Promotion of Fair Commerce and Conscientious Consumption

The first Pan-Amazonian Fair took place in Rio Branco (Brazil) from the 27th to the 30th of September. The meeting was part of the program for the Promotion of Fair Commerce and Conscientious Consumption, sponsored by the Marist Institute of Solidarity and the Hermitage Foundation, with several other organs of the Brazilian government. The program wanted to promote economic practice founded on relations of self-management, cooperation, respect, ethics and advancement of the human being.

The Fair was the result of a work of consciousness-raising with respect to the sustainable development of Pan-Amazonia. We show here that it is possible to implant a mode of preservation of the forest, without devastating it, with dignity, through competition and social inclusion, affirms Paulo Braña, one of the events organizers.

The Latin-American Seminar on Sustainable Development and Economic Solidarity took place at the same time as the Fair. The seminar consisted in an exchange of work experiences done in this domain by diverse Communities and organisms, in order to evaluate the outcomes and map out roads for the future.

Brazil shares Pan-Amazonia with Bolivia, Venezuela, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Chile and Uruguay. The Fair showed 300 initiatives based on crafts, family agriculture, clothing, local gastronomy, plastic arts, agro-industry, phytotherapy, natural farming, and furniture. Visitors were also able to attend cultural events, like plays, recitations, stories and shows.