FEMNET Newsletter No. 8 - September 2014 Dear reader, Dear Super User, In the coming weeks, many important events and actions are on the agenda for FEMNET. With this newsletter we would like to invite you to get to know us on site, to participate in the planned events or to support our work. We also provide you with reports and information on the latest developments regarding our support of textile workers in India and Bangladesh and other activities of FEMNET in the second half of 2014. Wishing you an interesting read Your FEMNET team Contents: 1. Work of our educational project "FairSchnitt - Studying for a socially just fashion industry" Call for donations FEMNET at the INNATEX trade fair Internship at FEMNET 2. Campaign work within the framework of the CCC (Campaign for Clean Clothes) Factory owner in Bangladesh blackmails the judiciary - hunger strike at the tuba sewers Remembrance of Ali Enterprise fire in Pakistan – KiK criticised Compensation for the victims of Rana Plaza and their families in Bangladesh remains insufficient. Made in Europe – and therefore fair? Seal initiative from the Ministry of Development Aid BMZ 3. Reports from our partners from India and Bangladesh Bangladesh India Report of the current trainee at Munnade 4. More activities by FEMNET The shopping brochure about eco-fair clothing in Bonn shops Flyer ‘Eyes on when buying clothes’ Regulars' table Bonn: Fair chat FEMNET in the media appointments Disclaimer 1. Work of our educational project "FairSchnitt - Studying for a socially just fashion industry" Call for donations At the end of October 2014, the FEMNET conference will take place in Berlin as part of the educational project FairSchnitt on the subject of ‘Fast Fashion - Slow Fashion’. The two-day conference for students and teachers of fashion-related universities is attended by about 100 students and teachers as well as speakers from business, science, trade unions and civil society. A detailed report will be published on the FEMNET homepage after the conference. For the financing of the conference as well as for the education project in general, we are urgently dependent on support and look forward to any donation. Further information can be found in our call for donations (PDF file) FEMNET at the INNATEX trade fair FEMNET The INNATEX fair in Hofheim (Wallau) takes place twice a year and is Europe's largest international trade fair for sustainable textiles. More than 200 exhibitors from more than 20 countries present the upcoming green fashion trends of the next season here. The impetus of INNATEX 35 was social standards in August. FEMNET's FairSchnitt project was represented with its own stand and Dr. Gisela Burckhardt gave a lecture on the topic of 'Rana Plaza and the consequences' at a specialist forum. A detailed report on INNATEX 2014 Johanna Bose From 15 May to 15 August 2014, Johanna Bose supported the FairSchnitt project as an intern: “The traineeship gave me a very good insight into the complex and very far-reaching problem of the topic and met many new interesting people. It was a very instructive and exciting time for me - a great enrichment!” We thank Johanna for the active support! Johanna Bose's report 2. Campaign work within the framework of the CCC (Campaign for Clean Clothes) Demonstrating workers of the tuba group. Photo (c) DAILYSTAR The scandal: The owner of the Tuba Group with 13 factories, including the Tazreen factory, which burned down on 24 November 2012 in a suburb of Dhaka with 112 dead and many seriously injured, obtained his release on bail from prison by depriving around 1600 workers from five of his factories of three months' wages. Link to the articles on the FEMNET website Remembrance of Ali Enterprise fire in Pakistan – KiK criticised Fire in textile factory September 11 marks the second anniversary of the fire at the Ali Enterprise factory in Pakistan in 2012. Nearly 300 people died in the fire. The textile discounter KiK was the main client of Ali Enterprise (utilization up to 80%). The factory building had been certified to the highest safety standard SA8000 shortly before the fire, which once again proves that factory inspections (audits) are not effective. KiK made a one-time compensation of $1 million and pledged further payments. Discussions are currently taking place as to whether KiK will keep these promises. FEMNET is holding an event on the occasion of the anniversary together with the Weltladen in Cologne on 11.9.2014. Compensation continues to be insufficient for victims of Rana Plaza and their families in Bangladesh Demonstration by the NGWF The companies that had production in Rana Plaza, such as KiK, Walmart, Bennetton or Primark, are doing brilliantly, their sales have continued to rise after the accident. However, only one third of the required sum of 40 million US dollars has been paid into the compensation fund so far. Benetton has refused to make any payment. A detailed article by CEO Gisela Burckhardt in the Huffington Post Made in Europe – and therefore fair? Cover 'Abandoned' The Clean Clothes Campaign has published a new report on working conditions in Eastern Europe and Turkey. The following were identified: The difference between a statutory minimum wage and a living wage is even greater in many Eastern European countries than in Asia. Information and summary of the report 'Let alone' Seal initiative from the Ministry of Development Aid BMZ Federal Development Minister Gerd Müller has launched an initiative and is striving for a broad alliance for sustainable textiles in which civil society, trade unions and companies (associations) are to participate equally. Companies that have not yet taken any steps towards sustainability and do not even know their supply chains are also invited to participate. However, there is a risk that the standards will be set too low. Above all, it is forgotten that only 35% of the clothing is produced by German producers (abroad), but 65% imports the trade, which is also involved in the talks. FEMNET and other CCC sponsoring organisations participate in the multistakeholder talks. Statement by FEMNET together with the CCC Bangladesh: NGWF Demonstration against the attack on the NGWF Regional Office. Photo (c) NGWF Our partner, the NGWF trade union in Bangladesh, has repeatedly called for the payment of compensation for the victims of Tazreen and Rana Plaza with demonstrations. NGWF's protests and demands were directed not only at buyers from the US and Europe, but also at its own business association BGMEA and the government of Bangladesh. On 21 May 2014, the regional office of the NGWF trade union and the private home of its leader Munirizzaman Shikder Munir were raided and all documents stolen. Munir was beaten unconscious, his family expelled from their apartment with nothing but clothes on his body. From the office, the union's membership lists as well as around 700 prepared registrations for a union with the Ministry of Labour were stolen. India: Munnade and GLU GLU demonstration in May 2014 Our partners, the non-governmental organisation Munnade in Bangalore and the Garment Labour Union (GLU) organised leadership workshops for union activists. These workshops aim to test and strengthen the management and leadership skills of these women. For example, a training on labour rights and leadership skills with 20 participants took place in August. The focus was on clarifying the legal situation for workers when factories are closed or companies unlawfully relocate their production. In addition, a lawyer specialising in women's rights has provided information on laws against sexual harassment and other forms of discrimination in the workplace. Other items on the programme included leadership skills, methods for attracting members from trade unions, which were dealt with through interactive exercises and group games. Report of the current trainee at Munnade Munnade training 2014 FEMNET member Larissa Aldehoff has been on site in India since the end of May 2014 for a four-month internship at our partner organisation Munnade. Read their experience report 4. More activities by FEMNET Cover of the brochure The shopping brochure about eco-fair clothing in Bonn shops The brochure 'Fair, fair, fair' was so well received that a second edition is now being printed. There will be a small revision. The brochure can be ordered from FEMNET against a postage donation or downloaded from the website. (PDF file) Download brochure now Cover of Flyers Eyes on... Flyer ‘Eyes on when buying clothes’ For those who want a quick orientation, we have created a flyer that explains the most important seals to pay attention to when buying clothes. The flyer can also be ordered from FEMNET for a postage fee and downloaded from our website (PDF file) Download flyer now Regulars' meeting in Bonn: Fair chat Since June 2014, the FEMNET-initiated monthly regulars’ meeting ‘Fair chat’ has been held in Bonn. It is intended to offer an opportunity for informal exchange around the topic of fair fashion, whereby we want to offer a contact point for all those interested in the topic: Consumers, fashion designers, people already active in the field and those who want to become one.Regular table participants in Bonn The Bonn regulars’ table takes place every second Tuesday of the month at the ‘Nähcafé Mr. und Mrs’ in Bonn, starting at 7 p.m. Up-to-date information on the theme of the evening, the exact address of the café and any changes can be found on the . FEMNET homepage A similar format is also planned for Berlin. Interested parties please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. FEMNET in the media Articles and press releases published by FEMNET on our association activities as well as topics and events have been published in various media. An up-to-date overview of the reporting of recent months can be found on the . FEMNET homepage Here is a selection: 18.03.2014: 06.01.2014: 27.06.2014: ZDF report on Primark: Cheap clothing has its price ARD Night Magazine: Interview with G. Burckhardt Anniversary of Rana Plaza 24.04.2014: WDR Funkhaus Europa (TV): Anniversary factory collapse: 24.04.2014: 24.04.2014: The Tragedy of Rana Plaza 24.04.2014: WDR radio: Buying clothes without a guilty conscience - is it possible? Deutschlandfunk: Low wages and dangerous work Süddeutsche Zeitung: Where and how to find fair clothing Berliner Tagesspiegel: servitude instead of wealth, Articles about Sumangali Dates 2014 6 September Faire Messe Dortmund, lecture by Kerstin Dahmen about the FairSchnitt project 9 September 7 p.m. Next regulars' meeting in Bonn Beuel at Café Mr. and Mrs.: Topic please refer to our website 11 September 7 pm Lecture at the Colabor in Cologne by Gisela Burckhardt together with Raphael Breyer from 3Freunde on the topic of the 2nd anniversary of the brand of the factory Ali Enterprise in Pakistan, what can we do, then clothes exchange campaign 12 September 8 p.m. Lecture on CSR at the Spinn.bar in Bonn by Gisela Burckhardt, location to be announced. The Spinn.bar is a meeting of members of the Spider Web, a network for creative lateral thinkers and job seekers 13 September 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. during the Fair Week: Fair breakfast and fair fashion show on Bonner Münsterplatz. Four eco-fair brands/stores from Bonn present their clothing, introduction by Gisela Burckhardt 14 September from 3.30 p.m. Ecumenical service at the Catholic Community of St. Martin and Severin in Bonn, lecture by Gisela Burckhardt on the topic of eco-fair clothing 23 September Presentation at the Business and Professional Women (BPW) Germany Club in Göttingen by a multiplier of FEMNET 3 October Lecture on the topic of Sumangali at the Ökorausch in Cologne by Christiane Kühnrich, Board Member FEMNET 15 October Lecture and participation of a FEMNET member in a role-playing game in Neuruppin in Brandenburg at the invitation of the equal opportunities officer 16 October Panel discussion in Ravensburg at the invitation of Agenda Eine Welt 28 November Presentation by Gisela Burckhardt at a forum of the German Sustainability Day, in Düsseldorf 28 November Lecture and dress exchange party at Ev. St. John's Church in BonnDisclaimerFEMNET e.V.Heidebergenstr. 14Feminist Perspectives on Politics, Economy and SocietyThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. "> This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.Tel. 0228 18038116Board of Directors: Dr. Gisela Burckhardt, Franziska Gorgas, Janina Hotze, Christiane Kühnrich, Michaela Reithinger back
