Christmas is a time of peace and generosity. Let’s treat each other and also treat fairly those who produce the goods that we enjoy.

Each year Fairtrade Hull remind people of the need for fairness at Christmas with their Fairtrade Christmas tree.

This is the Fairtrade Christmas Tree from last year, which was displayed in Hull Minster throughout December along with other trees from a wide range of community groups as part of the Lord Mayor’s Christmas Tree Festival. Fairtrade Hull  left tags on the table in the Fairtrade colours of blue and green and invited visitors to pledge one swap to  a Fairtrade item at Christmas and hang it on the tree.

Fairtrade Pocklington will have a produce and gift stall, and give out leaflets on where to find Fairtrade goods in Pocklington, at the Pocklington Christmas Festival on Sunday, 23rd November, from 1pm-5pm, in the Market Place / Market Street.

Fairtrade event in All Saints Church, Pocklington

Fairtrade Pocklington will sponsor a Christmas Tree at the Festival in All Saints Church from 28th November until 11th December. The Fairtrade Christmas Tree will be decorated by young people from the Young People Count group in Pocklington.

In addition to regular Fairtrade stalls at All Saints Church and St Mary and St Joseph’s Church, Fairtrade Pocklington will host produce and gift stalls at:

“Handmade in Huggate” Christmas Fair on 15th November 10am-4pm at St Mary’s Church, Huggate.

and All Saints Church Christmas Craft Fair on 29th November, 10am-2pm at All Saints, Pocklington.

Holy Trinity Church in Skipton hosted a Fairtrade weekend during Fairtrade Fortnight in collaboration with Skipton Fairtrade and the Co-op. Tina Firthlock, the Co-op’s Participation and Engagement Officer organised Fairtrade chocolate tasting using Co-op’s own brand and Whitakers bars made in their Skipton factory. This boosted chocolate sales on the Fairtrade stall and was very popular.

“If you want to go fast , go alone. If you want to go further, go together” is an African proverb reflecting the value of community and collective effort such as this.

Paddington confirmed his credentials as a fair bear at Fairtrade Haworth’s key event for Fairtrade Fortnight ‘Paddington’s Haworth Adventure.’

The event marked the 20th anniversary of Haworth’s twinning with its counterpart hilly village of Machu Pichu in Peru. Haworth was the world’s first Fairtrade Village and the twinning with Machu Pichu forged links with Fairtrade producers, including coffee farmers for the renowned Machu Pichu ground coffee.

The event celebrated Paddington for his UK-Peruvian connection. There was a prize for the best Paddington costume and the film ‘Paddington in Peru’ was screened.

As well as being great fun, the event highlighted the link between consumers here in the UK and the people behind the produce that we all enjoy, including the coffee farmers of Peru.

For Fairtrade Fortnight, the York Fair Trade Forum held an event at the city’s Spurriergate Centre. The packed event featured live world music from the renowned choir, Chechelele and an update on the fair trading organisation, Zaytoun, who bring the produce of Palestinian farmers to the UK.

Managing Director of Zaytoun, Manal

The Managing Director of Zaytoun, Manal Ramadan White, gave an update on the business. Zaytoun are faring well, thanks to an upturn in interest in purchasing as a sign of solidarity with the people of Palestine. But Manal also explained how difficult life is now for Palestinian farmers in the West Bank. A way in which the UK public can carry out a positive action to help Palestinian farmers is through Zaytoun’s tree planting scheme.

Manal (centre) with Beth and Tony from York Fair Trade Forum

The tree planting scheme provides hope in the midst of the continued uprooting of olive trees by Israeli forces and illegal incursions on Palestinian farms by ‘settlers.’

Zaytoun’s products include their high quality olive oil and world-renowned medjoul dates. Almonds, soap and the herb mix Za’atar are also available.

At the event there was a stall of Palestinian products, including many from Zaytoun, set up by the Fairer World Shop in Gillygate, York. A wide range of Palestinian products is available at the shop.

Manal was given extended applause for her honest and moving talk.

Chechelele perform

At this month’s full Council meeting, Ilkley Town Council unanimously voted to continue its support for Ilkley Fairtrade Group and Fairtrade.

Cllr Linda Brown, Ilkley Town Council’s representative on Ilkley Fairtrade Group’s steering committee, said: “I am really pleased that Ilkley Town Council has reiterated its wholehearted support for Fairtrade in the town. I have been impressed by Ilkley Fairtrade Group’s commitment to educating us all about what better trade can, and should, look like.”

Ilkley Town Council’s renewed commitment to supporting Fairtrade was further demonstrated when Deputy Town Mayor, Cllr Amanda Simmonds, joined Ilkley Fairtrade Group members to promote this year’s Fairtrade Fortnight campaign.

Braving the rain, supporters gathered at Ilkley Bandstand to launch the ‘Brew it Fair’ campaign for a fairer tea trade.

Chair of Ilkley Fairtrade Group, Karen Palframan, commented: “We’re delighted that Ilkley residents have the opportunity to try a wide range of Fairtrade teas, and will hopefully find one they love and want to swap to. The local supermarkets and Ilkley Oxfam all stock a range of Fairtrade tea. Each Fairtrade purchase will contribute directly to more sustainable global trade, at a time when many tea growers are facing lower yields, harsher conditions and rising poverty.”