Ethical options open in Enfield this Christmas

Enfield Council is urging shoppers to help poor farmers and buy Fairtrade products this festive season.

The Christmas clarion call came after the authority officially received Fairtrade status this month.

Councillor Annette Dreblow, chairman of Enfield Fairtrade Steering Group said: “By encouraging Fairtrade, we are not telling Enfield residents what to do, but highlighting the ethical options available to them at little extra cost.

“Becoming a fair trade borough is not just a matter of patting ourselves on the back, saying how wonderful we are, it is about actively encouraging businesses in Enfield to sell fair trade products and making sure the Council itself, looks to source Fairtrade goods.

“By giving a helping hand to farmers from the developing world and encouraging fair trade we enrich our own society and Enfield too. If the world becomes wealthier we all become wealthier for it.”

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. It enables them to improve their position and have more control over their lives.

To achieve Fair Trade status the council had to commit to:

• Serve Fairtrade tea and coffee at its meetings and in its canteens/catering outlets

• To provide evidence that Fairtrade products are available in 38 retail outlets and 19 catering outlets across the borough – may need list

• Fairtrade products are used by a number of local work places and community organisations across the borough – click her e to see list http://www.fairtradeenfield.btik.com/documents/all.ikml

• Encourage positive media coverage and popular support for the campaign

• Establish Fairtrade steering group

This document was last updated on 2008-11-20 13:01:49 published by the Communications team. Document Reference:LBE_133564