Fairtrade bonanza in Carmarthenshire
A Fairtrade bonanza is underway in Carmarthenshire.
A host of events and activities have been lined up to mark this year’s Fairtrade Fortnight.
Schools, businesses and community groups are throwing their weight behind the initiative, aimed at transforming the lives of farming families in developing countries.
Organisers hope the promotional blitz will raise awareness of the need to shop locally and ethically and provide a better deal for producers in Africa and India.
They are urging people across the county to show off about buying Fairtrade, which offers 7.5 million people a more secure future.
The celebrations, which run until March 13, kicked off with the raising of the first Fairtrade flag to be awarded to a primary school in the county, at Llanddarog.
Throughout the fortnight special events and activities will be staged across the county.
Ysgol Gyfun Emlyn will run a special Fairtrade tuck shop and students from Coleg Sir Gar will host events with Fairtrade drinks and treats.
The Carmarthen Town Fairtrade group will be promoting the scheme to businesses across the town centre.
Menter Cwm Gwendraeth will be conducting workshops with a number of schools including Ysgol Y Dderwen, Ysgol Nantgaredig, Ysgol Llangynnwr, Ysgol Y Strade and Swiss Valley.
A week of events are planned at Llanelli library
Special Fairtrade menus will be served up in primary schools in a bid to educate schoolchildren about the initiative.
Supporters are also being urged to paint, draw or sew a piece of Fairtrade bunting to hang in a prominent place.
After the fortnight is over, bunting from across the country will be stitched together in an attempt to break the world record and tell people how Fairtrade cotton helps protect the livelihoods of farmers in the developing world.
Carmarthenshire County Council Sustainability Champion cllr Pam Palmer said: “Fairtrade is transforming the lives of millions of farming families in developing countries and this is down to the passionate commitment of Fairtrade supporters, stockists and companies.
“We work hard in Carmarthenshire to promote the importance of Fairtrade and we are confident that the fortnight will be well supported.
“We want everyone to get loud and proud about Fairtrade, whether it's the cake they baked using Fairtrade sugar or the Fairtrade products they stock and sell.
“By showing off about Fairtrade, you'll be explaining its importance to producers, and the benefits of receiving a Fairtrade premium for their local communities and securing a more stable future.”
For further information on Fairtrade Fortnight visit www.fairtradewales.com
What is Fairtrade?
Fair Trade is a partnership between consumers in the west and producers in developing countries.
Many of the products that we buy in supermarkets are grown by people who are not paid properly for their work and as a result who have to live in poverty.
Furthermore many items are produced in terrible working conditions, with children working over 80 hours a week with dangerous chemicals.
Fair Trade guarantees:
• A fair price to producers in developing countries
• A 'living wage' for these producers
• No child labour
• Safe working conditions
• Protection for the environment
• Rights for women
• A social premium
The Fairtrade Mark is displayed on products that meet these guarantees, as all products that display the mark are independently audited to ensure they are genuinely providing a fair deal for producers.
Fairtrade is about creating opportunities for producers in the developing world to receive a fair price for their goods and to work their way out of poverty.
Put simply, it is an opportunity for them to improve their lives and the lives of their families, and is as simple as the choices you make on your weekly shop.
There are over 1500 Fairtrade products now available.
Carmarthenshire County Council is a Fairtrade council which means that all our members have passed a resolution in support of Fairtrade, and we will procure and promote Fairtrade products through our catering services and meetings.
We are also part of the Carmarthenshire Fairtrade group which is working towards achieving Fairtrade status for the whole of the county.
TIMETABLE OF EVENTS
Monday 28 February
• Special Fairtrade Fortnight promotions will take place in the Tea Shop at Carmarthen park for two weeks, including a ‘Show off your label’ initiative and the sale of Fairtrade goods.
• Carmarthenshire County Council’s catering service will run a special Fairtrade themed menu for primary schools, dishing up Fairtrade apple and banana crunch and custard.
• Carmarthenshire County Council’s library service will be serving free Fairtrade refreshments in Ammanford library.
• Fairtrade launch with Fairtrade tea, coffee and raffle at Llanelli library.
Tuesday 1 March
• Special promotion day in Carmarthen town centre.
• Welsh story time with Fairtrade tea, coffee and cakes, 2.15pm at Llanelli library.
Wednesday 2 March
• Fairtrade celebration event at Laugharne primary school.
• Viewing of the film ‘Black Gold’ at Coleg Sir’s Graig campus, with Fairtrade drinks and treats.
• Healthy eating and lifestyle talk with Fairtrade tea, coffee and squash, 10-11am at Llanelli library.
Thursday 3 March
• Viewing of the film ‘Black Gold’ at Coleg Sir’s Pibwrlwyd campus, with Fairtrade drinks and treats.
• Drws Agored at Gellimanwydd Christian Temple in Hall Street, Ammanford with Fairtrade refreshments.
• World Book Day with local authors and Fairtrade tea, coffee, squash and cakes from 2pm at Llanelli library.
Friday March 4
• Book Club launch with Fairtrade tea, coffee and cakes from 10-12 noon at Llanelli library.
Saturday 5 March
• Fairtrade cotton bunting bonanza in Newcastle Emlyn. Bunting decorating session at Trawsnewid Calon Teifi Transition Café.
Tuesday 8 March
• Carmarthenshire County Council’s catering service will run a special themed menu for primary schools, dishing up homemade chocolate and Fairtrade banana muffin with Fairtrade juice.
• Viewing of the film ‘Black Gold’ at Coleg Sir’s Pibwrlwyd campus, with Fairtrade drinks and treats.
• Carmarthenshire County Council’s library service will be serving free Fairtrade refreshments in Carmarthen library from 9.30am.
Thursday 10 March
• Drws Agored at Gellimanwydd Christian Temple in Hall Street, Ammanford with Fairtrade refreshments.
Friday 11 March
• Annual giant Fairtrade banana split at College Street arcade in Ammanford at 6pm. All welcome to help build a giant banana split.
Saturday 12 March
• Fairtrade cotton bunting bonanza in Newcastle Emlyn. Bunting decorating session in Trinity Church and Fairtrade coffee morning.
A host of events and activities have been lined up to mark this year’s Fairtrade Fortnight.
Schools, businesses and community groups are throwing their weight behind the initiative, aimed at transforming the lives of farming families in developing countries.
Organisers hope the promotional blitz will raise awareness of the need to shop locally and ethically and provide a better deal for producers in Africa and India.
They are urging people across the county to show off about buying Fairtrade, which offers 7.5 million people a more secure future.
The celebrations, which run until March 13, kicked off with the raising of the first Fairtrade flag to be awarded to a primary school in the county, at Llanddarog.
Throughout the fortnight special events and activities will be staged across the county.
Ysgol Gyfun Emlyn will run a special Fairtrade tuck shop and students from Coleg Sir Gar will host events with Fairtrade drinks and treats.
The Carmarthen Town Fairtrade group will be promoting the scheme to businesses across the town centre.
Menter Cwm Gwendraeth will be conducting workshops with a number of schools including Ysgol Y Dderwen, Ysgol Nantgaredig, Ysgol Llangynnwr, Ysgol Y Strade and Swiss Valley.
A week of events are planned at Llanelli library
Special Fairtrade menus will be served up in primary schools in a bid to educate schoolchildren about the initiative.
Supporters are also being urged to paint, draw or sew a piece of Fairtrade bunting to hang in a prominent place.
After the fortnight is over, bunting from across the country will be stitched together in an attempt to break the world record and tell people how Fairtrade cotton helps protect the livelihoods of farmers in the developing world.
Carmarthenshire County Council Sustainability Champion cllr Pam Palmer said: “Fairtrade is transforming the lives of millions of farming families in developing countries and this is down to the passionate commitment of Fairtrade supporters, stockists and companies.
“We work hard in Carmarthenshire to promote the importance of Fairtrade and we are confident that the fortnight will be well supported.
“We want everyone to get loud and proud about Fairtrade, whether it's the cake they baked using Fairtrade sugar or the Fairtrade products they stock and sell.
“By showing off about Fairtrade, you'll be explaining its importance to producers, and the benefits of receiving a Fairtrade premium for their local communities and securing a more stable future.”
For further information on Fairtrade Fortnight visit www.fairtradewales.com
What is Fairtrade?
Fair Trade is a partnership between consumers in the west and producers in developing countries.
Many of the products that we buy in supermarkets are grown by people who are not paid properly for their work and as a result who have to live in poverty.
Furthermore many items are produced in terrible working conditions, with children working over 80 hours a week with dangerous chemicals.
Fair Trade guarantees:
• A fair price to producers in developing countries
• A 'living wage' for these producers
• No child labour
• Safe working conditions
• Protection for the environment
• Rights for women
• A social premium
The Fairtrade Mark is displayed on products that meet these guarantees, as all products that display the mark are independently audited to ensure they are genuinely providing a fair deal for producers.
Fairtrade is about creating opportunities for producers in the developing world to receive a fair price for their goods and to work their way out of poverty.
Put simply, it is an opportunity for them to improve their lives and the lives of their families, and is as simple as the choices you make on your weekly shop.
There are over 1500 Fairtrade products now available.
Carmarthenshire County Council is a Fairtrade council which means that all our members have passed a resolution in support of Fairtrade, and we will procure and promote Fairtrade products through our catering services and meetings.
We are also part of the Carmarthenshire Fairtrade group which is working towards achieving Fairtrade status for the whole of the county.
TIMETABLE OF EVENTS
Monday 28 February
• Special Fairtrade Fortnight promotions will take place in the Tea Shop at Carmarthen park for two weeks, including a ‘Show off your label’ initiative and the sale of Fairtrade goods.
• Carmarthenshire County Council’s catering service will run a special Fairtrade themed menu for primary schools, dishing up Fairtrade apple and banana crunch and custard.
• Carmarthenshire County Council’s library service will be serving free Fairtrade refreshments in Ammanford library.
• Fairtrade launch with Fairtrade tea, coffee and raffle at Llanelli library.
Tuesday 1 March
• Special promotion day in Carmarthen town centre.
• Welsh story time with Fairtrade tea, coffee and cakes, 2.15pm at Llanelli library.
Wednesday 2 March
• Fairtrade celebration event at Laugharne primary school.
• Viewing of the film ‘Black Gold’ at Coleg Sir’s Graig campus, with Fairtrade drinks and treats.
• Healthy eating and lifestyle talk with Fairtrade tea, coffee and squash, 10-11am at Llanelli library.
Thursday 3 March
• Viewing of the film ‘Black Gold’ at Coleg Sir’s Pibwrlwyd campus, with Fairtrade drinks and treats.
• Drws Agored at Gellimanwydd Christian Temple in Hall Street, Ammanford with Fairtrade refreshments.
• World Book Day with local authors and Fairtrade tea, coffee, squash and cakes from 2pm at Llanelli library.
Friday March 4
• Book Club launch with Fairtrade tea, coffee and cakes from 10-12 noon at Llanelli library.
Saturday 5 March
• Fairtrade cotton bunting bonanza in Newcastle Emlyn. Bunting decorating session at Trawsnewid Calon Teifi Transition Café.
Tuesday 8 March
• Carmarthenshire County Council’s catering service will run a special themed menu for primary schools, dishing up homemade chocolate and Fairtrade banana muffin with Fairtrade juice.
• Viewing of the film ‘Black Gold’ at Coleg Sir’s Pibwrlwyd campus, with Fairtrade drinks and treats.
• Carmarthenshire County Council’s library service will be serving free Fairtrade refreshments in Carmarthen library from 9.30am.
Thursday 10 March
• Drws Agored at Gellimanwydd Christian Temple in Hall Street, Ammanford with Fairtrade refreshments.
Friday 11 March
• Annual giant Fairtrade banana split at College Street arcade in Ammanford at 6pm. All welcome to help build a giant banana split.
Saturday 12 March
• Fairtrade cotton bunting bonanza in Newcastle Emlyn. Bunting decorating session in Trinity Church and Fairtrade coffee morning.
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