Saturday July 18^th marked another step forward for Fair Trade in Aberdeen, when the former Third World Centre, which traded until March 2009 in St Mary’s Chapel, Kirk of St Nicholas,  re-opened in new premises at 101 George Street.  Established in 1983, the Centre was one of the first Fair Trade shops in Scotland and was the driving force behind  the campaign that led to Aberdeen’s becoming a Fairtrade City in March 2004. 

 Fair Trade products have come a long way in twenty-five years and as well as those products that carry the Fairtrade Mark, the new shop will also stock a large range of goods from the wider Fair Trade market.   Supermarkets may be improving their ranges, but there will always be room for the shops that go that one step further, what you might call the “gold standard” of Fair Trade. As before, the shop is dependent on the help of volunteer workers and this is particularly important since trading hours will increase.   Fair Trade Aberdeen will be open Monday to Saturday between 10 and 5. 

To my International Fairtrade Friends of past and present, I have some exciting news for you!

Tomorrow (TUESDAY 14th JULY) will see the launch of the new International Fairtrade Towns Website at :
www.fairtradetowns.org 

With over 680 Fairtrade Towns in 18 countries worldwide Fairtrade Towns are truly an international campaign.

There will now be a chance for all Fairtrade Town stakeholders to come together at an international level, emphasizing the fact that we are all part of a global movement working towards a fairer and better world.

Not only will the website provide best tools, materials, reports, films and other Fairtrade Town specific information and resources but it will also include an online social networking forum, offering activists and others from around the world a space to share ideas and inspiration.

This online community will allow members to post and share photos and videos, start a forum or discussion, publicise events and invite others to take part and what’s more this online community is already available at: 
http://fairtradetowns.ning.com/ 

So why not become a member now, start posting and spread the word?

We have reached another historic milestone for Fairtrade Towns. It is perhaps appropriate that this historic moment should take place on Bastille Day that marks the onset of the French Revolution in 1789.

The launch of the International Fairtrade Towns website may not be quite so dramatic and certainly is less violent, but let’s hope it will ignite the spark that brings people together from all over the world for a peaceful revolution that will bring about a change to our society just as great as that of 220 years ago.

Vive la change!

Bruce Crowther
Fairtrade Towns Coordinator
Fairtrade Foundation, UK

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