Fairtrade Town ?

[hermes2007]

I think we are already supporting British business through pouring billions into the damn Banks. All the economic writers say clearly that Protectionism would bring a deep crisis into a worldwide disaster, though I hope British businesses do get through this obviously and that we put more emphasis in the future on manufacturing and less on financial services that have proved a business built on sand. Although we all have less money to spend I think helping others in the world get on their feet is ultimately good for us. And for all its faults Fairtrade and similar seems a much better way to help than just dishing out aid=charity.

[hermes2007]

I a going to try and oush this further. Just for interest.
Devizes to go bananas for Fairtrade

The Devizes Fairtrade Group is inviting the people of Devizes to go bananas for Fairtrade and join the thousands across the UK who will be eating a Fairtrade banana between midday on Friday 6th to midday on Saturday 7th March, to set a world record for the largest number of Fairtrade bananas eaten over a 24 hour period.
The Banana Fun event will take place in the Market Place on Saturday 7th from 9am to 1pm, the last day of this year’s Fairtrade Fortnight.

”We want to end the fortnight with a bang-nana!” says Sara Cundy, Wiltshire’s Fairtrade Coalition Co-ordinator.

“The idea is to get as many people to come along, pledge their support and then eat a banana – this is then recorded and fed into the record attempt.”

You can go for a plain banana or try something different like a banana smoothie, banana pancake or banana bread. There will also be banana races and jousting, so it’s sure to be lots of fun for all the family.

“We want to send a clear message to retailers that people want Fairtrade bananas and that they need to stock more of them.”

“The Fairtrade Foundation aims to make half of all bananas sold in the UK Fairtrade. Many people who grow and harvest bananas endure unacceptable working and living conditions,” she says.

“The workers’ local environment is often ruined by toxic chemicals and intensive farming. The Fairtrade Mark guarantees a fair price that covers the cost of production and enables farmers to support their families and work towards more sustainable farming methods by reducing chemical usage.”

Antonia Tolhurst, of the Devizes Fairtrade Group, says: “After living in poor countries in Africa I am aware of how lucky we are to live in a rich country where we can expect a decent return for our skills and labour.”

“I want to make sure people in developing countries receive a fair reward for their work, by buying Fairtrade. We hear all the time of the ‘global village’ and how all people everywhere are linked by international trade and relations and yet we allow gross unfairness to continue and poor people to be paid too little for the things they produce – on the farm or in the sweatshop. Fairtrade tries to redress this injustice and this is why I support it,” she adds.

“We are grateful to Sainsbury's and Lidl for kindly donating the Fairtrade bananas for this event,” says Antonia. Winners of the Schools Banana Writing competition will also be announced during the event – the winning entries will be displayed in the market place during the banana eating.

At the nearby Farmers’ Market there will be a Traidcraft stall with copies of the new Kennnet Fairtrade Directory. For more information on the UK going bananas for Fairtrade visit the 'Go Bananas' pages on the Fairtrade Foundation website.

The list below gives details of the events being held around the county, from now to the end of the fortnight.

Kennet

Saturday 7th March, 9am-1pm, Market Place, Devizes
Banana Fun – join thousands of people across the country who will be eating a Fairtrade banana between 12pm on Friday 6th to 12pm Saturday 7th March, to set a world record for the largest number of Fairtrade bananas eaten over a 24 hour period. For more information, contact Jacky Thomas at Wiltshire Wildlife Trust on (01380) 725 670 ext 261.

North Wiltshire and Swindon

From Monday 23rd February to Saturday 7th March, during library opening times, Chippenham Library
Fairtrade Display, with free copies of the new Fairtrade Directory for Chippenham

Saturday 8th March, 11am-2pm, Swindon Steam Museum
Fairtrade Stall at Wiltshire Wildlife Trust’s Greener Living Roadshow

West Wiltshire

From Monday 23rd February to Saturday 7th March, during library opening times, Warminister Library
Fairtrade Display

From Monday 23rd February to Saturday 7th March, during library opening times, Bradford-on-Avon Library
Fairtrade Display

From Monday 23rd February to Saturday 7th March, Who Cares?, 33 Silver Street, Bradford-on-Avon
Ethical shop ‘Who Cares?’ is taking part in the challenge for as many Fairtrade bananas to be eaten in 24 hours between noon on 6th March and noon on the 7th. During the fortnight they will be selling organic Fairtrade bananas for £1.62/kg and can offer the price of £1.52/kg to Bradford's three schools. There will also be a free banana for all the younger customers aged 1-8.
For more information contact Who Cares? on (01225) 866 590.

Friday 6th March, 3.30-5.30pm, Sainsbury’s, Bradford-on-Avon
Stall at Sainsbury’s – encouraging shoppers to ‘Go Bananas’ and eat a banana as part of the national challenge. Copies of the Fairtrade Directory will also be available.

Saturday 7th March, 10am-12.30pm, Quaker Meeting House, Whiteheads Lane, off Silver Street, Bradford-on Avon
Fairtrade Coffee Morning – try the ‘luxury banana milkshake’. There will also be stalls selling crafts.

http://www.wiltshirewildlife.org/SjHY2f4psEO2hpjCBafXYQ%3d%3d/NewsArticle.aspx?mainmenuretained=3z8azr2kQE27AwAay%2f8CVw%3d%3d&articlepage=NewsArticle.aspx&ses=PmjRiOp3tEC4PaCWC6INOA%3d%3d&articlespage=0

[hermes2007]

oops - push this further!
my fingers aren't working quite right this morning.

[Yokel]

Quoth "I think we are already supporting British business through pouring billions into the damn Banks. All the economic writers say clearly that Protectionism would bring a deep crisis into a worldwide disaster, though "

The whole concnept of Fairtrade is protectionism in the extreme!!

[hermes2007]

No one is forcing people to buy FairTrade goods, but by (in theory at least) giving farmers in very poor countries a chance to grow and sell their goods I think that is better than just giving them aid. Protectionism is much more than that. It, to my mind at least, is more like the Coop movement which helps smaller producers to compete with the big corporations (who by instinct at least try to create a monopoly for themselves). But I am not really a free trader so no doubt my prejudices show through.

http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/what_is_fairtrade/faqs.aspx

When I was in Trowbridge yesterday there was a big banner up saying 'Trowbridge FairTrade town' so they may have achieved their status now. I can't see it making a huge difference to the trade in Westbury, but as Tesco's keep proclaiming 'Every Little Helps'.

[Yokel]

agreed - people can buy fair trade if they want - or deliberately not buy fair tarde if they want - when alls said and done its not about the fact that 17p of the 20p extra you paid for your chocolate goes in the retailers extra profits rather than actually to the supplier, or that fairtrade is so badly policed its basically meaningless and in principle it drives stagnation rather than progress - its simply about how you FEEL when you buy the product with the label on it.

Personally, Rainforest alliance seems to be a good idea - at leats they take some proper action and actually do something.