Top news

Producer voice louder on Board All producer networks now represented

Bringing his expertise from Fair Trade Alliance Kerala (FTAK), cashew nut farmer Tomy Mathew is the third Fairtrade producer representative to be elected onto the Fairtrade Foundation’s Board. He joins Merling Preza Ramos, General Manager of PRODECOOP in Nicaragua and Silver Kasoro, Director and Board member, Mabale Growers Tea Factory in Uganda. A strong producer presence on the Board reflects the principles of Fairtrade, of involving producers at every level of the organisation and in decision making. ‘I am looking forward to working with the Fairtrade team in developing their strategy, helping them to scale up Fairtrade to benefit marginalized producers such as cashew farmers in Kerala, India,’ says Tomy, who is also a Board member of Fairtrade nut company, Liberation. Joining Tomy are four new Board members. They include Joy Thomson (National Federation of Women’s Institutes), Melissa Duncan (Traidcraft), Patricia Alexander (Shared Interest) and Simon Maxwell (Overseas Development Institute).

MBEs for Bruce and Sophi Fairtrade work recognised

Bruce Crowther, the founder of the Fairtrade Town movement, has been awarded an MBE in the 2009 New Year honours list. The honour recognises his work supporting developing countries through Fairtrade Towns, Oxfam and the twinning link between his home town of Garstang in Lancashire and New Koforidua in Ghana. Bruce said, ‘I’m just one of millions of people who care about the poverty and inequality that underlies most, if not all that is wrong in our unjust world. I hope by accepting this award on behalf of this mass movement of people it will help to promote even greater awareness of poverty and the part we all play in it.’ Bruce established Garstang as the world’s first Fairtrade Town in 2000 and since then has seen the movement spread worldwide to more than 560 towns and cities including Dublin, San Francisco and London. His other honours include being chief of New Koforidua and featuring as a ‘local hero’ in Gordon Brown’s book about UK community champions. Sophi Tranchell, Managing Director of Fairtrade chocolate company Divine Chocolate, was also honoured with an MBE. Bruce and Sophi will receive their awards from a member of the Royal Family at Buckingham Palace some time during 2009. Read more about the Fairtrade Towns movement at www.fairtrade.org.uk/towns

Go Bananas this Fairtrade Fortnight Join events across the UK

Why not show your support for Fairtrade by taking part in our go bananas event, the finale of Fairtrade Fortnight 2009? You could even invite friends and family to join you to break the world record for simultaneous banana eating in a 24 hour period. The attempt will take place between noon on Friday 6 March and noon on Saturday 7 March and aims to raise awareness about the need for Fairtrade, particularly in the banana industry, and the availability of Fairtrade bananas. It is also part of the Fairtrade Foundation’s strategy, Tipping the Balance, which aims to double the number of producers benefiting from Fairtrade. Every part of the Fairtrade movement will be involved, from producers to school children. Thousands of events are expected to take place, in workplaces such as KPMG and the Wellcome Trust, and Tesco, Sainsbury, Waitrose and Asda will be stocking specially stickered banana packs for the event. Harriet Lamb, Executive Director of the Fairtrade Foundation said ‘We want everyone to go bananas this Fairtrade Fortnight and give a clear message to politicians about how we want trade to work, not just for banana farmers, but for the world’s marginalized workers.’ If you would like to declare your support for the record attempt, please register at www.fairtrade.org.uk/gobananas


©Spring 2009 Fair Comment