Fairtrade Fortnight Launch in Bristol

Monday 25th February, City Hall

 

The Lord Mayor, the Mayor of Bristol, George Ferguson, the Lord Lieutenant of Bristol, the Chair of South Gloucestershire Council, cabinet members and other civic ft Signing FT Post 2015 Declarleaders gathered at City Hall to launch Fairtrade Fortnight in Bristol and welcome Agueda Ordenana, Fairtrade honey producer from Nicaragua, to the City.

Children from Sefton Park and Bristol Cathedral Choir schools joined the celebrations, bringing cakes and biscuits made from Nicaraguan Fairtrade honey to the Fairtrade Elevenses.

Bristol’s Mayor was also the first leader in the region to sign the International Fair Trade Post-2015 Declaration at this event. The Declaration supports the inclusion of Fair Trade as an excellent anti-poverty tool in the next UN development goals to end extreme poverty after the Millenium Development Goals expire in 2015.

FTF13 launchMayor George Ferguson said: “I am a passionate believer in Fairtrade and fair reward for producers, and am proud of Bristol’s role as a champion for the movement. I am very happy to be the first leader in this region to sign the International Fair Trade declaration emphasising its importance in tackling poverty across the world.”

Agueda Ordenana is visiting Bristol hosted by Bristol Link with Nicaragua and supported by The Co-operative. She told the gathered dignitaries that the extra income from Fairtrade has been used to purchase school equipment and for scholarships for local students to go to University, including her eldest daughter. Fairtrade has also enabled her, as a single mother, to be able to support her family

During the Fortnight, Agueda is speaking in schools to over 2,000 local children, and at Fairtrade Fortnight events.
 

For full details see www.bristolfairtrade.org.uk and http://bristolnicaragua.wordpress.com/


Photos (credit: Jon Craig):

  • Local dignitaries and school children show their support for Fairtrade at the launch event at City Hall
  • Mayor of Bristol, George Ferguson, becomes the first leader in the south of England to sign the Post 2015 Fair Trade Declaration, supported by the Lord Mayor and Agueda Ordenana, fairtrade honey producer