Causeway Coast and Glens Fairtrade Steering Group celebrates renewal of Fairtrade status
Wed, February 17, 2021
Causeway Coast and Glens is celebrating the renewal of its Fairtrade Communities award (Borough-status).
Awarded by the UK Fairtrade Foundation and Fairtrade Ireland, the news comes in advance of this year’s Fairtrade Fortnight which takes place from February 22nd to March 7th.
The achievement follows a sustained commitment from the local Fairtrade Steering Group, for which Council is lead partner and administrator, and ongoing collaboration with local businesses, schools, churches and community groups.
The Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Alderman Mark Fielding, said: “It’s very positive news that Causeway Coast and Glens has retained it’s Fairtrade Borough-status until January 2023.
“This recognition would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of the Fairtrade Steering Group, community groups, individuals, cafes and retail businesses across the area.
“Council and the Fairtrade Steering Committee have made great efforts to increase the number of outlets who provide Fairtrade options and everyone involved is proud to see residents continuing to choose Fairtrade products from local outlets and helping to make a real difference to peoples’ lives and the environment.”
This year’s Fairtrade Fortnight theme is ‘Choose the world you want’, highlighting work to tackle climate change.
Consul General Dr Christopher Stange, Secretariat of the All Party Group on Fairtrade and member of the local Causeway group said: “The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us more than ever how interconnected we are and this global connection is at the very heart of the Fairtrade message.
“While Fairtrade Fortnight will feel very different this year, the movement continues to have the power to drive long-term change, showing the power of local action.”
The two-week awareness campaign will highlight the struggle many farmers and growers are facing regarding climate change. These workers, in counties such as Kenya, Ethopia and Honduras, contribute least when it comes to carbon pollution but often suffer the worse consequences of climate crisis including droughts, crop disease, floods, heatwaves, shrinking harvests of climate crisis. Getting involved in Fairtrade Fortnight is easy, simply sign up to the festival events free of charge and join in from home.
To take part visit www.fairtrade.org.uk/get-involved/current-campaigns/fairtrade-fortnight/.
Causeway Coast and Glens Fairtrade Steering Group wants to remind everyone that buying Fairtrade products is a simple way to make a difference to the lives of the people who grow the things we consume on a daily basis. It provides better prices, decent working conditions, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world. To find Fairtrade products in your local shop look out for the distinctive Fairtrade Mark or check if your local café or restaurant displays a “We stock Fairtrade” sticker or poster.
For further information on Fairtrade in Northern Ireland visit www.northernirelandfairtrade.org.
To become involved with the Causeway Coast and Glens Fairtrade Steering Group go to our LiveSmart story map on our website www.causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk/live/bins-and-recycling/livesmart or email Fairtrade@causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk.