The initial purpose of a small network of Fairtraders in Salisbury was to establish Fairtrade City status, which we achieved in 2008. Now we have to work even harder to maintain that status. This is mostly achieved by continuing to raise awareness of the already large and increasing number of products now marketed under the Fairtrade mark. A particular focus of this is Fairtrade Fortnight, this year from February 25 to March 10.

As part of this year’s Fairtrade Fortnight, Salisbury Fairtrade Group is planning a Fair Trade Food Trail. We are working with coffee houses, pubs, churches, restaurants and hotels across the city to highlight those that serve Fairtrade. This could be as straightforward as coffees/teas/hot chocolates or could include snacks, cakes, biscuits and/or pasta dishes etc. Salisbury Arts Centre, Fisherton Mill, the Cathedral Refectory, Well Natural (Health Food Store), West Cornwall Pasty Co. and Pizza Express will be taking part among others. Details for shoppers on outlets taking part and a loyalty stamp card will be available from Salisbury Oxfam shops in Catherine Street. There will also be Fairtrade balloons outside the various venues to advertise their involvement.

Salisbury Fairtrade Group is also pleased to support Sarum Academy, which is currently working towards Fairtrade School status. Their school would be the first in Salisbury. As part of their efforts to secure this award they will have a stall outside the Guildhall on both Tuesdays of Fairtrade Fortnight, ie March 6 and 13. In addition, the Farmers Market on March 7 has invited the Salisbury Fairtrade Group to have a stall so we shall be there providing a range of Fairtrade snacks to shoppers.

Fairtrade Fortnight also occurs during the run up to Easter and several of the churches in Salisbury are getting involved in the Meaningful Chocolate Company’s “Putting Jesus back into Easter” campaign. Their new Fairtrade product “The Real Easter Egg” is the first and only Fairtrade chocolate Easter Egg to explain the Christian understanding of Easter. They are looking to sell a bumper number of these eggs – through Mothers’ and Toddlers’ Groups, house groups, the Mothers’ Union, uniformed organisations etc. and of course the usual Traidcraft reps – which last year raised more than £21,000 for Traidcraft Exchange, which is the development arm of Traidcraft.

With these many events going on we hope that everyone will want to get involved and Take A Step for Fairtrade during Fairtrade Fortnight 2012.

Until the 1990s, the Windward Islands alone supplied 60% of the UK banana market, but since then there has been a rapid decline because of reduced protection from the EU and the cutting of tariffs on bananas from South America.   It is only access to the UK Fairtrade banana market that has enabled the industry in the Caribbean to survive.

A further blow to banana farmers in Philemon’s area has been the damage done by successive hurricanes, which in 2010 destroyed Philemon’s farm and blew off half the roof of his house.   He now faces the prospect of surviving the next 9 months with no bananas to harvest and no income.

For further information see www.fairtrade.org.uk

If you have somewhere you could put up a copy of the poster to help promote these events click here to download a PDF file and feel free to print one off!

At Quaker Meeting House
51, Wilton Road
Salisbury

Parking at rear via Fountain Way

Christmas Cards and Crafts

Catalogues available – Orders Taken

Also Fair Trade Tea Coffee Dried Fruit
Sugar Muesli Biscuits Chocolate
Refreshments

Further information 01725 512653

Student commentator, Joe Booth, kept up a witty description of the matches as Salisbury High School boys outclassed Ringwood to win 2-0. The girls were evenly matched and despite heroic efforts on both teams, ended in a 0-0 draw.

Mrs Jane Munroe from the Salisbury Fairtrade Group presented trophies to the winning teams. Mrs Rock, Extended Schools Co-ordinator, explained, ‘Events like these are essential in raising awareness of Fairtrade issues and if we can have fun in the process, so much the better. There was a fantastic atmosphere here today and the event has been so successful that Ringwood School have invited us for a re-match next year. Ringwood even took away the Fairtrade shirts to use in a fashion show they are holding this week to raise awareness of Fairtrade and eco issues.’

To find out more about Fairtrade and what it means you can log onto their website www.fairtrade.org.uk. For more information about Fairtrade events and outlets in the Salisbury area you can visit the Salisbury Fairtrade website at www.salisburyfairtrade.org.uk.

For once a totally peaceful and good humoured event had fairly prominent coverage in the news that evening.   Let’s hope it all pays off.

The Stop Climate Coalition is calling for the UK Government to focus on:

• Quit Dirty Coal: End our reliance on dirty coal power, and instead boost the UK’s renewable energy supply to help build a green economy and create new jobs;
• Protect the Poorest: Provide resources to help the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people adapt to climate change;
• Act Fair & Fast: Deliver a fair global deal in Copenhagen that keeps global warming under 2 degrees C.

Before the demonstration in London there will be a service at Westminster Methodist Central Hall from 11 am where participants can pray for climate justice before they join the march. The Wave: Wear blue and bring blue banners to join the human wave.
http:/www.stopclimatechaos.org/the-wave.

We need to persuade lots of people of the importance of this event and arrange coach transport. If you live in the Salisbury area and are keen to attend please would you contact me (Rachel Lucas, 01722-325266, rlucas@givemail.co.uk) before the end of September.

Wave Poster

Free event featuring expert speakers from the Fairtrade movement and other organisations, workshops, debate, stalls, networking opportunities and Fairtrade sampling

For more info and to book go to www.Fairtrade.org.uk/supporterconference09