Fairtrade activists gathered in Acomb for the annual Acomb Green Fair which is held on the traditional, triangular shaped, village green.

The Fairtrade stall drew in the crowds, as chocolate samples were given out, as well as Fairtrade leaflets & information on Oxfam’s Grow campaign.

Supporters also gave out hundreds of leaflets promoting Fairtrade Yorkshire.

Other attractions at the Fair included a steam locomotive and the rousing sounds of the Mardi Gras jazz band.

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.

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.

Fairtrade York’s, Kathryn Tissiman, took her family out to enjoy the excitement of the Olympic torch relay as it passed across the city’s racecourse.

All the family were proud to wave their Team Fair flags to promote Fairtrade this summer.

However you enjoy the summer of sport – taking part, cheering on the athletes, getting together with friends in front of the big screen or at home on the sofa – you can be part of Team Fair too, by choosing, using and asking for Fairtrade.

With Fairtrade bananas, tea, sugar and coffee available at Olympic venues, we’re seeing some big steps toward fairness for farmers and workers in developing countries.  But we can take Fairtrade so much further as a team.  Join communities and businesses across the UK in the race to make trade fairer.

Join Team Fair

Yorkshire MEP, Linda McAvan, is proud to give her backing to the Fairtrade Yorkshire campaign.  Speaking to our coordinator, Mark Dawson, she said:

“As chair of both the European Parliament Fair Trade Group and the Parliament’s Committee on International Development, I am delighted to support Fair Trade Yorkshire’s campaign to become the UK’s first Fair Trade region. I became more active on Fair Trade after visiting cocoa farmers in Ghana whose livelihoods have been dramatically improved by becoming Fair Trade farmers. What particularly struck me was that the extra income and financial security Fair Trade brings leads to better life chances for their children because it means more resources for education, healthcare and  clean water.

Sales of Fair Trade goods are on the increase in our region. This is great news. Lots of schools, colleges, universities, local councils and  companies have Fair Trade policies. In the European Parliament we are working to make it easier for local authorities and other organisations to switch to Fair Trade by promoting it in public procurement. Growth in Fair Trade sales despite the economic downturn shows that the policy has strong public support.

By becoming a Fair Trade region, Yorkshire is sending out a clear message that we want people in the developing world to be paid a fair price for the work and the goods they produce and that we are prepared to do our bit for global justice.

The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu has sent us this message for Fairtrade Yorkshire:

“Last year estimated sales of Fairtrade products reached £1.32bn, which was a 12% increase on the previous year.  Fairtrade has been a massive success since its launch twenty years ago. Gradually but definitely, our shopping habits are changing.

The Archbishop of York on a visit to the Ivory Coast

In 2009 I visited the Ivory Coast to see the impact Fairtrade chocolate here would have on disadvantaged cocoa farmers there. It’s a country ground down by poverty and riven by conflict. Life expectancy and literacy are low.  In places where there had never been schools, the cooperatives are able, with the help of the Fairtrade premium and Nestlé, to create elementary education for their children and build a health centre serving local workers and their families.

In January 2012, Mr Fasseri from the Kavokiva Co-op on the Ivory Coast visited the Manor School in York, as part of the Archbishop of York’s Youth Leaders’ Programme. His picture is on the 4 bar KIT KAT. His initiative and drive were inspiring. It is people like him who, with our active goodwill, can change the fortunes of the poor. So keep up the good work to support and use the Fairtrade branded goods in as many places as possible where you live, it can make all the difference.”

An Otley school has won our regional film competition and was presented with an award on Monday 28^th May by Greg Mulholland MP. The ‘Take a Step’ film competition was organised by Fairtrade Yorkshire and launched during this year’s Fairtrade Fortnight.

Greg Mulholland MP with winning Saints

The challenge was to tell the story about the journey of a Fairtrade product. The winners are from Otley All Saints School, who created an informative and interesting film about the journey of cocoa, from grower to chocolate bar.  Scarlet Hannan-Webber, one of the pupils involved in the film, said “It was so interesting because we got to learn more details about Fairtrade products. Our team was so co-operative and everyone really enjoyed being creative and thinking outside the box!”

Read the rest of this entry »

World Fair Trade Day is the annual celebration of the global fair trade movement.  This year it took place on 12th May.  Big celebrations took place in Bradford when the last of the nine Fair Trade Way walks was completed.  The Lord Mayor of Bradford joined Fairtrade activists and praised the establishment of the Fair Trade Ways in Bradford District.

To find out more about the Fair Trade Ways, which cross some of Yorkshire’s most dramatic countryside, please click here:

Bradford Fair Trade Way

Karen Palframan, Chair of Fairtrade Bradford, thanked all involved and gave special thanks to the Coop for all their support for the setting up of the Fair Trade Way.

Linda Gomila, Co-operative and Membership Officer for West Yorkshire, said: ‘It’s vital that we continue to support our local communities…particularly when there is a link to something like the Fairtrade movement, which has the power to change lives and is a cause that is very close to our hearts. Whether a vanilla grower in India or a banana producer in Panama, Fairtrade is so important because it enables people living in some of the world’s poorest countries to escape poverty and empower themselves and their families.’

A speaker meeting held in York on 30th May raised awareness of the United Nations Rio +20 meeting that takes place in June.

Professor Dave Raffaelli and Nicola Sansom at the Rio +20 event

Oxfam’s North of England Activist Coordinator, Nicola Sansom, held up Fairtrade as an example of successful action for a sustainable future.  Although society is a long way off from taking the actions necessary to secure the well being of future generations, there is still much that has taken place that should be celebrated, including the rise of the Fairtrade movement.

Fairtrade is sustainable as it seeks to offer producers long term livelihoods, often encouraging diversification.  The Fairtrade movement seeks to minimise adverse environmental impact, for example supporting organic farming and ending the use of many pesticides which can cause serious health problems and poison the land and water supply.

Nicola called on the audience to back Oxfam’s Grow campaign which supports sustainable small scale agriculture.

Professor Dave Raffaelli from the Environment Department at the University of York, who is the director of the UK programme “Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services for Sustainability”, talked about his work at national and international levels to find new ways to help communities develop, without threatening the very landscapes and biodiversity which underpins their livelihoods.

Three of Yorkshire’s bishops have given strong backing to the campaign for Fairtrade Yorkshire.

Bishop John of Ripon & Leeds has said:

‘Fair Trade is one of the great movements of our time.   It contributes to the welfare of people throughout the world and helps to ensure justice.   I am delighted to support the aim of Fairtrade status for Yorkshire.’

Bishop Tony of Pontefract:

‘I am very pleased to support the campaign to make ‘God’s Own County’ a Fairtrade county.  Supporting farmers in poor countries is so important for them.  They want to be able to help themselves and Fairtrade gives them a really good start’

Bishop Stephen of Wakefield:

‘I am delighted that Yorkshire is at the forefront of trying to achieve Fairtrade status. Justice for all people is central to the Christian Faith which is why so many churches support Fairtrade products. I very pleased indeed to be able to support this important initiative.’