Interviews
Make it happen. Choose Fairtrade kicks off
24 Feb '09
6 min read
Go Fairtrade bananas!
The two-week campaign will culminate in a 24-hour world record attempt for the number of people simultaneously eating a Fairtrade banana across the UK. The mass banana eating will take place between noon on Friday 6 and noon on Saturday 7 March, with hundreds of events expected to take place around the country during Fairtrade Fortnight. For example, Bolton Wanderers first team players will wear Fairtrade cotton T-shirts during the match warm up against Newcastle United on 1 March. A film on Fairtrade will be screened to supporters during half time and Fairtrade Fortnight will be featured in the match programme. On 2 March up to 2000 school children will simultaneously eat Fairtrade bananas at the Reebok stadium and a Fairtrade market will be opened by the Mayor of Bolton at the stadium that evening.
Companies are also planning to go bananas for the campaign. Tesco's and Sainsbury's will invite their customers to Go Fairtrade bananas! with a specially designed sticker placed onto all their bagged Fairtrade bananas. In addition the catering company Compass is been working hard to ensure they have sufficient Fairtrade bananas available in the schools, university and workplaces it supplies, and will also be running special events with both customers and staff. Many employers such as the Welcome Trust and KPMG are already planning events with their staff to support Go Fairtrade bananas. To help break the record, register online at www.fairtrade.org.uk .
Producer Tour
Fairtrade Fortnight 2009 will bring together producers, campaigners, retailers, licensees and NGOs around the country to highlight global inequality and promote Fairtrade, which benefits impoverished rural communities in the developing world. Through Fairtrade, 7.5 million people – farmers, workers and their families – have more security and control over their lives. The Fairtrade Foundation is organizing a delegation of farmers from Sri Lanka, Cameroon, Burkina Faso and St Lucia who will tour separate locations around the England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. They will explain to schools, businesses and community groups about the potential of Fairtrade to make a difference to global poverty and with a view to inspiring people in their roles as both consumers and citizens.
The FAIRTRADE Mark is now recognised by 70% of people in the UK, and more than 4,500 food, drink and clothing items as well as other goods have now been certified Faitrade. The value of UK Fairtrade sales has grown more than tenfold since 2001, reaching nearly £500 million in 2007 and, more importantly still, in 2007 the real volumes (by weight or number) of produce more than doubled. This is great news for the producers whose Fairtrade premiums, the extra payment they receive from selling to the Fairtrade market, are based on these volumes. But we still have a long way to go to make trade fair. Two billion people – a third of humanity– work hard to support themselves yet still struggle to survive on $2 per day or less.
Hundreds of Fairtrade Towns, Churches and Schools around the UK will promote Fairtrade at a regional level. In 2008, over 10,000 activities and events took place during Fairtrade Fortnight, reflecting the diverse range of supporters across the country – everything from Fairtrade parades, concerts and debates to coffee mornings, fashion shows and family days.
The two-week campaign will culminate in a 24-hour world record attempt for the number of people simultaneously eating a Fairtrade banana across the UK. The mass banana eating will take place between noon on Friday 6 and noon on Saturday 7 March, with hundreds of events expected to take place around the country during Fairtrade Fortnight. For example, Bolton Wanderers first team players will wear Fairtrade cotton T-shirts during the match warm up against Newcastle United on 1 March. A film on Fairtrade will be screened to supporters during half time and Fairtrade Fortnight will be featured in the match programme. On 2 March up to 2000 school children will simultaneously eat Fairtrade bananas at the Reebok stadium and a Fairtrade market will be opened by the Mayor of Bolton at the stadium that evening.
Companies are also planning to go bananas for the campaign. Tesco's and Sainsbury's will invite their customers to Go Fairtrade bananas! with a specially designed sticker placed onto all their bagged Fairtrade bananas. In addition the catering company Compass is been working hard to ensure they have sufficient Fairtrade bananas available in the schools, university and workplaces it supplies, and will also be running special events with both customers and staff. Many employers such as the Welcome Trust and KPMG are already planning events with their staff to support Go Fairtrade bananas. To help break the record, register online at www.fairtrade.org.uk .
Producer Tour
Fairtrade Fortnight 2009 will bring together producers, campaigners, retailers, licensees and NGOs around the country to highlight global inequality and promote Fairtrade, which benefits impoverished rural communities in the developing world. Through Fairtrade, 7.5 million people – farmers, workers and their families – have more security and control over their lives. The Fairtrade Foundation is organizing a delegation of farmers from Sri Lanka, Cameroon, Burkina Faso and St Lucia who will tour separate locations around the England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. They will explain to schools, businesses and community groups about the potential of Fairtrade to make a difference to global poverty and with a view to inspiring people in their roles as both consumers and citizens.
The FAIRTRADE Mark is now recognised by 70% of people in the UK, and more than 4,500 food, drink and clothing items as well as other goods have now been certified Faitrade. The value of UK Fairtrade sales has grown more than tenfold since 2001, reaching nearly £500 million in 2007 and, more importantly still, in 2007 the real volumes (by weight or number) of produce more than doubled. This is great news for the producers whose Fairtrade premiums, the extra payment they receive from selling to the Fairtrade market, are based on these volumes. But we still have a long way to go to make trade fair. Two billion people – a third of humanity– work hard to support themselves yet still struggle to survive on $2 per day or less.
Hundreds of Fairtrade Towns, Churches and Schools around the UK will promote Fairtrade at a regional level. In 2008, over 10,000 activities and events took place during Fairtrade Fortnight, reflecting the diverse range of supporters across the country – everything from Fairtrade parades, concerts and debates to coffee mornings, fashion shows and family days.
Fairtrade Fortnight
Popular News
Leave your Comments
Editor’s Pick
Esteemed Clients
-Ltd..jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "Thermore (Far East) Ltd.")
.jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation Limited (TSllC Ltd)")
.jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "Taiwan Textile Federation (TTF)")
