Leeds Uni Oxfam support us
The Oxfam Campaigns Group at the University of Leeds are backing Fairtrade Yorkshire.
Sean & Soo from Leeds Uni Oxfam
Yorkshire Oxfamers back Fairtrade Yorkshire
Key Oxfam activists from across Yorkshire have given their backing to the campaign to make Yorkshire the UK’s first Fairtrade Region.
Pictured here are Oxfam Campaigns representatives from Todmorden, Leeds, Halifax, Huddersfield, Sheffield and York.
Celebrating Co-operation at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park
Fairtrade Yorkshire campaigners at our stall
Fairtrade Yorkshire occupied a marquee at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park near Wakefield on 16th September, as part of a celebration of the International Year of Co-operatives. Crowds came to our information stall and to view our Global Advocates exhibition.
A Fair Fair
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.
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.
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.
Join Team Fair this summer
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.
MEP supports Fairtrade Yorkshire
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.
Archbishop’s message for Fairtrade Yorkshire
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.”
Saints Scoop Fair Win
An Otley school has won our regional film competition and was presented with an award on Monday 28th 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!”
