Australia’s biggest celebration of everything fair trade, Fair Trade Fortnight 2011, begins tomorrow and will give Australians the opportunity to understand more about how the fair trade system benefits those in developing countries, says Oxfam Australia.
Among keynote events, Oxfam Australia and the Fairtrade Association of Australia and New Zealand have teamed up to host a Fairtrade-certified Sri Lankan tea producer, to help raise awareness of how producers in developing countries are benefiting from Fairtrade.
Mr Senarath Yatigammana from Bio Foods will visit Sydney, Melbourne, Launceston and Adelaide as part of his visit, speaking at a range of public events.
“Fair Trade Fortnight celebrates and promotes fair trade: paying a fair price to farmers and artisans in developing countries and improving working conditions, to help lift producers and their communities out of poverty,” said Oxfam’s Director of Trading, Nadine Silverberg.
Oxfam is a long-term supporter of fair trade, and our retail network around Australia sells a wide range of fair trade products from around the world.
“From delicious Fairtade tea, coffee and chocolate to hand-crafted fair trade kitchenware and homewares from community artisans in developing countries, the fair trade products in our shops offer a tangible and convenient way for Australians to make the world a fairer place through their everyday purchases,” Ms Silverberg said.
Fair Trade Fortnight 2011 will be launched in Sydney today and runs from May 7-22. Follow Senarath’s tour, as well as that of a fair trade craft producer from Minka in Peru, whose products are also available in Oxfam’s shops), including interactive live webchats, at www.fairtradefortnight.com.
Oxfam’s shops sell products from more than 60 fair trade producer groups in around 30 countries, working with them to improve the livelihoods of thousands of producers and their communities.
PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: Fairtrade tea producer Senarath Yatigammana and fair trade craft producer Cecilia Granadino at the launch of Fair Trade Fortnight 2011, 2pm-2:45pm today at The Apprentice Restaurant, Level 7, Building E, 695-731 Harris St, Ultimo 2007.
For interviews with Senarath Yatigammana or Nadine Silverberg, please contact Raina Hunter on 0402 145 820.
Comments are closed.