Helen backs Fairtrade Fortnight
Fairtrade Fortnight, which starts this week, will be coming to the Bishop Auckland area with the help of Helen. [1]
Helen has organised a range of events to help boost awareness of fair trade and today launches a petition so local people can support the cause of trade justice. [2]
The Bishop of Durham, who is a supporter of trade justice, has agreed to be the first signatory to the petition.
Helen said, “The Make Poverty History campaign showed that people throughout County Durham want to help people in developing countries to free themselves from poverty. But this won’t be achieved just through aid donations. The best gift to poor countries would be fair trade so they can earn a proper living from the goods they produce.
“With over 1,000 fair trade products available, it’s easier than ever to include fair trade in your everyday shop and make fair trade your habit. This Fairtrade Fortnight I want to help spread the word about fair trade and the benefits it brings to farmers and workers in developing countries.”
Helen will be visiting Co-op stores in Spennymoor and Shildon on Friday 17 March to find out how the Co-op is supporting fair trade. Copies of the petition will be available for member of the public to sign.
Helen will also be attending a fair-trade coffee morning on 18 March, where campaigners will discuss the trade justice issue while enjoying fair-trade chocolates, biscuits, tea and coffee. The event will be held in the Scouts Hall, Bishop Auckland, and is open to all from 11am.
Finally, Helen also plans to visit Oxfam in Barnard Castle to promote fair-trade and learn more about Oxfam’s work.
She added, “Over 1,500 fair trade products are now available – an 80% increase from 850 in 2005 – and 40% of shoppers have bought fair trade products.
“However, research has shown that when it comes to shopping we tend to stick to the products we already know. The challenge is to make it easy to get the fair trade habit and switch to buying fair trade certified goods.”
Any individuals or church groups who would like a copy of the petition should call Helen Goodman’s office on 020 7219 4346 or email goodmanh@parliament.uk.
[1] Fairtrade Fortnight takes place 6-19 March 2006. Fairtrade Fortnight is supported by the following organisations: ActionAid, Banana Link, CAFOD, Christian Aid, Methodist Relief & Development Fund, National Federation of Women’s Institutes, Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign, Oxfam, People & Planet, Public and Commercial Services Union, SCIAF, Shared Interest Foundation, Tearfund, The Mothers’ Union, The United Reformed Church, Traidcraft Exchange, World Development Movement. For further details see www.fairtrade.org.uk.
[2] The petition, which will be presented to the House of Commons by Helen Goodman, reads:
To the House of Commons.
The Petition of the residents of Bishop Auckland constituency and others,
Declares that the campaign for global justice on trade aid and debt must continue in 2006 even more strongly than in 2005. The Petitioners further declare that it is vital that the Government continue to increase aid for developing countries in order to Make Poverty History and reach the UN Millennium Development Goals.
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons pass the International Development (Reporting and Transparency) Bill 2005–06 which would enshrine a target of 0.7% GNI for spending on overseas development aid and create a requirement for an annual report to Parliament on the UK’s international development assistance.
Filed under: Uncategorized on March 7th, 2006
