Fairtrade fortnight is an annual event that promotes the importance of buying Fairtrade goods, highlighting the work of the Fairtrade Foundation. This year the event runs from 23rd Feb – 8th March.
“With Fairtrade you have the power to change the world every day.
With one simple choice you can get farmers a better deal. And that means they can make their own decisions, control their futures and lead the dignified life everyone deserves.”
What is Fairtrade?
In a nutshell Fairtrade is about making things fair. That means fair working conditions, fair wages and proper support for the people that are growing and making the products you buy. It’s about giving workers more control over their lives and protecting them from the corporations that will try to sell products cheaply and price them out of work. The Fairtrade Foundation mainly works with small-scale farmers, weavers, cotton pickers etc. Rather then providing short-term aid, the Foundation believes that it is more important to a persons wellbeing to be able to maintain a livelihood for themselves and their families.
Think of the old proverb:
‘Give a man a fish, and you will feed him for a day; teach him to fish and you feed him for a lifetime’.
Why is Fairtrade important?
Corporations have long exploited farmers and producers from less economically developed countries; Fairtrade is helping to put the power back in the hands of the producers.The Foundation also strives to improve working conditions and help communities plan for long-term production. They aim to provide a more secure income, and thus a higher standard of living to the people working so hard to provide us with food, drink and clothes. These are all things that most of us take for granted in the UK.
How can I buy Fairtrade?
It’s easy! Just look for the logo when you shop. Thousands of products are available from Fairtrade, including chocolate, coffee, sugar, fruit, flowers, clothes and much more. Most major supermarkets have started to stock Fairtrade products but there is a full list of where you can find each product here. Just look for this logo, and remember if it’s not on there, your purchase not Fairtrade certified.
This year, Fairtrade Fortnight celebrates its 20th anniversary. Watch this video to find out more about what they’ve achieved over two decades of hard work:
Keep an eye on our Facebook page to discover what events we have planned this Fairtrade Fortnight
