North London Goes Green

To be honest, Angel is probably the furthest north I go in London (being of South East alliances).. and even that is EC1 isn’t it?! Haha, well for those of you that are more adventurous (or more likely, live there)… Camden’s got an up and coming ‘Green Fair and Bikefest’…

It’s June 1st 2008 and runs from 12pm to 7pm.

Regents Park
Cumberland Gate
London
NW1

It’s been running for 17 years and aims to bring awareness about environmental issues and climate change.
There’s activities, music, dance and stalls.. all coinciding with World Environment Day.

It is basically wanting to show ways of sustainable living through products,  companies and lifestyle choices, and brings together charities, community groups, businesses and individuals for the visitors to ask questions.

I’m hoping that something about Fairtrade will be amongst the celebrations somewhere, hopefully the Fairtrade Foundation will have a stall or something selling some lovely food/drink… Though Fairtrade doesn’t necessarily go hand in hand with being ecologically green, it is on the same sustainability wavelength. Perhaps if you like Fairtrade, and like me also recycle but that’s as far as it really goes with watching carbon footprints/off-setting etc.. then it might be an idea to go along and see how you can really expand your Eco-horizons?!

Becoming a ‘Fairtrade School’

The Fairtrade Foundation are hosting a conference which aims to help schools with their questions about becoming Fairtrade-friendly.

The one for London is on 18th June 2008 at The University of Westminster

Each school has got to register and is restricted to one adult/teacher and 2 pupils. Schools that have already gained Fairtrade status can also be involved by contributing a presentation or answering any questions that some of the other quering teachers might have.
It is also for those wanting to query about re-newing their status!

There is also an opportunity to meet two young people from Ghana from the Kuapa Kokoo cooperative!

But incase you were wondering whether the kids will hold it together long enough and not get bored, the workshops that have been planned are also incorporated to be fun and practical and to engage the children w00p

Have a look at more details, and to register CLICK HERE

 

BBC’s Webpage about Fairtrade in London

I’ve already posted up the video about Newham becoming a Fairtrade Borough (See a few posts below)… But have just found the webpage in which the BBC talks in more detail about Fairtrade in London.

VERY relevant, have a look:

CLICK HERE

Croydon’s Fairtrade Events

Thanks so much to Chris Hunt from the Croydon Fairtrade Network for letting me know of these events that are coming up in the South
1) April 26th: Fairtrade Dance and Auction
Venue: Regina Coeli school hall, Pampisford Road, South Croydon
Time: 7:30pm
Tickets: £7.50 - including Fish & Chip supper, bring your own drinks

2) May 3rd: The world’s best fudge comes to Croydon
There will be a tasting of Burnt Sugar fudge, voted the world’s best by Observer Food magazine earlier this year, at the Fair Enough shop, 136 Church St. Croydon CRO 1RF on May 3rd.
Come along and taste the fudge, made with Fairtrade sugar from Kenya, and other fairtrade ingredients where available.
May 3rd will also mark the start of our Spring sale - great reductions and some special purchases of Fairtrade items.

3) May 3rd: All Saint’s Warlingham Churchyard Fete
Burnt Sugar fudge tasting as well. Fair trade and other stalls.
The event will be opened by David Bellamy, at All Saint’s church in the centre of Warlingham - just South of Croydon

Tour to Nicaragua to experience Fair Trade

Hey everyone, Sorry I’ve been absent for the last few days, I’ve been getting up at 5am and working 12hr shifts with my other job.. but no need to quake in your boots, the lovely Natasha is back haha

Well the sun and heat is out, showing its face - Summer is quite obviously on its way - who’d have thought that it snowed the other day?

I just want to let everyone know of a tour to Nicaragua that happens every year in the summer and usually lasts between 12 days to 3 weeks and has been running sine 1984…

It’s a Fairtrade and Community Tourism Study Tour between 28th June - 13th July 2008.

The trip gives fairtrade supporters an opportunity to (amongst other things):
1) Get to know the people who produce your coffee every morning
2) Gain an understanding of fair trade from the perspective of producers, particularly women and young people….plus plenty more!

The programe includes trips to rural projects, a six-day stay with families of fair trade producers, giving an opportunity to live in the every day life of the community.

I think this sounds like an amazing experience, kind of like an eco-concious holiday, that is hopefully going to end up helping those fair trade producers that work so hard to provide not only for our consumers here, but for most importantly their own families at home.

It does however cost… the admin is approximately £640 (excluding airport taxes and insurance) and the flights are around £650.

To find out more, there’s loads of information on the company’s website: HERE

Their Head Office is in London:
Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign
129 Seven Sisters Road
London
N7 7QG

0207 272 9619

‘Barnet’ has Campaign Meeting

If there are any visitors here who live in or near the Borough of Barnet, there is a town campaign meeting happening on the 19th April from 3pm-4pm to bring together people who want to make Barnet a Fairtrade town… and to brainstorm ways in making this happen.

It’s happening at:

The Hendon Library
The Burroughs
Hendon
NW4 4BQ

Contact: Maria Petnga-Wallace
Email: vpetnga@hotmail.com
Tel: 0208 3431284

Fairtrade Baby Clothes

I don’t usually do this as it’s not my standard reporting of news and events on Fairtrade in London but I just had to mention this company called Babi Pur (Welsh for Pure Baby!)…

They sell a range of real top-quality baby products and gifts that are all sourced from Fairtrade origins. They do everything from toys and games, to nappies and stuff for mums.. Honestly, the things are of really good quality and everything looks amazing.

Check it out, click HERE

Newham: The Video! (BBC)

This video was on the BBC website, posted on April 1st and talks about Newham becoming a Fairtrade borough and funnily enough had a comment from Westminster Council saying that they have absolutely NO plans to turn Fairtrade as they don’t think it’s up to them to tell people to spend ethically!!

And London just has ONE more borough to go before it is officially declared a ‘Fairtrade City’

Check it out HERE!

‘Fair Share’ Success Story

Many of you may not know about this place because it is so well hidden (despite being in the centre of everything London)…I’m talking about a Fairtrade shop called ‘Fair Share’ which is on Berwick Street in the West End.
You know Berwick Street, it has that fruit n’ veg market and a Somerfields down the end?!

Well it’s run completely by volunteers and sells a range of stuff from chocolate and coffee, to jewellery, ornaments and wrapping paper.

I went in this afternoon and had a chat with Barbara who was working at the till and is a volunteer herself. She seemed so proud of how far the shop had come, considering the space was a gift from the council! Here’s an excerpt from their website:

“The offer of the shop came out of the blue in a phone call from a local council officer. It was due to be demolished in a year or so if Westminster Council got approval of plans for a major redevelopment of the area. Meanwhile, the Council wanted the shop to be actively occupied rather than vacant as it had been for several months and was willing to make it available rent-free ‘for the sale of fair trade goods and other associated activities of the church”

And as you can guess, that redevelopment never went ahead and the shop is still there and going strong - rent free …

They get their regulars in, particularly the market stall sellers who come in for a hot cup of tea (which is sold at 50p) … but a development of shops and apartments opposite has dented the in-flow of customers slightly, because it is quite noisy and seemingly messy.

Go and check it out next time you’re in central London, it’s number 102 Berwick Street.

Westminster - Trying Hard!

I’ve just spoken to Tom from a group at Kings College who are campaigning for a Fairtrade Westminster - and he says that Fairtrade Fortnight went really well this year:

. They had 8 stalls giving out free chocolate, tea, coffee, info sheets and postcards
. They held a Fairtrade Club night - I wonder what that entailed?! There’s no Fairtrade vodka I don’t think, if there was I’d be the first to know!
. And they also used Fairtrade footballs, rugby balls and netballs in their inter-sports Macadam Cup

All all in all they got 300 signatures to send to the council so fingers crossed for them… if anyone is interested in helping them or joining them, they’ve got a group of Facebook, click here!