Previous Events Fairtrade Fortnight, March, 2005
TJM Rally, Brighton, Oct, 2004
Fairtrade Fortnight, March, 2004
Read what was news on SGFTN
Fair Trade Fashion Show - Tue 23 June
Will be staged in the main fire station, Temple Back, Bristol, BS1 6EU. We'll be showing items from Bishopston Trading, Traidcraft and Llama Trading. Doors open 6.30pm and free parking is available on site. Tickets are £3 in advance (call in to Fire Brigade HQ and ask for Sandra Connolly or Louisa Goodey) or £4 on the door.
Join Fairtrade supporters around the world on Saturday 9 May by having a 100% Fairtrade breakfast. Do it in your school, workplace, community or at home with your family. Make sure you support the 100% dedicated fair trade companies that go the extra mile for producers - find out who they are here
Starbucks UK and the Fairtrade Foundation have today announced details of the company's industry-leading support for small-scale coffee farmers. This commitment means that 100% of the espresso coffee sold – both whole bean and espresso-based beverages – in Starbucks stores in the UK and Ireland become both Starbucks 'Shared Planet' and Fairtrade Certified by the end of 2009. Starbucks espresso-based coffees include its Cappuccinos and Caffe Lattes, and represent the vast majority of Starbucks drinks range.
Keep the pressure up on other chains that don't!
The follow-up event from the Fairtrade Fashion show is Cotton On! a conference exploring cotton, from plant to product. We have some exciting speakers including Lucy Siegle from the Observer, Claire Durkin from DFID, Robin Maynard MD Soil Association and Barbara Crowther from the Fairtrade Foundation. Click for details.
Sat 9th May, 10am - 4.30pm. Book here
Fairtrade Fashion Show, Bristol Cathedral, Friday 27th Feb 6.30-8.30pm. Guest appearance by Steve Redgrave. Tickets £5/3 (conc) incl refreshments and goody bag. Click for details.
A new fairtrade supplier has opened in South Glos. Check out all of our links here.
Keynsham Fairtrade Group and More to Life 08 are staging a Trade Justice Question Time. This will take place on Thursday 9th October at 7.30pm. A panel of experts has been assembled, including Bruce Crowther who initiated the Fairtrade Town concept. We will hear from the panel to start with, and then have questions from the audience. It is shaping up to be a very interesting, challenging and thought-provoking evening.
From Catherine Johnson (MAMMA MIA!), Sandi Toksvig and Mustapha Matura, to emerging and unproduced writers, TRADE IT? brings you ten diverse stories for 21st century streets. From 24 June – 6 July, 150 people a night will take a walk of discovery and find unexpected performances in Bristol's lost locations. Click for details.
This exciting consumer event is in Bristol 9th/10th May. Click for details.
Christian Aid presents an event addressing the issues highlighted in a Channel 4 documentary ‘The Great African Scandal’, which exposes the scandal behind some of the rice, chocolate and gold sold on our high streets, and discovers how unfair economic policies are crippling farmers and locking their families into a life of deprivation. Click for details.
Interview with Harriet Lamb, Director of Fairtrade, in The Telegraph, 6th Feb 2008.
Join Fairtrade Woman and take part in challenges to incorporate Fairtrade food, clothing and other products into your life. And find out how small, everyday, actions can do so much towards lifting people out of poverty.
Click to see what's going on for FT14 in and around Bristol
Harriet Lamb, Director of Fairtrade, will be speaking at the Bath Literature Festival on Wednesday 27 February, in the Guildhall, Bath, at 1pm. The Bath Literature Festival runs from Saturday 23 February - 2 March 2008. Click for details.
Virgin Atlantic has recently announced that it will be serving only Fairtrade tea and coffee to passengers. The airline served nearly 7 million cups of coffee and over 5 million cups of tea on board flights in 2006 so a switch to these products will be a significant boost for farmers who supply the Fairtrade market.
You may already be aware of the Fairtrade Town Yahoo Group, where people involved in Fairtrade Town campaigns can ask questions and exchange ideas - if not, check it out here. There is now a new group for Fairtrade Places of Worship, so if you are trying to get your church, synagogue or other place of worship involved in Fairtrade. Join the group here and share your plans.
Crafts, clothes, cards, foods, teas and coffees on sale. Perfect for Fair Trade Christmas gifts. Click for details
George Alagiah will be visiting Bristol on Friday 9th Nov as patron of the Fairtrade Foundation. He will be hosting a business breakfast, visiting schools and speaking at a public event. All are welcome - please publicise this event with this flyer.
Congratulations to Bristol City for renewing their Fairtrade City status. They gained excellent feedback from the Fairtrade Foundation who want to use 3 of their achievements as 'examples of excellence'! Since Bristol achieved Fairtrade City status in 2005 they have nearly doubled the number of shops and cafes selling Fairtrade and the number of workplaces using it, to make Bristol one of the leading centres in the UK for Fairtrade.
World Fairtrade Day is on the 12th May and organised by IFAT (International Fairtrade Association) it aims to raise awareness of Fairtrade and the role of IFAT. We are proud to be a member of IFAT, a worldwide network of 270 organisations that are 100% Fairtrade. World Fairtrade Day is an international celebration of Fairtrade, with events organised worldwide. Cafédirect have supported the main UK event with product samples for the Fairtrade bus, which will be visiting towns across the country.
During Fairtrade Fortnight, children from 3 Thornbury primary schools spent a morning at the British Empire and Commonwealth museum in Bristol learning more about world trade systems, and the impact of fairtrade on the people that produce the foods.
The Trade Justice Movement, including Oxfam, invites you to join us on a Trade Justice Day of Action in London on 19th April to demand that the European Union (EU) stops negotiating unfair trade deals which will increase poverty in some of the world’s poorest countries.This is a vital day, we urgently need about 1000 campaigners on what should be a great day.
Sainsbury's at Filton have FT T-shirts in stock - they are clearly labeled as FT and are the same price as their non-FT T-shirts. We also have reports that Marks & Spencer have a line of FT shirts available.
Watch this short film to see why.
Welcome to Ethicalsuperstore.com where you'll find gifts, gadgets, and groceries from over 50 countries. Our mission is to deliver the widest range of products that put people - from all points on the globe - and the planet itself first!. Click for details.
Apologies for the website down time over the last few weeks. We are still working with Surefish (our web host) and hope to have a full website back online soon. In the meantime, this current site is only working at half strength. Please bear with us.
Tobacco Factory, on 27th Feb, from 7.30 – 9.30pm
Presented by Bristol Link with Nicaragua. Come and meet Melba Estrada from the PRODE CO-OP coffee producers in northern Nicaragua. Melba is also involved in promoting small scale women coffee producers through the "Flores del Cafe" initiative. Come and hear about the benefits of Fairtrade and the current issues. There will also be a short documentary about 3 Nicaraguan fairtrade coffee producers.
26th Feb - 11th March 2007
We have a wide variety of Fairtrade producers and retailers listed on our links page, just ripe for your Christmas list. Click for details.
At Wellspring, we are having our annual Fairtrade cafe with stalls and bouncy castle etc. on Sat 11th Nov 10.30am - 2.30pm at Wicklea, Wick Rd, Brislington. Click for details.
Read the 'Global Call' newsletter, full of useful updates and links.
Changes are afoot at the surefish server (our web host). This may not impact us, but it might mean we change or even lose our surefish web space - we just cannot be sure at this stage. The best advice for you, our loyal reader, is to make sure you use our new address www.sgftn.co.uk to maintain contact. We will do our best to reduce the impact of any changes behind the scenes.
Does it make a difference whether I buy Traidcraft products or own label fair trade products from my local supermarket?
Thur 21st Sept: our Fairtrade certification for primary and secondary schools in South Gloucestershire was launched today at Bradley Stoke Primary School. This scheme is the first of its kind in the UK and was attended by teachers and VIP's from across South Gloucestershire.
Divine Chocolate are announcing this year's poetry competition. Click for the press release and art work. They would like as many people as possible from our region to enter - so spread the word and get composing.
Fri 13th and Sat 14th October, Frampton Cotterell. Click for details.
This is taking place on 30th September at Yate Methodist Church, at 6.30pm. The evening consists of a three course meal, guest speaker and various presentations.
Our neighbours in Gloucestershire have organised a big debate with significant speakers from the FT Foundation, Kraft and Nestle. Mark your calendar for 24th October and click for details.
If you are thinking of going on this campaign, could you please sign up for the coach, as we really need to know numbers to be able to sort routes, times etc. Click for details.
Lots of useful info and updates in last months news letter.
Don't forget our next SGFTN meeting on September 7th: news about exciting developments on the schools and directory fronts. We will meet at 7.45pm at Zion United Church, Frampton Cotterell.
Fri 1st, Sat 2nd September. This is a great opportunity to see the full range of crafts and fashion from the new catalogue in a lovely relaxed atmosphere. We hope as many as possible of the South West’s volunteer traders will be able to take advantage of the preview being spread over 2 days. We would also encourage you to bring your customers and anyone else who may be interested in the products.
Can you spot yourself amongst the drummers?.
Yate will launch as a Fairtrade Town in September! Click to read the details.
Click to read the messgae from Nelson Mandela.
July 8th, 11.30am at Castle School, Thornbury. Practice the Senegalese rhythm, then do the drumming session at 12 noon. Castle School steel and samba bands will be there to provide extra drumming entertainment, and Steve Webb MP will be showing his support, as well as other local dignitaries, so bring your drum / saucepan etc. on which to beat out the rhythm.
New figures released by the Fairtrade Labelling Organisation (FLO) International reveal that global sales of Fairtrade certified products reached €1.1 billion in 2005. This represents an increase of 37% over 2004.
You may have seen recently that MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY was voted "Campaigner of the Year" by readers of The Observer. You can read the story online here.
Enjoying the World Cup so far? Want to put a Fairtrade twist into it? Click for more details.
A charity set up in protest at the child labour practices of the clothing industry is developing plans for the first fairly traded, ethically sourced school uniforms.
Oxfam are challenging Tony Blair to be a ‘hero’ and keep the promises made to poorer countries to reform unfair trade rules. Click for more details.
Our next big event will be the Traidcraft Fashion Show in Emersons Green Village Hall on 17th June 7pm. The price includes entry, glass of FT wine and nibbles. Please come and support us. Please print the poster out and display it.
More links, more products, wider choice. Keep up to date with FT offerings on our links page.
Read the BBC report on the growth of FT, including the statement that Starbucks is now the biggest buyer of Fairtrade coffee.
You are invited to a FT Garden Party at Maypole Farm, Lower Morton on 17th June 2.30 - 4.30pm. We will have clothes from Bishopston Trading Company, as well as crafts and food from Traidcraft. The clothes can be bought on the spot or ordered. Details from Gill Denning on 01454 411 133
Virgin Trains have become the first train operating company in the UK to convert all its hot drinks to Fairtrade. The new high quality products, including a whole range of teas, coffees and hot chocolate, are available on both Pendolino and Voyager services. So whether you’re enjoying complimentary refreshments in First Class, or paying a visit to the onboard Shop, you can sip away with a clear conscience.
On Friday 17th March Yate Fairtrade team will be holding the biggest Fairtrade Event ever in Yate. It takes place in the middle of Yate Shopping Centre from 1pm so come along and watch history in the making. Click for details.
We have now registered the new, simpler web address of www.sgftn.co.uk. The old address will remain active, but the new one is obviously easier to remember and pass on!
The BBC Money Programme (Friday, March 10) takes a critical view of the way fair trade products are priced in some UK supermarkets. Click for more.
Check out the new Bristol Fairtrade Network website.
Food, film and talk about Nicaraguan fairtrade coffee projects. Thur 16 March, La Ruca, 89 Gloucester Road, Bristol. Click for details.
In an open letter to supporters of the Trade Justice Movement, the Prime Minister said he agreed with their key concerns. Click to read the full letter.
YATE could soon be a Fairtrade Town after several town businesses and organisations agreed to support the bid.
Thanks to fairtrade supporters of Chipping Sodbury for updating our directory. All other updates are welcome any time.
Marks and Spencer is set to join the ethical trading drive with the launch of a Fairtrade cotton clothing range.
Traidcraft invite you to see their exciting Spring 2006 product range, in Taunton on Sat 11 Feb. Click for details.
Why do we support Fairtrade schemes? Read this report published by NicaNet from a journalist for La Prensa in Nicaragua. He spent a week working as a coffee farmer to see what conditions are really like.
On October 4th 2005 Hurricane Stan struck Chiapas in Southern Mexico. Cafédirect are supporting their Mexican grower partners with a dedicated Online Shop where you can buy Palenque Organic Roast & Ground Coffee which is grown in the region.
Unfortunately many Christmas cards cannot be recycled as part of your normal waste collection. South Glos Council recommends using the Woodlands Trust scheme, and this year branches of Tesco and WH Smith are working with the Woodland Trust to recycle your old cards and wrapping paper. Help them reach their target of 60 million in January 2006.
It's Christmas time... They have to keep their promises! Click to read a message from Bob Geldof.
Take a look each day during advent for a new fairtrade idea for your festive season.
Christmas charity cards are big business, with more than half a billion sent each year. But are they always as ethical as they seem? The BBC reports.
In the latest edition of the Ethical Consumer Magazine there was an article considering the ethical rating of supermarkets in the UK. Click for an abridged version of this article. Although it does not look specifically at Fair Trade it covers many other interesting aspects of your shopping. Many thanks to Ethical Consumer for the permission to link to this article (magazine subscription details at www.ethicalconsumer.org)
Click to read the TJM update from the Mass Lobby for Trade Justice on 2nd Nov in Westminster. Also click here to see Steve Webb MP being lobbied by local SGFTN campaigners.
A number of new fairtrade and ethical outlets have been added to our links page. Some are local shops and others are eStores and informational sites. Surf on over for a fresh look at FT shopping as you start thinking about that Christmas shopping.
Four new dates, both local and national, have been added to the MPH calendar. Click to see details of these events happening in the next 2 months.
You may have heard in the news that Nescafe launched their first Fairtrade Coffee Blend on Fri 7 Oct 2005. Click here to read the two different reactions from the Fairtrade Foundation and World Development Movement.
Congratulations to Thornbury United Reformed Church and St Peters Church in Frampton Cotterell on both gaining Fairtrade Church Status.
Wicklea Centre, Wick Road, Brislington, Sat 26th November 10.30-2.30pm. Various FT stalls from Traidcraft, Aspire, Toybox, Brislington Enterprise College's fairtrade group, and St Anne's Church Craft group. There will also be the cafe with its fairtraded goods.
Click for more details of a Christmas Fairtrade Fair: Mangotsfield Secondary school, 21st November.
A new cookbook compiled by Vicky Bhogal featuring Fairtrade recipes by celebrities including Jamie Oliver, Nigella Lawson, Delia Smith, Elton John, Dido and Richard and Judy is available in all good bookshops now. ‘A Fair Feast’ is being published to tie in with the MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY campaign and proceeds from sales of the book will go to the Fairtrade Foundation and Oxfam. We’re hoping it will become everyone’s favourite stocking filler this Christmas!
People Tree is a pioneering Fair Trade and ecology clothing and handicrafts company. If you would like to help spread the word about Fair Trade fashion they would love you to help. Click to see some ideas or you can give them a call to discuss how you can get involved or to request a reps pack.
Put the dates in your diary now - Fairtrade Fortnight 2006 will take place from 6–19 March 2006.
The Trade Justice Movement and MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY are organising a second Mass Lobby of Parliament in the run up to the WTO talks in Hong Kong in December, to encourage the UK government to take a lead in changing trade rules to benefit poor countries. It will take place on Wed 2 November from 12.30pm – book the day off work now. Click for more details.
Fri and Sat 14/15th October at Zion Church, Frampton Cotterell. Click for details.
This year the Fairtrade Foundation will be holding two Campaign Days to provide as many of you as possible with the opportunity to attend workshops, learn about the latest Fairtrade developments and meet and network with other supporters. Dates are: Sat 8 Oct in London, and Sat 15 Oct in Manchester. Click for more details.
Macmillan supporters will be holding coffee mornings across the UK as part of the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning on 30 September 2005. Anyone can take part by organising a coffee morning. Full details are in a pack available from Macmillan which contains money-off coupons for Co-op Fairtrade goods and information about Fairtrade. So why not get involved and hold a Fairtrade coffee morning? Click for more details.
There are now 130 Fairtrade Towns and over 1,400 Fairtrade Churches across the country – and many more are working towards Fairtrade status every day. Is your town/city/borough/island/parish/county/zone or place of worship Fairtrade yet? Click for more details.
The final BBC Ground Force programme was linked with the Mozambique 'Transforming Arms into Tools' project that Christian Aid funds through one of its partners. The programme was about a garden that was created for the British Museum and dedicated to Africa, using 4 of the sculptures of decommissioned guns. Click for details of the garden, open at the Bristish Museum in London until 4th September.
Did you know that every web search done through www.surefish.co.uk rasies 2p for Christian Aid? Why not bookmark www.surefish.co.uk as your search engine and you could be donating to charity just by searching the web.
A large number of new fairtrade and ethical outlets have been added to our links page. Some are local shops and others are eStores and informational sites. Surf on over for a fresh look at FT shopping.
Click for the latest details about the weekend's historic events.
Christian Aid has helped fund a series of eight new short films, entitled Africa Calling, to be broadcast on Channel 4 during the week of the G8 summit in Gleneagles. The films, two of which will be shown each night from 4-7 July at 7.55pm, after Channel 4 news, give Africans a voice in the debate over the future of their continent.
The ‘Unfair Olympics’ has been proposed by Millennium Volunteers to celebrate 2005 as ‘The Year of the Volunteer’ and to promote and raise money for Fair Trade initiatives in Yate. Read the press release for this event to be held on Sat 16th July.
Bristol Make Poverty History have an open letter to the G8 here. They are looking for as many people as possible to add their name to this, so why not click and make your mark.
Rozzie, 10, from Bristol, wants to make the world a better place. And she’s got big plans about how to do it!
Cam and Dursley, and Wotton-under-Edge, have both gained fairtrade town status as of June 1st. Congratulations to them both. Yate are well on their way so hopefully will be next.
Are you planning on attending the rally in Edinburgh ahead of the G8 summit in July? If so, click here for the latest travel and accomodation details.
As you may have read in the press, Cadbury Schweppes has acquired Green & Black. Click to read the statement from the FT Foundation.
Read the latest facts and figures published by the FT Foundation.
Read the latest in Yate's bid for FT town status, and find out how you can help maintain the progress.
Over 80,000 people have now e-mailed Tony Blair about Trade Justice! Also, Gordon Brown is publicly attributing much of the progress on trade justice to the devotion shown to the cause by the Trade Justice Movement. Keep up the good work - it IS making a difference!
Christian Aid week this year is from May 15th – 22nd and in anticipation of that Christian Aid are holding a meeting on Thursday 12th May at 7.30pm at Thornbury Baptist Church. The speaker will be Jacinta Fox (Christian Aid major donor officer), who has travelled to Mozambique recently in connection with Christian Aid week 2005.
Why did thousands of people, including Ronan Keating, stay up all night on Friday 15 April? Read roving Rozzie's report here.
Last week, thousands of campaigners from more than 70 countries took to the streets for trade justice as part of the Global Week of Action. Many partner organisations were involved in events around the world, in countries including Ghana, India, Belgium and Bangladesh. While in London, more than 25,000 campaigners descended on Whitehall for a night of protest in solidarity with the world's poorest people.
Have you seen it yet? You soon will. Over the coming months the ad will be seen and heard many more times in cinemas, at concerts and in print as well as on TV and radio, not to mention here!
We at Yate Fairtrade Team are now embarking on our Fairtrade town status part 2. This is a petition which we will be sending to the council asking them to pass a resolution. So far we have between 300-400 signatures but we aim for 1000. Please could you add your name to our petition! All I need is you to email me your full name, house name/numbed and postcode. We will then add you to our petition. Ideally we are looking for people who live, work and shop in Yate but others are more than welcome.
Photos and other art work by members of BCF are on display upstairs at the Boston Tea Party in Park Street, Bristol. If you drop in for a coffee then enjoy the display at the same time. Also ask the staff if they have any information on Fair Trade, Trade Justice and MPH (they do! - they have been given a supply). It will help alert them to the issues and make the information more visible and available for the public. They have a supply of MPH wristbands too.
This year our leaders have the power to bring an end to extreme poverty, but the truth is that they don't think we really care. MPH have a sample e-mail for you to make your voice heard. Click for details.
In April, millions of people across the world will take part in a Global Week of Action against poverty. Bristol has a week of gigs, films and events. Click for details.
Find out from Dawn Primarolo, Bristol South MP and key member of the treasury at 8pm, Wed 30th March, at the upstairs bar, Holy Cross Social Club, Dean Lane, Bedminster. This meeting has been set up by Bristol Make Poverty History campaigners to test our government's commitment to the demands of debt cancellation, increased aid and fairer trade rules.
A big thank you once again to all who contributed to such a successful FT Fortnight in South Gloucestershire. Your help ensured the Fairtrade message has been spread even wider this year.
UK shoppers spent £140m on goods bearing the Fairtrade logo last year, an increase of 50% on the previous 12 months.
Chandni Chowk is presenting an afternoon of storytelling from around the world on March 12th in Bristol. Not to be missed; click for details.
Traidcraft has a target of serving 100,000 cups of fairly traded tea and coffee over Fairtrade Fortnight between 1-13 March. Click to find out more and add yours.
Congratulations to Keynsham on attaining Fairtrade Town status! Keynsham don't have a website of their own yet, but anyone wishing to find out more can contact Rachel Ward
Congratulations to Yate Fairtrade Team for getting their website up and running. If you live in the Yate district why not surf over to www.yft.org.uk and see how you can help them gain Fairtrade Town status.
The diary of events for Fairtrade Fortnight is now filling up. Click to see the latest updates. It would be great to add more to the list, so if any of you are are planning a stand please let us know. Equally, if any of you would like to help on a stand already planned, then please contact the person mentioned.
E-mail President Bush and demand he implements the recent legally binding WTO ruling, which will help West African farmers and their families work their way out of poverty.
We now have a new section dedicated to MakePovertyHistory. Check out the details of local and national events, and continue to keep an eye on this section for updates.
Congratulations are in order for Bristol City who celebrate achieving Fairtrade City status. The ceremony will be held during FT14 on March 4th. Two towns in South Glos are also working towards FT status, and further help is required in Yate and Wotton-under-Edge.
The former South African President issues a rallying cry to make poverty history in front of over 22,000 people in Trafalgar Square. Click for more details.
Our calendar of events is now open to publicise your FT14 event. Keep checking here for updates and send us details of any events you would like to post.
Are you thinking of organising a supermarket stand for FT14? If so we have a 'fools guide' to help your preparation.
A new section of web links has been added to our links page specifically aimed at helping children learn about Fairtrade. These include an interview that Helen did with children in Uganda on her recent visit for Oxfam.
As you may be aware, Oxfam's 'MakePovertyHistory' campaign media launch is on Friday the 11th of February and will involve wrapping the Bristol Temple Meads clock tower with a white banner. Click to see this request for help on the day.
In the hour after the New Years Day Vicar of Dibley programme, over 11,000 emails were sent to Tony Blair. Click for more details.
Apologies for the interruption in our web service. Surefish have been having technical problems over the last few weeks (as those of you on surefish e-mail accounts will know) but these are slowly being resolved. There is a slight change to our web address, so please update your bookmarks to www.sgftn.webspace.fish.co.uk. Please e-mail the webmaster if you find anything not working on this new site.
Of the 11 countries hit by the devastating earthquake and tsunami on 26th December, Traidcraft has links with producer groups in six of them. Click for details of how they are fairing.
In this time of terrible devastation and suffering, there are some Fairtrade partners who are collecting donations. Click for details
Essential viewing on New Years Day will be the Vicar of Dibley (BBC1, 9.00pm) as Rev. Geraldine launches the Make Povery History campaign.
The new Fairtrade Fortnight Action Guide is now available and packed with ideas to get you started on planning for Fairtrade Fortnight. Download it from the link above or order a hard copy by telephoning 020 7440 7676.
Read the Fairtrade Foundation’s position on recent articles in the national press highlighting the expected introduction of products from major coffee brands and being marketed as “ethical” or “sustainable”.
Sponsored by the DFID and available free from post offices, the Rough Guide to a Better World contains a section on ‘Making Trade Ethical’ covering trade justice and Fairtrade. Click for details.
Asked why Kraft is proposing to offer farmers substantially lower returns than the Fairtrade scheme offers, the US firm said: "We believe the majority of consumers are not willing to take the premium we would have to charge if we were to convert to the Fairtrade system."
Read about how, “The Big Noise of the Make Trade Fair campaign is rekindling hope” and other Oxfam updates.
This is a chance to hear more about the UK government's latest initiative on World Bank/IMF debt, and help plan our campaigning events for next year. Click for more details.
A heavily pregnant Claudia launched the new look - which symbolises the fight against Third World debt - as she met Chancellor Gordon Brown at a Commons summit recently. Click for more details.
More images added to our gallery of the day in Brighton. Can you pick yourself out from the crowd?
4th Dec, Wicklea Centre, Wick Road, Brislington. Click for details.
Bristol's One-Stop Eco-Shop. Fri 3rd and Sat 4th Decemeber. Click for details.
Congratulations
to the Fairtrade Foundation, winner of the Charity of the Year Award 2004.
Fairtrade sales increased by 42% worldwide last year; UK is now the largest market for fairtrade sales by volume. Ireland increased sales 7-fold last year, and dramatic increases in sales have also been recorded in USA, France, Italy and Belgium, and new Fairtrade initiatives have been established in Australia, New Zealand and Mexico.On the home front, sales of catering fairtrade products rose by 67% last year, and there is now an ‘Order Up Fairtrade’ postcard available that can be used to encourage café’s restaurants and canteens to switch to fairtrade.
Congratulations to our neighbours B&NES and Gloucester who both achieved Fairtrade zone/city status recently. B&NES have a new web site here and Gloucestershire's web site is well established.
On this 'The Fruits of Nicaragua' tour, Garth will be telling the story of the Amos Trust visit to Nicaragua in February 2004. Along with pictures by designer Wilf Whitty, Garth will tell something of this wonderful country, and its people's struggles against poverty. Garth will also include songs, prayers and meditations from 'The Road Home', and songs on the Holy Land, including a focus on Advent.7.30pm Patchway High School, Hempton Lane, Almondsbury. More information from the Living Waters Christian Bookstore on 0870 765 7894.
Many thanks to all of you who formed the South Glos contingent at the TJM rally in Brighton recently. Click to see what a difference you made!
4th November, at 8pm at St Bonaventure's church, Egerton Rd, Bishopston, with talk from Charity Musamba, Zambian debt activist. Further details from Hilary Farey at UWE at hfarey@blueyonder.co.uk
22 Oct in Bristol. All proceeds to Traidcraft and Christian Aid. Click for details.
U2 frontman Bono will take centre stage at the Labour Party conference. His speech will take in the work of his Debt, Aids, Trade Africa (DATA) organisation as well as his backing for a new campaign called Make Poverty History.
...the day we went to Brighton! A coach full of FT campaigners from South Glos joined over 8,000 at the 'ballot on the beach' in Brighton on Sunday. Reports and pictures are available from Christian Aid, TJM, WDM and the BBC. Click main link for our photo diary; video diary to follow soon - watch this space!
Once the preserve of the open-toe sandal brigade, fairtrade food is now worth buying for its gourmet qualities alone, says The Telegraph.
An FT cafe will be trading on the 1st Saturday of Oct, Nov and Dec in Brislington. Click for details.
Marks and Spencer switched 100% of coffee served in its Café Revive coffee shops to Fairtrade last week. The FT Foundation acknowledge and support the efforts of all those inside M&S who have made this switch possible, as well as all of you who lobbied for change. Fairtrade Foundation response here. BBC news report here.
Oxfam say a huge thank you to everyone who supported thier actions against unfair agricultural export subsidies. The WTO recently ruled that EU/US sugar and cotton subsidies are illegal. Also - remember that FT sugar can be purchased at Tesco, Oxfam and Traidcraft. Click for more details of the WTO ruling.
This very special compilation features 18 tracks including exclusives from Ash, REM, Jet and David Gray. Every time you download this album £5 will be paid to Oxfam to support their emergency work in Sudan and Chad.
To be held at Zion Church, Frampton Cotterell. Click for details.
Should a European cow be worth 157 times more than a poor African? This website has been set up by Michael Wills MP (North Swindon) to build popular support and gives you a chance to express your opposition to the CAP and make your voice heard.
Our directory of FT outlets in South Glos is updated regularly - have you browsed recently? Latest additions include Cotswold Vintners in Chipping Sodbury and a number of coffee shops in the Mall at Cribbs Causeway but if you know of any more then we are waiting to hear from you.
Check out the new Fair Trade ethical funky clothing, knitwear, hoodies and household items, marketed under the Namaste brand name. Sourced from from India, Nepal and Thailand; supplied from West Yorks; order online.
Read Oxfam's assessment to the recent trade talks in Geneva.
Our next SGFTN meeting is on Sept 16th at Emersons Green village hall. Have you invited your neighbours and friends? Click for details.
"This is really a good day for the world economy, for Europe and especially developing countries," said European Union Agriculture Commissioner Franz Fischler. Click to see the BBC article on the WTO talks last week.
This years TJM campaign will focus on the Labour Party conference in Brighton on Sun 26 Sept. Click for all the event news here, including how you can get involved.
This is fantastic news for everyone involved with Oxfam in the campaign to persuade the government to increase aid. But it’s even better news for the world’s poor. Click to get the full story.
Read Christain Aid's view of last month's G8 summit.
Oxfam launches world’s first ever charity music download site to raise funds and build the worldwide movement to Make Trade Fair. www.BigNoiseMusic.com
Try these figures for size.
M&S is the only suoermarket chain not supporting fair trade, and a campaign has been started by students at Sunderland University to persuade them to consider changing their policy. A draft letter is available here if you would like to join the campaign.
Tesco might have their own range of FT goods, but they do not serve any FT in the in-store cafe's. They are soon to outsource their catering arrangements and now would be a good time to write to head office to encourage them to include fairtrade in their new proposals. Address available if anyone would like to write.
This is advanced warning so put the date in your diary. TJM will be lobbying MP's at the Labour Party Conf in Brighton on 26 Sept. Coaches will be going from various places in South Glos and Bristol, so why not have a day in Brighton for a good cause? More details to follow.
The newly formed Bristol Fairtrade Network is hosting an open evening on 29th June at CREATE to launch the Fairtrade City challenge. Click for details. More info from Hannah at CREATE.
Check out Oxfam's latest venture, partnering with coffee growers to open a chain of coffee shops in the UK.
Yate is bidding to become the 2nd Fair Trade Town in South Glos, but needs more help. If you live or work in Yate then Chris Youdale is waiting to hear from you.
Following on from the success of becoming a Fairtrade town, Thornbury can now boast 2 more outlets offering the fairtrade option to its customers. Thornbury Arts has started stocking Traidcraft gifts and craft items alongside its range of artist materials, and further up the High Street, Heritage gift shop now offers fairtrade coffee in its coffee lounge.
Products will include bananas, plums, mangoes, tea, coffee (instant & ground), orange juice, chocolate, cookies and roses. Look for the new label in a Tesco near you this spring.
Read the BBC article detailing the recently launched Fairtrade roses, now available in Tesco. These roses are grown in Kenya under rigerous Fairtrade conditions.
A big thank you to all who contributed to such a successful FT Fortnight in South Gloucestershire. You may be interested, and inspired, by the stories of the producers who visited us this year.
We are delighted to announce that Thornbury has been awarded Fairtrade Town Status by the Fairtrade Foundation. Many congratulations to all who put in the hard work to achieve this. Click to see the presentation.
Click to see some of the national press coverage of this years Fairtrade Fortnight.
Thornbury's Mayor cut the birthday cake at the celebration coffee morning and presented prizes to local children who had won the Thornbury Fairtrade Poster Competition. Cafe 32 signed up as Thornbury's latest Fairtrade outlet (our first catering establishment!). Click for more details.
This Saturday, 24 April at Thornbury Baptist Church at 7.30pm. Tickets £1.50 which includes refreshments, from Helen.
Five pairs of UK cities put aside their traditional rivalries to jointly declare Fairtrade Town status at 1pm on Friday 5 March. Click for more details.
Fairtrade Fortnight launched on Monday with the announcement that sales of products carrying the FAIRTRADE Mark are running at an annual rate of £100 million. Click to read the full press release.
Fairtrade Fortnight has generated lots of publicity in the West Country and around the UK. Helen joined Roger James at BBC Radio Bristol on Monday and has also been seen in the Thornbury Gazette and the Bristol Evening Post. Be sure to keep up with events in your locality here.
The South Gloucestershire Fairtrade directory was launched last week by members of SGFTN and Steve Webb MP. Click to see more details.
Do you like the celebtrity quotes we use on the bottom of this page? There are plenty more. Click to see who is supporting Fairtrade. How many do you recognise?
More fairly traded goods are being added to our supermarket shelves all the time. Click to see the latest additions.
Schools around the county will be learning more about Fairtrade during the fortnight, as well as taking part. Click to see more.
1st - 14th March are the dates to put in your diary. Details are now coming in of local events so check frequently as these will be updated often.
Cafédirect is about to run a 12 week campaign for Teadirect in the national press. Click for details.
The Trade Justice Movement Policy Focus for 2004 is based on the theme of ‘Stop forcing poor countries to liberalise'. Click for details.
If you are holding an event on trade in the UK then email mail@tjm.org.uk or Tel. 020 7404 0530 to get your activity publicised on the web.
"To tip the balance of international trade rules in favour of the poorest, we must build the global trade campaign” Martin Gordon, International Campaign Manager, Christian Aid. Click for details.
Two new fair trade food outlets have been added to our new look links page. For those of you buying food check out the Better Food Company, and for those of you looking for a family friendly palce for lunch, or just a quick coffee, why not try Cafe Unlimited.
Is Santa due to pop a new mobile 'phone in your stocking this Christmas? If so, what will you do with your old one? Click for some suggestions from our friends at Traidcraft.
The John Ray Initiative is collaborating with Redcliffe College to offer this one-day workshop. Saturday 17th January at Redcliffe College, Gloucester. Click for details. Enquiries by telephone to 01452 308097 or admin@redcliffe.org
Cheltenham based Kraft, one the world’s biggest coffee companies, has failed to address the coffee price collapse which has resulted in thousands of farmers in poverty stricken countries like Ethiopia and Peru ripping up their coffee plants and replacing them with the drug crops such as chat and coca said international agency Oxfam today.
Click for more details of the story at their web site. Also available at www.cafedirect.co.uk - 2 great recipes using Cocodirect and there are 6 massive Fairtrade Festive Hampers (worth over £100) up for grabs in their Seasonal competition.
Christian Aid have virtual Christmas cards - send their free e-card to friends and family around the world!. Click headline for details. They also produce 'real' Christmas cards which can be purchased from your local supplier or online here.
Your opportunity to buy fairly-traded and Fairtrade, organic, hand-made festive gifts - all in one place. Click above or call 0117 925 0505 for details.
Following the collapse of the WTO talks at Cancun, the aim is to turn no deal into a good deal. Pressurising those who make trade rules is still a key campaign action and letter-writing remains a potent method. So welcome to our brand new action pack “Sponsored by Letters”. This is a sponsored event with a difference - we don't want money, we want letters - and thousands of them!
Click to see a copy of the the national press release for your information.
A Fair Cup now operates in Bristol City centre, underneath the 'sail' structure. Why not drop by for a cup of something fairly traded. They are also available for events, so check out their web site for more details.
10.30 am - 1.00 pm, at Cairns Road Baptist Church, Westbury Park. This will be part of a launch for the church's new Cafe project. So far we have Traidcraft, Tearcraft, Toybox, Aspire and several local individuals, but others are encouraged to participate. Contact Viv Cloke for details.
The lecturers are Ann Pettifor - New Economics Foundation (and co-founder of Jubilee 2000); Michael Meacher (Environment Minister '97-'03); Peter Russell (Cosmologist). Contact 0117 903 1081 or admin@schumacher.org.uk
Run by the Fairtrade Foundation, the day be packed full of opportunities to hear recent news, network with Fairtrade supporters from around the country, sample the delicious growing range of Fairtrade foods and take part in a variety of workshops. Details from the Fairtrade Foundation on 020 7405 5942 or here
The Day Chocolate Company is delighted to announce that Tesco has recently expanded the range of locations where you can pick up your fix of delicious Divine Fairtrade chocolate. 434 branches of Tesco UK wide, from Aberdeen to Yeovil! You will also be able to pick up a Divine Advent Calendar from selected Tesco stores this Christmas.
Check out the new look FF web site. Also, news about fairly traded oranges and apples.
Kuapa Kokoo celebrated its first 10 years of fair trading last week. Click to learn more.
Fri 17th October 10am-4pm and 7pm-9pm. Sat 18th October 10am-2pm. Wide range of goods on sale. Tea, coffee and light lunches on both days for Christian Aid. Stalls for WaterAid and Save the Children. Contact Edna for details
Local TJM representatives brought their message for the World Trade Organisation to the streets of Bristol. Click for details.
Fri 10th October 10am-2pm and 7pm-9pm. Sat 11th October 10am-2pm. Wide range of fairly traded goods on sale including clothes, jewellery, crafts, stationary, food and Christmas cards. Contact Helen for details.
Fish, our web provider and Christian Aid affiliate, has relaunched itself as surefish. This will not affect the SGFTN website or your fish e-mail account (except for some delays during the transition). Click for more details of the improved service.
This event is organised by Co-op and is aimed at people who are considering buying fair trade products but want more information. A short presentation will be followed by tasting of Co-op's fair trade range. Tickets are free but need to be booked as places are limited. Please 'phone 0845 757 3130 for details.
All South Glos 'Moment for Justice' picnics are now featured on ChristianAidConnect.org. Click for stories on Kingswood, Wansdyke and Northavon.
Thanks to you, the Trade Justice message was heard loud and clear at a huge variety of events and lobbies across the UK - and in local, regional and national media. In a single weekend thousands of campaigners lobbied over 500 MPs - that's over three-quarters of Parliament! Click for news from around the country, and notice that our photo leads the SW section! More news on TJM's web site.
The TJM 'Picnic in the Park' was a great success on Saturday. Click for the pictures.
We have finally started compiling our directory of where you can buy fair trade goods in South Gloucestershire. We still have some work to do before this can be published but feel free to refer to this online version when planning your shopping trip and don't forget to keep us informed of any updates.
Are you confused how to shop your way through the minefield of what's ethical and what's not? Why not subscribe to the bi-monthy Ethical Consumer Magazine. Every time you go shopping, you can use your spending power to vote for your values. Click for more details.
May 17th - World Fair Trade Day - is an international celebration of Fair Trade. Events are organised worldwide, all with the aim of promoting fairer trade with marginalized and small-scale producers in the developing world. See www.wftday.org for more information. Stroud became a Fairtrade Town in 2002 and will be joining the fun next Saturday - click here for details.
Newsnight looked at the issues of globalisation and different ways to trade, and used Cafédirect as an example of a successful and sustainable business model. The programme focused on a short film that included an interview with Cafédirect's Managing Director, Penny Newman, and was used to start the studio discussion, which was hosted by Jeremy Paxman. Click to see a transcript if you missed the programme.
Shopping in Oxfordshire soon? Check out OneVillage in Charlbury. If you can't get there then you can shop online. All of their details are at www.onevillage.org
Sales in the financial year ending 31 March 2003 were in excess of £12 million, up from £10 million the previous year. Details to follow.
Not sure how to widen your Fairtrade shopping list? Check out the new additions to our links page including People Tree, Tear Fund and Tear Craft. Also, if you are going to be holidaying in America this year see the Ten Thousand Villages link.
Tony Blair and key government figures have responded to the mountain of correspondence they've received on trade justice. But what's the reality behind their rhetoric? Click to find out.
Sat 10th May in Frampton Cotterell. Click for more details.
Produced in partnership with Christian Aid, BAFTS and Traidcraft, the new action card asks you to send a FAIRTRADE Mark from a wrapper to Tony Blair to ask the government to 'Buy in to Trade Justice!'. You can get your cards and more details from Helen.
The Trade Justice Movement's annual mass lobby of MP's this year will be at a series of regional Fairtrade picnics. Put the date in your diary and click for more details.
Click to read the transcription of the debate in congratulation of Scotland's first two Fairtrade towns.
As part of their education about Fairtrade, year 4 and 5 pupils at St. Mary's C.of E. Primary School were asked to design their own Fairtrade chocolate adverts. Click here to see the winners.
Nestlé made a profit of nearly $5 billion last year, up by 23% on the previous year, but the coffee farmers are still suffering more than ever with the world price for coffee at rock bottom. Click to see some details of Nestlé's $6 million ad campaign for Kit Kat and Oxfam's response.
On average each year in Britain we use (and dispose of) 134 plastic supermarket bags each, which causes a large environmental problem. Co-op, well known for their commitment to Fairtrade, have introduce a new plastic bag which will degrade within 18 months down to carbon dioxide, water and a few mineral deposites.
Welcome to our neighbours who have formed their own Fairtrade Network. Their new web site is now linked from our links page.
A big thank you to all of you who helped out at the wide range of events to publicise Fairtrade Fortnight in and around South Gloucestershire. We will be leaving the 'Fortnight' pages live on this site for the next few weeks as a scrap book of events. If you have photo's or anecdotes that you would like to share from the fortnight why not send them in?
Many Fairtrade breakthroughs and milestones were reached in the UK in 2002. Click to see the highlights. What will be the results by the end of this year?
The Thornbury school has been learning (and eating) Fairtrade. Click here to see the story and photo's.
Seven new Fairtrade towns and cities will be declared during Fairtrade Fortnight. Congratulations to Nottingham, Frome, Derby, Bolton, Newcastle, Croydon London and Kendal as well as the Diocese of Chester - first Fairtrade Diocese. See the full list on our links page.
Click here to see the story and photo.
Monday (3rd March) marked the start of Fairtrade Fortnight. Click to see the (almost) full list of over 4000 events nationwide.
A new Fairtrade roast ground coffee from Rwanda has been launched by Union Coffee Roasters in partnership with Comic Relief. It is available in most supermarkets now. Click for more information.
Representatives of producers in Nicaragua, Windward Islands and Ghana will be in the UK for Fairtrade fortnight. Denise Sutherland includes South Gloucestershire in her busy schedule. Details here.
In the run up to Fairtrade fortnight and until 9 March, all Fairtrade goods including wine and chocolate, will be discounted by 20% at Co-op stores.
Details of events to publicise Fairtrade Fortnight in and around South Gloucestershire keep coming in. All supermarket events are now confirmed. Click here to see the latest info.
Starbucks will be launching Fairtrade dark, milk and white chocolate bars (45g) in all their coffee bars by Fairtrade Fortnight. The chocolate is made from cocoa supplied by the Day Chocolate Company from the Kuapa Kokoo Co-operative in Ghana.
As publicised on this site, there was a public debate of great importance held in Cheltenham on 4th Feb. Click hear to read the summary.
There are many other Fairtrade towns, villages, groups and networks around the UK. Check out the Links page to see what they are up to. Congratulations to Haworth, recently awarded Fairtrade Village status.
The Fairtrade Foundation is working with supermarkets to expand the range of fairly traded fresh fruit. Pineapples are leading the way!
Tesco, the UK's largest supermarket, is now stocking Fairtrade bananas from Dominica in all their stores. This exciting step is undeniably a response to the continued demand from shoppers for Fairtrade foods. Now all bananas from Dominica will be sold on Fairtrade terms!
Cafédirect, Clipper Teas, Co-op and Day Chocolate have all expanded their ranges. Click here to get the juicy details.
The Observer published an article on 19 Jan 2003 stating that Oxfam was scrapping the Fairtrade brand. Read Oxfam's side to the story here.
Co-op's bold switch to Fairtrade of the whole range of its own-brand chocolate issues a challenge to other retailers. This move alone is set to double the sales of Fairtrade chocolate in the UK bringing increased benefits to the Kuapa Kokoo co-operative in Ghana.
South Gloucestershire Council has become the first local council to pass a motion pledging its support for the Trade for Life campaign.
Get involved in this meeting of national significance. Come hear what Nestle and Kraft Foods have to say about their social responsibilities and have the chance to pose your own questions. Tuesday 4 February, Cheltenham.
Start 2003 the fair trade way by choosing foods, gifts and crafts from the latest Traidcraft catalogue.
The Soil Association and the Fairtrade Foundation launch a dramatic new pilot project. Read more.
Fairtrade was rewarded at the Soil Association Organic Food Awards 2002!
The first meeting of SGFTN was held on 12 Nov 2002. Read what the Gazette had to say about it.
