Fairtrade Fortnight
This year’s Fairtrade Fortnight campaign (22 Sept – 5 Oct) from the Fairtrade Foundation is Brew it Fair.
“The people growing our tea deserve to be able to live with dignity. To be safe at work and to earn enough money to pay for food for their families and send their children to school. When I drink a cup of tea with the women in my village, I want to know that the woman picking that tea has worked in a safe environment and has been paid a fair wage.
This is why Fairtrade has launched its ‘Brew it Fair’ campaign. We need transformational change in the tea sector, with tea workers, industry, governments and NGOs working together so that the people behind the tea we drink can live decent lives. At Fairtrade, we will also be evolving our work on tea, so we can take our own impact to scale.”
Dr. Nyagoy Nyong’o, Fairtrade Foundation’s Chair of Trustees
The Fairtrade Foundation is asking for support in a few ways this Fairtrade Fortnight to help achieve the goal of the Brew it Fair campaign.
- Sign a petition to ask the UK Government to Brew it Fair
- Email your MP to ask them to act
- Read the report Brew it Fair
- Hold your own tea party and share your event with others
Burst the Bubble of Unfair Tea
At Scottish Fair Trade, in support of the Brew it Fair campaign, we’re bursting the bubble on unfair tea! We’ll be spreading awareness of how unfair the tea industry is today.
Taken from the Brew it Fair report:
The price of an average tea bag today is around just two or three pence, but behind that cup, the cost to grow and pick the tea we drink is increasing.
Tea sold with the Fairtrade Mark has achieved important impact over the years, supporting over 330,000 people in tea growing communities across 11 countries to address their biggest challenges. Fairtrade tea farmers and workers have earned £50 million in Fairtrade Premium through sales of Fairtrade tea in the UK over the last 30 years.
A small number of companies dominate the tea industry from crop to cup. But, despite high levels of unstable work, low incomes and wages, gender discrimination and unsafe working conditions, most businesses are still not taking responsibility for the impact their purchasing practices have on the people in their supply chains.
Urgent action is needed and the simple act of choosing Fairtrade tea has a significant impact on the people behind the product. And, while this action alone will not address all of the challenges that the people behind the tea we drink face, we must never underestimate the power we hold as consumers and as citizens who can encourage the UK government to take action and push for changes that hold businesses accountable.
Hold a Bubble Tea Stall
We’re working with Fair Trade groups, communities, colleges and universities to organise bubble tea stalls that will attract younger people. While tasting a delicious cup of free Fairtrade bubble tea, stallholders will chat about the current state of the tea industry and what that means in reality for workers. And about the difference choosing Fairtrade Mark tea makes to everyone along the supply chain.
We’ll also be supporting the Fairtrade Foundation’s asks around engaging MPs in the campaign.
We’re giving away bubble tea signs (A2 size), a selfie frame and stickers & postcards to hand out.
Find our guides on holding a bubble tea stall for groups & communities or for colleges & unis.
If you’re not able to run your own stall, why not pop along to:
Buchanan High School, Coatbridge on Wednesday 24 September.
Co-op store event Thursday 25th September 10-12 noon at Co-op Anstruther, and at Co-op Carnoustie on Friday 3rd October 11-1pm.
Aberdeen University Students’ Union on 25 September, at Students’ Union Building, Elphinstone Road Old Aberdeen AB24 3TU
The University of St Andrews on Friday 26 September at St Marys Pl, St Andrews KY16 9UY.
The University of Glasgow. More info to follow.
At Gavin’s Mill Fairtrade Fortnight celebration on Saturday 4 October at Gavin’s Mill Road, Milngavie, G62 6NB.
At the University of Strathclyde on Wednesday 5 November. Details to follow.
More events to follow.
If you’re interested in running your own stall, please email catherine@scottishfairtrade.org.
Hold an Afternoon Tea Party
If you’d prefer to hold a more traditional tea party, head over to True Origin as they’ve put together a delicious deal on an afternoon tea bundle!
