The 500th Fairtrade town is set to be announced in Cardiff on Novermber 1. With Cardiff being the first Fairtrade capital city, the Fairtrade Foundation has chosen Cardiff as the perfect location to make the announcment.
Along with the 500th town being announced, cyclists will mark the celebrations by cycling 500 miles, ending in Cardiff.
The first cyclists set off from Aberfeldy, the joint first Fairtrade Town in Scotland, on Saturday 23 October and will pass on a ceremonial parchment to cyclists from 10 other prominent Fairtrade Towns before arriving in Cardiff on Monday 1 November.
The announcement of who has been named the 500th Fairtrade town will be made at the Wales Millennium Centre at 6.30pm. Some of the Welsh towns in the running for the title are Prestatyn, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Abercynon, and Llanelli.
To celebrate this announcement and the arrival of the cyclists, Fair Trade Cardiff are throwing a Fairtrade Bike Ride Party. Between 5.30pm and 8pm at the Wales Millennium Centre will host a number of stalls run by local fair trade groups and cycle organisations.
There will also be an awards ceremony where local schools who have achieved Fairtrade status will be awarded with a Fairtrade flag. Anyone cycling to the event can also take advantage of a free Dr Bike service, run by Cycle Training Wales. The service involves mechanics repairing bikes and sharing skills with those who come along.
Executive Member for Environment, Cllr Margaret Jones, said: “I am delighted that Cardiff has been chosen as the location to announce who will be the 500th Fairtrade town.
“The city is a great example of how to promote Fairtrade. Since becoming the first Fairtrade capital city back in 2004 we have achieved a great deal and have encouraged many businesses and schools within the city to use Fairtrade products.
“To be the 500th Fairtrade town is a huge honour and I would like to wish all those in the running for the title good luck.”
Bruce Crowther, founder of Fairtrade Towns and Fairtrade Towns Advisor, said: “The 500th Fairtrade Town is a tremendous achievement that should be enjoyed and celebrated, especially by the grassroots campaigners that made it happen. But our campaign is a long journey, fuelled by better understanding and learning. We must therefore always stay focused on the wider picture of trade justice and global poverty, in the knowledge that the final destination will one day be reached.”
