Fairtrade news

 

Lochwinnoch the Fairtrade Village!!!

 

At the end of 2008 Lochwinnoch was awarded ‘Fairtrade Village’ status by the governing body the Fairtrade Foundation. We met the five criteria for this scheme; a certain proportion of the community committed to using Fairtrade products, a number of commercial and retail concerns using Fairtrade products, a local campaigning group in action, local media coverage, and the support of the local authority.

 

Copies of the Fairtrade Village Certificate have been distributed to supporting locations for display. The Junction was our nominated commercial outlet and Starling Learning (the local environmental and educational concern) was our nominated business.

 

The local Fairtrade campaign has been particularly helped by Ivan and Jo at the Junction and we’ve nominated them for a ‘Spirit of Fairtrade Award’

 

Renfrewshire Council is actively supporting the Fairtrade scheme and working towards Renfrewshire being a Fairtrade ‘county’; Paisley is a Fairtrade town and Bishopton is already a Fairtrade village. To a degree these are symbolic designations but the serve to promote the idea of Fairtrade and to encourage the spread of Fairtrade products.

 

The range of outlets supplying Fairtrade Products is increasing all the time and many supplies are adopting the Fairtrade principles through parallel schemes such as being endorsed by the Rainforest Alliance in the case of Kenco. Most stores have big ranges of Fairtrade products and the Coop in Beith has recently expanded the range and prominence of their Fairtrade range.

 

National Fairtrade Fortnight runs from 23^rd February to 8^th March and the local group will be doing its bit to promote the continued growth of Fairtrade purchasing locally. We are always looking for more active helpers so if you want to join us, now’s the time. Call Bob turner on 01505 843 068.

 

Our next meeting is on Wednesday 7^th Jan 7.45 Brown Bull (upstairs room)