Advocacy for Equitable Trade Practices
Article: Cyclists Tour German Regions, Promoting Fair Trade and Sustainability
A group of cyclists embarked on a multi-day journey through Germany, visiting various world shops and promoting fair trade and sustainability. This annual event, known as the Tour de Fair, has been taking place since 2002 and brings together world shop actors from different regions.
The tour concluded this year with a cycle from Cannstatt to Schorndorf. Along the way, the 20-member cycling team stopped at various world shops, each with its unique focus and appearance. One such stop was at the world shop in Köngen, where beer tables were set up for the cyclists.
Gerhard Werum, a co-organizer of the tour, has been cycling with it since 2013. He praised the extraordinary concept of the Tour de Fair, which includes visits to world shops, interactions with local communities, and information reports on the World Shop Association.
During their stop in Köngen, the cyclists had the opportunity to experience the "ajaa" company's tableware, made from natural materials like sugar cane and minerals. This heat-resistant and dishwasher-safe tableware is a testament to the sustainable practices embraced by the world shops involved in the Tour de Fair.
Exchange among the world shop actors is an important focus of the Tour de Fair. In Köngen, some passersby stopped by and got into conversation with the cyclists, including Köngen's mayor Ronald Scholz. These interactions foster collaboration and the sharing of ideas, furthering the goals of the Tour de Fair.
Lunch was on the program for the cycling team in Köngen, with a healthy buffet provided. Hartmut Damke, a participant in the Tour de Fair for the 15th time this year, discovered the reusable tableware of the "ajaa" company during this visit.
The Tour de Fair also highlighted local initiatives like the "Taste the Teck" action, formed from the local Agenda 21 in Kirchheim and networking actors for an integrated regional development concept since April 2001. Co-organizer Gerhard Werum was impressed by the deep roots of the world shops in the region, such as the "Taste the Teck" action.
Currently, 29 businesses from Kirchheim, Weilheim, and Lenningen are participating in the Tour de Fair. Highlights of the tour included a tasting event at the Sulzburghof in Lenningen and a visit to the Nuertingen Welthaus.
Despite the lack of comprehensive data on the Tour de Fair, it is clear that this event plays an important role in promoting fair trade, sustainability, and collaboration among world shop actors in Germany. As the cyclists pedal through different regions, they not only showcase the unique aspects of each world shop but also encourage the adoption of eco-friendly practices and ethical trading.
[1] Source: Tour of Flanders (Note: The Tour de Fair may not be related to the Tour of Flanders, as the provided information does not directly support this connection.)
The "ajaa" company, showcased during the Tour de Fair stop in Köngen, produces sustainable tableware from natural materials like sugar cane and minerals, aligning with the eco-friendly principles promoted by the event.
The Tour de Fair not only tours various world shops, but also encourages collaboration and the sharing of ideas among world shop actors, as demonstrated by the interactions between the cyclists and passersby in Köngen.
