My Fairtrade Marathon
By Kat at 14:18 on 30/3/2012
Fairtrade Fortnight is finished for this year and all in all its been both interesting and successful. During the fortnight I had the opportunity to travel across Wales, together with the Fair Trade Wales team and take part in a huge variety of Fairtrade activities. What really hit me was the amount of enthusiasm from so many people from different sectors, all over the country. Each committed to Fairtrade. I believe it is this wide range of actors, ideas and activities that makes our campaign so unique and strong.
I especially remember one event I was lucky enough to attend in the Bridgend county council on the 7th of March. For two hours not only the politicians, but also pupils from Nottage Primary School, people from the surrounding community, Fair Trade Wales staff and Mrunal Lahankar, cotton producer from India, engaged in discussion and games about how we can increase our support for Fairtrade. This shows how Fairtrade interests people from many various positions and parts of the world. What brings us together is our belief that Fairtrade makes a positive and important difference. With commitment and creativity, we have together managed to create a campaign with the purpose of reaching a higher awareness of Fairtrade amongst the Welsh consumers, and also to show how trade can, and should, be built on respect and fairness.
With over 500,000 steps taken for Fairtrade we will soon be halfway to reach the target; 1,5 million steps before the end of 2012. During Fairtrade Fortnight I literally took 56 142 steps. Not bad, huh? During my working hours I wore a step counter that showed I’d walked over 24 miles, almost a full marathon. I have not been doing it alone either. I know that everyone involved in Fairtrade Fortnight has been working hard and passionately, and I can say that we have all been running marathons for Fairtrade!
Wales is known as the first, and only, Fair Trade nation in the world, and I think this country and its people really deserve that acknowledgment. I feel pleased to be part of the Fair trade movement in Wales and it is really fantastic how many steps we have taken together. Every step counts and every step will sooner or later result in a marathon.
I have been interning with Fair Trade Wales since September the last year, and I do really enjoy every day. Sadly enough, my internship now draws to close and in two weeks I will go back home to Sweden. I have learnt a lot during my stay in Wales and I am many experiences and friends richer. My passion for Fairtrade is strong and I will continue running marathons for Fairtrade. Fairtrade is a worldwide movement, and if we all keep on running marathons for Fairtrade we will get to a stage when all trade is fair. I believe in Fairtrade, I believe in us!
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Fairtrade is empowering women
By Kat at 14:07 on 30/3/2012
During Fairtrade Fortnight I had the fantastic opportunity to meet Fairtrade producers from three different countries; India, Uganda and Palestine. To really meet a person from the other side of the supply chain felt exciting and I got insight in to how Fairtrade has improved their lives and their communities. Although these producers live in different parts of the world, in countries very unlike each other, they all talked about the same thing when they explained how Fairtrade benefits them: the importance of the long-term trading partnership Fairtrade is offering.
I was really touched by that, because it actually is that simple. A long-term trading partnership means that the producer knows that he or she will have access to the world market and in turn receive a current, and fair, income. Consequently the producers can be independent, plan for their future and get out of poverty. It doesn’t matter if the producer lives in India, Uganda or Palestine, or any other country; it is a fact that Fairtrade has a strong impact on the lives of thousands of farmers and workers and their families.
One aspect of Fairtrade I’ve always find significant is how Fairtrade empowers women. Jenipher Wettaka, a coffee producer from Uganda, really put into words how important fair terms of trade are for her and for other women in developing countries. She verified my thoughts and I feel that Fairtrade is definitely a vital tool to strengthen women’s rights.
Fairtrade is supporting women and promoting equality between the genders in many ways. For example, it is important to include women in all decision making processes and women are often members of the board of directors within different cooperatives. Premium money has in many cases been used to educate women and also for schooling girls. Furthermore, with their own income women are not dependent on their husbands or other men for their maintenance. They have the opportunity to control their own lives and to re-invest in their families and communities. As Jenipher Wettaka said: “Now women are empowered, now we are changing the world”.
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A Success Story from India
By Annette at 16:08 on 19/3/2012
Some startling numbers to process: India is about 150 times the size of Wales with around 400 times more people, yet whilst an average farmer in Wales will have about 100 hectares, most farmers in India have a mere 1 hectare with which to support their family. 66% of Indians are farmers but 40% of them would gladly give up farming if they could as its all manual labour, having to make any tools they need and walking for miles for water for their plants. Sadly, some 20,000 farmers in India commit suicide every year.
It is no wonder that the work of Fairtrade is so valued amongst Mrunal Lahankar’s neighbours and friends. Fairtrade ensures that farmers get a fair price for their goods, cotton in this case. It really is that simple. With the fair price the people are empowered to organise and invest in their own community. They can re – invest in their crops, improve their farming methods and use the premium from the prices paid to improve their community. In Mrunal’s community the money has provided toilets; a water purification plant; a nursery of seeds for the women to grow and a recreation/child care centre for the youngsters to be safe whilst their parents are out in the fields. So far, 2224 farmers have been helped in Mrunal’s neighbourhood, and of course, their products are organic as they are “utilising naturally available resources” (Mrunal), not relying on pesticides or chemicals. However, due to economic fluctuations, only 30% of the cotton currently produced is sold as Fairtrade, the rest is all Fairtrade certified but cannot be sold because it is not being bought. So get down to ‘Marks and Spencers’ or ‘H&M’ to buy their Fairtrade cotton clothes from Hyderbad, India.
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Gumutindo comes to the Welsh Government
By Josie at 11:14 on 12/3/2012
As hundreds of Welsh Government workers started their day on Friday 9th March 2012, they were greeted by aromas of fresh coffee and talk of Fairtrade in Uganda. Jenipher Wettaka, a Ugandan coffee producer was in the Government offices encouraging people to try her coffee, confident that once people have tasted the beautiful flavours and high quality they will take a step for fair trade and switch to Fairtrade coffee.
Wales being the first Fair Trade nation means that, of course, the Welsh Government has strong ties with the Fair Trade movement. I got the chance to talk to Jon Townley, the head of International Sustainable Development and the Wales for Africa Team within the Welsh Government He explained how the Welsh Government fully support Fair Trade and are committed to the continuance of that support; they not only fund Fair Trade Wales but also show their commitment by using Fairtrade products wherever they can. The first minister himself serves only Gumutindo (the co-operative that Jenipher works within) coffee to all his visitors. The Assembly does what it can to promote Wales as the first Fair Trade nation and hopes to see other nations join it in this status. They are also currently working to encourage other organisations to get involved with Fairtrade, giving procurement advice to government supported businesses. There is still much more to do in Wales for the development of the Fair Trade movement, despite the many achievements so far. But the Welsh Government is committed to this cause and will continue to strengthen its ties with producers and co-operatives worldwide.
Many of the government workers we spoke to today both knew about and use Fairtrade products, although everyone walked away having learnt something new. The commitment of Wales, as a country, to the Fairtrade cause makes me proud to live here, we have come far since the beginnings of the movement in the 80’s. However, there is still more that we can, and should, do. Jenipher’s presence here today shows both how much of a difference Fairtrade has already made, but also an appeal to continue the good work.
Jenipher is not only a coffee farmer with 600 coffee trees, but also Vice Chairperson of the Gumutindo Board. She is part of a movement that has mobilized women as both farmers and members of the society and decision-making process. Fairtrade has made a huge difference to her life and that of her children. Because of the fair prices she has been able to send her children to school, and Fairtrade’s emphasis on women’s roles in society has meant that she is much more able to take control of her own life and farming. The social premium has been used for a variety of projects in her community, from water storage to extra classrooms for schools. It has clearly made a huge difference to hundreds of lives. After yesterday’s event Jenipher was tired out from the busy past few weeks, but very happy with the day. “Most of the consumers who came to try the coffees are saying it’s very good and I know that they are going to buy it.” It’s very true that the reception for both the event (and perhaps more so for the coffee!) was great and I think we can safely assume that many of the government workers will be switching to Gumutindo coffee. I hope that Jenipher’s journey back to Uganda is easy and that she gets some chance to rest. It has been an amazing experience for me to meet some of the Fairtrade producers this fortnight and I trust that their presence has served to increase awareness and encourage people to take a step for Fairtrade in 2012, the year of Fairtrade!
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Pupils meet Producers
By Josie at 1:55 on 10/3/2012
Yesterday saw a Fairtrade Fortnight event held at Fair Do’s where I, and a number of school pupils, got the chance to meet Mrunal Lahankar. Mrunal has come over to the UK from Andhra Pradesh in India, just for this fortnight to talk to people about Fairtrade cotton.
The venue, Fair Do’s is a small shop in Canton. Despite its size the shop boasts the widest range of Fairtrade products in Wales. You can find many of the food products that have now been Fairtrade certified on the shelves, but aside from that there are beautifully crafted items from all over the world. I spent a long while perusing the shelves and admiring all the things I would love to have in my home! The shop has been open since ’98 and has grown with the Fairtrade movement. However, the recession, like in so many places, has taken its toll. We can be hopeful though that increased awareness of fair trading through campaigns like this fortnight will encourage customers to think more carefully about where they shop and bring many through the doors at Fair Do’s. It is not only a shop but also a centre of information, a place where people can come to learn more about fair trading and the products that are now available.
Today was a token of this, a chance for pupils from local schools and members of the public to come and learn more. Meeting Mrunal meant that they could understand more the importance of Fairtrade and feel involved with the movement. In the morning a group of primary school pupils arrived at the shop, bringing with them some questions that they had prepared at school. After having a look around the shop, (and exclaiming over all the different chocolates that they wanted!) they settled to listen to Mrunal. She explained how the cotton is produced, organically and by Fairtrade standards; and then spoke of how important it is for people to buy their cotton. She told of how Fairtrade is benefitting the communities she works with. As Mrunal was speaking it became very clear how important it is for consumers to use their power to encourage large shops to use Fairtrade cotton. This year has been hard for the cotton producers, there have been fewer orders than last year and some of the large contracts have fallen through. We hope that the demand for the cotton will increase more and more, but hoping is not enough, it’s so important to ask for it to be in more and more of high-street shops. This topic came up with the year 11 students that came in later in the afternoon. Mrunal told them “I’m here to talk to the consumers as well as the buyers, the consumer’s demands play a very crucial role”. The students were clearly fascinated by everything Mrunal had to tell them and the conversation was lively and rapid. They had many questions and the answers always led to further discussion. Their interest was amazing to see as it’s clear that with this passion and involved attitude this young generation is going to carry the Fairtrade movement far beyond what has already been achieved.
I hope that everyone left Fair Do’s feeling like they had learnt as much as I did, I knew little before about the production and trading of cotton, it is clear now how important the relationship between Fairtrade and cotton producers really is. When we tried to thank Mrunal for the day she told us there was no need to thank her, she is here for a purpose, “If my visit helps to get more orders in the future then I will feel accomplished. We are making the best cotton, we are doing our best.”
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Graduating in Fair Trade
By Annette at 16:06 on 9/3/2012
Mrunal Lahankar from Hyderbad in India visited Trinity College, Carmarthen on March 7th to meet the students and staff who are keen to attain that golden accreditation of ‘a Fairrade University’. Trinity welcomed Mrunal with a fashion show of clothes made of recycled materials then listened keenly as Mrunal described life for farmers in India and the difference Fairtrade makes to their lives.
Under the guidance of Senior lecturer Anthony Samuel, Trinity is addressing its Fairtrade status, together with the town of Carmarthen which is already a a ‘Fairtrade Town’. Anthony did his PHd on ‘community not corporate marketing’ and explained that “a place defines itself and what it can do” therefore both Trinity and Carmarthen are defining themselves with their support of Fair Trade, a message Tom Defis, Mayor of Carmarthen reinforced as he posed for photographs with Mrunal and the organisers from Fair Trade Wales.
According to Prof Anthony, the Fair Trade movement in Trinity is “a grass roots movement, organically developing” but these same students are the ones leading our communities in the future, hopefully a future where all farmers will get a fair price for their products.
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Waving the Banner for Fair Trade
By Annette at 15:55 on 9/3/2012
Newcastle Emlyn are going for gold, fair trade gold that is, looking for that magic status of ‘a Fairtrade Town’. The town started on the road to accreditation last year with some key events to promote awareness in Newcastle Emlyn; not least amongst their efforts being participation in the Fair Trade World Record success last year when bunting composed of 114,000 individual flags, made of Fairtrade cotton, naturally, was strung out in Battersea Park, London; a powerfully symbolic gesture of unity and awareness from Fair Trade. Newcastle Emlyn’s school children contributed over 200 of the flags, which they personally designed and produced.
Newcastle Emlyn’s steering committee of Andi the secretary, Jill the owner of the BagAge shop, Kevin from the council and Margaret of Ysgol Y Ddwylan have certainly made things move in Newcastle Emlyn. Already the Brownies, Guides, the Coop, the Church, the Secondary school and Ysgol Y Ddwylan are all actively engaged in promoting, educating and supporting Fair Trade’s work in Wales, the ONLY Fair Trade nation in the World! Go Wales!
Ysgol Y Ddwylan is also 1 of the 900 schools in Wales seeking the status of ‘a Fairtrade School’ and the young members of their Eco committee were there to welcome Mrunal Lahankar to their school on Monday March 5th. Mrunal, visiting from Hyderbad in India, told the children about how Fairtrade helps her family, neighbours and friends in India to a far better quality of life; how the money from the Fairtrade premium has given them things we take for granted, such as toilets and clean drinking water. The young listeners were touched and determined to double their efforts to support their farming friends across the sea.
If Ysgol Y Ddwylan was being assessed purely on the good manners and welcome of their students, then they would get the gold award immediately; we wish them all luck in attaining the status.
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Fairtrade Fortnight Comes to Chapter
By Josie at 18:06 on 8/3/2012
Yesterday evening saw the success of a Fairtrade Fortnight event at Cardiff’s Chapter Arts Centre. Two producers from Palestine were there displaying their goods ranging from olive oil to almonds to sun-dried tomatoes. Chapter was buzzing with its usual lively atmosphere and the Fair Trade stand was never without interested passersby, almost all of whom tried (and enjoyed!) the tasters that were laid out.
People had the chance to learn more about the work that Fair Trade do in Palestine. To be able to speak to two of the producers themselves really brought home the importance of Fair Trade involvement. I had the chance to spend a little while talking to Riziq abu Nasser, a farmer and ambassador for his co-operative and the Zaytoun CIC. He has come over to the UK for Fairtrade fortnight, hoping to promote his co-operatives produce and raise awareness of the importance of buying Fairtrade. When I asked him how he felt about the event and all the people enjoying the tasters, he smiled and replied “I am happy with the response of the people here, they like it and we are giving them a push to buy the products. The quantities we sell increase every year.” This shows how important the events, like the one in Chapter, are. They increase awareness and encourage people to try, and hopefully switch to buying, Fairtrade products. Riziq went on to tell me how big a difference there has been to his village since they became Fairtrade certified in 2008, the prices that they are paid for their produce have increased dramatically and stabilized; they used their social premium for the local health clinic and school. He told me proudly about his four children, the oldest of whom is sixteen and hoping to study physics, the youngest is only two; both have and will hopefully continue to enjoy the benefits that Fairtrade partnership brings to their community.
Yesterday was the first chance that I’ve had to meet any of the producers and it was an incredible opportunity to talk to someone who has been so affected by the work that Fairtrade do. A fair price for their products is something that we really owe, as consumers, to the farmers who produce them. The event has hopefully helped as a step towards more fair prices, as one of the volunteers manning the stall said – people are coming over because they’re curious, but as soon as you mention that it’s Palestinian produce and point out the producers there’s immediate positive feedback and more and more interest. Fairtrade fortnight will have been a huge success if it has encouraged people to learn more and persuaded them to pick Fairtrade products in future.
I look forward to more events at the end of this week and hopefully to meeting more of the producers and hearing their stories. To talk to them is to be reminded what Fairtrade is really working for.
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My Entry into a Fairtrade World
By Josie at 11:23 on 2/3/2012
I have been aware of Fairtrade for years and have always known that it is about the fair treatment of producers in developing countries. Beyond that, though, I knew little about it. The familiar Fairtrade mark always encouraged me to buy products carrying it, but I wasn’t very aware of what it really meant until I recently chanced upon an opportunity to volunteer with Fair Trade Wales and decided to follow it up. Doing so has really opened my eyes to everything that Fairtrade means. I was invited to a training afternoon at the Cardiff office, where we – myself and a handful of other volunteers – were shown what the aims of Fairtrade are, how it works and what amazing effects it is having for people across the world.
My original estimation that Fairtrade promotes fair treatment was true, but there’s so much more to it than that. Not only does it guarantee producers a fair price for their product, but it also encourages them to form co-operatives with other nearby producers, thereby allowing them to have a greater say in how they trade. This is, in my opinion, one of the most important and strongest aims of Fairtrade. The point is to take power out of the hands of the huge businesses that buy the products and give it to the producers who work hard to make them. Fairness really is the ultimate goal.
Another hugely important part of the system is the ‘Fairtrade premium for development’. This is a sum of money that is paid to the producers so that, as a co-operative, they can democratically decide to invest it in a social or environmental development project of their choice. This has had unbelievable impact for communities in many different countries. You can find some of the success stories on the Fairtrade Foundation website.
In the short time since I became involved with the Fairtrade, I have found myself amazed by the work that has taken place and the way in which it has leapt from strength to strength. We have just entered Fairtrade Fortnight, two weeks of promoting what will be a yearlong campaign. There are a number of events going on in Cardiff, at which some of the producers themselves will be present. I am looking forward to learning more and meeting some of the people whose lives have been impacted by Fairtrade.
The next year will undoubtedly prove to be another great one for Fairtrade, with even more products being sold, greater awareness of the difference it makes and more stories of the people it’s helped. I am very excited to be involved with the steps they are taking to create a fairer trading system.
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Take a Step in Fairtrade Fortnight 2012
By Fair Trade Wales/Cymru Masnach Deg at 10:20 on 27/2/2012
It’s Fairtrade Fortnight!
As part of the celebrations we’re proud to announce the launch of the ‘Year of Fairtrade’. Throughout 2012 supporters accross the country are being invited to ‘Take a step’ for Fairtrade.
It can be a simple step, like swapping your tea to Fairtrade, or a bigger step, like asking everyone in your office to do it too. You’ll be joining thousands of others all over the UK. Make it as inventive, daring, funny or messy as you like.
Every step counts for millions of farmers, workers and their communities in developing countries who urgently need a better deal from trade.
Take a Step in 2012 begins now with Fairtrade Fortnight from 27 February – 11 March 2012.
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