Morecambe and Lancaster is 'a fair trade town'

[WillowTheWhisp]

Or so I heard on the radio this morning.

I bet you never knew that did you?

One thing puzzles me. I always thought Morecambe and Lancaster were not only two places but that Lancaster was a city.

However......... the subject of 'fair trade' - I am not quite sure what a town needs to do to qualify for the title of 'Fair Trade Town'. I am aware of 'Fair Trade' produce and the aim behind it that no-one in the line of production and delivery is subject to slave labour but how much fair trade does there have to be in a town before it can claim the title. According to the radio this morning the percentage of fair trade goods on sale in Morecambe and Lancaster has increased over the past few years and more outlets now stock them. The Midland Hotel serves Fair Trade tea, coffee and sugar.

I am sure that the majority of products available in shops however will not be specifically identifiable as Fair Trade products. Am I right?

The radio presenter wanted to know if it only covered imported items and if it was possible to buy fair trade eggs.

I am off to make my morning brew of dandelion coffee/barleycup of unknown provenance.

[accykeef]

The standard of spoken and written English on the BBC these days is apalling. They wouldn't have been allowed near the building in my day! Any fool knows that the correct pronunciation should be:-
"Morecambe and Lancaster am a Fair Trade Town Init".
As for what qualifies for a fair trade town, I am not too sure. There are a number of outlets which promote FT but I would have thought that we had a long way to go before the accolade could be bragged about.

It is good that we support these initiatives to support third world countries. If we could just find a way to get their own governments to take an interest in their people's welfare, perhaps we could make poverty history.

More details on Fair Trade here.
www.fairtrade.org.uk/get_involved/campaigns/fairtrade_towns/default.aspx

[WillowTheWhisp]

To become a Fairtrade Town (including villages, cities, islands, zones, boroughs and counties) five goals must be met. Groups can work towards the goals in any order. We suggest starting with what is easiest in your area and building the support needed to meet more challenging goals through early achievements.

1. Local council passes a resolution supporting Fairtrade, and agrees to serve Fairtrade products (for example, in meetings, offices and canteens).

2. A range of Fairtrade products are readily available in the area’s retail outlets (shops, supermarkets, newsagents and petrol stations) and served in local catering outlets (cafés, restaurants, pubs).


3. Local workplaces and community organisations (places of worship, schools, universities, colleges and other community organisations) support Fairtrade and use Fairtrade products whenever possible. A flagship employer is required for populations over 100,000.

4. Media coverage and events raise awareness and understanding of Fairtrade across the community.


5. A local Fairtrade steering group is convened to ensure the Fairtrade Town campaign continues to develop and gain new support.

Now I was smiling happily until I got to point #5 - a steering group??? No, no, no, please tell me this isn't another one of those excuses for meetings about meetings accompanied by expense accounts and freebies.

[accykeef]

I expect the freebies would be Fair Trade and the expenses paid from a sustainable source though. Maybe the whole thing is hot air powered in order to fully harness the Committee's output.