Fairtrade Fortnight 2009

I know, I know. We’ve only just seen of Christmas and the New Year celebrations but thoughts are now turning to Fairtrade Fortnight, which runs from the 23rd February to 8th March.

Fairtrade Fortnight is an annual campaign to raise awareness and promote products that hold the FAIRTRADE Mark. You can find out about events that are taking place throughout the UK by visting the Fairtrade Foundation’s website.

Fairtrade Towns

If you are interested in turning your local community into a Fairtrade Town, why not visit the Yahoo Fairtrade Town Group, which is a discussion forum for groups and individuals who are campaigning to turn their local community into a Fairtrade Village, Town, City or Island, following the goals which are set by the Fairtrade Foundation.

As well as using the Fairtrade Foundation’s website, this is a great resource as it is used by experienced Fairtrade Town activists. It offers practical advice, ideas and draws on people’s personal experiences and what has and hasn’t worked for them.

 

Recommended Fairtrade Book

Sometimes when you want to read up on a subject it’s hard to know where to start. 

I’m currently reading (as and when I get time!) ”Fighting the Banana Wars and other Fairtrade Battles” by Harriet Lamb, who is the Executive Director of the Fairtrade Foundation.  So far, this has left me feeling very optimistic and postive about the changes that can be made if we put the effort in.

As well as talking about her personal experiences, the book also includes a chapter with a ten step guide to Fairtrade and a chapter about the history of Fairtrade.

Although it’s full of facts and figures, it’s done in a very natural way (by this I mean, it all fits together nicely - not as though its been added because it has to be) and I’ve found it very easy to follow.

Fair Trade or Fairtrade?

Confused by the differences in fairtrade and fair trade?

Fair trade is a term often used to indicate ethical trading. This means that companies are involved in trying to ensure that the basic labour rights of the employees of their third world suppliers are respected. Ethical trading is based around ensuring that no exploitation takes place. This includes:-

Ensuring no use of forced labour;

• Allowing the freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining;
• Providing safe and hygienic working conditions;
• Ensuring no child labour is used;
• Ensuring living wages are paid;
• Ensuring that workers don’t have to work excessive hours;
• Ensuring there is no discrimination;
• Ensuring that regular employment to be provided;
• Ensuring that no harsh or inhumane treatment of workers takes place.

Some companies do try to use the words fair trade when describing their business and business ethics. It is always therefore wise to look at any ethical membership they claim to hold and to check out their ethical (or other) policies. Of course, these aren’t always going to prove whether the company is trading ethically or not but they should give you some indication. For more information about ethical trading visit the Ethical Trading Initiative website.

Fairtrade is the term that is used to describe products that hold the FAIRTRADE mark which is awarded by the Fairtrade Foundation. This mark is a guarantee that the producers have been given a better deal for their work. It addresses the injustice of low prices by guaranteeing that producers receive fair terms of trade and fair prices – however unfair the conventional market is.