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Oulu hosts`Market of Possibilities` |
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By Burcu Guner
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Friday, 16 May 2008 |
 On Saturday May 17th, Oulu will host an event entitled “Market of Possibilities,” in order to encourage global responsibility.
The Markets of Possibilities has a fairly long tradition. The first Market was organised by the Vaasa Association for Developing Countries on 1986. The event was a success and in the following years more and more organizations around Finland started to join forces, the result being the Market of Possibilities chain of events in its current form.
In 2006 Kepa started coordinating a three-year project "Market of Possibilities Goes Global" funded by EuropeAID. The aim is to strenhgten and promote the Market of Possibilities -concept and thus contribute to a more positive attitude towards the developing countries and development cooperation. The overall aim is to underline Finland’s multicultural side.
For many years the activity took place in Oulu and in the last 3 years was organized by the Friends of the Earth association in Oulu and co-ordinated by Niina Jortikka.
She says, this year’s theme will be “Trade”. Trade is one of the most important dimensions of globalization, especially fair trade. with this theme they are hoping to encourage people to act locally but think globally. Additionally they are aiming to introduce of local development or international development projects organized by various Oulu associations.
They are hoping the event will make participants to think about living more ethically and ecologically. Last year around 600 people visited the event.
They are hoping around 1000 people will join this year’s event.
This years’ program is going to be very lively with many activities for all ages. Forty organizations and associations from Oulu will be present. Also, there will be eastern dance, taiji performance, the Magician Roope, fair fashion show, face painting, henna tattoos, spice exhibition, spring flea market, handcraft-artists, fashion designers, food producers, and NEO’s natural treatment testing.
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