Archive for August, 2012

Fairtrade Yorkshire Goes To Parliament

Leeds North West MP, Greg Mulholland, tabled an Early Day Motion in support of Fairtrade Yorkshire.  Here’s what it says:

 

That this House welcomes the Fairtrade Yorkshire campaign for Yorkshire and the Humber to be declared, by the Fairtrade Foundation, as the UK’s first ever Fairtrade region; notes the efforts to raise the profile of the Fairtrade agenda in Yorkshire, through dedicated work in schools and local communities to promote awareness of fair trading practices and the benefits of buying fairly traded products for customers and producers; further notes the enthusiasm and support which has grown in the region for Fairtrade, which offers fair prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world; and urges the Fairtrade Foundation to recognise the work which continues to flourish in Yorkshire and the Humber by naming it the UK’s first official Fairtrade region.

We are delighted to say that 18 MP’s signed the motion in the week before the recess.

 

The motion received support across the political spectrum with Conservative, Democratic Unionist, Labour, Liberal Democrat and Respect MP’s signing.

 

We were pleased to see that Yorkshire’s newest MP, George Galloway who represents Bradford West, added his name.

 

When Parliament reconvenes in September we will be encouraging more MP’s to back the Fairtrade Yorkshire motion.

 

 

Posted on August 4th, 2012 by Fairtrade Yorkshire News

Garforth Arts Festival

 

Oxfam supporters gave out hundreds of information leaflets on Fairtrade Yorkshire to enthusiastic festival goers at the Garforth Arts Festival.

Oxfam was promoting its Grow campaign which calls for support for small scale farming as a route out of poverty.

 

Hundreds of people flocked to the festival and, although there was a torrential rainstorm, the crowds kept there spirits up.

 

The Oxfam tent Oxfam had a celebrity visitor in the form of renowned beatboxer, Shlomo.  He went on to give a stunning set with his posse, Lip Service.  Headline acts at the festival were Nitin Sawhney and the Saw Doctors.

 

Posted on August 4th, 2012 by Fairtrade Yorkshire News