Firstly, I got a text this morning from the Head of Campaigns at the Fairtrade Foundation that Cadbury’s is going Fairtrade! See the full article in the Financial Times here. 

Today we’re in Ullapool and about to set off on our tour of schools and participating in events with local activists. The next few days will be incredibly busy so I thought I’d post some pictures while I have time.

Over the past week, Towera and I have spoken to approximately 1,200 people in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Stirling, Perth, and Fife during our Fairtrade Fortnight tour.

We’ve spent today in Oban, speaking to two primary schools and the high school and are setting off tomorrow for Skye, Ullapool, Inverness, Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen and Dundee the rest of this week.

Last year, I was introducing people around Scotland to the Fair Trade Nation campaign. This year, with recent poll findings that 1 in 4 Scots now know about the campaign in mind, I have noticed a tangible growth in awareness of fair trade in general and of the Fair Trade Nation campaign in particular.

Over 2 million people in Scotland already know that Scotland is working to lead the way as a Fair Trade Nation, and, after this Fairtrade Fortnight, word will continue to spread. Over the past year, more towns have become Fairtrade Towns, more schools are working to become Fairtrade Schools, more local authorities have become Fairtrade Zones and Fife is even working to become the world’s first Fairtrade Kingdom.

We are well on our way to becoming a Fair Trade Nation and the next year will be exciting as we seek to intensify our work with universities, local authorities, towns and helping local groups to work as effectively as possible and network more with other groups throughout Scotland.

Thanks to all who’ve come along to events we’ve spoken at and to those who’ve worked so hard to plan and host events during Fairtrade Fortnight in Scotland. You are helping Scotland lead the world on fair trade activity.

Towera has certainly been impressed and she has been telling audiences everywhere we’ve gone:
‘…the power is in your hands to change the lives of people in places like Malawi through buying fair trade. You are leading the world by working to become a Fair Trade Nation. Join the campaign and change people’s lives.’

Fairtrade Fortnight has begun for the SFTF!

I pick up our Malawian guest, Towera Jalakasi, from the airport this afternoon and whisked her straight to a photocall with the press in Edinburgh. Below, a photographer from the Herald shoots Towera, with a bit of random help from me:

Towera hits the ground running tomorrow as she helps present a seminar at the Scottish Government on fair trade and projects in Malawi in which she’s been involved, then on to Stirling, Fife, Perth, Oban, Skye, Ullapool, the Inverness area, Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen and Dundee…

To see some of the exciting events going on around Scotland during Fairtrade Fortnight, from a ‘Banana Flash Mob’ at Bristo Square in Edinburgh on March 6 to a schools Fairtrade poster contest in Peebles, go to our Events Section. Towera and I might be coming to an event near you over the next two weeks. I hope to see you soon and happy Fairtrade Fortnight!

Betsy