FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER

Welcome to the latest newsletter from the Fairtrade Guernsey Steering Group A Message from our Chairperson
Once again, a huge thank you is due to all of you for your magnificent support of the Fairtrade movement here in Guernsey. The island achieved recognition as a Fairtrade Island in March 2006, and we have been building on that success ever since. With over 250 locally registered supporters ranging from schools to hotels, offices to canteens, churches and community centres, we should all be very proud of the scope and range of Fairtrade support. But there is always more to do! The purchase of Fairtrade products ensures a fair deal for the producers at the end of the chain; what this means is that the farmers and cooperatives receive a sustainable price for their crops; a sustainable price which allows investment in seed, fertilizer, equipment and irrigation for the future; a sustainable price to ensure that future supplies of commodities such as cocoa are secured. Indeed, when Cadburys converted its best-selling Dairy Milk bar to Fairtrade in 2009, it entered into a 10 year investment plan across Ghana, India, Indonesia and the Caribbean, which would see 45 million spent to secure a sustainable socio-economic future of cocoa farming. With the above in mind, this years Fairtrade Fortnight will call upon the British public to Go Further for Fairtrade in 2013. The Fairtrade Foundation is launching its latest campaign, Make Food Fair to look after the food we love and the people who grow it; to ensure a sustainable food system, which works for everyone and ensures that farmers can get a decent livelihood from the crops that they grow. Without our support now, farmers in developing countries face a difficult and uncertain future. Mike Gidney, Interim Executive Director of the Fairtrade Foundation; Companies and governments need to make a stand to ensure small farmers can achieve sustainable livelihoods and play their full role in building fairer, better food systems for the future. Choosing Fairtrade is one way to help secure a better deal for millions of people in developing countries.

Monday 25 February to Sunday 10 March

So what can you do to help? If you already buy Fairtrade chocolate, why not buy some Fairtrade snack bars too? If you like Fairtrade coffee, why not give hot chocolate a go? What about a bunch of Fairtrade bananas or a juicy Fairtrade pineapple? Next time you buy your shower gels, body lotions and soaps, take a look for the Fairtrade logo; vanilla, mango, sugar and cacao are a few of the Fairtrade raw materials which can now be found in a range of beauty products. On the island, Fairtrade products are widely available from; Alliance, Boots, Checkers, C I Co-op Stores, CIMANDIS, Hansa, Land of Green Ginger, M&S, Manor Farm, Mondomundi, Oxfam, Phoenix Foods, VEND, VWT Wholesale and Waitrose. And get involved in a number of initiatives taking part on the island during Fairtrade Fortnight; details of which are given below. Many Thanks Nicky Terry, Chairperson

Fairtrade Fortnight 2013

Diary of Events
Mon 25 February Fairtrade Fortnight begins with posters around The Town Church Wed 27 February Media coverage Sat 2 March Fairtrade Guernsey Quiz at Les Cotils, 7.00pm. For tickets tel: 727793 Mon 4 March Fairtrade display at Beau Sejour Wed 6 March Fairtrade fundraiser at Les Ozouets Campus, Guernsey College of Further Education, Business students, 11:30am - 4.30pm Sat 9 March Fairtrade food sampling and information bus at Waitrose, Rohais Sat 9 & Sun 10 March Fairtrade Afternoon Teas at Old Government House Hotel and Duke of Richmond Hotel

The Annual Fairtrade Quiz Night

Saturday 2 March 2013
Harry Bound Room at Les Cotils starts 7pm 12 adults/6 children under 12 Price includes: Ploughmans platter, Fairtrade cakes and a glass of Fairtrade wine/soft drink. Plus FREE strip of tickets for the GRAND RAFFLE. Teams: Between 4 and 6 people. Prizes: Top 3 teams Bookings: Call Les Cotils on 727793

The Fairtrade Guernsey Schools Art Competition 2013

Calling all budding artists, bring Fairtrade alive through art!! Create an eye-catching work of art to grab peoples attention and to help the Fairtrade Guernsey Steering Group to celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight 2013 and the renewal of Guernseys status as a Fairtrade Island. This years theme is Going Further for Fairtrade in 2013. The competition will be split into the following 4 age categories: 1. 2. 3. 4. Infants age 4-7 incl. Juniors age 8 11 incl. Secondary age 12 15 incl. Seniors age 16 18 incl.

(prizes kindly donated by the Channel Islands Co-operative Society)

We would like students to use their imagination to create a beautiful piece of original, Fairtrade-themed artwork of their choice. This could be; a painting, drawing, collage, piece of sculpture or photograph etc. The key to the competition is to use Fairtrade in Guernsey as the theme. The closing date for the competition will be Friday 8th March and the winning pieces of work will be displayed at Beau Sejour in May, in celebration of World Fairtrade Day on 11th May. This is just a selection of whats going on in the Fortnight..............with we hope lots of our supporters like you holding your own activities and celebrations to mark Fairtrade Fortnight 2013. Please let us know what youre doing by emailing info@fairtradeguernsey.com and well do all we can to help promote.

How far will you go for Fairtrade?

Fairtrade is about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world. By requiring companies to pay sustainable prices (which must never fall lower than the market price), Fairtrade addresses the injustices of conventional trade, which traditionally discriminates against the poorest, weakest producers. 'Before Fairtrade, I worked myself to exhaustion with no gain. Now my three sons are in high school, and I want to continue to sell my coffee at the Fairtrade price so I can provide them with a University education' - Feliciano Lara Santana, coffee farmer, Dominican Republic This year, we want to take Fairtrade further and we need your help!! Together, as part of Make Food Fair well be involved in a UK-wide movement speaking up about the injustices that sees small farmers often struggle to provide for themselves and their families. The campaign is encouraging us to make a difference in our own lives in three ways: by buying Fairtrade, looking for ethical and environmentally sustainable food, and avoiding food waste. Get on board at Enough Food for Everyone If campaign.

STOP PR ES

AUCTION OF GUERNSEY FC AUTOGRAPHED FOOTBALL

A Fairtrade football donated by Mondomundi has been signed by Guernsey FC footballers and is to be sold by silent auction. Bids via email to info@fairtradeguernsey.com or a sealed envelope with your contact details handed in at Mondomundi St Martins, where the ball will be on display until the end of the auction.

Want to get involved?

Do you fancy joining the Fairtrade Guernsey Steering Group? Have you got ideas about what we can do to increase Fairtrade awareness and sales? If so, we would love to hear from you! Drop us an email to info@fairtradeguernsey.com or phone Steve Mauger (Secretary) on 728064.