Dear fans and friends of Treehugger Dan's Bookstore Cafe:

As some of you know, Kevin Jackson and I will be doing the Balaton Swim event on July 25th (weather permitting). The swim is 5.4km. I got to remembering doing mile-swim fundraisers as a kid on the swim team and thought, why can't we do the same thing for this? After some discussion, Kevin and I decided that the Fair Trade Campaign, run by Vedegylet would be the most worthy beneficiary of our efforts. We would like to kindly ask everyone to pledge some forints, whatever they like/can afford. The Fair Trade campaign started in Hungary about 4 years ago, but is still much less known than organic products. The campaign, with help from local <!-- pagebreak -->businessmen/activists like Treehugger Dan, has now gotten Fair Trade coffee, tea and other products placed at a number major restaurants and offices such as The Office of the Hungarian President, The Green Ombudsman's Office, Arriba Mexican Restaurant, Hunyadi Kisvendeglo, etc. Of course, the real success will be measured by Hungarian people understanding what Fair Trade is, and converting that into sustainable consumption and consumer awareness. The more people that buy Fair Trade products, and even better, organic Fair Trade, the better for small farmers and craftsmen in the third world, and better for the environment.

If you feel like sponsoring us, please send a note to info@treehugger.hu with the following:

If Kevin Jackson and Treehugger Dan complete complete the 5.4km Balaton Swim, I pledge___________ Huf.

After we complete the swim, we will collect your donations at both the Lazar u and Csengery u. locations of Treehugger Dan's for a week, and give the money over to Vedegylet's Fair Trade Campaign.

Fair Trade generally means trading partnerships based on reciprocal benefits and mutual respect. This means that the prices paid to producers - especially small farmers - reflect the work they do; that workers have the right to organize; and that national health and safety regulations are enforced. We also believe it means providing equal employment opportunities for all people, particularly the most disadvantaged, being "transparent" and accountable to the public, and providing appropriate financial and technical assistance to producers whenever possible. To become fair trade certified, an importer must meet stringent international criteria, including paying a minimum price of $1.26 per pound for coffee (as opposed to the usual 50 cents or less). As a result, coffee growers can invest in health care, education, and their local environment.

Thank you in advance,

Dan and Kevin