Scottish Fair Trade Forum

East Dunbartonshire to Pilot Fair Trade School Uniforms Campaign

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 09:33:00 +0000

On 19 May East Dunbartonshire Council announced that it has been asked by the Scottish Fair Trade Forum to pilot a new school based national initiative which aims to empower teachers and pupils to source and raise awareness of ethically produced school uniforms and sportswear.

East Dunbartonshire began supporting the Scottish Fair Trade Forum’s School Uniform Campaign at the beginning of 2010, an initiative that aims to get Fair Trade uniforms and sports kits in all schools by 2015.

The main purpose of the campaign is to:

Advise schools to switch their uniform and sportswear to Fairtrade and show suppliers that there is a demand
Develop pupils’ knowledge, understanding and skills, empowering them to take on social responsibilities and to effect change

The School Uniform Campaign will be introduced to local schools by a Working Group comprising of various local stakeholders with schools becoming self-sufficient after initial training. The success of the pilot phase will then be evaluated before rolling out on a national level.

Councillor Una Walker, Convener of the Education Services Committee said, “This is an important initiative for East Dunbartonshire as we all have a responsibility to consider the effects of our actions on the world around us. I think this is a great opportunity for teachers and pupils to continue to learn and support Fairtrade issues within the local community."

To read the original article click here.

To read the full press release from East Dunbartonshire council click here.

Scottish Fair Trade Forum AGM

Thu, 27 May 2010 12:30:00 +0000

The Highland Council Headquarters
Glenurquhart Road
Inverness
IV3 5NX

Saturday 12th June
10.00 - 14.20

Our AGM is a great opportunity to discuss the progress which as been made in the last twelve months along with our aims and goals for the next year.

We did not receive enough nominations to hold an election for board members. Successful nominees will be announced at the AGM.

If you are interested in becoming a member please click here to see our membership benefits and forms.

This is an excellent opportunity to get involved in group discussions and hear from a range of high profile, expert speakers. This will include representatives from the Fairtrade Foundation and Raymond Kimaro, Chair of the African Fairtrade Network and former General Manager of the Kilimanjaro Native Co-operative Union (KNCU).

Please download our material for more infomation. This includes an agenda for the day, proposed amendments to our Memorandum and Articles, and a proxy form for those wishing to vote in absentia on these amendments.

AGM Agenda 2010

Memorandum and Articles - Proposed Amendments

Proxy Form

The European Parliament calls again on the EC to encourage Fair Trade Public Procurement

Wed, 26 May 2010 12:26:00 +0000

In the resolution of 18 May 2010 on new developments in public procurement the European Parliament « calls on the Commission to encourage public authorities to use fair trade criteria in their public tenders and purchasing policies on the basis of the definition of fair trade set out in the European Parliament resolution of 6 July 2006 on fair trade and development and the recent Commission communication of 5 May 2009; reiterates its earlier call for the Commission to promote the use of such criteria by, for example, producing constructive guidelines on fair trade procurement; welcomes the unanimous adoption of the opinion of the Committee of the Regions of 11 February 2010 calling for a common European fair trade strategy for local and regional authorities ».

To read the European Parliament resolution of 18 May 2010, click here.

Scottish Parliament Cross Party Group on Fair Trade meeting on 2nd of June

Wed, 26 May 2010 09:34:00 +0000

The Socttish Parliament Cross Party Group on Fair Trade is meeting next Wednesday, June the 2nd, from 13.00 - 14.30pm. It is a great opportunity to get together and discuss Fair Trade issues with MSPs and other people and organisations that are involved or interested in Fair Trade.

The meeting will also feature a talk and Q&A session from Raymond Kimaro, who is this year's representative for the Scottish Fair Trade Forum's producer tour of the Highlands and Islands. Mr. Kimaro has been very active in the Fair Trade movement, becoming the Africa representatives to the Fairtrade Labelling Organisation International (FLOI) in 1998. He has since been chairman of Cafe Direct Producers Limited and since 2006 has been a member of the Coffee Advisory Council, advising Transfair USA on how to expand Fair Trade across the Atlantic.

If you are interested in attending this meeting then please RSVP to: Dave.Scott@scottish.parliament.uk

Harriet Lamb - International Women's Day Lecture

Thu, 20 May 2010 10:35:00 +0000

Click here to watch the University of Edinburgh's inaugural International Women's Day Lecture, by Harriet Lamb CBE, Director of the Fairtrade Foundation.

In her lecture Harriet Lamb discusses the role of Fairtrade and the exercise of corporate responsibility and its impact on the lives of women globally.

This new annual lecture series celebrates International Women's Day with inspiring women speakers of international reputation.

The lecture was recorded at the University of Edinburgh's McEwan Hall on 8 March, 2010.

Harriet Lamb - International Women's Day Lecture

World Fair Trade Day 2010

Mon, 10 May 2010 13:15:00 +0000

World Fair Trade Day, to me, was hectic. The day started off bright and early with Pierpaolo and me setting up the stall at Edinburgh Zoo.

We had chocolates, bananas, candy bars, biscuits and such to hand out, but of course we had to taste it before we could hand out anything!

It was an amazing day full of surprises. The first surprise was my mother turning up at the event. This was the first event I organised, so she flew over from Belgium, just for the day.

Of course I put her to work straight away. She knew all there was to know about Fair Trade in Scotland and got enlisted as one of the volunteers for the day.

I was running through the Zoo, getting our amazing band all set up.

Due to the mating pattern of the birds in the Zoo, we needed to relocate the performance by Clanadonia to the main entrance. This turned out to be a huge success; we were able to hand out flyers and sugar sticks to all the passers-by.

Clanadonia was amazing, they were impressive and loud, just what you need to gather a big crowd.

Back at the stall at Budongo Trail, the volunteers weren’t getting any rest either, with several groups of girl scouts visiting the Zoo that day, we were happy we had enough chocolate, bananas and biscuits.

The drawing contest we organised at Budongo Trail was a hit as well, children entered in order to get a Fair Trade football and chocolate. And we ended up with some amazing drawings.

The only set-back at the drawing contest was the entry from Sarah (SFTF employee), who drew a Fair Trade tea field, sadly was not rewarded. All children however received a price for their artwork.

At 2.15 most of our volunteers were present at the Penguin Parade, where we overwhelmed the crowd with a huge cheer when we got mentioned by the zookeepers. Once again we got a chance to hand out flyers, sugar sticks and bananas.

We had reinforcement from the youngest of Fairtraders, bravely handing out bananas to passers-by. And serious as they were about their job, they made sure everyone who got a banana got the message that these were not to be shown at the chimpanzees. The zookeepers are using positive reinforcement training to get the chimpanzees to show their hands and feet, they get a banana as a reward every time they get it right. So if the chimpanzees would see the bananas, they would start doing tricks and get upset for not being rewarded.

We got the message out loud and clear, not too many people got home that evening without having noticed 8^th May was World Fair Trade Day.

So we got to go home, exhausted but satisfied by the great day World Fair Trade Day was.

Fair Trade in Local Government: why bother?

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 10:51:00 +0000

In July 2006, the Welsh Assembly Government and the Scottish Government agreed a set of groundbreaking criteria to become the world’s first Fair Trade Nations. Wales achieved this in June 2008, and the Scottish Fair Trade Forum has recently launched ‘the Final Push’ to achieve its Fair Trade Nation targets by the end of 2011.

Local Authorities are a key factor in the success of this campaign. To become a Fair Trade Nation, all 32 of Scotland’s Local Authorities must have passed a resolution to work towards becoming a Fairtrade Zone, and 55% - or 18 - must have achieved this status already. Thus far, ten Local Authorities have achieved Fairtrade Zone status and 19 others are working toward it.

The Scottish Fair Trade Forum and The Highland Council are hosting this conference to provide a forum for discussion and collaboration by representatives from local government and other key players. This will be an opportunity to build on the expertise, enthusiasm and energy Scottish Local Authorities have committed to Fair Trade in recent years.

To download the brochure of our conference for counselors and council officials, click here.

Rainforest Alliance vs. Fairtrade

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 10:20:00 +0000

What’s The Difference?

There is often confusion over the differences between the Rainforest Alliance certification scheme and the Fairtrade Mark. Better understanding of both Rainforest Alliance certification standards and the principles of Fairtrade will enable more informed purchasing, both by individuals and by public bodies and businesses.

Some argue that the two are equivalent certification schemes when, in reality, the Fairtrade Mark reflects an established movement that promotes principles of responsible consumption and fairer trade.

Resources included below are

1. An outline of both Rainforest Alliance and Fairtrade standards.

2. An outline of the main differences between the Rainforest Alliance and Fairtrade.

3. A short list of global companies that have Rainforest Alliance certification, including an indication of which function or are based in Scotland.

4. A 2004 Guardian article exploring the differences between the Rainforest Alliance and Fairtrade coffee.

To download all of the above information and documents, click here.

Scottish Parliament Debates Fair Trade

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:11:00 +0000

On Wednesday 3 March 2010 Members of Scottish Parliament took part in a Members Debate on Fairtrade Fortnight. Leading up to this, 60 MSPs signed motion S3M-5768, introduced by Bill Butler MSP, which secured the debate, in which fourteen MSPs from all parties took part.

For the full debate transcript, click here.

The Scottish Parliament Cross Party Group on Fair Trade was officially convened at a meeting following the debate. The Scottish Fair Trade Forum serves as the secretariat to the group, which will focus on practical ways in which the Scottish Parliament can purchase fairly traded products and promote fair trade and Scotland's work to become the world's second Fair Trade Nation.

Strictly Fairtrade Tea Dance

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:44:00 +0000

Saturday 27th February

10am - 3pm

Bonar Hall

University of Dundee

Park Place

Dundee

DD1 4HN

Come along and take part in our dance demos or watch performances from talented dancers representing Dundee's dance culture with a Cup of Fairtrade Tea to celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight

Programme of Events

10.00 Gathering and Fairtrade tea
10.30 Official opening
10.45 Salsa demo and taster session
11.15 Break - DVD and Fairtrade tea
11.45 Modern dance demo
12.00 Soup and roll lunch with Fairtrade snacks
13.00 Scottish country dance demo
13.45 Tap dance demo and taster
14.15 Break - DVD and Fairtrade tea
14.45 Contemporary dance demo
15.00 Vote of thanks

Enjoy on-going Fair Trade and Dance stalls including tasting of products throughout the day!

You can dowload a flyer for the event here.

Scottish Fair Trade Forum

East Dunbartonshire to Pilot Fair Trade School Uniforms Campaign

Scottish Fair Trade Forum AGM

The Highland Council HeadquartersGlenurquhart RoadInvernessIV3 5NX

Saturday 12th June10.00 - 14.20

The European Parliament calls again on the EC to encourage Fair Trade Public Procurement

Scottish Parliament Cross Party Group on Fair Trade meeting on 2nd of June

Harriet Lamb - International Women's Day Lecture

World Fair Trade Day 2010

Fair Trade in Local Government: why bother?

Rainforest Alliance vs. Fairtrade

Scottish Parliament Debates Fair Trade

Strictly Fairtrade Tea Dance

Saturday 27th February

The Highland Council Headquarters
Glenurquhart Road
Inverness
IV3 5NX

Saturday 12th June
10.00 - 14.20