Visit the site
www.oxfam.org.au and check out the Fairtrade news.
What is Fairtrade?
“Fairtrade provides a labelling system to ensure minimum standards are met and that farmers rights and their families’ welfare is respected. Purchasing fairtrade products has short and long term benefits. importantly, your Fairtrade purchase means:
1. A fair minimum price for farmers - that enables them to have food, shelter, health care and education for them and their families.
2. Coffee farmers receive a Fairtrade premium of 28 cents a kg that is spent on community development projects - such things as improved health services, schools and training.
3. Improvements in sustainable farming practices
4. Access to low-cost credit and technical assistance.”
OxFam Australia - 132 Leicester St. Carlton, Victoria
Add your thoughts.
****************************************
Farmers from all over the world, are being underpaid for their produce. Most of these farmers use traditional methods to grow their products. Fairtrade means that the farmers get a fair price for their products. The extra money covers the cost of production and allows them to develop their farms and update equipment. It also allows the communities to build better roads, pay school fees and generally make their lives more sustainable. The farmers can’t live a good life with unfair prices and they deserve to live a little easier. The farmers want to reinvest their money and be happy like everyone else. So all you companies out there - please pay THE FAIR PRICE!
George (12 years old)
****************************************************
On Thursday the 8th of May, staff at our school held a Fairtrade morning tea. The staff drank Fairtrade tea and coffee and showed the 4 minute DVD about Fairtrade, to their classes. Some students in our class made posters advertising the Fairtrade brand and these are on display in our canteen. Other students, like George (above) wrote their thoughts about Fairtrade and the great work it does. We enjoyed the smell of the coffee brewing so much, that we now have a permanent couple of plungers in our staff room, so thanks Oxfam - what a great idea it was to run a Fairtrade fortnight!
