MAKE FAIR TRADE YOUR HABIT!

12.28.30pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 7th Mar 2006

Sharon Bowles MEP celebrating Edenbridge in Kent acheiving Fair Trade Town status

Liberal Democrat MEP Sharon Bowles is urging everyone in the South East to get involved in 'Fairtrade fortnight', which started on Monday 6th March.

The theme of the fortnight is "make fair trade your habit," encouraging people to buy the products with this logo as a matter of course.

Sharon Bowles says:

"The Fairtrade system ensures a decent income for millions of small producers in the developing world, by buying direct from farmers at good prices. A fair global trading system is the best way to eradicate poverty."

"Fairtrade is already successful. Products made from fair trade cotton recently came onto the market. This is very exciting and shows real progress is being made, but there is lots of potential for growth. With over 1000 fairtrade products now available, why not try something next time you go shopping, such as fairtrade flowers or a fairtrade football?"

"As a result of lobbying by MEPs including me, the European Parliament in Brussels uses fairtrade tea, coffee, wine, chocolate and bananas in its catering, but I hope this will soon be extended even further."

"I wholeheartedly congratulate the towns across the region that have already embraced fair trade and have consequently become recognised Fairtrade Towns. Sevenoaks is the latest town in the South East that I know of to be awarded this status and I would encourage any town thinking of joining up to do so."

"If we each do our bit, small or large, it will make a huge difference to those living in poverty."

Ends

Note to editors:-

Note: for more information on how you can get involved with Fairtrade fortnight events, please get in touch with the Fairtrade Foundation. www.fairtrade.org.uk or for a full list of Fair Trade towns, visit http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/downloads/pdf/Fairtrade_%20towns_list.pdf