Fairtrade Fortnight 2009 (23rd February - 8th March)
The theme for Fairtrade Fortnight this year is 'Make it Happen – Choose Fairtrade'
Fairer trade is still an imperative for millions of people in developing countries. It is as much an imperative in recessionary times – when prices paid to producers are likely to fall – as in the good times. It will be more challenging in Ireland to promote Fairtrade in the current economic climate – but many of the products don’t necessarily cost any more than traditional products and there will also be opportunities to get more companies to make their own corporate decisions to support Fairtrade.
Some activities during the Fortnight will include:
- Producer visits to Fairtrade cities and towns, north and south
- The Go Bananas world record banana eating challenge
- Public talks and forums
Producers visiting Ireland during Fairtrade Fortnight 2009 are:
- Wilbert Valverde from the COOPEAGRI co-operative which represents 12,000 small coffee and sugar cane producers in southern Costa Rica
- John Nuwagaba, general manager of Ankole Coffee Producers' Cooperative Union (ACPCU) in Uganda
- Nasser Abufarha from Palestine who will be launching the Zaytoun Fairtrade Olive Oil and Olive range
- Emiliana Aligaesha, a retired schoolteacher in Tanzania who grows coffee for the Karagwe District Co-operative Union (KDCU), a Cafédirect partner.
Go Bananas
Fairtrade Fortnight 2009 concludes with the Go Bananas world banana eating record attempt from 12 noon on Friday 7 March to 12 noon on Saturday 8 March.
This initiative will see campaign groups nationwide munching their way through Fairtrade bananas as part of an international attempt to break the world record for simultaneous banana eating.
For more information about the Fortnight and how you can get involved see: www.fairtrade.ie/index.php?id=27