Fairtrade Fortnight - a letter from APD Sue Challoner

Soroptimist clubs in the UK have been working for many years on Fairtrade projects, particularly Fairtrade fortnight. Many of our clubs have been instrumental in establishing Fairtrade Towns, and ensuring more Fairtrade products are stocked in our supermarkets and other outlets. This is a very exciting time for our Federation. Our new partnership with the Fairtrade Foundation will enable us to achieve recognition for the work we do. As members we will receive free coverage on the Fairtrade website, with a link to our own website, and also have the opportunity to feature in their magazine ‘Fair Comment’.

Important dates for your diary
‘FAIRTRADE FORTNIGHT’ 24th February – 9th March 2008
All UK members will have received a Fairtrade flyer with their copy of Soroptimist News, this includes an order form for materials to help organise your events. Many of the items are free, and the ‘Change Today Choose Fairtrade’ pack is full of ideas:-
Cook for Change with the Fairtrade Everyday Cookbook, or write your own Cookbook using Fairtrade products, there are 2,000 to choose from.

Screen a Film Event, with a copy of the dvd Black Gold a film which will help viewers understand the inequalities of global trade, or:

Get Arty by creating colourful displays and murals with Fairtrade products and packaging, there are lots of ideas for you to explore.

The Fairtrade Foundation will be launching Fairtrade Fortnight in style with a Fairtrade Fairground in Central London on 24 February, the ‘Choose Fairtrade Bus’ which will be touring the UK will be unveiled at this event, and will be calling at Ipswich 25/2 Leeds 28/2 Sunderland 1/3 Glasgow 2/3 Liverpool 4/3 Birmingham 6/3 Cardiff 8/3 Bristol 9/3 . If any clubs in these areas are interested in promoting the bus tour event please let me know.

All the best of wishes for a wonderful ‘Fairtrade Fortnight’ I look forward to reading your Programme reports, and hope to receive some super action photos of your events.

Sue Challoner
Federation Assistant Programme Director
Economic & Social Development