So for all you Citybods out there who may visit, work or perhaps if you’re extremely lucky live, in the City and support Fairtrade… if you weren’t aware of the City’s Fairtrade steering group then now you will 
I spoke to Birte from the council’s steering group who explained that the City of London as a borough, achieved Fairtrade status in December 2007. Also, during this year’s Fairtrade Fortnight bonanza that happened all around the UK, they launched a website called the Fairtrade Hub aimed to aide the City’s quest to be completely Fairtrade-friendly by promoting events around the area, as well as giving advice to each other on purchasing Fairtrade for their company.
If I’m honest, the City of London has got to be one of the most important boroughs and instrumental in helping the change-over to accepting Fairtrade in workplaces, shops and cafes… because of the fact that it is so densely populated during the week, and professionals often buy their lunch out and about or in their work’s canteen - if we can get even some of them buying Fairtrade coffee instead of Starbucks, surely we’re on our way to putting more Fairtrade into the homes of their families too?!
The City of London’s Fairtrade steering group had quite impressively helped to promote the Guinness Book of Records largest coffee morning! It was held in Liverpool Street Station at AMT Coffee, and they gave away free coffees to everybody totaling a massive 4585, wiping the floor with the previous record of 2620 haha, where was I when this was happening?! I would have lapped up a free drink!!
Having worked at UBS Investment Bank in Moorgate/Liverpool Street myself, the canteens supplied bottom-less teas, coffees and hot chocolates - personally I would have 100% supported them being Fairtrade instead of the usual PG Tips or whatever it was… I think as massive corporations, these companies have a massive duty to help not only the environment, but the world economy - and perhaps if they help Africa in this way first (and in a seemingly small way)… in a few years time, maybe they’ll view Africa more in opportunist terms of a new emerging market?!
Is there anyone out there in the City who supports Fairtrade and has a view of on this?
