The Mad Hatter’s skating tea party at Penistone Leisure Centre.

Here’s a roundup of Fairtrade Fortnight events in the bustling market town of Penistone.

Monday 27 February marks the tenth anniversary since Penistone became a Fairtrade Town.  Joy was interviewed about Fairtrade by Steve Dobson on Penistone FM.

Tuesday 28 February – a coffee morning in Penistone Library.  Friends from St Andrew’s Church made the cakes and served the visitors with free cups of Fairtrade coffee or tea.  Three town/borough councillors were among the many visitors.

On the two Thursdays we offered passers-by a free taster of Co-op’s own Fairtrade chocolate.  The servers were students from the Be Proud committee at Penistone Grammar School.

Carolyn Morris was behind her regular weekly Fairtrade stall at the Country Market in St John’s Community Centre, and St John’s Church hosted the regular Thursday and Saturday coffee mornings serving Fairtrade products.

Heather and Benji outside the Cherrydale Restaurant

Friday 3 March – a Divine Chocolate evening at St John’s Community Centre, supported by a generous grant from Penistone Town Council. David Greenwood-Haigh advised a packed hall how to properly taste chocolate (from a tasting board) and then demonstrated how to make a delicious rhubarb and chocolate tart.  Then Carolyn and Ian Morris closed the evening with an illustrated talk about the cocoa producers they had visited in Ghana.

On the Thursday and Saturday mornings we showcased the range of Fairtrade goods on sale at Tesco.  Angela Smith MP was one of the many visitors.  The volunteers were members from the Penistone churches.

During Fairtrade Fortnight, pre school children in Cherry Burton enjoyed their Fairtrade break.  Ros Stanley, from Cherry Burton Fairtrade Village steering group, spoke to the children and pre-school leader Claire Newton dressed in a Fairtrade banana suit.  Dave represented Tesco, who donated Fairtrade bananas for the break.

Baildon

Baildon Co-op, Northgate, hosted a Fairtrade stall to display Fairtrade items on sale in the store.  Customers were encouraged to try a different Fairtrade tea selected from Assam, Indian Prince and English Breakfast; all stocked by the Co-op.  The manager, Mark Millman, has also made up a hamper of Fairtrade goods as the prize for a quiz open to all, the winner being announced at the end of the Fortnight. 

Six pupils from Baildon Church of England Primary School assisted on the stall during the afternoon, enthusiastically engaging people in conversations about Fairtrade and justice.  They were also taken on a tour of the store to see what Fairtrade products were available and asked questions about why certain items were not Fairtrade certified. Their teacher, Mrs F Wilkinson, said that the children had enjoyed a stimulating afternoon.  The school is working towards Fairtrade status and hosted a Fairtrade Coffee Morning on Friday 10th March for parents/carers of children in Year 5.  The children had baked Fairtrade goodies, and were very keen to explain Fairtrade to the adults who attended.

Bradford Cathedral

On Sunday March 5th, approximately 40 adults and children enjoyed a Fairtrade Breakfast at Bradford Cathedral, during Fairtrade Fortnight. their children to school. We enjoyed a breakfast that included Fairtrade muesli, jam, marmalade, chocolate spread, homemade muffins, tea, coffee, hot chocolate and orange juice. At the same time, we gave our support to local businesses by enjoying locally produced bread, butter, honey and milk. In the service that followed the Breakfast, the children led the prayers, ‘that those who teach about justice and trading in our schools may look for new ways to share their interest in breaking the cycle of poverty so that children will know about the need for fairness in trade’.

Ilkley

Ilkley Fairtrade Group members and Ilkley Oxfam Manager with the Sanctuary’s window

Over the last few weeks, the Sanctuary team in Ilkley, including artist Barbara Macnish, have been pouring hours into preparing what we think may even be the world’s first piece of art painted on tea-bags! It was all done for love; we wanted to help thousands of people think about the people who really bring them their tea, and to consider choosing Fairtrade as a result.

MASSIVE thank you to all the shops and businesses who welcomed the Holme Valley Fairtrade Banana Army during Fairtrade Fortnight!

We were delighted to spot Fairtrade products in many places around Honley and Holmfirth and we hope we’ve inspired people to make a switch to Fairtrade.

Thank you to Sandie Nicholson for being the official photographer in Honley!

Professor Bob Doherty

Professor Bob Doherty of the University of York Management School has written this excellent article on food security.

You can read the article here:

Fairtrade and food security

Josephine Aguttu has been a gold miner since she was 12, as soon as she was physically able to help her mother down the mine. She is one of the 16 million men, women and children working in the small scale gold mines of Africa, Latin America and Asia. Paid little, exposed to mercury and cyanide and at the mercy of middle men, this is the life of 90% of gold miners. Codes of practice only exist for the 10% in large mining companies.

But Josephine’s life has changed since Fairtrade became involved. Encouraged to organise themselves into a group (TIIRA Small Scale Mining Association), the miners learned how to work safely, to reduce the risk of tunnels collapsing and protect themselves and the environment from mercury and cyanide poisoning. With the knowledge they gained, and their strength as an organised group, they are now less vulnerable to exploitation.

Prescott’s Fairtrade Gold ring design – mine’s having a central sapphire!

Here in the UK, 200 goldsmiths have already signed up to design and make jewellery using Fairtrade Gold. New gold, traceable back to the mine, certified at every stage and stamped with the Fairtrade mark at the assay office – what could be better! This is new. Only 16% of the UK population has heard of Fairtrade Gold. If we want it, we have to ask our favourite jewellers for it. That’s exactly what I have been doing in Beverley! Searching for a local jeweller to replace my lost engagement ring with a Fairtrade Gold version, Prescott’s were able to immediately confirm that they could supply Fairtrade Gold. Guest & Philips, Daniela Draper and Hugh Rice might be able to supply it, but Samuel Lawrence would not.  I also discovered that Argos has a huge range of white and yellow Fairtrade Gold wedding bands.

Currently, 1000 tonnes of mercury is released into the environment every year by small scale mining. We can change that by choosing Fairtrade gold. Your choice can improve the lives of small scale gold miners and allow children to go to school instead of working down mines. Depending on how much gold is sold as certified Fairtrade, mining groups are paid an annual Fairtrade premium which they collectively decide how to invest for the benefit of their wider communities. Healthcare, education, transport, electricity and investment in the mine itself, are examples of the choices made, thanks to Fairtrade.

You can find out more about Fairtrade Gold and where to buy it at fairtrade.org.uk/gold

Ros                                                                                                                                                              Cherry Burton Fairtrade Group www.cherryburtonftlp.org

Campaigners in Cherry Burton are celebrating after “Fairtrade Village” signs were erected by the East Riding of Yorkshire Council on each of the four roads leading into the village. Thanks to the generous support of village-based businesses who funded the signs, the village now has visible reminders of its status for residents and visitors alike. Placing of the signs will fulfil the aim of raising awareness in the local community of the impact that choosing Fair Trade makes on people in the developing world.

Cherry Burton has been a Fairtrade Village for 13 years, and was the first community in the East Riding to be awarded Fairtrade Village status. Widespread support by individuals, organisations and businesses has meant that status has been successfully maintained over the years.

Pictured are: Adrian Hedges of I Love Kitchens and Paul Grundy of Elm Tree Farm B & B – two of the businesses who sponsored the signs. The other sponsors were: Mark and Jennene, The Bay Horse public house; Tom Ainley, plumber; Andrew Jeffrey, Kwikjet Cleaning Services; Kathryn Steels, North Bar Fabrics; Paul Staniford, Stanifords.com; and Pauline Greenwood, Burton Mount Country House.

The Fairtrade Churches Project – Making a difference to Fair Trade in Hull.

Check out our website.

Hull City Council, and the Hull One World Shop, together with support from all areas of the city made Kingston-upon-Hull into a FAIRTRADE City in March 2005.

Hull Fairtrade supporters

The Fairtrade supporters in the churches are now working together to ensure that Fairtrade stays high in the priorities of all churches in the area.

Fairly Traded products are high quality, – because the farmers choose the best of the best for Fair Trade.

Fairtrade consumable products are readily available – see our directory of retail outlets on our website.

Fair Trade is growing – join us and make the world a better place for everyone, but especially for those who need it most.

If anyone is visiting Nepal do please go to the wonderful Fairtrade craft shop on the edge of Patan, part of greater Kathmandu. Their website is www.acp.org.np
Below is a quote from their website:
Dhukuti is our four-story treasure trove for the fair trade consumer. Located in Lalitpur (Patan), Dhukuti displays our entire line of ACP items. The individual customer can browse, touch, shop and learn about our process and philosophies. It is a favourite place amongst tourists and Nepalis because of its authenticity and accessibility.
We were captivated, it is an Aladdin’s cave of Fairtrade crafts, sadly we only has small holdalls as we had been walking in the hills and so were limited in how much we could pack. The quality of every thing we saw was incredibly high and the range was amazing.
We explained that we were involved in the Fairtrade movement in the UK and they were delighted that we could recognise them as partners in a world wide movement.
The shop is featured in the Rough Guide and Lonely Planet.
Janice Gwilliam

Coordinator Fairtrade Malton and Norton

Bradford and bling came together with a presentation on Fairtrade gold at Bradford Cathedral on 12th September.

Dan Omondi Odida, a gold miner from Kenya, came to speak to a crowd of seventy Fairtrade supporters, including attendees from the University of Bradford.

Karen Palframan (Fairtrade Yorkshire and Fairtrade Bradford Zone) and Dan Omondi Odida Photo credit: John Sargent jackharrybill.co.uk

The Dean welcomed everyone to the Cathedral and ethical jewellers Rory McQuaid (the Ethical Jeweller, Otley) and Caroline Kindy (Element Jewellery, Hebden Bridge) supported Dan in the presentation, alongside Adam Gardner from the national Fairtrade Foundation and Mark Dawson and Karen Palframan of Fairtrade Yorkshire.

Dan spoke of the need for Fairtrade gold in order to address injustice in the gold trade.  This includes the lack of a fair price, child labour, ill health as a result of processing the gold, and environmental  damage caused by gold mining.

Fairtrade gold guarantees a fair price and a Fairtrade premium in addition (which can be spent by gold mining cooperatives to improve life in their communities).  The Fairtrade gold scheme includes safety and environmental standards.

Photo credit: John Sargent

You can check out Fairtrade gold jewellery for sale on these websites:

The Ethical Jeweller

Element Jewellery

Fairtrade gold rings will also be available from Argos.

Find out more about Fairtrade gold at the new ‘discover gold’ site: http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/discovergold