Fairtrade

International trade is a key feature in the lives of millions of small scale producers in the developing world. By buying Fairtrade products UK consumers can play an important role in improving the often desperate situation facing producers and their families in today's unpredictable world markets.
The Fairtrade Mark is an independent certification scheme that guarantees that the producer in the developing world is getting a better deal. Fairtrade products, bought direct from farmers at a minimum price that covers the cost of production and an extra premium invested in the local community, allow farmers and other producers to earn a decent livelihood and lift families and communities out of poverty.

Tower Hamlets Fairtrade Group

The Group was set up in late 2005 by a group of local people keen to achieve Fairtrade Borough status for Tower Hamlets as part of the Fairtrade London initiative being promoted by the Fairtrade Foundation and the Mayor of London. For more information about the London-wide campaign, please visit www.fairtradelondon.org.uk
The Tower Hamlets Fairtrade group includes representatives of local development campaign groups, churches and faith groups, universities and other community and education organisations and Tower Hamlets council.

Our aims are:

• To provide local residents and community groups with information about Fairtrade and development issues
• To encourage local groups to hold events, especially during Fairtrade Fortnight
• To increase awareness of Fairtrade among consumers and retailers
• To support development education work in schools
• To encourage local businesses to stock, use and promote Fairtrade products
• To assist in the production of a Fairtrade directory for Tower Hamlets.

Tower Hamlets has been awarded Fairtrade Borough Status!

In October 2006 Tower Hamlets was awarded Fairtrade Borough status as the result of over a year’s work by the Tower Hamlets Fairtrade Group. This is part of the wider campaign to make London a Fairtrade City. For the London Borough of Tower Hamlets to become a Fairtrade Borough, 5 goals had to be met:

• The Council must pass a resolution supporting Fairtrade, and serve Fairtrade coffee and tea at its meetings and in offices and canteens,
• A range of Fairtrade products must be readily available in the area’s shops and served in local cafés and catering establishments,
• Fairtrade products must be used by a number of local work places (estate agents, hairdressers etc) and community organisations (churches, schools etc),
• The council must attract popular support for the campaign,
• A local Fairtrade steering group must be convened to ensure continued commitment to Fairtrade Town status.

Where are we now?

The next stage will be to continue building on our achievements so far by lobbying retailers, schools, businesses as well as the council itself to increase support for Fairtrade through their purchasing and other policies. We will continue working to increase awareness and build support, particularly during Fairtrade Fortnight.

Fairtrade Fortnight 2008 in Tower Hamlets:  25th February- 9th March.

Fairtrade Fortnight this year is happening from February 25th - March 9th 2008.

The Fairtrade group is currently busy organising a program of events. One of the highlights will be a screening of the film Black Gold with a Q&A with one of the directors at Genesis Cinema in Mile End on Tuesday 4th March, start time 6.15pm.

For more information about this award winning documentary about the coffee industry please visit www.blackgoldmovie.com

We are also delighted that the Fairtrade Foundation have agreed to send two Fairtrade producers along to the event to speak about their experiences. Soloba Mady Keita and Makandianfing Keita from Mali are two cotton producers who will be joining in the Q&A discussion.

How can you get involved

To find out more about Fairtrade and the Fairtrade Mark, including the range of Fairtrade products available and volunteering opportunities, visit the Fairtrade Foundation's website at www.fairtrade.org.uk
If you're interested in getting in touch with the Tower Hamlets Fairtrade Group and finding out more about the Fairtrade Borough campaign please contact;
Email: rachel.carless@towerhamlets.gov.uk
Tel: 020 7364 6649
Or click on the following link which will take you to the Tower Hamlets Fairtrade group's site. To join up and receive regular updates about the activities of the group 'simply click on 'Join this Group'

Fairtrade in the Workplace

Many employers are now offering staff the option of Fairtrade refreshments in the workplace, and building Fairtrade and ethical trading considerations into their general purchasing practices. To convert your workplace to Fairtrade, get inspired by www.fairtrade.org.uk/work/ or contact the Tower Hamlets Fairtrade Borough Group.

Over the next year, we will be compiling a directory of workplaces offering Fairtrade products, so if your workplace already uses Fairtrade or is converting to Fairtrade, please let us know.