What is Fair Trade?
Fairtrade is a social movement whose stated goal is to help producers in developing countries achieve better trading conditions and to promote sustainability. Members of the movement advocate the payment of higher prices to exporters, as well as improved social and environmental standards. Here at Sidcot, we believe in incorporating qualities such as fairness and feel that making Sidcot a Fairtrade school would be a step in the right direction. In Monday’s assembly, we talked a bit about Fairtrade and how much it can help those working in impoverished conditions such as in the Dominican Republic or Bangladesh, where there is extensive use of child labour in force. We believe Sidcot can improve through supporting use of Fairtrade products, not just for the individuals here, but also for those working hard for the products which we might just take for granted.
Fairtrade fortnight runs from 29 February until 13 March and we hope to celebrate this with a series of events such as a visit to the Fair Trade conference on 2 March and campaigns by the newly-formed Fair Trade Committee to raise awareness of Fair Trade in school.
Marcell Szappanos
Lower Sixth Student
More about FairTrade Fortnight