Fairtrade Fortnight 2008
Fairtrade Fortnight in Dungannon & South Tyrone Borough
25th February – 9th March 2008
Two local initiatives from Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council helped to put Fairtrade Fortnight 2008 on the map in Dungannon.
For the duration of the Fortnight, Dungannon Library hosted a colourful display on the 2008 theme of Change Today, Choose Fairtrade. A selection of the two thousand Fairtrade products that are now widely available across the UK was exhibited. These included everything from Fairtrade tea, coffee, roses and jam, to Fairtrade bananas, chocolate and footballs! Complimentary Fairtrade tea and coffee and Fairtrade snacks were available for library users to sample so that everyone had a chance to sample Fairtrade produce.
On Tuesday 4th March, Dine @ Dungannon Golf Club provided a unique lunch time menu using a wide variety of Fairtrade produce. Divine dishes included Beef Stroganoff, made using Fairtrade Organic Chilean wine, served with Fairtrade Basmati rice, and Chicken Maryland, made using Fairtrade bananas and pineapple. Fairtrade deserts that featured included Tiramisu, made using Fairtrade chocolate and sugar, and Apple and Cinnamon Crumble, made using Fairtrade cinnamon sticks. The delicious menu was rounded off with a selection of Fairtrade teas and coffees.
Whilst satisfied diners were ruminating over their delightful meals, Eamon Quinn from War on Want gave a presentation on how Fairtrade helps to transform people’s lives in developing countries. He explained how, by supporting Fairtrade, we are taking action to reduce the growing global gap between the rich and the poor.
Following Eamon’s presentation, a Fairtrade hamper was raffled off, raising £112. War on Want will use this money to support projects that help some of the world’s poorest farmers in Malawi and Uganda.
Eamon also called on groups across the Borough to come forward if they wish to hold a Fairtrade coffee morning or other Fairtrade event. War on Want will provide packs to help publicise the event as well as a Fairtrade hamper. These events can help to raise awareness of Fairtrade and the hampers can be used to raise funds for vital War on Want projects. Eamon Quinn can be contacted at War on Want, Belfast, Tel: 028 9023 2064.
Top Tips to include Fairtrade in your shopping basket:
Get fruit and Nutty!! You may not be a banana person but maybe you like pineapple – check out the long list of Fairtrade fruit that is available, everything from mangoes to avocado to coconut! Fairtrade dried fruit and nuts are also widely available, brazils, cashews, raisins…
Calling all Chocoholics…Green and Black’s Maya Gold, Divine milk, Dubble…there is a Fairtrade chocolate to tickle everyone’s taste buds.
Say it with Flowers– impress the loved ones in your life with a bunch of Fairtrade roses that show you also care for third world producers. Workers on Fairtrade plantations receive decent working conditions and pay as well as a premium to invest in their communities. Also, Fairtrade roses are grown with minimum pesticide use. Fairtrade roses are available online or in stores such as Sainsbury’s.
Get Sporty with Fairtrade! – Yes, there is such a thing as a Fairtrade football!! Fairtrade sports balls, and an estimated 60% of the world’s sports balls, are made in the Sialkotdistrict of Pakistan. Workers in the sports ball industry there are amongst the most marginalised. Fairtrade workers receive decent treatment and child labour is not permitted. You can get footballs, basket balls, netballs, volley balls, rugby balls and even Fairtrade sneakers online!
Other Fairtrade products to look out for: Drinking chocolate, sugar, rice, herbs and spices, fruit juice, cotton clothing, wine and beer, (enjoy Fairtrade alcoholic beverages responsibly!)….amongst many many others….there is a Fairtrade product for you!
