Archive for July, 2015

Show your hand: make trade fair

Thanks to your support, over 1.5 million farmers and workers in 74 countries are now part of Fairtrade – which stands for changing the way trade works, through fair prices and better working conditions, to offer a more stable future for farming communities.

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Together we’ve made great progress – but we need to go further. We need your help.
The interests and livelihoods of many Fairtrade farmers and workers, and many more outside of Fairtrade, continue to be undermined by unfair subsidies, unreasonable regulations, self-interested trade tariffs and one-sided trade deals – supported by the UK government. These deals prop up British and European interests, but they often do little for – and sometimes actively harm – poor farmers and workers. They block them from building up their businesses, force them out of markets and leave them unable to sell their produce.
This September, UK Prime Minister David Cameron will take to the global stage at the UN, backing new targets to end global poverty and reduce inequality, known as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The government is keen to show trade as a way for poor countries to tackle poverty – and as we know, the right kind of trade is a powerful way to lift people out of poverty.
The SDGs are a unique opportunity to call for fairer, more sustainable trade. Otherwise, it’s a case of giving with one hand and taking with the other.
We need government rhetoric to be backed by reality. We need the poor to come first in trade. It is only by doing this that trade will improve lives and livelihoods in a truly sustainable way.
Please ask your MP to raise this issue with the Prime Minister and demand he acts now to make trade fair.

More details: show your hand campaign

Posted on July 10th, 2015 by Fairtrade Yorkshire News

Yorkshire goes international

A ten strong delegation from Yorkshire attended the International Fair Trade Towns conference in Bristol (3rd-5th July).

Yorkshire delegates in front of the conference logo display created by Holmfirth's 'Fair and Funky.'

Yorkshire delegates in front of the conference logo display created by Holmfirth’s ‘Fair and Funky.’

Representatives from Fair Trade towns attended from across Europe, Africa, Latin America, North America and Asia.

There are currently 1647 Fair Trade Towns in 27 countries but thousands more are working towards Fair Trade status, for example the Yorkshire contingent met with Mayors from the Lebanon.  Fair Trade Lebanon are planning for the declaration of 10 Fair Trade Towns within the next year.

The founding father of the Fair Trade Towns movement, Bruce Crowther reminded the conference attendees of the humble origins of the initiative.  The first meeting to plan the campaign for the world’s first Fair Trade Town was attended by just three people, Bruce, his wife and their babysitter.

The Fair Trade Town concept was an idea whose time had come and there has been rapid expansion in recent years.  The vibrancy of the conference, attended by more than 250 delegates attested to the enthusiasm for linking communities across the globe.

Ashraf Hamad, from York St. John University chats to Sam Chaher of Fairtrade Reading.

Ashraf Hamad, from York St. John University chats to Sam Chaher of Fairtrade Reading.

Speakers at the conference included:

Yorkshire MEP, Linda McAvan, who is the Chair of the European Parliament International Development Committee.

Fatima Ismael of Soppexcca Cooperative, Nicaragua

Harriet Lamb, CEO of Fairtrade International

Hazel Culley from Marks and Spencer.

Joanna Pollard, from Selby, and chair of the British Association of Fair Trade Shops (BAFTS) lead a discussion for Fair Trade retailers and Mark Dawson, coordinator of Fairtrade Yorkshire, lead a discussion on Fair Trade and faith groups.

 

Posted on July 6th, 2015 by Fairtrade Yorkshire News