The Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing, Jane Davidson, has called on everyone in Wales to celebrate Fair Trade Fortnight (22 February to 7 March 2010).
Ms Davidson said:
“The use of Fair Trade products in Wales is helping thousands of developing country farmers and producers to trade their way out of poverty.
“I hope Fairtrade Fortnight will engage all sections of society by raising awareness of Fair Trade in Wales. By buying Fair Trade products we can all help to play our part in Making Poverty History.”
Wales was declared the world’s first Fair Trade Nation in June 2008 following a campaign led by the Fair Trade Wales organisation, funded by the Assembly Government.
In the past year 5 more Welsh local authorities and 3 more towns have achieved Fairtrade status. This means that 70% of local authorities and 42% towns in Wales are now certified Fairtrade.
41% of schools in Wales are now registered with the UK Fairtrade School scheme and the number of Welsh schools with Fairtrade status went up from 55 last year to 82 this year. Schools in Wales therefore continue to account for a quarter of all the schools with Fairtrade status in the UK.
Fair Trade guarantees:
- A fair price to producers in developing countries – enough to pay a living wage
- No child labour
- Safe working conditions
- Protection for the environment
- Rights for women
- A social premium
A Fairtrade cashew nut farmer from El Salvador in Central America and a Fairtrade olive oil and nut producer from Palestine will be attending and speaking at local Fair Trade events across the country.
A list of all the events in Wales is available on the Fairtrade Wales website at http://www.fairtradewales.com/
