Backing Fairtrade (From Droitwich Advertiser)

Backing Fairtrade

7:40am Tuesday 23rd February 2010

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Thanks to everyone who signed the Fairtrade Bromsgrove petition at the Oxfam bookshop and various churches. The council’s overview and scrutiny board considered it in January and, with a healthy majority, decided to make recommendations to cabinet.

The aim of Fairtrade Bromsgrove is to encourage Fairtrade products, such as tea, coffee and chocolate, to be available in local cafes, shops and workplaces. Buying Fairtrade products allows growers in the third world to obtain decent prices for their products when the world prices drop too much for them to make a sustainable living.

A premium also goes to the growers, which they can decide to spend on healthcare projects, or whatever the community is in great need of. For example, there is a Fairtrade cocoa project in Haiti.

There are thousands of Fairtrade products for sale and you can support by buying some in local supermarkets and shops. Wine, footballs and all sorts of items are possible with the Fairtrade label.

This year Fairtrade fortnight runs from February 22 to March 7 and the theme is The Big Swop where everyone is encouraged to try Fairtrade tea.

When you’re in cafes ask for Fairtrade tea – if they don’t have it ask why not. My local shop in Stoke Heath sells Fairtrade tea with 50 per cent extra free at a very competitive price, so a swop is easy on the purse.

One of the conditions for Bromsgrove obtaining Fairtrade status is for the council to pass a resolution in support. Most towns in Worcestershire are already Fairtrade towns. We are the only town playing catch up, so let’s hope that the council soon endorses the Fairtrade campaign.

What a shame it would be if we were the only town to consider and actually reject Fairtrade.

For more information on Fairtrade Bromsgrove, or if you’d like to become active in support, email artlavelle@bluebottle.com Art Lavelle, Fairtrade Bromsgrove steering group

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