10 years gebana: A reason to celebrate!

Hardened in a difficult market environment and strengthened by numerous crises, the foundation of gebana is now more stable than ever, which means that we have not only survived but can also look to the future with confidence and are ready to take further important steps forward for fair trade in the coming years. And gebana would not be gebana if it had not taken this fact as an occasion for a dignified birthday celebration with its friends and partners, shareholders and supporters, as well as current and former employees. Thus, on Saturday, September 13, 2008, around 160 people met at the Eisenwerk in Frauenfeld to listen to three exciting speeches in a cozy setting, enjoy a fine dinner and then exchange ideas to live music or even hit the dance floor.

With a lecture on the ethical foundations of Fair Trade, ethics professor Prof. Dr. Hans Ruh addressed the guests after the apéritif (with fine gebana cashew nuts). According to Prof. Ruh, it is not enough to merely intend to do good; rather, this intention must be put into practice in such a way that it can have the greatest possible effect within our system. From this the controversial guiding principle can be derived: “Do good, talk about it, and make money from it!” (Books by Hans Ruh: The Future Is Ethical - or Not at All, and Ethics in Management)

The second speaker was gebana co-founder and board member Peter Teuscher at the lectern. He noted that only 44% of newly founded trading companies survive their first 10 years and immediately emphasized why gebana belongs to this successful minority: “The success factors of gebana were and are the people in production, in gebana production and the employees of gebana Switzerland. Added to that are perseverance and the necessary money.”

After a strengthening dinner, Ursula Brunner concluded the official part of the anniversary celebration with a moving speech. She recalled the idealistic roots of gebana, which can be traced back to the struggle begun in the 1970s by her and her Frauenfeld "Banana Women" against the prevailing injustices in North-South trade (the history of this struggle is available in book form - "Banana Women" by Ursula Brunner - and is purchasable in the webshop).

The three speeches prompted discussion, which the convivial part of the evening was used for in abundance. And so the night was already far advanced when the last guests left the celebration, united in the conviction that gebana should have cause for such a party again in 10 years.

Many thanks to everyone for coming and for the great atmosphere!