South West Fairtrade Day
46 people from 21 towns attended the South West Region Fairtrade day on 26th April at the Empire and Commonwealth Museum, Bristol. Hannah Reed from the Fairtrade Foundation outlined the exciting vision for Fairtrade nationally and regionally in the next few years and groups discussed ideas of how to promote Fairtrade locally. The reps voted to continue meeting annually as a south west region to share ideas and plan joint events and promotions.'
- Photo: Nick Spollin www.nickspollin.co.uk
Fairtrade Fortnight 2008
Fairtrade Fortnight 2008 in Bristol was a huge success. Find out more about what we did here:
Launch Event
We launched Fairtrade Fortnight in Bristol with the opening of the Fairtrade Art Exhibition at the Create Centre by the Lord mayor. A giant art wall had been created by children from Easton and St Pauls with a local artist, Neil Bonnett. There was huge benefit in involving schools from the poorer and more ethnically diverse areas of Bristol who have not heard about Fairtrade before. The piece formed the centre of the exhibition. Local councillors and MPs were also in attendance. Fairtrade refreshments were provided by Brian Wogan and the Create Centre cafe. The art wall will go 'on tour' to different locations around the City as a visual inspiration about Fairtrade.
Children fromMillpond Primary School who helped create the FT Art Wall on display at the Create Centre during FT Fortnight
Fanfare for Fairtrade Concert
450 children from 14 schools participated in our Fairtrade concert at the Colston hall, singing songs of justice and peace, organised in partnership with the Bristol Music Service. The youth choir World Roots Voice also sang. Martha Gonzales, a Fairtrade coffee producer from Nicaragua, spoke about the benefits of Fairtrade and a short DVD about the difference Fairtrade makes to banana farmers in the Dominican republic was shown. The evening was hugely enjoyable attended by 816 people. We supplied each child who sang with a Fairtrade mark badge.
Fanfare for Fairtrade: the choir of 450 children from 14 schools singing for Fairtrade at the Colston Hall, conducted by Kate Courage from the Bristol Music Service
Fairtrade Fashion Show, Monks Park school
The Monks Park Fairtrade Steering Group organised a Fairtrade Fashion Show with clothes from M&S, Pass the Parcel and Traidcraft. The Co-operative donated food and drink. The students were both models and MC and Martha Gonzales also spoke. Around 60 people (mostly parents and friends of the models) attended the event.
Fairtrade vs Food Miles Debate
St Stephens Church organised a debate on this theme following questions that arose from George Alagiah's visit there in November 07 as patron of the Fairtrade Foundation. Speakers were from the Soil Assn, Oxfam, Bordeaux Quay restaurant and the Bristol Fairtrade Co-ordinator. The audience of 30 was very informed and the debate was intelligent and lively with a lot of participation from the audience. There was clearly a widespread support for Fairtrade and an awareness that Food Miles is a misleading indicator of carbon emissions. The environmental guarantees behind the Fairtrade mark and the fact that most Fairtrade goods are shipped were all points that the audience appreciated and it was good to put those across.
Fairtrade Bus - Family Fun Day
The Fairtrade Foundation's Bus tour ended in Bristol with a fun day in Anchor Square. There were games, smoothie-making demos, face painting and a large fFirtrade marketplace as well as Oxfam's swap shop. Fairtrade banana producer Amos Wiltshire spoke from on top of the Bus of how Fairtrade has literally transformed the economy of Domenica now that they sell 100% of their bananas to the Fairtrade market. The raffle prizes were donated by M&S and Green Knickers and free samples were provided by the Co-operative, Zuma, Tropical Wholefoods, Liberation and Berry Nuts.
Report on George Alagiah's Visit to Bristol
George Alagiah visited Bristol in his role of patron of the Fairtrade Foundation.
He spoke at a Business Breakfast held at the Empire and Commonwealth Museum who provided the venue. 38 business leaders attended and enjoyed a Fairtrade breakfast provided by the Co-operative Group, during which George and I were interviewed live on Radio Bristol. He spoke about the poverty he had witnessed as a journalist which is the most common cause of war and genocide, and how Fairtrade provides a viable, sustainable answer to this (photo 1). I have received 5 Emails of thanks from those who attended, all of whom enjoyed the event and feel inspired to buy more Fairtrade and become Fairtrade workplaces.
George then viewed the Breaking the Chains exhibition about the history and legacy of slavery, escorted by one of the creators of the media part of the exhibition. He then had lunch with the members of Bristol Link with Nicaragua group at a local Fairtrade cafe.
In the afternoon George visited 2 schools: at Fairfield he spoke to year 10/11 Geography students and Citizenship pupils who have expressed an interest in forming the Fairtrade School Steering Group. The students were very interested in George's tales of the wars and poverty he had seen and were challenging about how people like themselves, from the poorer areas of Bristol, could afford to 'buy into' Fairtrade, but many are keen to take things forward in their school.
At Monks Park school, George spoke to the newly formed Fairtrade school Steering Group to inspire them as to the benefits of Fairtrade to people in poorer countries (photo 2).
After a well-earned tea break, George then spoke at a public meeting at St Stephen's Church in the centre of Bristol. There was a Fairtrade marketplace where people could buy a variety of fairly-traded goods, and enjoy Fairtrade refreshments provided by the Co-operative Group and Brian Wogan. 85 people listened to George speak of some of the families and individuals he has met whose lives have been transformed by the Fairtrade system and also about how Fairtrade has successfully entered the mainstream and how consumer demand for Fairtrade needs to increase to really make a mark on poverty-reduction. There were a great many questions from the audience which led to very interesting and informative event. Everyone took away a Bristol Fairtrade Christmas Directory and other information on Fairtrade.
George is an excellent advocate for Fairtrade and a wonderfully fresh and inspiring speaker. We were honoured to have him with us for the day and it provided a huge boost to our work promoting Fairtrade in Bristol.
- Jenny Foster, Bristol Fairtrade Co-ordinator, 12/11/07
Fairtrade Cola
A new Fairtrade product to hit the streets (well OK, the shops) of Bristol is Ubuntu Cola, the first Fairtrade cola to be produced. Made with Fairtrade sugar and cola extract from Malawi and Zambia the cola is currently available in cans from Chandos Deli, Southville Deli and Bocacino. It has only been available before in Oxford, and Bristol is the next trialling venue, so let's make sure it's here to stay - hunt it down and try it out!
- Check out their website www.ubuntu-trading.com
Fairtrade Fashion Show Photo
Check out this photo from the Fairtrade Fashion Show.
BRISTOL FAIRTRADE CO-ORDINATOR VISITS PHILIPPINES
Bristol's Fairtrade Co-ordinator, Jenny Foster, has just returned from a visit to Fairtrade producers in the Philippines. It was so inspiring to see the difference that Fairtrade makes to small scale producers; we visited Bicol which has been devastated by 3 typhoons. Those craft producers who were in a Fairtrade Co-operative received food aid and re-roofing supplies paid for by the Fairtrade social premium, distributed by the co-op according to need. We also met some producers who are not able to sell to the Fairtrade market – they lost part of their homes and all their raw materials – and there was no recompense available. The price they receive for their goods barely covers the cost of production but they have no other access to income, particularly in rural areas. The message to us here in the West is to create more demand for Fairtrade products so that more producers can come in under the Fairtrade umbrella.
Producers told us proudly of paid for with Fairtrade money and that they had funded their children’s college education with their higher level of income – a very rare luxury amongst the rural communities we visited.
We also saw the importance of Fairtrade in the cities. Manila has a population of 14million people, 7 million of whom live in slum housing. These temporary shanty towns are illegal and regularly get cleared by the government, leaving people homeless and having to move on every few months. Those workers who can gain employment with a Fairtrade company get a higher, regular wage, enabling them to access secure housing for the first time.
The SME projects receive business support and training from the Advocate of Philippine Fair Trade Inc (APFTI) who hosted my visit. They are working hard to access new markets and ensure the products are of the highest quality. The producers all use local materials and adhere to environmental and health and safety conditions. They also guarantee protection of children from child labour, in a country where children routinely leave school early to work to boost the family income.
I came back inspired about the huge potential of Fairtrade to lift people out of poverty whilst rewarding hard work and enterprise. But we desperately need more Fairtrade markets for more producers to benefit. Please buy Fairtrade whenever you can and encourage others to do the same.
- If anyone is interested in knowing more, please visit these websites
- www.apfti.org.ph,
- www.fftv.ph
- www.safrudi.com
FAIRTRADE SCHOOLS
The Fairtrade Foundation has now launched its criteria for Fairtrade schools. The 5 criteria are easy to work towards and involve pupils, staff and the local community.
GOAL 1. Our school has set up a Fairtrade School Steering Group
The steering group is a group of people - teachers, pupils, other adults in the school community – who get together to lead the school in becoming a Fairtrade School. This could be your School Council or other existing body, which holds a meeting specifically about becoming a Fairtrade school.
GOAL 2. Our school has written and adopted a whole school Fairtrade Policy
The Fairtrade Policy puts in writing your decision to become a Fairtrade School, what that means for your school, and says that the whole school supports it. We have a proforma Fairtrade Policy which you could adopt.
GOAL 3. Our school is committed to selling, promoting and using Fairtrade products
This is about making Fairtrade products (things such as drinks, snacks, footballs, fashion…) available in your school and beyond, perhaps serving it at Parents Evenings and school fairs, and using it in the staffroom.
GOAL 4. Our whole school learns about Fairtrade issues
A Fairtrade School uses every opportunity to learn about the people who make the products, and how Fairtrade makes their lives more secure. Lessons in at least 2 year groups and 3 wider school activities.
GOAL 5. Our school is committed to promoting and taking action for Fairtrade in school and the wider community
3 whole school activities and one that takes Fairtrade into the wider Community eg as part of a school fair or Fun day.
If you're interested in working towards becoming a Fairtrade school, please contact Jenny Foster, Bristol Fairtrade Network Co-ordinator jenny@bristolfairtradenetwork.org.uk, 0117-922-4916, who can provide help and resources.
- Get involved, get motivated, make a difference!
Fairtrade Fortnight 2007 Photos
Chris Rowlands and Tim Clifford won the Fairtrade Fortnight Traidcraft wine competition
DAS - winners of the Fairtrade workplace competition - with their FT chocolate fountain and FT fruit dips. They won a case of Fairtrade wine from Traidcraft.
Launch event at the Empire and Commonwealth Museum - Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for International Development, Melba Estrada, Nicaraguan Fairtrade Coffee producer and Lord Mayor of Bristol.
Pupils from St Teresa's RC Primary School (we have their permission to post it) held a Fairtrade stall.
Review of Fairtrade Fortnight 2007
Fairtrade Fortnight launched in Bristol with Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for International Development and Melba Estrada, Fairtrade Coffee Producer from Nicaragua, speaking about fairtrade and being questionned by the audience. The event, held at the Empire and Commonwealth Museum, was covered by the Evening Post and ITV West.
Our Fairtrade Market stall in St Nick's market sold �400 of fairtrade goods over 2 days. We hope to have further stalls in the run-up to Christmas. The Play Fair concert was a fun way to celebarte Fairtrade fortnight. Approx 70 people danced to music by Mankala and other bands, watched video footage of Fairtrade producers in Dominican Republic, Uganda and Nicaragua and shopped in the Fairtrade marketplace.
- Support our Fairtrade City!
Try Fairtrade Wines
Fairtrade wines are now widely available at all major supermarkets. The Co-op has a particularly comprehensive range of excellent tasting wines. The quality has improved significantly over the past year,and the benefits to the growers are enormous.
For an ethical tipple, try a bottle of Fairtrade wine - cheers!
Meet the Fairtrade Co-ordinator for Bristol
Jenny Foster has been Co-ordinator of the Bristol Fairtrade Network since October 2006.
Jenny, who previously ran fairtrade Cafe Unlimited on Gloucester Road, co-ordinated events around the city for Fairtrade Fortnight and beyond, as well as increasing awareness and use of Fairtrade products in Bristol to build on our Fairtrade City status.
Jenny also hopes to work closely with schools and church groups. She is based at the Create Centre in Smeaton Road and is keen for anybody with an interest in promoting Fairtrade to contact her at jenny@bristolfairtradenetwork.org.uk or on 0117-922-4916.
Jenny said: " Fairtrade Is so positive to be Involved with. Often people read about world poverty and feel there's nothing they can do, but the simple action of buying fairtrade makes such a difference to the lives of disadvantaged farmers In developing countries. I hope to enthuse and empower many more people to switch to fairtrade and make Bristol a leading centre for fairtrade across the country."
In 2007 one of the themes in Bristol will be From Slave Trade to Fairtrade to mark the 200th anniversary of the Abolition of Slavery Act. Jenny will be working closely with the Abolition 200 project to mark the anniversary. Fairtrade is a positive way to redress some of the evils of the past and plan for a more positive trading relationship with countries we have previously exploited.
Update Directory listings online
The revamped Bristol Fairtrade website is now online at www.bristolfairtradenetwork.org.uk Anyone who wants to add cafes, shops, suppliers and businesses to the Bristol Fairtrade Directory can fill in the form online. The website also carries details of Fairtrade events in Bristol plus links to a world of Fairtrade information and resources. Add your listings today!
Get your Fairtrade School packs
Pupils, teachers, governors and parents who want to find out how their schools can support Fairtrade can download a complete information pack from the Co-opís special Fairtrade website at www.co-opfairtrade.co.uk. The packs contain stacks of info and resources including sections on a Background to Fairtrade, Activities, How to make your school Fairtrade, Fairtrade friends, Workshops, Lessons and much more.
Visit the website and follow the links to the schools pages where you can either download the pack in pdf format or order a CD-ROM.
- www.co-opfairtrade.co.uk, Co-op, Freepost, Manchester M4 8BA. Freephone: 0800 0686 727
News
All the latest products, ranges, information packs and details of how to get more involved with Fairtrade
NEW FAIRTRADE SUCCESSES!
Lidl supermarkets are now stocking Fairtrade! They are selling 7 new lines - including coffee, bananas and orange juice at competitive prices. They have also produced an excellent information leaflet explaining about the benefits of Fairtrade.
AMT kiosks are now selling Divine chocolate bars to enjoy with their Fairtrade tea and coffee.
Co-op supermarkets have brought out a Fairtrade version of their classic '99' tea.
The revolution is spreading! Keep buying Fairtrade - more demand means more fair deals for producers.
