Do you like our new SFTF Fairtrade certified cotton bags? We bought these to help promote the SFTF’s work at the same time as supporting farmers in India. The bags are made in India from Fairtrade organic cotton and help to ensure that cotton farmers in the developing world can improve their livelihoods.

If you think your work place might use bags such as these for promotional purposes, get them to contact Bishopston Trading for competitve prices! www.bishopstontrading.co.uk

Passionate about Fair Trade? Love drinking tea? Try Trumpers Tea! Trumpers tea is an organisation that is passionate about producing great tasting, high quality products at the same time as making a difference by trading fairly.

Claire Trumper founder of Trumpers Tea joined the SFTF at this year’s Royal Highland Show to promote a new Malawian Tea. Claire’s enthusiasm and knowledge of tea and Fair Trade was so interesting. After many, many years of working in the tea industry, Claire was able to answer any questions visitors had, at the same time as offering the opportunity to taste a variety of teas throughout the day.

If you’re attending the Royal Highland Show, pop by and show Claire your support or check out her web site at www.trumperstea.co.uk

Hello!

Over the next few months I will be trying hard to increase the amount of people who are signed up to receive our monthly newsletter. The newsletter we send is important to involving everyone in Scotland, afterall this is a campaign for the whole Nation!

Are you interested in Fair Trade? Are you passionate about helping others? Are you a student seeking valuable work experience as a volunteer/intern? Do you want to get involved in making Scotland a Fair Trade Nation? Are you a Fair Trade organisation/supporter? Do you want to provide suggestions for forthcoming newsletters?

These are just a few reasons for signing up to our newsletter - come on, get onboard and sign up now! Visit our web site at www.sftf.org.uk and click on the link titled ’sign up to our newsletter’ on the right-hand side.

If you need any help signing up or want to give your suggestions, send me an email to: ross.stirling@sftf.org.uk with the subject line Newsletter.

Image Copyright Scottish Fair Trade Forum / Ross Stirling

On a recent visit to the Isle of Arran, it was inspiring to witness the amount of shops, cafes, restaurants and accommodation providers promoting Fair Trade products in their organisations.

The Isle of Arran become a Fair Trade Island in 2008 and currently has more than 80 Fair Trade promoters on the island!

Arran is easily accessible by ferry from Ardrossan and the crossing takes under an hour. Visitors can hop on one of many Caledonian MacBrayne’s ferry services operating to Arran (who are also Fair Trade supporters themselves!). One of the easiest and cheapest ways of visiting the island is by crossing as a foot passenger, where on arrival into Brodick, the island can be explored by cycle hire, bus tour or walking.

Watch out for upcoming Fair Trade events on the Isle of Arran which will be advertised on the SFTF web site. (more…)

Despite the typical Scottish weather, the event proved to be a big hit with visitors, enticed by the prospect of sampling fair trade chocolate and bananas. The stall attracted adults and children alike and volunteers informed the visitors of the work of the SFTF. With free chocolate on offer, raising awareness has never been so easy!

Watch out for our May newsletter which features a full report of the event!

Image copyright Scottish Fair Trade Forum / Koko Brown Photography

Dressing up has never been so much fun! SFTF volunteer Ross Stirling poses in a rather ‘lifelike’ looking Gorilla suit to promote an upcoming event for World Fair Trade Day on Saturday 9th May 2009.

The event will take place between 12:00 until 16:00 in the Budongo Trail chimpanzee enclosure at Edinburgh Zoo.

Show your support and come along on the day! Visit our website at www.sftf.org.uk and look at our events section for more information.

I was out driving at the weekend when I came across this sign! I was that impressed I had to stop and take a picture! Perth city achieved Fairtrade City status in June 2005 and Kinross-shire area achieved Fairtrade County status in August 2005. Whilst attending a local event in Perth last week, I met George Millar, Chair of Perth City Fairtrade Steering Group. It was refreshing to hear that George and other members are still committed to ensuring continued Fairtrade status for Perth and Kinross… Watch this space for upcoming events taking place in the Perth and Kinross area.