WELLS-NEXT-THE-SEA

A FAIRTRADE TOWN

World Fairtrade Day

10th May 2008

What Is World Fair Trade Day?

World Fair Trade Day is an international celebration of Fair Trade internationally, with events organised worldwide. On and around the second Saturday of May every year, IFAT member organisations based in 70 countries, along with Fair Trade shops and networks, host events including Fair Trade breakfasts, talks, music concerts, fashion shows and much more, to promote Fair Trade and campaign for justice in trade. Fair Trade products from marginalised communities in the majority world, including coffee and tea, clothes, jewellery and beautiful handicrafts will be showcased on this day. Many events continue throughout the month of May.

World Fair Trade Day started as a European movement of over 2,000 World Shops (Fair Trade shops), working together through NEWS! Movements to celebrate the same day and campaign for Fair Trade in Japan and the US joined them. "World Fair Trade Day" was initiated by Safia Minney, founder of People Tree, and adopted by IFAT and its members at the 2001 Full Meeting, to promote stronger global awareness of Fair Trade, and this day has been raising its profile ever since.

This Year's Theme - Fair Trade and Ecology

Fair Trade is a force for protecting the environment while promoting sustainable development. Fair Trade favours the sustainable use of natural resources and production methods that are not capital and oil intensive, favouring hand production and organic agriculture - to reduce the carbon footprint. Because Fair Trade is committed to paying a living wage and works in long-term partnerships, it enables producer partners to invest in environmentally friendly production. In turn, these initiatives promote environmental awareness locally and internationally.

WAFT

(Wells Action for Fair-Trade)

Wells-next-the-Sea is a small, thriving, coastal, town on the North Norfolk coast of Norfolk.

In 2004 a letter of support was received from Wells Town Council. This was the beginning of the campaign to achieve Fairtrade status. The steering group decided to adopt the following title:- WAFT (Wells Action for Fair-Trade). Early in 2007 Wells-next-the-Sea was awarded Fairtrade status. During this time WAFT members worked steadily towards achieving the five goals set out the the Fairtrade Foundation to achieve Fairtrade Town status.

• The local council must pass a resolution supporting Fairtrade.

• A range of Fairtrade products must be readily available in the area's shops and served in local cafés and catering establishments. (targets are set in relation to population)

• Fairtrade products must be used by a number of local work places (estate agents, hairdressers etc) and community. organisations (churches, schools etc)

• Attract media coverage and popular support for the campaign. (The certificate recognising this is now displayed in the town library.)
  
  
• A local Fairtrade steering group must be convened to ensure continued commitment to Fairtrade Town status.

Fairtrade Fortnight in Wells

There was a chance to sample the growing number of Fairtrade foods available in Wells on the two Saturdays of Fairtrade Fornight as Wells Action for Fair Trade (WAFT members manned a stall in Staithe Street.

Wells W.I. marked Fairtrade Fortnight by serving an array of homemade cakes, all baked with Fairtrade ingredients at their coffee morning, which raised funds for the East Anglian Air Ambulance.

There was also a Fairtrade Exhibition in Wells Library, Station Road, Wells from Monday 25th until Saturday 8th February.

After an introduction to Fairtrade, Year 5 pupils at Wells Primary and Nursery School had a Fairtrade task as part of their homework.

Below are a few of the poems written by the children and some photographs of WAFT events.

Fairtrade

Fairtrade helps people on their way
Fairtrade gives people places to stay

Fairtrade gives water to quench the
thirst of your son and daughter

Fairtrade makes a better life
Puts a smile on your lovely wife

Fairtrade helps those in need
It stops thirst and greed

It takes away suffering and sadness
It fills your heart with joy and gladness

If I can help, so can you!
Support Fairtrade.

Lola

Fairtrade

Fairtrade helps farmers far away
To plant new crops
To fill our shops.
It buys them new tools
It helps build schools

Luke

Fairtrade

Do you know what Fairtrade means?
Things like chocolate, teabags, coffee and beans
All these things have a Fairtrade sticker
People who sell them get paid fair and quicker
Across the world people rely
On you and us their goods to buy
So do your part in this day and age
So families across the world will get a decent wage

Fletcher