Fairtrade Fortnight 2020 - time to get involved!

The annual, hugely popular UK FAIRTRADE FORTNIGHT takes place in 2020 February 24 – March 8.

To celebrate, Porthcawl-based charity, Sustainable Wales will champion with food, fashion, stories and stalls.

Their community cooperative, SUSSED, will offer students, parents and shoppers free samples of fairtrade chocolate, tea, coffee and sugar at stalls held in schools and in the Porthcawl street.

A small new range of dresses/skirts made from recycled saris will also be available for the ethical, eco-chic fashionistas amongst us. Alongside these will be displayed a wide range of fairly traded gifts

On Sat. March 7th, the charity will hold a WELSH FAIRTRADE Pop-Up Café, 11.00 – 4pm, at 5 James St. Porthcawl CF36 3BG above SUSSED. Diners will be able to select from a menu chosen to celebrate Wales, whilst showing support for people in developing countries.

Look out for the Storybombs!

Throughout Fairtrade Fortnight, shoppers will discover at SUSSED, Porthcawl’s fair trade shop, several ‘storybombs’ (in English and Welsh).

These ‘storybombs’ will tell some extraordinary stories from women producers and help us understand their need for a ‘living income’. The ‘storybomb’ can then be placed somewhere else for others to uncover and so on. (Read Me, Share Me, Hide Me Again).

Co-ordinator, Margaret Minhinnick says:

“Shoppers increasingly question where their products come from, how they were made, and how the people involved were treated and paid.”

“The public do not want exploitation to be part of the price of their goods.”

“For example, the UK chocolate industry is worth at least £4 billion each year, but Fairtrade cocoa represents a mere fraction of this.”

“The average cocoa farmer inn Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, where 60 percent of all cocoa is grown, makes less than 75p a day. This is well below the extreme poverty line of around £1.40 and is less than the price of a Latte which can’t be right, it just isn’t fair”. Margaret said.

Story bombs at SUSSED

(1). Typical Fair Trade ‘Story Bombs’

On top of this the climate crisis is already wreaking havoc on global food production. Farmers are battling less predictable seasons, more plant diseases and weather extremes, leading to a lack of produce, struggling to harvest crops and working longer hours, for lower prices.

For women, the situation is even more unfair. In Côte d’Ivoire, for example, women carry out more than two thirds of the labour involved in cocoa farming. They work in the fields, look after children, carry water, and help bring the crop to market. And yet they often have fewer rights than men, and often earn less than a quarter of the money generated.

To change this story, we need more people in the UK to understand the power they have as consumers and to choose Fairtrade as much as possible.

We need to show companies that people in the UK expect them to go much further to pay a living income prices to farmers – and Fairtrade is the most trusted way to show it.

NOTES

Only Fairtrade is campaigning publicly for the right to a living income for farmers – men and women:

Price: The Fairtrade Premium and the Fairtrade Minimum Price are driving real change, right now. Fairtrade farmers and workers have a safety net that protects them from low prices for their crops.

Premium: Fairtrade farmers and workers choose how they spend the Premium, which they can use to make their farms and communities stronger. It also allows them to invest in different ways of making money, so that they are less reliant on the unpredictable cocoa market.

Women’s empowerment: Fairtrade is also supporting more women cocoa farmers to take the reins and stand tall alongside men. Fairtrade Standards make sure that they have a voice in their community, are represented in decision-making and benefit from Fairtrade. We know that independent income in the hands of women brings positive change to communities even faster.

Environment: While you can’t protect the planet without protecting its people first, rigorous Fairtrade Standards support farmers to protect the environment and the Fairtrade Premium is enabling them to invest in climate resilience and adaptation.

What is Fair Trade?

Fair Trade is about :

• better prices,

• decent working conditions,

• local sustainability, and

• fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in developing countries.

Beth yw Masnach Deg?

Amcanion Masnach Deg

•  prisiau gwell,

• amodau gwaith diogel,

• cynaladwyedd lleol, a

• pris teg i ffermwyr a chynhyrchwyr mewn gwledydd sy’n datblygu.

Click for Fairtrade Wales home page

Every Little Thing - Short film promoting volunteering & fairtrade

On the hottest day of the year this summer a number of young girls and a former student from Porthcawl Comprehensive took part in the production of a colourful short film aimed at encouraging volunteering.

The film ‘Every Little Thing’ supports the Fairtrade movement and particularly ethical retailer SUSSED. (Welsh version at end of post). Please share this film widely and contact us if you wish to use in schools.

SUSSED is here to support people to make ethical and environmental choices when they shop, helping use spending power to change the world for the better, whilst redefining values of trade-justice and fairness, environmental protection and as such offering an important additional way to exert influence.

Shopping local and ethical spending has continued to grow in the UK at the same time as conventional market counterparts have faltered.

The enterprise also adds to the range of independent shops in Porthcawl - vital to maintain a diverse, interesting high street and strengthen the local economy whilst offering a ‘hub’ for community activity.

However, according to `’The Ethical Consumer Report 2017’ shopping locally has grown by 5.4% nationally.Overall, the value of UK ethical spending grew by 3.2% to £81.3 billion, its highest total so far with spending shown to be strengthening at the same time as many of its conventional market counterparts have faltered.

More information: https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/sites/default/files/inline-files/ec%20markets%20report%202017.pdf

Some of the film funding came from BAVO (Bridgend Association for Voluntary Organisations). The grant was to specifically encourage volunteering.

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Screenplay: Lowri Powis, Shauna Gamble; (who were running a fairtrade shop in their school for this last year)

Mrs Allison Felton, had assisted the students, to develop a script during break times last term.

Direction: Sustainable Wales

Filming and Editing: Park6Productions

Funding: BAVO (Bridgend Association Voluntary Organisations) and Sustainable Wales.

EXTRAS : Isobel Comley, Libby Geddes, Ella Hunt, Amy Thomson + Manchester Uni Fashion student Isobel Overton.

Sgript fideo Lowri Powis & Shauna Gamble Cyfarwydd Cymru Gynaliadwy Ffilmio & Golygu Park6 Productions Cefnogwyd gan Bridgend Association of Voluntary Organisations & Cymru Gynaliadwy Short film showing the difference fairtrade can make, even if it's only the little things at first.

South mid-Wales Fair Trade Nation focus group meeting

South mid-Wales Fair Trade Nation focus group  meeting Cardiff Tuesday 24 July 5.30pm-6.30pm, short walk from Cardiff Central Station at the Shree Kutchi Leva Patel Samaj, Community Centre, Mardy St, CF11 6QT Cardiff.

For an idea of the issues (there's no fixed agenda) see the online survey:

• Fair Trade Nation survey

For more info:

Aileen Burmeister
National Coordinator | Cydlynydd Cenedlaethol

Fair Trade Wales | Cymru Masnach Deg

Hub Cymru Africa
Funded by Welsh Government | Ariennir gan Lywodraeth Cymru

02920 821 056 | 07772 032142

Temple of Peace, Cathays Park, Cardiff CF10 3AP 

Y Deml Heddwch, Parc Cathays, Caerdydd, CF10 3AP. 

@FairTradeWales on twitter

Bridgend Fairtrade Festival latest news

Bridgend’s Fairtrade Festival, Carnegie House, Wyndham Street, Bridgend on Saturday 10th March from 10 a.m. to 2p.m.

African Guests Showcase their Crafts.

Mystery Judge for ‘Bake-Off’

Bake-off!

The Bridgend Fairtrade Festival is a free event and is a celebration of support for an ethical agenda, non – exploitation, fair wages, quality products and care for the environment. It is a family event and there will be Fairtrade stalls, the coffee bar,  chocolate tasting, children’s story-telling, music, film, raffles etc. Find out more on the Festival page

African Guests, Hellen and Esther, will be displaying crafts made by Maasai widows from their community and Beti and Adi will be displaying crafts made by Gem Art, from the Gemini Foundation in Ethiopia. They are all keen to talk about their skills and work to support human rights for women, marginalised and disadvantaged people. (see notes below)

Mystery Judge for ‘Bake-Off’. Saturday shoppers are also asked to come on in, taste the cakes , have a coffee and help judge! The ‘Fairtrade Bake-Off’ is part of this year’s Bridgend Fairtrade Festival now in its second year. 

“The Bake-Off is an exciting opportunity for bakers of all ages to get involved and help promote fairtrade. So pop on your pinny’s and get baking”. said one of the organisers, Bridgend Fairtrade Partnership. Margaret Minhinnick.

Margaret explained, “On the day, the cake-bakers simply bring their cake along (made with as many Fairtrade ingredients as you are able) to Carnegie House.  It will be open from 9.30 a.m. Judging will take place from 10.15 (There will be prizes for best under 15 and best over 15 entry)”.

The cakes/goodies will be used for refreshments at the fairtrade coffee bar and the public will also be invited to vote for the ‘public’s choice’ for an additional prize. Donations welcome to Porthcawl based charity Sustainable Wales. 

To register  use the online form or  contact Luke on info@sustainablewales.org.uk

Check for updates https://www.sustainablewales.org.uk/festival

Notes

Hellen Nkuraiya from Narok, Kenya.
Hellen’s personal experiences have led her to a life of taking stands against child marriage, female genital mutilation, fighting for education for girls, rights for widows and an end to the subservience of women in her community. Now Hellen runs Enkiteng Lepa School, and Tepesua Nursery School. These schools were established in 2004 to provide a safe haven for girls escaping traditional cultural practices, including FGM (female genital mutilation). Hellen works with the whole community to create alternative rights of passage for young Maasai girls.  As well as founding the schools, Hellen also supports 15 Maasai widows and is working with them to develop income generation and livelihood projects.

Meseret Yirga from the Adugna Dance Company in Ethiopia.

Initially part of the Ethiopian Gemini Trust, Valley and Vale’s long term link partners, the Adugna Dance Company are the first and only contemporary dance company in Ethiopia. As well as being professional dancers they are skilled community outreach workers. They use creative dance to bring together marginalized groups such as able and disabled young people, HIV positive women, young girls and older people

Adanech Admassu one of Ethiopia’s first recognised female film directors, part of Gem TV.

Gem TV have developed a unique filmmaking style in Ethiopia  by which communities themselves are involved in writing their story and acting in the films. These films clearly resonate with communities and are shown as “videos on wheels” all over the country, where they inform, educate and inspire discussion. GemTV makes films on a range of social issues: HIV/AIDS, early marriage, education, human rights and the role of women. Adi, was awarded the One World Media Award in 2012 for her films’ contributions to empowering the voiceless in society. She directed Stolen Childhood about early marriage in Ethiopia.

Fairtrade in Wales

• 82% of our local authorities have achieved Fairtrade status.
• 93% of our universities have achieved Fairtrade status.
• 91 Fairtrade town, counties and village groups in Wales are actively making a difference
• 100s of faith groups
• 50% of welsh schools are registered on the Fairtrade Schools Scheme
• 150 schools in Wales have been awarded Fairtrade Status
• 20% of UK schools that have been awarded Fairtrade Status are based in Wales, despite welsh schools only representing 6.7% of the total number of UK schools.

Winners of the Fair Trade Bake Off!

Local bakers grabbed their aprons and baked a cornucopia of fair trade cakes at the Bridgend Fairtrade Festival.

Bridgend County Fairtrade Partnership Fairtrade Festival ‘Bake-Off’ winners.

Event held at Carnegie House, Wyndham Street, Bridgend on Saturday 18th March.  

Judge Madeleine Moon, MP

Judging the bake off

Adult winners

First prize: Ann Lewis with a decidedly Welsh-looking Spicy Fruit Cake with Mocha Icing.

Winning Cake

Second prize:  Liz Worthington with a delicious intensely Orange Gluten-Free Cake.

Gluten free

Children – under 15 winners

1st Prize: Juliet gardner with a clever heart-shaped Fair-trade logo-designed Dark Chocolate & Coffee Cake.
 

Second prize: was 3+3/4 years-old Ffion Bourke with a Chocolate Henry the Hedgehog Cake. 

The winner of the public vote was also Liz Worthington

(Prizes donated by SUSSED Porthcawl and Fairtrade Wales)

Autumn fair trade bake off 2016 winners

Under 16s

View fullsize

Sam Johnson's (age four) winning cake 

1st was Mack Jenkins (age 11) prize a £10.00 voucher to spend in SUSSED  and 2nd was Sam Johnson (age four)  cake no 7 ( £5.00 SUSSED Voucher).(Mack was overall winner)

Mack Jenkins' winning cake

Adult category

1st prize over 16’s was Nathan Barrett - teacher at Nottage Primary School) cup cakes no.5 , (£10.00 SUSSED voucher)

Nathan's winning cupcakes

The mouth watering event raised around £360. 

View fullsize

Fair trade ingredients and talent

Thanks go to all those fantastic cooks who donated their cakes to the charity. Sponsorship for the prizes was gratefully received and provided by Fairtrade Wales.

Also we are delighted that bake-off winner Mack has agreed to be one of the bakers for the ‘pop’ up Green Room Cafe (above SUSSED)  which will open every third Saturday of the month 10.30am - 4pm. We will be serving homemade cakes, soups, snacks and savouries.