Fairtrade Fortnight – February 27th
guest | February 27th, 2013 in : cultural intelligence, days of significance, General, social practices
Fairtrade Fortnight begins today!
There are approximately 1.5 million farmers and workers, working across 63 countries producing Fairtrade products. This year, Fairtrade Fortnight, is asking everyone to take a step for Fairtrade. The target is to gain 1.5 million steps, one for each Fairtrade worker and farmer. These steps could simply include buying a new Fairtrade product, hosting a Fairtrade chocolate tasting session with friends, or recommending a Fairtrade product to a friend or a colleague. Basically, taking steps for Fairtrade Fortnight are about making new consumer choices.
Fairtrade Fortnight was first pioneered in Scotland in 1997, but after a huge success it spread to other countries the following year. It is now celebrated in a handful of countries, most prominent ones being Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Ireland.
In addition to taking a symbolic step, you can also take a series of real steps for Fairtrade. This summer, on 8th of July, Fairtrade is organizing a 10K run in London!
To those who are lacking motivation, here are some new facts about Fairtrade:
- 19 million glasses of Fairtrade wine were enjoyed in the UK in 2010. You can buy Fairtrade wines in most major retailers and selected wine merchants. Or savour a glass in one of 137 Marston’s pubs across the UK.
- Three of the top chocolate brands in the UK are now Fairtrade. Look out for Kit Kats and Cadbury Dairy Milk bars with the FAIRTRADE Mark and from next summer, Maltesers too!
- Thousands of people up and down the country will be taking a Step for Fairtrade in 2012. They’ll be baking cakes, holding coffee mornings, pledging to drink Fairtrade tea for a year, persuading their office to switch to Fairtrade beverages and taking a step to buy more Fairtrade cotton clothing. Last year more than 5,000 events took place around the UK.
What will your steps for Fairtrade Fortnight be?
Tags: Consumer, Fairtrade chocolate, Fairtrade Fortnight, Fairtrade wine, Take a Step
Hello, I'm Deborah Swallow and, for the last fifteen years, I've worked in over thirty countries addressing the complexities of people working internationally across multiple cultures, so individuals and organisations alike can gain an authentic competitive edge and win in international markets. 