I would like to thank the kind folks of Comic Relief, especially Laura Falk and Kate Jones, for letting me have a copy of this pack for review purposes here on the “Ethical Living Review”, which I was kindly given at the Fairtrade Fortnight launch event on Sunday, February 24, 2008 at the South Bank in London.
I have now, finally, have had the time to watch the DVD and get down to reviewing the pack.
The photos are brilliant in illustrating, away from the DVD, the issues about cocoa growing, chocolate and Fairtrade, and the DVD is highly informative and I must say that even I, a writer and journalist, have learned a great deal about this issue, e.g. the production of cocoa and chocolate.
The DVD and photo pack support the Pa Pa Paa interactive website. Order the pack and you will receive:
• 35 minute modular DVD film explaining how cocoa is harvested, traded, processed and retailed; and how one school used Fairtrade chocolate to launch an awareness campaign
• 30 minutes of DVD extras - including harvesting, chocolate production, nutrition and Fairtrade
• 20 high quality A4 images illustrating the cocoa journey from bean to bar, plus other images of characters introduced on the website showing where they live and work
Information on the DVD is most suitable for Key Stage 3 but many sections are great for Key Stages 2 and 4 as well.
The DVD and photo pack costs £8.00 including postage and packing.
ORDER BY PHONE, FAX OR POST
Phone 01795 427614 (credit card payment required)
Send a cheque made payable to “Comic Relief Education Distribution Service” or purchase order to:
COMIC RELIEF EDUCATION DISTRIBUTION SERVICE
Education House
Castle Road
Sittingbourne
Kent
ME10 3RL
To order by Fax you will need to download the official order from from the website here (this is a PDF document) and then Fax with an official purchase order to 01795 437988.
The Dubble chocolate bar that is mentioned and referred to in the DVD and the pack I have reviewed here.
© Michael Smith (Veshengro), February 2008
Dubble Chocolate Bar – Product Review
The “description” by the makers goes like “smooth milk chocolate, crispy crunch, guarantees rair play for cocoa growers... dubbly good!”
Dubble is a smooth milk chocolate bar with crispy rice and is produced under the Fairtrade label. So, what can one say about a chocolate bar other than recommend it or not and I surely can recommend this one, and that for a couple of reasons:
One – it tastes great, and I mean it (I could do with a case of it or two – hint, hint) and – two – it is Fairtrade, which means that the cocoa growers in the developing world get a fair price for their produce that make up this chocolate bar.
I doubt that there is more that can or could be said about this product with the exception – go and buy some; it is for a good cause, in more than one sense of the word.
© Michael Smith (Veshengro), February 2008
Fair Trade and the Bottom Line
Many more people, I am sure, would love (to be) able to buy most if not indeed all of what they buy, as far as this is possible, under the Fairtrade label but the prices of the products too often are rather prohibitive. This is especially so for those on a so-called “fixed income”, e.g. those in the lower income brackets, including us poor writers. You think I am joking as regards to writers, but I am not.
It appears to me, though, that if Sainsbury's can sell Fairtrade certified and labelled bananas under its white Basics label at around 99pence a bag them other retailers add a premium here somewhere.
The same is true for tea and coffee. Sainsbury's recently went over to Fairtrade certification with its Red Label tea, loose and teabags, at no extra costs (so far). If it can be done by Sainsbury's then I am sure other larger retailers can do the same without having to reduce the amount that the producers get.
Now, the point that I am trying to make here is this: Why do Fairtrade certified and labelled products and goods cost so much more from other manufacturers and retailers? Is someone out there really trying to make us believe that they who have a larger price tag on their products share a greater proportion of their profits from the sales of their Fairtrade labelled goods and produce with the producers and makers? They must really think that the consumers have fallen off the turnip wagon somewhere along the line. Or are there some people out there who are really that gullible?
I think we, the consumers and we from the media, must remind those companies that we are not silly and that we do know about the bottom line and about shareholders.
While I can understand smaller companies who sell Fairtrade goods being more expensive than the large outlets, whether Sainsbury's, Tesco, Asda, or whoever and whatever, as the smaller the company the harder the overheads and everything bites, and also the transport costs and all that, I cannot understand why we are being fleeced by the big boys, especially by those of which I am certain that they do not contribute more to the producers than the absolute required minimum under the appropriate schemes.
This is the same not just with the Fairtrade label, is it now? The same is true with the “organic” label, whether on food or on other items. While there may be some additional costs in organic food production or cotton production, due to the fact that neither artificial fertilizers nor pesticides are being used or are allowed to be used and therefore there may be some losses and such, the premium in general, I am sure, does not equate those factors. In other words; it is the consumer, who wants organic or Fairtrade, or environmentally friendly, who is being fleeced by the companies, yet again.
© Michael Smith (Veshengro), February 2008
It appears to me, though, that if Sainsbury's can sell Fairtrade certified and labelled bananas under its white Basics label at around 99pence a bag them other retailers add a premium here somewhere.
The same is true for tea and coffee. Sainsbury's recently went over to Fairtrade certification with its Red Label tea, loose and teabags, at no extra costs (so far). If it can be done by Sainsbury's then I am sure other larger retailers can do the same without having to reduce the amount that the producers get.
Now, the point that I am trying to make here is this: Why do Fairtrade certified and labelled products and goods cost so much more from other manufacturers and retailers? Is someone out there really trying to make us believe that they who have a larger price tag on their products share a greater proportion of their profits from the sales of their Fairtrade labelled goods and produce with the producers and makers? They must really think that the consumers have fallen off the turnip wagon somewhere along the line. Or are there some people out there who are really that gullible?
I think we, the consumers and we from the media, must remind those companies that we are not silly and that we do know about the bottom line and about shareholders.
While I can understand smaller companies who sell Fairtrade goods being more expensive than the large outlets, whether Sainsbury's, Tesco, Asda, or whoever and whatever, as the smaller the company the harder the overheads and everything bites, and also the transport costs and all that, I cannot understand why we are being fleeced by the big boys, especially by those of which I am certain that they do not contribute more to the producers than the absolute required minimum under the appropriate schemes.
This is the same not just with the Fairtrade label, is it now? The same is true with the “organic” label, whether on food or on other items. While there may be some additional costs in organic food production or cotton production, due to the fact that neither artificial fertilizers nor pesticides are being used or are allowed to be used and therefore there may be some losses and such, the premium in general, I am sure, does not equate those factors. In other words; it is the consumer, who wants organic or Fairtrade, or environmentally friendly, who is being fleeced by the companies, yet again.
© Michael Smith (Veshengro), February 2008
Big Nationals and Multinationals joining the Fairtrade Family
On the very eve of the launch of the Fairtrade Fortnight we have seen Tate & Lyle, one of the world's largest sugar refiners, jump onto the Fairtrade bandwagon, joining other big names such as Sainsbury's and Starbucks, to mention but a few.
Sainsbury's only recently began using Fairtrade for its own products including the probably best bananas that I have eaten from them in a awhile, and that under their own white Basics label, at 99pence a bag. In addition to that not more than a couple of weeks ago they added their own brand, an old and longstanding one, Red Label tea to the list of Fairtrade certified own label products.
Sainsbury's was then, not long after, joined by Starbucks in them, that is Starbucks, offering some of their coffee as “Fairtrade certified”.
Call me a cynic, if you like, but I am asking myself as to what is going on.
While it is very good to see all those large nationals and multinationals, such as Sainsbury's, Tate & Lyle, Starbucks, and so on, join the Fairtrade family, and it can only be commended and we can only encourage others to follow suit, I am a little concerned that there is more to this than meets the eye. As I said, I am a cynic and always look for the hidden agenda and as to whether the wool is being pulled over the public, and here especially the consumer's eyes.
Let's look at one company in particular, namely Nestle, and here Nescafe. I do know that that instant Fairtrade certified coffee of theirs, which, by the way, is very good for a instant coffee and even someone like myself who only drinks instant if really forced to, so to speak, quite enjoyed it, has been around for a little while. The question, however, that I am asking, as the cynic that I am, is, why is not everything then of Nestle, coffee, chocolate, and what-have-you, Fairtrade? Is this just "greenwash", so to speak, and trying to throw sand into the eyes of the consumer? As a cynic I am suggesting that the reason Nescafe has jumped, whenever this was, onto the Fairtrade bandwagon, was in order to ease their conscience, and may be not even that. The bottom line is what they are interested in and therefore the hope is and was to add a little Fairtrade certificate here and there might get the consumer to look a different direction and, also, to actually cash in on the market share of the Fairtrade buying consumers. That, in my opinion, is what is behind the likes of Nescafe joining the Fairtrade bandwagon. The bottom line is all that counts for them, their bottom line, not that of some poor producer in some developing country. That is just window dressing.
I do not want to suggest that others are on the Fairtrade label for the same reason and companies such as Cafedirect who are a Fairtrade only, as far as I can see, company certainly could not be accused of such activities. However, one can but wonder as to the reasons of some of the large players on the national and multinational field. While I do not wish to suggest that Sainsbury's or Tate & Lyle, the latter who want to do all the sugar now as Fairtrade, are in the same league as those that only want to ease, as it would appear, their conscience by having some of their products under the Fairtrade label, I would still suggest that all of us keep a very close eye on all of those big players as to how they live up to what they have begun to promise us.
We, the media, who also are consumers, and all of you readers out there, can influence the companies' behavior in the field of fair trade for all and a decent living for all concerned. If, and it is shown that they do it, Sainsbury's can sell Fairtrade bananas under it's white Basics label at around the £1 mark or thereabouts and the Red Label tea that has gone under the Fairtrade label recently without increasing the price to we the consumer then others can also produce at an affordable price, especially the very large players in the various games, and give a decent return to the growers of the coffee beans, the tea leaves, the cocoa, the cotton, etc.
© Michael Smith (Veshengro), February 2008
Sainsbury's only recently began using Fairtrade for its own products including the probably best bananas that I have eaten from them in a awhile, and that under their own white Basics label, at 99pence a bag. In addition to that not more than a couple of weeks ago they added their own brand, an old and longstanding one, Red Label tea to the list of Fairtrade certified own label products.
Sainsbury's was then, not long after, joined by Starbucks in them, that is Starbucks, offering some of their coffee as “Fairtrade certified”.
Call me a cynic, if you like, but I am asking myself as to what is going on.
While it is very good to see all those large nationals and multinationals, such as Sainsbury's, Tate & Lyle, Starbucks, and so on, join the Fairtrade family, and it can only be commended and we can only encourage others to follow suit, I am a little concerned that there is more to this than meets the eye. As I said, I am a cynic and always look for the hidden agenda and as to whether the wool is being pulled over the public, and here especially the consumer's eyes.
Let's look at one company in particular, namely Nestle, and here Nescafe. I do know that that instant Fairtrade certified coffee of theirs, which, by the way, is very good for a instant coffee and even someone like myself who only drinks instant if really forced to, so to speak, quite enjoyed it, has been around for a little while. The question, however, that I am asking, as the cynic that I am, is, why is not everything then of Nestle, coffee, chocolate, and what-have-you, Fairtrade? Is this just "greenwash", so to speak, and trying to throw sand into the eyes of the consumer? As a cynic I am suggesting that the reason Nescafe has jumped, whenever this was, onto the Fairtrade bandwagon, was in order to ease their conscience, and may be not even that. The bottom line is what they are interested in and therefore the hope is and was to add a little Fairtrade certificate here and there might get the consumer to look a different direction and, also, to actually cash in on the market share of the Fairtrade buying consumers. That, in my opinion, is what is behind the likes of Nescafe joining the Fairtrade bandwagon. The bottom line is all that counts for them, their bottom line, not that of some poor producer in some developing country. That is just window dressing.
I do not want to suggest that others are on the Fairtrade label for the same reason and companies such as Cafedirect who are a Fairtrade only, as far as I can see, company certainly could not be accused of such activities. However, one can but wonder as to the reasons of some of the large players on the national and multinational field. While I do not wish to suggest that Sainsbury's or Tate & Lyle, the latter who want to do all the sugar now as Fairtrade, are in the same league as those that only want to ease, as it would appear, their conscience by having some of their products under the Fairtrade label, I would still suggest that all of us keep a very close eye on all of those big players as to how they live up to what they have begun to promise us.
We, the media, who also are consumers, and all of you readers out there, can influence the companies' behavior in the field of fair trade for all and a decent living for all concerned. If, and it is shown that they do it, Sainsbury's can sell Fairtrade bananas under it's white Basics label at around the £1 mark or thereabouts and the Red Label tea that has gone under the Fairtrade label recently without increasing the price to we the consumer then others can also produce at an affordable price, especially the very large players in the various games, and give a decent return to the growers of the coffee beans, the tea leaves, the cocoa, the cotton, etc.
© Michael Smith (Veshengro), February 2008
Fairtrade Fortnight Launched
London, Sunday 24, 2008 – Today saw the launch of Fairtrade Fortnight 2008 with a Fairtrade Fairground on the Southbank of the Thames in London.The launch was well attended by the public, especially also due to the fact that it was taking place in a public thoroughfare, more or less, and there was lots of “passing trade” and it was well supported by various vendors and producers of Fairtrade labelled products.
The event also saw the launch of the Fairtrade certified “Berry Nutty” range of peanut snacks produced under the “Planters” label in the UK. More about the product itself in the Ethical Living Review shortly.
A very nice address was given by the BBC's George Alagiah that set the tone and scene as to what the Fairtrade Foundation and this Fortnight is all about, and which was very well received by all present.
The weather too held off with the forecast rain until later in the afternoon and initially the day was bright and even sunny at times. By early afternoon, however, the skies began to darken over and the wind made itself up a little more that before.
Nevertheless, I am sure, everyone had a great time and the Fairtrade Fortnight got well and truly launched.
© Michael Smith (Veshengro), February 2008
Tate & Lyle goes “Fairtrade”
London, February 23, 2008 – Tate & Lyle, one of the largest sugar companies, has announced on the eve of the launch of Fairtrade Fortnight that it is producing sugar now under the Fairtrade label.
It is Tate & Lyle ambition to move its entire retail cane sugars range to Fairtrade, marking the largest ever switch to the ethical labelling scheme by any major UK food or drink brand.
It is reckoned that In the first year alone, the switch will create a return of at least £2 million in Fairtrade premiums for cane farmers.
The first product to be licensed to carry the FAIRTRADE Mark will be Tate & Lyle Granulated White Cane Sugar, sourced from Belize; Tate & Lyle’s first accredited grower-partner, from whom it has purchased sugar for over 35 years.
The major scale of Tate & Lyle’s conversion to Fairtrade sugar has involved two years in planning. The company has worked in partnership with the UK-based Fairtrade Foundation and its international organisation to help cane farmers in Northern Belize meet Fairtrade standards. This includes working with the sole sugar processor in the country, Belize Sugar Industries, and over 6,000 smallholder farmers, represented by the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association.
Steven Hermiston from Tate & Lyle Sugars said: “This is an incredibly exciting time for Tate & Lyle. Now, every time you buy a pack of Tate & Lyle Fairtrade cane sugar, farming communities will benefit. Over the years, these communities have been hit by higher input prices, changes in the EU market, not to mention challenges thrown up by natural disasters such as last year’s Hurricane Dean. Our commitment will help ensure a livelihood for farmers and the Fairtrade premium will be invested to improve their long-term prospects. We are only at the beginning of this journey but are ambitious to have all our retail cane sugar range bearing the FAIRTRADE Mark by the end of 2009.”
Fairtrade Foundation Executive Director Harriet Lamb comments: “Fairtrade is already making a big difference to the lives of more than seven million people in the developing world, but there are millions more we’d like to reach. In terms of size and scale, this is the biggest ever Fairtrade switch by a UK company and it’s tremendous this iconic UK brand is backing Fairtrade. We’d now like to encourage other companies of the same size and scale as Tate & Lyle to think actively about making a similar commitment. The more we can make Fairtrade the norm, the more its positive impact can be felt by farmers and their communities across the developing world.”
Giovanni Loria, Chairman of Corozal (district) Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association, said: “Fairtrade is like a door to a great opportunity within our community. Investments in education will generate more opportunity and Fairtrade can help us build schools, health centres, clinics and much more. For us, Fairtrade is a new beginning.”
For more information visit: http://www.tasteandsmile-fairtrade.co.uk
© Michael Smith (Veshengro), February 2008
It is Tate & Lyle ambition to move its entire retail cane sugars range to Fairtrade, marking the largest ever switch to the ethical labelling scheme by any major UK food or drink brand.
It is reckoned that In the first year alone, the switch will create a return of at least £2 million in Fairtrade premiums for cane farmers.
The first product to be licensed to carry the FAIRTRADE Mark will be Tate & Lyle Granulated White Cane Sugar, sourced from Belize; Tate & Lyle’s first accredited grower-partner, from whom it has purchased sugar for over 35 years.
The major scale of Tate & Lyle’s conversion to Fairtrade sugar has involved two years in planning. The company has worked in partnership with the UK-based Fairtrade Foundation and its international organisation to help cane farmers in Northern Belize meet Fairtrade standards. This includes working with the sole sugar processor in the country, Belize Sugar Industries, and over 6,000 smallholder farmers, represented by the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association.
Steven Hermiston from Tate & Lyle Sugars said: “This is an incredibly exciting time for Tate & Lyle. Now, every time you buy a pack of Tate & Lyle Fairtrade cane sugar, farming communities will benefit. Over the years, these communities have been hit by higher input prices, changes in the EU market, not to mention challenges thrown up by natural disasters such as last year’s Hurricane Dean. Our commitment will help ensure a livelihood for farmers and the Fairtrade premium will be invested to improve their long-term prospects. We are only at the beginning of this journey but are ambitious to have all our retail cane sugar range bearing the FAIRTRADE Mark by the end of 2009.”
Fairtrade Foundation Executive Director Harriet Lamb comments: “Fairtrade is already making a big difference to the lives of more than seven million people in the developing world, but there are millions more we’d like to reach. In terms of size and scale, this is the biggest ever Fairtrade switch by a UK company and it’s tremendous this iconic UK brand is backing Fairtrade. We’d now like to encourage other companies of the same size and scale as Tate & Lyle to think actively about making a similar commitment. The more we can make Fairtrade the norm, the more its positive impact can be felt by farmers and their communities across the developing world.”
Giovanni Loria, Chairman of Corozal (district) Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association, said: “Fairtrade is like a door to a great opportunity within our community. Investments in education will generate more opportunity and Fairtrade can help us build schools, health centres, clinics and much more. For us, Fairtrade is a new beginning.”
For more information visit: http://www.tasteandsmile-fairtrade.co.uk
© Michael Smith (Veshengro), February 2008
The BoGo Light – Product Review
The BoGo Light is a concept that brings light into the darkness, and here especially in the developing world, but not only there, as the BoGo Light is also great as an emergency light source. I received the review sample of the cute orange BoGo Light in the beginning of February 2008 and due to the lack of sunlight in our areas at this time of the year to fully charge the light is a slight problems as, theoretically, it requires a full day of sunlight to fully charge the replaceable rechargeable batteries (three at, what I would assume to be, 1.2VDC each). Otherwise, however, the light is brilliant, literally, and this pun was, also, by the way, intended.
The first thing that I was taken with was the fact that when opening the battery compartment to install the three supplied Ni-cads that there was a proper waterproof seal present that stayed in place and resealed the compartment once the cover was screwed on again. Having had some bad experience with a cycle light that took water during rain and then having pointed out that the instructions state that the light must not become exposed to rain and wet it is rather refreshing to see those seal in this flashlight. Then again, we must not forget that Mark Bent, the CEO of SunNight Solar is a former Marine and we military guys know how things need to be in such cases.
In addition to this the BoGo Light is the ideal for general preparedness and for survival situations, whether floods, hurricanes, ice storms, or what-have-you. Even in the event of a “normal” power outage such a light would come in extremely handy. The light can sit, until it is needed, quietly, on the windowsill soaking up daylight and is therefore always charged and ready to go as and when needed for a number of hours without, like with wind-up lights, having to crank a handle every thirty minutes or so for around a minute. By no means am I trying to diminish the idea and invention and concept of the wind-up/dynamo charged lights, far from it; I am just stating a fact while making an observation. They equally have their place in this world as does the BoGo Light.
The term BoGo stands for Buy one – Give one, and it is this principle upon which the light is being sold. You buy one for US$ 25 plus shipping from SunNight Solar in Texas – only via their website – and another one will be sent to the charity of your choice in Africa or to US troops serving in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Having now had the unit here for a couple of days, and, having allowed it to get charged on the windowsill in our dull winter daylight plus from electric light in the evening at home I have been able to give it a little try and am very favorably impressed. The six LEDs are extremely bright and the light, with even the low powered charge that the Bogo Light could obtain from this very dull daylight around here, lasts for a number of hours. It would, I assume, require the real amount of sun hours to obtain the six hours or so of light from the BoGo Light.
All in all I can but recommend this light to anyone, and I mean anyone, however, those that are preparing for the eventuality of an emergency of whatever kind and for homesteaders and such the BoGo Light is a light that should be on the shopping list as a stand-by for the as and when or even for general daily use.
The BoGo Light is a scientific, eco-friendly breakthrough that is making an impact worldwide. From Cairo to Cape Town, from the Caribbean to the Amazon, it is improving the lives of individuals, families, and entire villages by replacing costly kerosene, candles, and disposable battery flashlights with an affordable, long lasting, solar flashlight. BoGo means Buy one, Give one. Mark Bent and SunNight Solar Ltd want their lights to benefit the less fortunate; therefore, with each light purchased in the developed world, a second identical light will be donated to an organization that will distribute it in the developing world with the company's direct financial support. Give the Gift of Light, and Help Change the World!
So, go to the website and buy one and donate one to a worthy cause, whether this is for some of the poor in the developing world (and maybe we could even get a Romani NGO equipped some day with those) or for the US troops serving abroad in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Erm, and, erm yes, before anyone suggests it I must admit, I have fallen in love with the BoGo Light.
Some more information as to the history and such of the BoGo Light shall also follow soon.
Reviewed by Michael Smith (Veshengro), February 2008
ROLL UP FOR FAIRTRADE FUN THIS FAIRTRADE FORTNIGHT
Roll up, roll up!
Members of the public can enjoy a fairground with a difference at the launch of Fairtrade Fortnight 2008. The two-week annual campaign (25 Feb – 9 March) celebrating products carrying the FAIRTRADE Mark kicks off with an action-packed event on London’s South Bank on Sunday 24th February 2008 (11am – 4pm).
A Fairtrade tea cup ride, a towering Helter Skelter, a Fairtrade coconut shy, candyfloss made with Fairtrade sugar and a Fairtrade fortune teller are just some of the games and activities that will be bringing all the fun of the fair to the South Bank. Organised by the Fairtrade Foundation and backed by organisations, charities and businesses that support or sell Fairtrade products, the day will give visitors the opportunity to sample some of the 3,000 Fairtrade items now certified and to learn more about Trade Justice. A series of talks by Fairtrade producers from countries around the world will give visitors a chance to meet the farmers and workers behind the products, and learn first-hand the difference that Fairtrade is making to their communities.
Fairtrade Foundation Executive Director Harriet Lamb said: “We hope that people roll up to join in the fairground fun, and learn about the serious message behind Fairtrade as well.
“Millions of farmers and workers are walking the delicate tightrope of international trade. When market prices wobble they risk falling into devastating poverty. Fairtrade offers them stability, so they have the confidence to look ahead and move towards a better future.”
All aboard!
Visitors will quite literally have the chance to jump aboard the Fairtrade movement at the event where the new Choose Fairtrade Bus will be launched. The specially adapted open-top campaign bus will set off from London on a grand tour of eight Fairtrade Towns and cities across the UK during the Fortnight, spreading the word about Fairtrade and calling on local people to Change Today, Choose Fairtrade - the theme of Fairtrade Fortnight 2008.
The Choose Fairtrade Bus will travel to Ipswich, Leeds, Sunderland, Glasgow, Liverpool, Birmingham, Cardiff, and Bristol. The bus will be the focus of interactive displays and activities, live music, discussions, competitions, and the opportunity to sample delicious Fairtrade products and meet Fairtrade producers. The bus experience will inform ‘passengers’ about Fairtrade, inspiring them to choose Fairtrade products in their daily shopping and give a better deal to disadvantaged producers.
Harriet Lamb continues: “Fairtrade is already making a big difference to the lives of more than seven million people in the developing world, but there are millions more we’d like to reach. 2007 was a phenomenal year of growth forFairtrade bananas, for example, with one in every five bananas bought from supermarkets now Fairtrade certified. On the other hand, this means four in five bananas still aren’t Fairtrade, and we’re determined to change those odds.
“With the Choose Fairtrade Bus we aim to drive change across the UK and we need as many people as possible to jump onboard!”
Local Fairtrade campaign groups in each location will be hosting high-profile events to complement the onboard activities. The tour is a new addition to Fairtrade Fortnight, the Fairtrade Foundation’s annual campaign which brings together producers, campaigners, retailers, licensees and NGOs in a nationwide effort to promote products arrying the FAIRTRADE Mark. Last year an estimated 10,000 separate activities and events took place during Fortnight, with everything from Fairtrade parades, concerts and debates to tea dances, fiestas, fashion shows and family days.
Inspiring reads
Two new books will hit the shelves in time for Fairtrade Fortnight, aimed at foodies and philosophers alike. The Fairtrade Everyday Cookbook introduces a compilation of the nation’s best-loved Fairtrade recipes from chefs, celebrities and members of the public. Fighting the Banana Wars and other Fairtrade battles by Harriet Lamb, Executive Director of the Fairtrade Foundation, explores how Fairtrade has grown to become an important global movement that is revolutionising the way we shop.
The Fairtrade Everyday Cookbook, edited by leading food writer and TV chef Sophie Grigson, pulls together mouthwatering new recipes using delicious Fairtrade ingredients. Containing over 150 recipes from Fairtrade supporters plus high-profile chefs and celebrities including Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Antony Worrall Thompson, the book is a must for Fairtrade foodies everywhere. The Fairtrade Foundation teamed up with publisher Dorling Kindersley to source original recipes using Fairtrade ingredients from aspiring cooks across the UK through a public competition launched last Fairtrade Fortnight:
“In the pages of this book you will find recipes that have been contributed by a few of the burgeoning community of people who include Fairtrade ingredients in their daily diets. I know you will derive great pleasure from delving mongst them safe in the knowledge that you are making the world a better place”, said Sophie Grigson.
As well as showing readers how easy it is to eat Fairtrade foods every day and at every meal, the book introduces ndividual producers from around the world, giving an insight into how their communities have benefited from Fairtrade.
In Fighting the Banana Wars and Other Fairtrade Battles, published by Ebury, Harriet Lamb relives the dramatic campaigns and victories that have brought Fairtrade to where it is today. Harriet outlines the hurdles still to be overcome and shows what we can all do to help achieve global Fairtrade.
The annual Fairtrade Fortnight campaign is promoted by networks around the country including charities, trade unions, student groups, churches and other faith-based organisations. There are now more than 300 Fairtrade Towns and Cities across the UK, as well as 60 Fairtrade Universities reaching out to students, nearly 4,000 Fairtrade Churches and 35 Fairtrade Synagogues.
The FAIRTRADE Mark is the only independent consumer label that ensures farmers in developing countries receive an agreed and stable price for the crops they grow that covers the cost of sustainable production, as well as additional income for farmers and workers to invest in the future. Retail sales of Fairtrade certified products topped £290 million in 2006 and have grown 40% year-on-year over the past five years. Awareness levels of the FAIRTRADE Mark among the UK population reached their highest level last year at 57% (TNS Omnimas).
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