Scottish Fair Trade Forum

Over 100 fair trade activists from a wide range of sectors attended the Scottish Fair Trade Forum launch in the Scottish Parliament Debating Chamber on Saturday 27 October 2007 for a day of input and discussion.

A major focus of the event was the introduction of the Forum's campaign strategy for consultation until January 1, 2008. The strategy will shape the activities and direction of Scotland's Fair Trade Nation campaign over the next three years, as Scotland works to become one of the world's first Fair Trade Nations and anyone is invited to contribute feedback.

John McAllion (Oxfam), Alex Ferguson MSP, Gail Porter, Betsy Reed (SFTF) and Chris Hegarty (SCIAF)

Input from all sectors of society is key in shaping a strategy that truly reflects Scotland's people and ensures that becoming a Fair Trade Nation is not just an exercise in meeting the criteria established by the Scottish Executive in 2005, but reflects the concerns and energy of a very vibrant Scottish fair trade community looking to further address trade justice and global poverty.

Scottish Parliament Presiding Officer, Alex Fergusson MSP, opened the event and presided over the events in the Chamber. Linda Fabiani MSP, Minister for EU, External Affairs & Culture, delivered the keynote address, in which she underlined the Scottish Government's commitment to the Fair Trade Nation campaign and pledged an increase of up to £40,000 for the Scottish Fair Trade Forum in 2008. John McAllion, from Oxfam in Scotland, presented an update on the progress of the Forum since its inception at a conference in Perth in January 2007 and Betsy Reed, Development Officer for the Scottish Fair Trade Forum, formally presented the strategy. and emphasized the importance of the ongoing participation of Scotland's fair trade community and all sectors of society in the Fair Trade Nation campaign.

Afternoon workshops were small-group discussions of the strategy, after which facilitators presented their workshop's discussions in the Parliamentary Chamber. Gail Porter, TV presenter, author and fair trade activist, and her daughter, Honey, delivered the closing address, in which she spoke of her recent work in Uganda with a coffee producer.

The Scottish Fair Trade Forum strategy was open for public consultation until January 1, 2008 and will be adopted at the Forum's General Meeting in Glasgow on 2 February 2008.

To view the Strategy click here.

To see the BBC coverage of the Launch, click here.