February 2012
3 posts
8 tags
Alexa Chung loves Fairtrade cotton at LFW
By Harriet Lamb, Executive Director, Fairtrade Foundation
It’s vital in life to know your limits. What you’re good at, and what really is just not you. Well I didn’t become a fashion model for very good sound reasons.
So imagine my panic, when the dynamic and outrageously beautiful Safia Minney, who runs People Tree, phones me up to ask what I want to wear for her special evening. I am on...
7 tags
Harriet Lamb visits banana farmers in the Windward...
By Harriet Lamb, Executive Director, Fairtrade Foundation
No-one could avoid smirking when I said I was going to the sunny Caribbean island of St Lucia on work. Yeah, yeah….. But what can a girl do, when some of our most important producer partners happen to be the banana farmers of the Windward Islands which includes St Lucia as well as St Vincent and Dominica.
It’s a tough assignment. But,...
5 tags
A tale of two Fairtrade Towns
By Harriet Lamb, Executive Director, Fairtrade Foundation
The vibrant network of campaigners for Fairtrade spreads across the UK, creating common ground for otherwise very different types of communities.
This weekend, I popped down to visit my mother in the buzzing village of Milverton, snug in the rolling Somerset hills and to speak with the local society about Fairtrade.
They are already...
January 2012
3 posts
3 tags
Can we build a co-operative economy?
By Ed Mayo, Secretary General, Co-operatives UK
In today’s economy, we hear a lot about competition and shares, but a lot less about co-operation and sharing. Can we build a co-operative economy?
In a fair economy, trade is between equals – each needs the other. Fairtrade is about reintroducing this kind of co-operation. It allows us to do more together - we shop, get what we need and the...
7 tags
Responsible Capitalism = Reducing Inequality
by Toby Quantrill, Head of Public Policy, Fairtrade Foundation
Earlier this week Nick Clegg waded into the escalating battle among British politicians to lay claim to being the promoters of ‘responsible capitalism’. He has called for a ‘John Lewis economy’ and plans to find ways to increase employee ownership of large companies, thus ensuring that the interests of staff and shareholders are...
3 tags
2012: UN International Year of Co-operatives
By Barbara Crowther, Communications Director, Fairtrade Foundation
Last Thursday, 12 January marked the official launch of the UN 2012 International Year of Cooperatives, and the start of a vigorous debate about alternatives to business as usual.
Fairtrade’s roots also lie in the cooperative movement, and today a whopping 75% of all Fairtrade producer organisations are cooperatives of small...
December 2011
11 posts
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Harriet Lamb reflects on 2011 and looks forward to...
Harriet Lamb, Executive Director, Fairtrade Foundation
Pheww what a year. It’s been tough for everyone – for so many in the UK and too many among our producer partners, hit by storms real and economic. And yet so much achieved in the last twelve months!
Sales hit the billion pound mark, Fairtrade gold was launched, with a Fairtrade church taking it one step further and gilding their weather...
6 tags
What a difference a year makes
by Faith Mall, Communications Officer, Fairtrade Foundation
As we look forward to 2012, life is beginning to look rosier for the smallholder banana farmers of the Windward Islands. This time last year, around 2310 farmers weren’t sure if they had a livelihood, after a devastating hurricane destroyed their banana trees.
Earlier this year I travelled to the Windward Islands of St Lucia and...
5 tags
Will the New Year bring Fairness for cotton...
by Aurelie Walker, Trade Policy Advisor, Fairtrade Foundation
Fairness is not an ideology. Some people are haves and some people are have nots. This situation is real and requires a real response. Yet in the World Trade Organisation over 10 years of negotiations have still not delivered greater fairness and, dangerously, the world is losing interest.
Ministers of trade from around the world...
7 tags
Praise Women everywhere at 'Womens Christmas'
by Joanne Coffey from Fair Trade Organisation, Equal Exchange
Every year in the rush up to Christmas up to £8bn is spent in the UK on festive food, drink, fashion and frivolities. Why not take some time to thank the women in your life in 2012 by celebrating Womens Christmas with Fairtrade.
The streets are thronged with Christmas shoppers, the majority of whom are women. On average 4 million...
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Why do we need to transform the food production...
By Michael Nkonu, Director of Fairtrade Africa
Today (Wednesday 14 December), I’ll be part of a keynote panel, opening the high level Chatham House conference: Transforming the Food Production System. Here’s a few of the thoughts I’ll be presenting to an influential audience of government, business and NGOs.
Why is it that we consider that we have a food crisis now? After...
8 tags
Father Christmas delivers a message of cotton...
By Jayde Bradley, Senior Campaigns Officer, Traidcraft
Ahead of the World Trade Organisation ministerial later this week, Traidcraft – with a helping hand from Father Christmas – took the campaign for cotton justice to the US Embassy.
Thousands of Fairtrade supporters from Traidcraft, Fairtrade Foundation and People Tree have been campaigning for an end to US cotton subsidies in the last few...
4 tags
Fairtrade producers tell MEPs the real story of...
By Marcela Guerrero Casas, Fairtrade Africa policy officer
I’ve been in Durban with a number of Fairtrade producers from all over the world who have been seizing their chance to tell those negotiating about the realities of farming in the face of a changing climate.
One of the main reasons that the Fairtrade producer networks decided that they wanted to be present in Durban was their...
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Producers in developing countries hit first and...
By Bill Corcoran, freelance journalist
Producers in developing countries have contributed the least to climate change yet are suffering the burden of its impacts – and thus need more and more effective adaptation funding, Fairtrade International CEO Rob Cameron told reporters at a joint press conference held with former chief negotiator for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate...
4 tags
A Fairtrade farmer at COP17
By Tomy Matthews, Fairtrade Alliance Kerala
Tomy Matthews, from smallholder co-operative Fairtrade Alliance Kerala in India, has been at the COP17 in Durban. After a packed first week of events and meetings, he shares his thoughts and insights on the climate change conference.
Being a Fairtrade producer at the COP17 has been interesting, for example last week I was in the China Pavillion...
6 tags
Fairtrade at COP17: building bridges for the...
By Bill Corcoran, freelance journalist
COP17 delegates and members of civil society took time out from the Durban climate change negotiations on Saturday to attend a cocktail party arranged by Fairtrade and partner organisation the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED).
From early evening those who attended the event at the Southern Sun Hotel in North Beach, a stretch...
4 tags
What is Fairtrade's role at COP17?
by Bill Corcoran, freelance journalist
Fairtrade can play an important role in shaping the world’s developing carbon markets and other forms of climate finance because the organisation touches the lives of millions of food producers around the globe, Fairtrade International CEO Rob Cameron told climate talk delegates in Durban this week.
During a joint discussion seminar with the Dutch church...
November 2011
6 posts
4 tags
Day 3 COP17: The real business of climate change
By Nokutula Mhene, Fairtrade Africa
The 17th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP17) kicked off on Monday and the Fairtrade movement has already begun to engage. Will day three deliver what vulnerable farmers in the developing world need to adapt?
We have a large and global delegation here in Durban, with representation from Africa, Asia and Latin America. It is clear that climate...
7 tags
Beyond 1,000 Fair Trade Towns
By Adam Gardner, Campaigns Officer, Fairtrade Foundation
Ten years ago this week, the small market town of Garstang, Lancashire became the first Fairtrade Town in the world. Bruce Crowther, the campaign founder, said ‘if it can happen in Garstang it can happen anywhere,’ although few would have predicted that in 2011 there would be over 1,000 across 24 countries.
Malmo, the first Fairtrade...
6 tags
Renwick Rose, WINFA, wins Guardian Achievement...
By Faith Mall, Media and PR Manager, Fairtrade Foundation
Fairtrade pioneer Renwick Rose has won the Guardian Achievement Award for International Development. Known as ‘banana man’ to those in the Foundation office, I couldn’t think of a more deserving recipient.
The award is designed to recognise some of the unsung heroes of international development. People who have made a...
8 tags
'Fairtrade secures livelihoods and biodiversity':...
By Andy Good, Managing Director, Equal Exchange
Next in our series counting down to the 2011 United Nations Conference on Climate Change (aka COP17), how Fairtrade can safeguard not just local incomes, but healthy ecosystems too.
Within the last two months, two of our partners have been hit by climate change related weather catastrophes. Gumutindo Coffee Co-operative in Uganda by landslides...
Tackling child labour in chocolate – chunk by...
by Barbara Crowther, Director of Communications & Policy, Fairtrade Foundation
A TV report from the BBC’s Humphrey Hawksley (11 November) has yet again thrown a spotlight onto the continued scandal of hazardous child labour on cocoa farms in Cote D’Ivoire.
And it would take a hard heart not to be moved when listening 12 year old Kuadio Kouako talking about how he hasn’t seen his family...
11 tags
Fair and local - a Cumbrian farmer in the Windward...
by Faith Mall, Fairtrade Foundation, and Robert Craig, Cumbrian farmer
Should you buy local or should you buy Fairtrade? Perhaps the choice does not have to be mutually exclusive. Today a groundbreaking conference will consider the situation of small farmers in developing countries and farmers in Cumbria.
More than 150 delegates involved in farming, food and wool processing, in food...
October 2011
4 posts
8 tags
Bristol's Outstanding Achievement recognised
by Jenny Foster, Bristol Fairtrade Network
I felt great pride standing on a stage with other Bristol campaigners this weekend at the annual Fairtrade Supporter Conference in Birmingham, and receiving the Fairtrade Fortnight Award for Outstanding Achievement.
This year’s Fairtrade Fortnight in Bristol was an exciting and vibrant time that involved more people and organisations than ever before....
7 tags
Bunting to Brussels
by Veronica Pasteur, Head of Campaigns, Fairtrade Foundation
Very early one morning last week, I dragged myself out of bed to meet my colleague Ed Butcher, Public Policy Advisor and board the Eurostar to Brussels with a very precious cargo: a piece of the fairest and longest line of bunting in the world. Our mission – to take the bunting to Brussels and present it to MEPs at a special breakfast...
7 tags
The Future of Food: A fair response needed to a...
by Toby Quantrill, Head of Policy and Impact, Fairtrade Foundation
On the eve of World Food Day over three hundred grassroots campaigners from all over the UK came together and discussed what lessons could be drawn from Fairtrade about coping with the escalating crisis in the global food system with experts.
‘Food security is about affordability and availability of food to farmers and...
6 tags
Food, farming and the future
by Barbara Crowther, Director of Communications & Policy, Fairtrade Foundation
This year, World Food Day and Blog Action Day both take place on Sunday 16 October. As one billion people go hungry each night, whilst another billion are overweight, whilst famine stalks East Africa once again, and farmers increasingly report the effects of climate change, it’s clear our global food system needs...
September 2011
4 posts
6 tags
If David Cameron asked you what he should tell the...
by Aurelie Walker, Trade Policy Advisor, Fairtrade Foundation
Me? Yes! You? Well, last week, a bunch of us trade buffs were asked just that: to input into the Prime Minister’s global governance report for the G20 French Presidency. And boy, did we have some juicy ideas - and that’s probably why economists are not in charge.
Three hours and the top brains from around the world...
8 tags
G20 must ignore bank lobby over food speculation
by Nick Mathiason, The Bureau of Investigative Journalism
The Fairtrade Foundation has long been concerned about the effects of the ‘food crisis’ on vulnerable producers, and there is increasing evidence, and concern, that rampant speculation on international markets has been increasing volatility and creating ever greater problems for those least able to manage rapid changes in food prices.
...
5 tags
A phantom letter to the EU Trade Commissioner...
by Aurelie Walker, Trade Policy Advisor, Fairtrade Foundation
Dear Trade Commissioner De Gucht,
Thank you for your visit to the UK this week to discuss EU trade policy with us it was lovely to see you after so long. I am glad you enjoyed meeting our Lords Select Committee on international trade.
You briefly touched on the WTO in your conversation with the Lords. You mentioned that a reduction...
6 tags
Fairtrade mourns the deaths of coffee farmers in...
Gumutindo is one of the oldest Fairtrade coffee co-operatives. Based in Mount Elgon, in the Mbale district of south-east Uganda, one of their founder members Lovis Masiga and his family were tragically killed last week in a mud slide. Because of large scale deforestation in the area, mud slides during the raining season are becoming increasingly frequent and resulting in loss of life.
Here...
August 2011
6 posts
5 tags
Chocolate in meltdown
by Dave Goodyear, Producer Research & Impact Manager, Fairtrade Foundation The Fairtrade Foundation is developing a series of briefings on key commodities, starting with cocoa. Steady growth over the last hundred years has transformed the chocolate confectionery market into an $80bn a year global industry. But now, with demand forecast to outstrip supply, a crisis is looming for the...
7 tags
A world of difference
by Swati Upadhyay, Vodafone World of Difference winner
One of the lucky winners of the Vodafone’s World of Difference intiative that pays for people to work for a charity of their choice, Swati Upadhyay chose to work for Fairtrade. Here she gives an outsider’s overview of the Fairtrade system and examines the role it can play in the wider drive for sustainability.
I have just...
11 tags
The Bitter Taste of Sugar
by Aurelie Walker, Trade Policy Advisor, Fairtrade Foundation
Kenya, the East African powerhouse, has just sent a bitter message to its neighbours calling for tariffs on their sugar imported into the country to be maintained, protecting their own sugar industry at the expense of farmers in other African nations.
36% of sugar imported into Kenya is from the 19 country bloc of COMESA - the...
10 tags
Fairtrade on the fringes
by Harriet Lamb, Executive Director, Fairtrade Foundation
Recently I went to watch comedian Mark Thomas’ one-man show: ‘Extreme Rambling’, which has also been published as a book from Ebury Press. Too often, learning more about the Palestinian situation is a one-way street to doom and gloom; you know you should but you cannot quite summon up the courage. If that is how you feel – I recommend...
4 tags
Cowboys and Indians - Rice Dream
By Kevin EG Perry, freelance writer
An extract from the ‘Cowboys and Indians’ blog of freelance writer Kevin EG Perry who visited a federation of small farmers in Uttaranchal state to find out more about the impact that Fairtrade accreditation can have in rural India.
India is not a good place to live if you don’t like eating rice. It is utterly ubiquitous, the staple of every...
6 tags
Let's make this a Fairtrade Ramadan
By Abdul-Rehman Malik, Programmes Manager, Radical Middle Way
At the start of Ramadan it’s the perfect time for our actions to reflect our beliefs, by pledging to support Fairtrade.
Yesterday was the first day of Ramadan and we were up early to begin the fast. Believers from Lucknow to London will set aside food and drink during the daylight hours. We will be called to hold our...
July 2011
7 posts
8 tags
WTO fails the poorest, again.
Ruth Bergan, Coordinator, The Trade Justice Movement New thinking and new institutions are needed to deal with the urgent global issues we face. Trade ministers have long insisted that the WTO Doha negotiations are a vital part of the response to the global emergencies in the economy, food, climate and employment. Yet we learnt this week that a lack of political will has rendered the WTO...
Fairtrade mourns the loss of John Bowes
By Barbara Crowther, Director, Communications and Policy, Fairtrade Foundation
The Fairtrade movement is mourning the loss of John Bowes a Fairtrade pioneer and dedicated advocate, who passed away on Sunday (July 23) following a short illness.
His commitment stretches back to the early days of Fairtrade, beginning with his role with the Cooperative Retail group, then as Chief Executive of the...
5 tags
Challenging times for coffee farmers
By Kate Lewis, Business Development Manager, Fairtrade Foundation
The objective of my recent trip to Peru was both to understand the benefits that Fairtrade has brought to farmers and also to understand the challenges that they face.
The market price of coffee has increased dramatically in the past year and this has created challenges throughout the supply chain. Consumers may not be aware of...
3 tags
All the way from Chocolate Island!
With hurtling price rises affecting smallholder cocoa growers all over the world, and factors like climate change playing havoc with supply chains, here’s some good news from the tiny African island nation of São Tomé and Principe, who have joined the Fairtrade family. Situated just off the west coast, São Tomé, also known as Chocolate Island, is the second smallest African country with a...
3 tags
Bean to cup: the real value of a cup of Fairtrade...
By Kate Lewis, Business Development Manager, Fairtrade Foundation My first trip since working at Fairtrade Foundation to visit coffee producers… three days in and it has been amazing, eye-opening and inspiring.
I am visiting two of the main coffee co-operatives in Peru with coffee trader DR Wakefield and coffee roaster Matthew Algie. The co-operatives are Cepicafe and Cecovasa. So far we...
6 tags
West Africa's future being determined in Brussels
By Aurelie Walker, Trade Policy Adviser, Fairtrade Foundation
In a critical vote on the future of European agriculture last month European Parliamentarians sent conflicting messages to policy makers. They acknowledged that making the Common Agricultural Policy more market oriented has ‘proved its worth’ but went on to defend production based premiums that distort trade such as those given to...
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Co-operating: the backbone of fair trade
By Harriet Lamb, Chief Executive Officer, Fairtrade Foundation
As Cooperatives Fortnight draws to a close, Harriet Lamb reflects on the role of co-operation in the Fairtrade movement.
To celebrate Co-operatives Fortnight, I sent off a cheque to buy a little share in the fantastic Holmfirth Fair Traders Coop making me their 500th member, while this Fairtrade Fortnight, I had a blast down at the...
June 2011
9 posts
5 tags
Fairtrade gets muddy at Glastonbury
By Veronica Pasteur, Head of Campaigns, Fairtrade Foundation
A small team of Fairtrade staff and volunteers made the pilgrimage to Pilton for the annual Glastonbury Festival last week. It’s not just about the mud and the music you know…
Greenpeace – one of the main charity partners of the Festival – run an area at the festival and invite a number of different partner organizations...
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Stopping sales altogether isn’t the answer to...
By Gemma Cartwright, New Products and Standards Development Manager, Fairtrade Foundation
Many of the 100 million people globally who are dependent on gold mining for their livelihoods, such as those shown in last night’s Dispatches programme, are characterised by high levels of abject poverty. They need gold sales to continue.
As the price of gold increases on the world markets, so...
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Fairtrade bananas are All Good in NZ
By Harriet Lamb, Executive Director, Fairtrade Foundation
I am going from Auckland, biggest city on North Island to the South Island for just an overnight stop so you would think a tiny bag would do it. But no – now it seems I carry more for one night than I used for one year. For we are running from meeting businesspeople and journalists to Government Minister to school kids to academics to...
3 tags
Be green to keep growing
By Harriet Lamb, Executive Director, Fairtrade Foundation
I am learning more about all good things Australian. Top of the list has to be ‘flat-white’ Fairtrade coffee – cappucino without the froth which some UK coffee shops are also now offering. I can certainly recommend it. When I manage to drag myself away from the coffee to the National Business Leaders Forum on Sustainable Development, the...
9 tags
The effect of distance
By Harriet Lamb, Executive Director, Fairtrade Foundation
You often have to go abroad to see your own country in a new light. It’s an exciting time to be in Canberra, the beautiful capital of Australia, where the political world is buzzing with fiery arguments about a carbon tax.
I am at the National Business Leaders’ Forum on Sustainable Development, a grouping of CEOs from some of the...
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A glittering night for Fairtrade and Fairmined...
By Stuart Barber, Media and PR Manager, Fairtrade Foundation
What a night for the Fairtrade movement at last night’s Observer Ethical Awards! I was in the crowd in the beautiful surroundings of the Victoria and Albert Museum in Kensington to see the country’s leading ethical champions and trailblazers being awarded for their fantastic work.
I was there with Fairtrade gold pioneer Greg...