Partners
Our partners for Ethical Expo 08 are Christian Aid, The Fairtrade Foundation and
Oxfam.
Christian Aid
Why is Christian Aid supporting Ethical Expo?
Christian Aid is part of a global movement of people taking action to tackle poverty. We want as many people as possible to be informed, inspired and equipped to take practical action to combat poverty and to be a part of the movement. That’s why we are delighted to support Ethical Expo.
Every single day 30,000 children die from the effects of poverty – that’s one every three seconds. Christian Aid believes this is a scandal and is working to bring about change.
We do this by delivering real, practical benefits on the ground - working where the need is greatest in nearly 50 countries, regardless of ethnicity, nationality or religion, to meet suffering and stop poverty – whether through providing emergency relief or long-term development.
But we also bring about change by challenging the structures that keep people poor. We do not believe that poverty is natural or inevitable. There are man-made causes of poverty like debt, unfair trade rules and climate change. That’s why we campaign and help build alternative models: Christian Aid helped set up the Fairtrade Foundation and is actively involved in campaigning on trade justice and climate change.
Two hundred years ago the slave trade was abolished in the United Kingdom – because ordinary people believed the status quo was wrong and decided to work for change. It was a long, difficult battle; the abolitionists met with opposition, ridicule and disinterest. But they persisted, there was a cultural shift and the world was changed forever. We need a similar shift in perception today – with people informed and equipped to take practical action to tackle global poverty and its causes. Ethical Expo is a great way of helping do this.
The Fairtrade Foundation
The Fairtrade Foundation was established in 1992 by CAFOD, Christian Aid, New Consumer, Oxfam, Traidcraft and the World Development Movement. These founding organisations were later joined by Britain's largest women's organisation, the Women’s Institute.
The Foundation is the UK member of Fairtrade Labeling International (FLO), which unites 21 national initiatives across Europe, Japan, North America, Mexico and Australia/New Zealand.
The Foundation licenses the FAIRTRADE Mark, to products which meet internationally recognised standards. The supplier (brand-owner or main national distributor) must sign the Foundation’s Licence Agreement which provides a licence to use the Mark. Licensees are independently audited.
Our primary communication aims are to raise awareness of the FAIRTRADE Mark, to deepen understanding of the Mark and to increase sales of Fairtrade certified products. In conjunction with its partners in FLO, the Foundation works to introduce new Fairtrade products and to update the standards for existing products to ensure that the benefits to producers are maximised.
Oxfam
Oxfam works with others to overcome poverty and suffering. We are an independent organisation, registered as a charity, affiliated to Oxfam International, with partners, volunteers, supporters and staff of many nationalities – part of a global movement to build a just and safer world.
We believe that people everywhere have a right to security, freedom from harm and a sustainable livelihood. Which is why Fairtrade and the campaign against unfair trade have been a big part of our work.
So we are delighted to support Ethical Expo ’08, which will bring ethical choices to a wider public. There are many ways we can act for fairer trade – one of these is by directly voting with our wallets. The fight against unfair trade can be fun and even indulgent – think on that next time you tuck in to a delicious Fairtrade chocolate cake!
Oxfam and Fairtrade
Oxfam was one of the pioneers of Fairtrade more than 40 years ago when it sold crafts made by Chinese refugees in Oxfam shops. It has been involved in its successful growth ever since. Like Christian Aid and other charities, Oxfam helped set up the Fairtrade Foundation in the UK 1992. Oxfam also helped to set up Cafedirect in 1991 - now one of the most successful Fairtrade companies.
Oxfam’s work to promote ethical trade and consumerism spans three areas:
Projects: Oxfam worked with coffee-growers in Honduras to set up a growers’ co-operative and a coffee company, Progreso, which sells direct to consumers in the UK. Oxfam has worked on many Fairtrade projects over the years.
Campaigning: with the Make Trade Fair campaign Oxfam pushed unfair trade onto the agenda. Celebrities such as Chris Martin of Coldplay put their names to our campaign against dumping of cheap subsidised goods in poor countries.
In 2007 we successfully lobbied Starbucks, with the support of thousands of Oxfam activists, to allow Ethiopia to take ownership of their own fine coffee varieties, enabling farmers to earn a fair price for their product. Oxfam continues to campaign against unfair trade and is a member of the Trade Justice Movement.
Selling: Oxfam sells Fairtrade certified products in its shops. Oxfam shops are also pioneers of recycling and ethical shopping - buying in charity shops helps to cut your carbon footprint. Lots of Oxfam shops now sell eco-products too – they’re a one-stop eco shop!
To find out more about Oxfam’s work on trade and Fairtrade visit: www.oxfam.org.uk
www.maketradefair.com