Banana Corner at the Annual Hill Climb!
Tatsfield Fairtrade Group were really pleased to be invited to support the Bec Cycling Club Hill Climb on White Lane on Sunday October 13th. It was a wet and blustery day, so the conditions were extra tough for the 120 cyclists who challenged themselves to race up the steep, slippery hill in as short a time as possible. We set up our gazebo at the top of the lane and offered free Fairtrade bananas to all the competitors to provide energy before the 2-minute race or to help replace much needed nutrients.
Our inflatable banana and banner got the message across - “Let’s end the cycle of poverty with Fairtrade”. However, the star attraction had to be the famous yellow banana costume! Together we handed out 150 bananas and enjoyed talking to cyclists and their supporters of all ages. It was suggested that we could become a permanent fixture at the event run by the club which formed back in 1924 - Banana Corner has a certain ring to it!
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So do remember that whenever you choose a Fairtrade banana you are guaranteeing a reasonable wage for workers who strive to provide us with food in developing countries from South America, the Caribbean or Africa. Fairtrade is a reminder of the power of the pound in your pocket. Make a difference every time you shop - look for the logo.
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TATSFIELD WI SUMMER GARDEN PARTY
Tatsfield WI took "Fairtrade" as its theme for this year's Garden Party. The challenge was to decorate a hat accordingly. The support of the WI for Fairtrade is particularly appropriate because in 1992 the National Federation of WIs was one of the six founding organisations of the Fairtrade Foundation.
The imagination and variety of the decorations were impressive. Here are just a few, There are more pictures on our facebook page.
Tatsfield WI took "Fairtrade" as its theme for this year's Garden Party. The challenge was to decorate a hat accordingly. The support of the WI for Fairtrade is particularly appropriate because in 1992 the National Federation of WIs was one of the six founding organisations of the Fairtrade Foundation.
The imagination and variety of the decorations were impressive. Here are just a few, There are more pictures on our facebook page.
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Sainsbury's Red & Gold label teas
From June Sainsbury’s own-brand Red Label and Gold Label ranges will no longer be Fairtrade certified. Instead, these will be part of its new “Fairly Traded” range. More than 229,000 farmers will be affected by these changes.
The Fairtrade Foundation is concerned that the new "Fairly Traded" standards fall below the core principles of Fairtrade. Farming groups in Africa say that they will no longer have control over the way the premium is applied.
Producers have sent an open letter to Sainsbury's
There is a petition on change.org. See the petition here.
It takes only a few seconds to sign it.
It would take a couple of minutes to fill in a survey saying that you will be taking your custom elsewhere until Sainsbury's reverses its decision. (You need a code for a store. Warlingham is 23)
If you're willing to go a step further, you could purchase a packet of tea and return it to the store, telling the assistant that you are returning it because it's not Fairtrade.
Or post it to the head office, Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd, 33 Holborn, London EC1N 2HT.
Taste the Difference teas will still be Fairtrade Certified.
Cadbury's Chocolate
Cadbury, too, has come under fire for pulling out of the Fairtrade scheme in favour of its own “sustainability programme”.
Starting in May next year with a phased roll-out all Cadbury products in the UK and Ireland will be covered by a single sourcing programme - Cocoa Life.
A new partnership between Cocoa Life and Fairtrade will be indicated on the back of pack.
David Marshall, founder of the Meaningful Chocolate Company, a small British Fairtrade-only producer, said:
“We are shocked by this move. It feels like a classic Cadbury’s fudge because they will have dropped Fairtrade ingredients but hope to get the Fairtrade logo on their bars of chocolate. This action will confuse the consumer and many now believe this may put the Fairtrade scheme at risk. Many big firms resisted the Fairtrade movement for decades but have gradually started to come over. Many will be saddened that Cadbury has decided to reverse this trend.”
A spokesman for Divine, another Fairtrade chocolate company, has said it is unclear to what extent investment and spending would be monitored under Cocoa Life, and whether farmers would be able to have “appropriate influence” over the prices they get for their cocoa.
Cadbury, too, has come under fire for pulling out of the Fairtrade scheme in favour of its own “sustainability programme”.
Starting in May next year with a phased roll-out all Cadbury products in the UK and Ireland will be covered by a single sourcing programme - Cocoa Life.
A new partnership between Cocoa Life and Fairtrade will be indicated on the back of pack.
David Marshall, founder of the Meaningful Chocolate Company, a small British Fairtrade-only producer, said:
“We are shocked by this move. It feels like a classic Cadbury’s fudge because they will have dropped Fairtrade ingredients but hope to get the Fairtrade logo on their bars of chocolate. This action will confuse the consumer and many now believe this may put the Fairtrade scheme at risk. Many big firms resisted the Fairtrade movement for decades but have gradually started to come over. Many will be saddened that Cadbury has decided to reverse this trend.”
A spokesman for Divine, another Fairtrade chocolate company, has said it is unclear to what extent investment and spending would be monitored under Cocoa Life, and whether farmers would be able to have “appropriate influence” over the prices they get for their cocoa.
But better news ....
Clipper Teas wins National Trust contract
All tea served at National Trust properties are Fairtrade.
Clipper Teas, the pioneering tea brand has won a five-year contract to supply its range of organic and Fairtrade teas to the National Trust from October 2016.
Clipper will be the exclusive tea supplier to cafés and restaurants at 200 historic sites and open spaces across the country, serving the National Trust’s 22 million annual visitors.
As one of the country’s largest catering businesses – covering everything from hill-top tearooms to large mansion house cafés – the National Trust currently serves up over 4.5 million cups of tea each year, with all contributions being re-invested into the care of its special places.
As part of the new partnership, the National Trust has worked closely with Clipper to create a bespoke and exclusive blend for visitors.
This exclusive blend, which will be available in National Trust shops next spring, will be supported by a range of Clipper’s Fairtrade and Organic teas and infusions, including a citrusy Earl Grey, fresh peppermint and naturally de-caffeinated everyday tea.
Gill Green, Marketing Director at Wessanen UK, owners of Clipper, comments:
We are delighted to have won this prestigious business and to have the opportunity to work so closely with the National Trust. We pride ourselves on producing natural, unbleached and ethical hot beverages and are deeply proud of our British roots. With the National’s Trust’s ethical commitment to protecting our countryside and great heritage, Clipper and the National Trust really do make the perfect partnership.
Tim Howard, Food and Beverage Development Manager at the National Trust, adds:
For many, a visit to a National Trust place wouldn’t be complete without a cup of tea, so we’ve been working really hard not only to find the right supplier but also to develop the first ever National Trust blend. We’re thrilled to award this contract to Clipper as they enabled us to meet the high sourcing standards, sustainability levels and quality we expect, whilst enabling us to give value for money to our customers.
Clipper also supported us in the development of an exclusive blend. Our new National Trust everyday tea is a Fairtrade, refreshingly brisk, full flavoured blend with a coppery golden colour. It’s sourced from the finest tea estates in East Africa and India and, we feel, makes a perfect cup, both whilst out visiting our places and next year enjoyed from home.
To find out more about Clipper’s story and blends, visit clipper-teas.com.
Clipper Teas wins National Trust contract
All tea served at National Trust properties are Fairtrade.
Clipper Teas, the pioneering tea brand has won a five-year contract to supply its range of organic and Fairtrade teas to the National Trust from October 2016.
Clipper will be the exclusive tea supplier to cafés and restaurants at 200 historic sites and open spaces across the country, serving the National Trust’s 22 million annual visitors.
As one of the country’s largest catering businesses – covering everything from hill-top tearooms to large mansion house cafés – the National Trust currently serves up over 4.5 million cups of tea each year, with all contributions being re-invested into the care of its special places.
As part of the new partnership, the National Trust has worked closely with Clipper to create a bespoke and exclusive blend for visitors.
This exclusive blend, which will be available in National Trust shops next spring, will be supported by a range of Clipper’s Fairtrade and Organic teas and infusions, including a citrusy Earl Grey, fresh peppermint and naturally de-caffeinated everyday tea.
Gill Green, Marketing Director at Wessanen UK, owners of Clipper, comments:
We are delighted to have won this prestigious business and to have the opportunity to work so closely with the National Trust. We pride ourselves on producing natural, unbleached and ethical hot beverages and are deeply proud of our British roots. With the National’s Trust’s ethical commitment to protecting our countryside and great heritage, Clipper and the National Trust really do make the perfect partnership.
Tim Howard, Food and Beverage Development Manager at the National Trust, adds:
For many, a visit to a National Trust place wouldn’t be complete without a cup of tea, so we’ve been working really hard not only to find the right supplier but also to develop the first ever National Trust blend. We’re thrilled to award this contract to Clipper as they enabled us to meet the high sourcing standards, sustainability levels and quality we expect, whilst enabling us to give value for money to our customers.
Clipper also supported us in the development of an exclusive blend. Our new National Trust everyday tea is a Fairtrade, refreshingly brisk, full flavoured blend with a coppery golden colour. It’s sourced from the finest tea estates in East Africa and India and, we feel, makes a perfect cup, both whilst out visiting our places and next year enjoyed from home.
To find out more about Clipper’s story and blends, visit clipper-teas.com.
Tatsfield school children play fair
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In September Tatsfield school children watched the film ‘Playing Fair’ and accepted two Bala Fairtrade Footballs.
Oxted School also received two Bala Footballs from the group recently and to celebrate the students took part in a competition to see how many Keepy Uppys they could do in 30 seconds. Click on the elephant |
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70% of the world’s hand-stitched footballs are made by an estimated 40,000 sports ball workers in Sialkot, Pakistan. When a high quality Fairtrade certified football is sold in the UK the buyer is guaranteed that the men and women who make these hand stitched products are paid a fair wage and benefit from fair working conditions and also the additional Fairtrade Premium.
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The Fairtrade Premium is used to help fund projects like free eye care and subsidised glasses, free diabetes checks, free school books and backpacks for workers’ children and free transport to work. The Premium also part funds larger scale projects such as water purification plants located just outside the factory gates so that anyone in the community can take advantage of the free, safe drinking water on offer.
Now that’s Playing Fair!
Now that’s Playing Fair!
Where does coffee come from?
Congratulations to 9 year old Thomas Veale from Ricketts Hill who got all the answers to our coffee quiz right. He said he really enjoyed researching the answers on the internet. He collected his prize from Alizon Mooney at the Fairtrade Tea Tent on 17th September 2016.
Thomas's answers were:
1. Coffee originally comes from Ethiopia.
2. Finland consumes the most coffee per person.
3. Brazil produces the most coffee.
4. 125 million people in the world depend on coffee production for their livelihoods.
5. Fairtrade coffee means that farmers get a fair and stable price for the coffee they grow.
Thomas's answers were:
1. Coffee originally comes from Ethiopia.
2. Finland consumes the most coffee per person.
3. Brazil produces the most coffee.
4. 125 million people in the world depend on coffee production for their livelihoods.
5. Fairtrade coffee means that farmers get a fair and stable price for the coffee they grow.
To our surprise and delight Surrey County Council passed a resolution supporting Fairtrade in early May 2014.
The resolution was proposed by Robert Evans,
Labour member of Surrey County Council for Stanwell & Stanwell Moor. The resolution was passed, after heated discussion, by passed by 45 votes to 9 indicating a high degree of cross party support for Fairtrade.
This means that Surrey now meets all the criteria to become apply for Fairtrade County status except that it needs one or more “flagship employer”. That is a firm or organisation in Surrey which is a significant employer and a supporter of Fairtrade, encouraging and promoting Fairtrade with its staff and customers. If you work in such a company do get in touch at www.surreyfairtrade.org.uk.
Here’s the wording of the resolution:
This Council welcomes the initiatives by towns and local authorities across Surrey to encourage the use of fair trade goods by achieving Fairtrade status.
Furthermore this Council believes that Surrey County Council, as an important consumer and opinion leader, should research, develop and support a strategy to facilitate fair trade wherever appropriate.
Council therefore resolves, wherever possible:
To promote awareness of fair trade issues and the opportunities for supporting fair trade across the County
To work with Surrey Fairtrade and those towns who already have Fairtrade Status to widely publicise the worldwide impact of unfair trade and the opportunities that fair trade provides to sustainable development
To encourage the use of fair trade goods, for example products carrying the Fairtrade Mark and products in vending machines
To request the Council’s venues to stock Fairtrade products in addition to other brands
To concentrate on making Council employees, the Surrey public and local businesses aware of the Council’s resolution on fair trade.
The resolution was proposed by Robert Evans,
Labour member of Surrey County Council for Stanwell & Stanwell Moor. The resolution was passed, after heated discussion, by passed by 45 votes to 9 indicating a high degree of cross party support for Fairtrade.
This means that Surrey now meets all the criteria to become apply for Fairtrade County status except that it needs one or more “flagship employer”. That is a firm or organisation in Surrey which is a significant employer and a supporter of Fairtrade, encouraging and promoting Fairtrade with its staff and customers. If you work in such a company do get in touch at www.surreyfairtrade.org.uk.
Here’s the wording of the resolution:
This Council welcomes the initiatives by towns and local authorities across Surrey to encourage the use of fair trade goods by achieving Fairtrade status.
Furthermore this Council believes that Surrey County Council, as an important consumer and opinion leader, should research, develop and support a strategy to facilitate fair trade wherever appropriate.
Council therefore resolves, wherever possible:
To promote awareness of fair trade issues and the opportunities for supporting fair trade across the County
To work with Surrey Fairtrade and those towns who already have Fairtrade Status to widely publicise the worldwide impact of unfair trade and the opportunities that fair trade provides to sustainable development
To encourage the use of fair trade goods, for example products carrying the Fairtrade Mark and products in vending machines
To request the Council’s venues to stock Fairtrade products in addition to other brands
To concentrate on making Council employees, the Surrey public and local businesses aware of the Council’s resolution on fair trade.
New Fairtrade Standard for Hired Labour
Grounded firmly in the daily reality of Fairtrade workers across the globe, the new Standard offers greater support for freedom of association, important steps toward living wages, greater autonomy in decision-making and more.
In 2012 Fairtrade International announced an ambitious new workers’ rights strategy recognising the need to go beyond Fairtrade Premium projects and basic labour rights protection.
On 14th January 2014, one of the most important steps in realizing this vision - a new Fairtrade Standard for Hired Labour - was announced.
To get to this point, Fairtrade International Standards Unit travelled the globe to meet with more than 400 workers in 14 countries and interviewed close to 170 management representatives from Fairtrade certified plantations and factories, and received over 120 written responses from certified producer groups, traders, retailers, unions, NGOs, and Fairtrade member organizations.
The result is a new Hired Labour Standard based on the principles of the workers’ rights strategy, but grounded firmly in the daily reality of Fairtrade workers across three continents. Some of the changes had nearly unanimous support; others were hotly debated even among workers themselves.
The Fairtrade Hired Labour Standard applies to organizations producing flowers and plants, fresh fruit and vegetables, tea, herbs and herbal teas, and sports balls.
Freedom of Association Freedom of association
Specific changes include:
- The company must sign a ‘Freedom of Association protocol’ confirming that they allow workers to associate and submit this protocol to FLO-CERT, the Fairtrade certifying body, before they can be Fairtrade certified.
- The company must actively communicate to workers that they have the right to unionize, including posting signs on notice boards.
- Where workers don’t belong to a trade union, the company must invite trade union representatives to inform workers before certification.
- There must be some form of democratically elected independent workers’ organisation in place, but workers decide what this is and take the initiative themselves.
- The company must proactively engage in a process to enter into collective agreement with elected worker representatives where there is no CBA in place (except where workers have clearly decided to not join a trade union or collectively bargain).
Fairtrade International is currently leading a project on living wage. The first step is to develop a new methodology for setting living wage levels for farm workers, and then travel country by country to calculate living wages in each region where there are Fairtrade certified plantations. The first benchmarks have already been set.
Companies must regularly increase workers’ real wages and these increases are negotiated with elected workers’ representatives based on information about Living Wage levels that Fairtrade will make available.
(Read more on the Fairtrade perspective on a living wage here)
Fairtrade Premium use and decision-making
Workers are now able to decide by themselves how they invest the Fairtrade Premium, and they can spend it more flexibly.
The elected workers on the Fairtrade Premium Committee will now lead a general assembly of workers at least once a year to report on and approve the Fairtrade Premium plan. Workers can also decide to distribute up to 20 percent of the Fairtrade Premium as a cash or in-kind bonus distributed equally among workers if they choose.
Migrant labour
The Standard includes new criteria to make sure migrant workers benefit from Fairtrade. If migrant workers make up the majority of hired labour, they can choose to distribute up to 50 percent of the Fairtrade Premium in cash. T
The new requirements are more explicit that migrant workers must be consulted on Fairtrade Premium spending, and that all workers including temporary or migrant workers have the right to be elected as a worker representative or to the Fairtrade Premium Committee.
Equal treatment for minority groups.
Companies must have grievance procedures in place – including for sexual harassment – before becoming certified (instead of after 1-3 years). And they must share audit results with workers through worker representatives.
But ...
a new Standard is only one important step on a much longer journey to strengthen the position of workers on Fairtrade farms.
“Our work is far from over. This new Standard provides the support framework, and now we have to work hard to make sure workers have the capacity and the freedom to negotiate fairer workplaces,” says Wilbert Flinterman, Senior Advisor on Workers’ Rights and Trade Union Relations at Fairtrade International.
In November 2013, the Board of Fairtrade International agreed that the next step in Fairtrade’s overall Workers’ Rights strategy is to review and improve the Fairtrade model to better reach workers in small producer organizations. Fairtrade research has shown that under the current model, the benefits of Fairtrade are not uniformly or sufficiently extending to this group. Initial proposals for a plan of work were presented to the Fairtrade International Board in November 2013 and the work launches in early 2014.
Fairtrade village status renewal
Fairtrade status was achieved in 2009. However, this is not a one off achievement - it is an ongoing commitment and a renewal application has to be made every two years. It was successfully renewed in 2011 and we have heard from the Fairtrade Foundation that we have been successful in renewing it again in 2013.
Fairtrade status was achieved in 2009. However, this is not a one off achievement - it is an ongoing commitment and a renewal application has to be made every two years. It was successfully renewed in 2011 and we have heard from the Fairtrade Foundation that we have been successful in renewing it again in 2013.
The five goals we have to meet have not changed:
Goal 1: Local council passes a resolution supporting fairtrade and agrees to serve fairtrade products at its meetings.
Goal 2: A range of goods is available in local shops and catering establishments.
Goal 3: Fairtrade products are used by a number of local work places and community organisations.
Goal 4: There is media coverage and popular support for the campaign
Goal 5: A local Fairtrade steering group is convened to ensure continued commitment to its Fairtrade status
Goal 1: Local council passes a resolution supporting fairtrade and agrees to serve fairtrade products at its meetings.
Goal 2: A range of goods is available in local shops and catering establishments.
Goal 3: Fairtrade products are used by a number of local work places and community organisations.
Goal 4: There is media coverage and popular support for the campaign
Goal 5: A local Fairtrade steering group is convened to ensure continued commitment to its Fairtrade status
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Some of the key things that helped us towards this successful renewal are:
* The support of the Parish Council, including an annual grant. * The support of village organisations and businesses particularly St Mary’s Church, the Scouts, the Bakery and the shops. * Our work with younger people as we work with children at Tatsfield Scout groups and Tatsfield Primary School. |
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Children at Tatsfield School built a Fairtrade Tower
covered with Fairtrade wrappers they had collected
covered with Fairtrade wrappers they had collected
So the steering group carry on committed to promoting Fairtrade knowing that in doing so we are encouraging everyone to make a choice when they do their shopping which really does make a positive difference to farmers and producers in the developing world.
Jennie South, Tatsfield Fairtrade Group
September 2013
Jennie South, Tatsfield Fairtrade Group
September 2013
Oxted School gains Fairtrade School status!
Congratulations to all the pupils who have supported the fairtrade movement
and congratulations to Hilary Harber of the Tatsfield Fairtrade Village Steering Group
who has worked so hard for this achievement.
Hilary writes:
For the last couple of years or so I have been working with colleagues and students at our local secondary school, Oxted School, to gain Fairtrade School Status. I was delighted to hear from the Foundation in May that at last we had been successful with our bid.
This means that our governors and headteacher have agreed a policy with the student-led steering group to support Fairtrade and learn about Fairtrade Issues at school. Many teachers have included Fairtrade Issues in their lessons where appropriate. RE, Citizenship, Economics and Geography have lead the way. But other subjects such as Maths, English and Food Technology have also embraced the opportunity to use Fairtrade statistics, leaflets or ingredients in their classes. Students have been selling cakes baked with Fairtrade sugar, chocolate or bananas as well as Dubble Bars created by the Divine Chocolate company - delicious! The student run Bluehouse Café sells Fairtrade refreshments on Tuesday afternoons. We have also been present at local fetes and carnivals to spread the word about Fairtrade products with our wonderful sign designed by students and made and created with the help of parents.
For me a real flagship day was when everyone in the school came in dressed in blue and/or green – the prominent colours of the well-known Fairtrade logo. That was also matched by the day that Malawian sugar farmer Henry Matende visited the geography department – inspiring and moving.
In some ways our journey has just begun and I look forward next year to seeing more Fairtrade products being used at school – including tea and coffee in the staffroom. We also hope to link up with Malawian farmers as part of an on-going geography project. Fairtrade is a real message of hope for us all – that small deeds by each of us can transform the lives of some of the poorest people in the world in a sustainable and effective way. If we each take a step we can all make a difference. What Fairtrade step will you take this summer?
Hilary Harber, Teacher Oxted School and
member of the steering group for Tatsfield Fairtrade Village.
For me a real flagship day was when everyone in the school came in dressed in blue and/or green – the prominent colours of the well-known Fairtrade logo. That was also matched by the day that Malawian sugar farmer Henry Matende visited the geography department – inspiring and moving.
In some ways our journey has just begun and I look forward next year to seeing more Fairtrade products being used at school – including tea and coffee in the staffroom. We also hope to link up with Malawian farmers as part of an on-going geography project. Fairtrade is a real message of hope for us all – that small deeds by each of us can transform the lives of some of the poorest people in the world in a sustainable and effective way. If we each take a step we can all make a difference. What Fairtrade step will you take this summer?
Hilary Harber, Teacher Oxted School and
member of the steering group for Tatsfield Fairtrade Village.
A fairer deal for British and overseas farmers
The Groceries Code Adjudicator Bill, which some of us in Tatsfield campaigned* to support, is now an Act.
The Adjudicator will enforce the Groceries Supply Code of Practice, which was established by the Competition Commission in 2010, after their 2008 market investigation found some large retailers were transferring excessive risks to their direct suppliers. The Code obliges large retailers to deal fairly and lawfully with their suppliers; not vary supply agreements retrospectively, except in circumstances beyond the retailer’s control which are clearly set out in the supply agreement; and pay suppliers within a reasonable time, in addition to a range of other actions.
Earlier this year, it was announced that the person tasked with the job of keeping the supermarkets in line would be Christine Tacon, who was awarded a CBE for service to agriculture in 2004. As adjudicator, she has the power to: arbitrate disputes between retailers and suppliers; investigate confidential complaints from direct and indirect suppliers, whether in the UK or overseas, and from third parties; and hold to account retailers who break the rules by ‘naming and shaming’ or, if necessary, imposing a fine.
You can listen to Christine Tacon speaking on "You and Yours" on radio 4 on 2nd May.
(It's the first item but there's the tail end of the news and an introduction so you either have to wait 1 min 30 secs or scroll forward.)
* alongside ActionAid UK, Campaign to Protect Rural England, Catholic Agency for Overseas Development, Country Land & Business Assn, Friends of the Earth, Gt Glemham Farms, Independent Fruit Growers Assn, NFU, RedOrange, Tenant Farmers Assn, Traidcraft, War on Want and WI.
Oxted School welcomes a Malawian sugar farmer
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On Thursday 7th March, Henry Matende, a Malawian sugar farmer visited Oxted School.
He explained to the geography students just how much difference each packet of Fairtrade sugar which they bought made to his own life and to the lives of others. The following day, students held a Comic Relief Dubble Bar sale. |
For the last two years, teacher Hilary Harber has been working with colleagues to raise awareness by promoting Fairtrade products, encouraging students to learn about Fairtrade issues, as well as having a Fairtrade “steering group” made up largely of Oxted School students.
Mrs Harber, who is an active member of the Tatsfield Fairtrade Village steering group, said “I am thrilled that we were able to welcome Henry Matende into some geography classes.
“This was a special opportunity to hear first-hand about the impact on his life of Fairtrade, which is not a charity but a fairer way of trading.
“It is all about raising awareness and making connections so that when we choose to buy a product we think about the people who grew the raw materials and whether they received a decent wage for their work.
“Fairness matters to us all – choosing Fairtrade is a way to make sure that we each make a positive difference with every £1 we spend.”
Mrs Harber, who is an active member of the Tatsfield Fairtrade Village steering group, said “I am thrilled that we were able to welcome Henry Matende into some geography classes.
“This was a special opportunity to hear first-hand about the impact on his life of Fairtrade, which is not a charity but a fairer way of trading.
“It is all about raising awareness and making connections so that when we choose to buy a product we think about the people who grew the raw materials and whether they received a decent wage for their work.
“Fairness matters to us all – choosing Fairtrade is a way to make sure that we each make a positive difference with every £1 we spend.”
Tatsfield at Lingfield & Dormansland Fairtrade Fayre and AGM
26 October 2012
Hilary Harber of Tatsfield Village Fairtrade Steering Group was a guest speaker at Lingfield & Dormansland Fairtrade Fayre and AGM together with Atif Choudhury, Director of Zaytoun Palestinian Olive Oil. It was a truly inspirational evening attended by about 50 supporters.
Hilary, with her teaching hat on, tested the audience’s knowledge of Fairtrade with fair results!
She said that Tatsfield, having achieved Fairtrade Village Status in 2009, continues to raise awareness of the difference that buying Fairtrade products makes to marginalised farmers in the developing world. Villagers in Tatsfield are familiar with a giant size FAIRTRADE Mark that doubles as a prop for photographs or a game.
Very near to Hilary’s heart is her project of achieving Fairtrade Status for Oxted School.
Young people want to make a difference in the world and the students are enthusiastic and excited about the project. [see below]
The topic of Fairtrade is included in the curriculum, whole school assemblies of 2,000 students take place and events such as sales of cakes made with Fairtrade ingredients are held each term.
The application to become a Fairtrade School has been submitted and the outcome is now awaited.
Hilary, Atif & Margaret Vasey (L&D chair)
Atif Choudhury took the audience on an inspired journey from 2004 when he co-founded Zaytoun as a direct response following his visit to Palestine, to 2009 when Zaytoun’s Palestinian olive oil and olives were awarded the FAIRTRADE Mark, the world’s first Fairtrade certified olive oil company. Since then, Zaytoun has received awards from the Soil Association in 2011, The Times newspaper and the Fairtrade Foundation.
The endeavour had at first been an aspirational idea to support communities whose livelihood is dependent wholly on farming, Atif said. Olive trees provide a connection to land, ancestry and a unified ‘remembering’ of life and loss, a rooted connection that too many of us become sadly detached from. All people deserve to wish, smile and dream a life just as we do.
He pointed out that Palestinian products had long been available in the UK. In fact, Queen Victoria had used Palestinian olive soap!
Today, in addition to superb organic Fairtrade olive oil, Zaytoun produces olives, Za’tar herbs, sundried tomatoes, couscous, almonds, Medjoul dates and lovely olive and honey soaps.
Zaytoun olive oil is now available at Linda's Stores. Other Zaytoun products can sometimes be found in supermarkets but are most easily bought online through Premcrest.
The full story of Zaytoun can be found in this pdf. (takes a minute or two to download if broadband speeds are low)
Tatsfield Fairtrade Village mug photograph competition results
Congratulations to the winners
A surprise VIP visitor at the Village Hall Table Top Sale
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Tatsfield Village Fairtrade Group had a stall at this event at the invitation of Mary Bull. It was good to see a group of ten or so serious cyclists arrive who were clearly glad to find a warm drink and welcome in the hall on a very cold wet morning. They had been directed to the hall by the Vern d’ Anjou cake sellers outside the shops. One of them came over, said she was interested in Fairtrade, worked for the Fairtrade Foundation and we chatted about Fairtrade. I was able to tell her all the good Fairtrade things going on here.
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Continuing the conversation in polite, interested fashion I asked her what her job was at the Foundation. ‘Oh, she replied in a very matter of fact sort of way,’ I’m Harriet Lamb, the Director of the Foundation’
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So it would not be exaggerating to say this more than ‘made my day! Harriet Lamb CBE, Executive Director of the Fairtrade Foundation, is an inspiration to people like me doing with others a small bit locally to ‘make a difference’ to the lives of those farmers and producers on whose goods we rely. She was in at the start twenty years ago and has been a major driver for all the progress since then. So a morning in Tatsfield can be full of marvellous encounters and this was certainly one for me!
Jennie South |
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