunity, but also a way to greatly improve the world.
Tropical Salvage, founded in 1998, discovers, reclaims and recycles wood from various tropical hardwoods by using it to build furniture. The furniture is then imported to sell in the United States. While “the first years were lot’s of trial and error, emphasis on the error,” O’Brien admits, Tropical Salvage has established a prosperous business model and employs over 100 people in the United States and overseas. Not only does the company help to prevent further deterioration of Indonesia’s old-growth forests, but Tropical Salvage also provides secure, fair-paying jobs for Indonesian natives. “In a world where ecology connects all of us inextricably, from one end of the earth to the other, it is essential that people try to understand and take responsibility for the repercussions of their consumer choices.” The entrepreneur adds, “I like to think of it more as ‘care trade,’ where it enables [the workers] quality of life.”
Just recently, Tropical Salvage reached out to the Indonesian Government in an effort to preserve their forests and create job/home security. The company is now responsible for managing 560 acres of Indonesian forests for the next 30 years.
For more information about Tropical Salvage and how to purchase fair trade, recycled, wild wood products, please visit their website.
World Fair Trade Day This Saturday, May 9th
This Saturday marks a big day for fair trade as a cause and as a global community. May 9th is World Fair Trade Day and this year the community is celebrating with a Fair Trade Coffee Break. Everyone across the globe is encouraged to take their breaks from work and life with Fair Trade coffee, tea, chocolate or whatever else helps you unwind. Fair trade businesses and affiliates in over 80 countries are participating in this event by sponsoring everything from drum circles to soccer games to storewide sales.
According to The Fair Trade Resource Network, “When we support Fair Trade, we not only support the people who make the items we consume and enjoy, we also support the environment, women’s rights, children’s rights, cultural dignity and peace building.” This day is about supporting a cause bigger than ourselves.
Get Involved with these Oregon Events:
Ten Thousand Villages Portland: 938 NW Everett Street Portland, OR
Ten Thousand Villages Portland, located in the Pearl District, will be offering samples of Fair Trade coffee, chocolate and olive oil, as well as featuring local music and speakers on fair trade issues. Plus, everything in the store is on sale, including its large selection of fair trade oriental rugs.
Onda Gallery: 220 SW A Street Suite 104 Lake Oswego, OR
Through the month of May, Onda Gallery is sponsoring an art show featuring Fair Trade artists and artists that specialize in the use of recycled materials. They will be serving fair trade coffee as refreshments.
Java Jones Coffee Shop: 757 Newmark Ave Coos Bay, OR
Free fair trade coffee from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. on May 9th at Java Jones Coffee shop, as well as live music and a booth offering information on a variety of fair trade products and organizations.
Small Planet Trading: 202 Cascade Avenue Hood River, OR
Starting at 11 a.m., Small Planet Trading will be hosting a drum circle for the public to join in on. After, they invite you to take a fair trade break with them as they offer a sale in their store.
For more information check out the Fair Trade Resource Network at http://www.fairtraderesource.org/
Welcome to the
Portland Fair Trade Blog!
We are ecstatic to announce the Portland Fair Trade Blog!
Why? Because we believe people care where their products come from.
We would like to help Portlanders find fair trade outlets throughout the city. The purchase of fair trade products not only shows support for social justice, but helps increase the quality of life for hard-working artisans.
Please listen to our first Podcast, where Lois Gearhart, manager of Ten Thousand Villages, discusses the purpose behind the blog’s creation. We hope that you will join us in supporting fair trade in Portland, specifically those who sell fair trade products.
Thanks for listening!
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Show Notes:
A Welcome to Portland Fair Trade Blog
Introduction 0 – 0:25
Portland Fair Trade Community 0:25 – 0:50
Purpose 0:50 – 1:26
Content 1:26 – 1:39
Get Involved 1:39 – 2:04