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Gosport Fairtrade Action representative goes to 10 Downing Street

Sarah Hirom, Hon. Sec, of Gosport Fairtrade Action, had tea at No 10 on 12^th October with Mrs. Sarah Brown, wife of the PM, at her tea party to celebrate the 15^th Anniversary of the Fairtrade Foundation. Sarah Hirom was one of 50 guests representing different elements of Fairtrade activity. 

 

From left to right: Justino Peck, (cocoa producer from Belize);Tammy Stewart-Jones, Chair of the Thanet Fairtrade Initiative,winner of a Fairtrade Fortnight 2009 award; Bruce Crowther, MBE, (founder member of the Fairtrade Towns Campaign); Sarah Hirom ( Gosport Fairtrade Action)

The Gosport Fairtrade Town campaigner joined others including 15 year old students from a Fairtrade School in Manchester, the catering manager from a Fairtrade University (Leeds) and a representative of a Fairtrade Country, Wales. Staff of the Fairtrade Foundation were there and Harry Hill, whose celebrity status helps promote Fairtrade nuts, with Directors from importing companies, eg Fresco, and manufacturing companies including Divine Chocolate, Café Direct and the Co-op. Representing the producers was Justino Peck, Chairman of the Association of Toledo Cacao Growers in Belize who have supplied the chocolate for Maya Gold since 1994 when it was one the first three products to be sold under the Fairtrade label. He said:

“Life for cocoa farmers in Belize has improved immensely since I was here 15 years ago.  For the farmers, Fairtrade means the security of knowing that they will be paid a set price for their cocoa.  We have used the Fairtrade premium for scholarships for children to further their education and to support a school within the cocoa farming community. This year the association supported nine children through high school. They say the key to success is education. We want to provide the education necessary for our children to succeed.’

Sarah Brown congratulated the Fairtrade Foundation on what it had achieved over the last 15 years: from 3 to over 4,500 products on sale in Britain; more than 7 million people in Africa, Asia and Latin benefit from Fairtrade; there are now 451 Fairtrade towns, 100 Fairtrade Universities, more than 5,000 Fairtrade Churches, 40 Fairtrade Synagogues and one Mosque; 3000 schools are involved. 72% of the UK public now recognises the FAIRTRADE Mark. The Browns are keen supporters of fairer trade and Downing Street itself is now a Fairtrade Zone. 

Sarah Hirom said:   “We all enjoyed a delicious tea – including Fairtrade beverages, of course, cucumber sandwiches and a luscious 15^th Anniversary Cake with Fairtrade chocolate icing.

 It was a privilege to be invited to Number 10 and an indication of how far Fairtrade has come in the last 15 years from a quirky, even mad, idea that didn’t stand a chance of succeeding, to a highly respected mainstream organisation that demonstrates that there really is a better way of shopping and doing business”

Fairtrade campaigners celebrate 15 years of the Fairtrade Foundation as guests of Mrs Sarah Brown at Number 10

[The photo shows the 15th anniversary party at 10 Downing Street with (from the left):Cocoa producer Justino Peck, Harry Hill, Sarah Brown and Fairtrade school supporters Zoe Cooke, Jordan Day and Jake Mairs.]

For further information contact GFA