Oxford will be celebrating Fairtrade Fortnight over the next two weeks with a host of online events.
Fairtrade Fortnight, an annual campaign that promotes a living wage and fair trade for the farmers and workers who grow the food we eat, runs from today (22/2) to Sunday 7 March 2021.
Fairtrade Fortnight 2021 marks the start of a new climate campaign asking the British public to get behind Fairtrade so that farmers overseas can benefit from fairer prices, fairer trading practices and the resources needed for tackling the climate emergency.
The Oxford Fairtrade Coalition, which Oxford City Council supports, will be hosting events online in the city, including:
- A free online festival of events to entertain, educate and inspire: ‘A Festival of Climate, Fairtrade and you’ starts today (22/2) and runs until Sunday 7 March.
- A baking competition using fair trade ingredients - the competition starts today (22/2) and runs until Sunday 7 March. The winning entry will receive a £50 Fairtrade Co-op hamper full of Fairtrade goodies
- 'Hidden Voices in the Market' on Thursday 4 March at 6pm to 7.30pm. The online discussion will feature experts on the Fairtrade supply chain talk about their challenges and successes. To sign up for this event got to Oxford Fairtrade Coalition events pages.
For more information about the Oxford Fair Trade Coalition and what you can do during Fairtrade Fortnight, visit the Oxford Fairtrade Coalition website.
Oxford has been a Fairtrade city since 2004. The City Council is committed to and supports the use of Fairtrade products, and encourages local residents and businesses to choose Fairtrade products.
The City Council ensures that Fairtrade products, such as tea, coffee and sugar, are chosen wherever possible for its meetings and functions.
“It is important to us that Oxford continues to be a Fairtrade City, having first been awarded this status in 2004. We are a member of the Oxford Fair Trade Coalition and contribute funds to support the promotion of fair trade activities, goods and events such as the One World Fair. We work hard to ensure as many workers as possible in our city are paid the Oxford Living Wage, but it is just as important to tackle poverty away from home where we can through the decisions we make about what we buy. Simple changes such as selling and buying Fairtrade drinks and goods can make a difference to those who need it. Producers all around the world deserve to be fairly paid for their work.”
Councillor Susan Brown, Leader of Oxford City Council
“Farmers and workers producing goods mostly for us in countries like the Dominican Republic and Ethiopia have contributed the least to climate crisis – yet they are among the world’s most vulnerable and are already feeling the worst effects from unpredictable weather, natural disasters and disease. But without stable incomes, these farmers lack the ability to fight climate change impacts and continue to struggle to meet their immediate needs. We can choose to change that – make a fair trade choice to start that change this Fairtrade Fortnight.”
Bart Ashton, Chair of the Oxford Fairtrade Coalition
For more information about Fairtrade Fortnight 2021, visit the Fairtrade website.
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