Choose the World you want this Fairtrade Fortnight February 22nd – March 7th 2021
The COVID -19 pandemic has shown us more than ever how interconnected we are globally. This interconnection is at the heart of the Fairtrade message and is where our role begins.
We can all see the effects of climate change. Just over 5 years ago Lancaster and District was devastated by floods and only last August people in Hala were evacuated as Burrow Beck flooded the surrounding area after torrential rain and thunder storms. Climate change brings increasing challenges to us all, including our farmers, but even more so to the farmers and workers in the communities with whom Fairtrade works.
The facts are straightforward. Farmers and workers in the global south, who have done the least to contribute to climate change are disproportionately affected. The climate crisis is an immediate and ever- increasing threat and those in climate vulnerable countries are already seeing its impact from droughts and crop disease to floods, heatwaves and shrinking harvests. Low prices for their crops mean that they are struggling to fight back but with more money through Fairtrade they are better equipped to meet their everyday needs and the challenges posed by climate change.
There is some good news. The sales of Fairtrade food increased by 14% in October 2020 when compared to October 2019.
This post, written by Margaret Rand, contains information from Fairtrade Foundation (www.fairtrade.org.uk) and the Coop.
