As part of the campaign to make Islington a Fairtrade Borough, Islington Council is asking our pubs, bars, restaurants, off-licences and other alcohol retailers to stock Fairtrade wines.<br><br>Islington’s Fairtrade Steering Committee is hosting a Fairtrade Wine Tasting evening for these businesses at the Town Hall on Wednesday 9 November, 6.30pm–8.30pm.<br><br>Managers, owners or buyers for businesses which sell or serve alcohol are invited to taste-test a range of Fairtrade beverages including wines from South Africa, rum from Paraguay as well as Fairtrade mead and ginger wine.<br><br>They will also have the chance to meet Fairtrade suppliers including Vintage Roots (www.vintageroots.com) and Friarwood (www.friarwood.com).<br><br>Islington’s campaign to become a Fairtrade Borough is being led by its community-led Fairtrade Steering Committee. The Fairtrade Town (or borough, city or zone) initiative was set up by the Fairtrade Foundation to encourage support for the FAIRTRADE Mark. <br><br>Products with the FAIRTRADE Mark give growers and producers in poorer countries fair and stable prices for their products and the security of a long-term trading relationship. It also means workers receive decent wages, the right to join trade unions, and minimum health and safety standards, as well as improvements to their communities and the environment.<br><br>Councillor Bridget Fox, Executive Member for Sustainability (and member of the Islington Fairtrade Steering Committee), said: “As Christmas approaches, I hope people will think about how Fairtrade can help spread goodwill. <br><br>Choosing Fairtrade products when shopping, whether that be wine or any of the huge range of products available, is an easy way to make a difference to the lives of people in developing countries. <br><br>It is important that Islington’s shops and licensed businesses help by stocking as many Fairtrade products as possible so it is easy for people to make the ethical choice and buy Fairtrade.”<br><br>The Wine Tasting event will also include a free raffle to win a case of Fairtrade wine. Businesses which are unable to attend the event can still enter by posting their business card to Dave Sharp, Strategic Procurement, Islington Council, Town Hall, Upper Street, N1 2UD.<br><br>For more information see www.islington.gov.uk/fairtrade or contact Dave Sharp at Islington Council on 020 7527 3131 or dave.sharp@islington.gov.uk.<br><br><br>Editor’s Notes:<br><br>The five goals for a Fairtrade Town<br><br>To become a Fairtrade Town (or borough), an area must achieve the following five goals:<br><br>Goal 1: The local council must pass a resolution supporting Fairtrade, and serve Fairtrade coffee and tea at its meetings and in offices and canteens<br><br>Islington Council passed a resolution in support of Fairtrade in January 2004 and since then has been progressively introducing Fairtrade tea, coffee and sugar throughout all council offices.<br><br>The council has also been contributing to the Fairtrade Borough campaign by providing a meeting venue and support for the Islington Fairtrade Steering Committee (see Goal 5 below). <br><br>Goal 2: 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)<br><br>Islington has lots of shops and catering businesses which sell or serve Fairtrade products (see the Islington Fairtrade Directory on www.islington.gov.uk/fairtrade), but we need to keep increasing the number so that Fairtrade products are easily available.<br><br>Goal 3: Fairtrade products must be used by a number of local workplaces and community organisations (churches, community groups, schools, universities, etc)<br><br>Many organisations use Fairtrade products (i.e. catering supplies) but we need people to tell us about them. Organisations will be listed on the www.islington.gov.uk/fairtrade website to encourage other organisations to support Fairtrade.<br><br>Goal 4: The council must attract popular support for the campaign<br><br>The council has been actively promoting Fairtrade by holding a series of promotional events, attracting media coverage and producing promotional materials such as posters, brochures and a website (www.islington.gov.uk/fairtrade). <br><br>Goal 5: A local Fairtrade steering group must be convened to ensure continued commitment to Fairtrade Town status<br><br>Islington’s Fairtrade Steering Committee has been meeting regularly since mid-2005. Its members are committed to Fairtrade and voluntarily give up their time to help promote it.<br>The committee includes residents and representatives from local businesses and organisations, along with several council officers who provide support for the committee and its activities.<br>New members are always welcome. Meetings are held the first Wednesday of the month at the Town Hall, from 6pm to 7pm.
Page Last Updated: 17 December 2009