All the resources below are produced and regularly updated by Banana Link and can either be ordered by emailing Banana Link or clicking here to send payment. Some resources can be downloaded directly from the site. You can also download the list of resources available from Banana Link.

Education Packs

The Truth About Bananas

This pack explores the realities, for people and their environment, behind the prodution and trade of our favourite fruit, the banana. Bananas provide an example of the many economic and social injustices present in international trade today and this pack aims to empower users to challenge these injustices as active and informed global citizens. Much of the material is drama based, providing a fun and challenging approach to learning. To order please contact Banana Link

Trade Union Education Packs

These trade union education materials introduce issues of international workers' rights and trade union freedom, using examples from the banana industry. These activity sheets have been created for use in the following trade union education courses:
- Union representatives Stage 1 or 2
- Health and Safety representatives Stages 1 or 2
-Other TUC or independent trade union education courses

The materials are available to download, or on a USB pendrive (order from Banana Link)

Booklets

Dole: Behind The Smokescreen Booklet

This report details the findings of an investigation into Dole's banana plantations. It provides a comprehensive background to the campaign detailing worker rights violations and environmental degradation on Dole owned and supplier plantations in Latin America.
Available to download or order free copies from Banana Link 

Best Of The Bunch: Fairtrade Bananas From Producer To Consumer
20 page A4 colour booklet with information about Fairtrade bananas. Contents include the history of fair trade, the situation in the Windward Islands, how Fairtrade works, what the benefits are for producers, and the future challenges for fair trade bananas. It is a celebration of what has been achieved so far and inspiration for further action.
Available from Banana Link (£2 plus p&p).

Race To The Bottom: Banana Workers’ Rights In Ecuador
24 page A4 booklet describing the conditions that Ecuador’s 250,000 banana workers face. It describes how companies are relocating production and sourcing in a quest to supply the rich consumer markets with the ‘cheapest’ possible bananas. As the publication uncovers, ‘cheap’ comes at a high price for the workers.
Available from Banana Link (£3 plus p&p).

Posters

Banana Links Poster
This updated A3 colour illustrated poster clearly shows the links between consumers and producers – what you buy and how it is produced and what this means for the banana worker. It uses simple and effective illustrations and facts, and gives ideas on how to take action.
Banana Link (2008)                Price: £1

Full Colour A2 Posters Promoting:
- trade union rights
- fair trade
- environmental protection
- the campaign to ‘reverse the race to the bottom’ in the banana industry.

Free (+ donation towards p&p) (2005)

 
Information Leaflets
Downloadable or available free from Banana Link  

The FAIRTRADE Mark - what it means, how it works for producers and details of how to enable your local shop to supply Fairtrade bananas.

Environmental Impacts Of Banana Production

Which Bananas? -  a leaflet summarising different factors to take into account when choosing bananas

Women and the Banana Industry - information about the conditions faced by women working in the Latin American banana industry

Big But Not Beautiful: The Banana Companies Leaflet

Videos And Multimedia

Bananas Unpeeled
A 26 minute video introduced by Mark Thomas, investigating the social and environmental conditions facing banana plantation workers and farmers in Latin America and the Caribbean. 'Bananas Unpeeled' also examines Fairtrade as a positive alternative for the future. Includes action ideas and teaching notes for Geography, Business Studies and Art.
Available on video and DVD from Banana Link (£10 plus p&p).

 
Los Alamos "I don't like unions. I will fight them"

A short film telling the story of what happened to banana workers on the Los Alamos plantation in Ecuador when workers decided to organise and strike to gain basic labour rights. This unique eyewitness account of the strike and the response of the plantation owner, Ecuador's richest man. Running time 9 mins. Available in DVD or VHS format. English/Spanish.
Available from Banana Link (£5 plus p&p).

Bonita: Ugly Bananas

A documentary version of the Los Alamos story. Suitable for all audiences interested in human and labour rights. Running time 23 mins. Available in DVD or VHS format in English/Spanish.
Available from Greengold (£10 plus p&p).

Race to the Bottom CD-ROM
A PowerPoint presentation with photos of workers and conditions on Ecuador's banana plantations including a violent attack on workers in May 2002.
Available from Banana Link (£2.50 plus p&p).

"Fairtrade bananas are the best of the bunch." Song sheets also provided.
Available from Banana Link (£5 plus p&p).

Educational Activities
A range of educational activities for all ages explaining concepts of power and fairness in the banana trade.

Downloadable or available free from Banana Link:

Banana Globingo
Need an easy exercise to introduce banana issues to a large group of people? Banana Globingo can be used from 13 years upwards with groups of at least 8 people. Each person is given a copy of the questions on the sheet. The activity is not about knowing all the correct answers but rather about encouraging discussion and debate about the issues raised.

The Banana Game
The game has been adapted from a game initially published by Christian Aid. It allows players to discover what happens to a banana before it reaches the consumer and to introduce the reality of 'who gets what' in the chain.

I Agree I Disagree
An activity which enables participants to explore and analyse their opinions on global trade issues.

The Balance of Power
Explores which actors along the banana supply chain have power and why.

Available To Order From Banana Link:

The Truth About Bananas
This education pack (suitable for people aged 6 years plus) explores the realities, for people and their environment, behind the production and trade of our favourite fruit, the banana. It aims to empower users to challenge the injustices inherent in the banana industry. Much of the material is drama based, providing a fun and challenging approach to learning. Available from Banana Link (£8 inc p&p)

The Supermarket Game
A role play game suitable for people aged 13 years plus. This game aims to raise awareness of how world trade and the consumer choices that we make impact on the living conditions of banana workers and farmers. Players take on the roles of consumers and supermarkets - the supermarkets need to convince the consumers of why their bananas are best. Available from Banana Link (£5 plus p&p). 

The Advanced Banana Role Play Game
Aimed at 16 year olds and over, the role play game aims to generate interest and discussion about the complexity of the world trade system through the example of bananas. It raises issues including Codes of Conduct, Fairtrade, the WTO, consumer power, and the multinationals. The game lasts around one and a half hours. Available from Banana Link (£10 plus p&p).

Other:

'Bananeras: Women transforming the banana unions of Latin America' by Dana Frank
This highly recommended book offers an account of women banana workers' twenty year struggle to gain recognition for the important and central role they play in trade union activity, exploring how through education and empowerment, women are gaining a voice in the fight against corporations for workers rights.
Available from Banana Link priced £8.50 (includes p&p)

  'Choose Caribbean And Fairtrade' T-shirts
  Eye catching Banana Link design printed on T-shirts produced

  by Ethical Threads. Variety of sizes available from skinny fit

  to extra large.  Available for order from Banana Link priced

  £12 (plus p&p)