We were also selling Fairtrade cakes, chocolate and fruit and raffle tickets for the chance to win a delicious Fairtrade hamper. You can see photos from the day in our slideshow below. Click on any of the slideshow photos to access our online photo album and save individual photos to your desktop.

Find out more about taking a step for Fairtrade on the Fairtrade Foundation’s website – http://step.fairtrade.org.uk/thefairtradestep.

You’ll find our Fairtrade Footstep stall outside Christ the Saviour church from 11.00 am to 3.00 pm.  Fairtrade supporters of all ages welcome – all materials provided. We will also have some Fairtrade samples for you to try and a raffle for a delicious Fairtrade hamper.

What step will you take? Perhaps you could buy a new Fairtrade product, convert your office to Fairtrade tea or coffee, or support your local Fairtrade group with their events. See fairtrade.org.uk/step for lots of fun ideas – leave a comment here to let us know what step you’ll be taking!

Last year’s theme was “Show off your label”, promoting awareness of Fairtrade cotton. See our Events page for a slideshow of photos from our Fairtrade Fortnight 2011 cotton bunting decorating event.

Together the representatives produced this document stressing  the  importance  of  promoting  Fair  Trade  and  fair  procurement  as  an   alternative  model  to  the  conventional  business  model: http://ealingfairtrade.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/UN-Sustainable-Development.pdf.

The British delegation with Ebenezer Adjei, the Fairtrade Officer from Gold Coast Fruit, pineapple company in Ghana.

Due to start in April 2012, Global Xchange will bring together a team of 20 young people from Hounslow in the UK and Zambia in Southern Africa. Take part and you will have the chance to spend six months making a real difference in the lives of disadvantaged people in both communities. This is also a unique opportunity to develop invaluable life skills and gain some amazing experiences.

The final deadline for applications is Tuesday 31st January. See http://www.facebook.com/GX127 for details of how to apply.

“A delicious rich fruit Christmas pudding made with organic Fairtrade ingredients…It has a wonderful aroma and a sweet spicy taste to give your taste buds a tickle.” £7.99 from Oxfam’s Christmas Ethical Collection.

Decorations

Paper star garlands, £3.50 from www.vandevi.co.uk. Vandevi focus on fairly- traded, authentic handcrafted furniture, gifts, home furnishings and accessories.

Fairtrade gloves

Keep warm this Christmas with Fairtrade gloves. “Our range of Alpaca is produced by community groups, mothers’ clubs, workers’ associations and families who live high in the Altiplano of the Andes…Compared to most other fibres, alpaca ages very well, hardly bobbles and needs very little washing.” Bow fingerless gloves £25.00 from Pachacuti.

Fairtrade bobble hat

A Christmassy bobble hat for men. Wear for activities such as ice skating or bringing home the Christmas tree. “Grey woolly beanie with dark pink pom pom. Hand wash only. Hand knitted in 100% wool in Nepal.” £25.00 from People Tree.

T-shirts

SP:UK – www.spunky.co.uk – Trampoline Jesus design, £24.99. Fun, original Fairtrade t-shirts & hoodie designs for men & women. “The cotton is grown in Gujerat in India by an association of cotton farmers called APFCG (Agrocel Pure and Fair Cotton Growers Association). The association has made a big difference to the farmers who have joined. They meet every month and discuss farming issues and what they can do together to make their businesses stronger…The premium paid by Spunky.co.uk enables APFCG to fund projects that benefit the group and wider community. They have included business and agricultural training, drilling bore holes for clean water, improving the local school’s facilities and solar powered lighting.”

Babygrows

Even babies can wear Fairtrade. “Made from our incredibly soft 100% Organic Peruvian cotton. With an envelope neck for easy dressing, poppers on the inside leg, and mid length sleeves to avoid those curious, messy fingers!” £14.99 from www.thepuddingstore.co.uk, who specialise in fairly traded cute baby clothes with ducks, whales, cat burglars, jelly monsters and mousse monsters.

Wine

When all your Christmas shopping’s done, how about sitting back to relax with a nice glass of Fairtrade wine? This case of 6 mixed Fairtrade wines from Argentina, Chile and South Africa costs £48.00 from www.fairgift.co.uk.

See our Links page for more Fairtrade shopping ideas, or visit our Directory page to find out where to buy Fairtrade products in Ealing.

The above photos show two of the delegates meeting Ealing Fairtrade Group over a Fairtrade coffee at Cafe Freddo on Haven Green. Accompanying Paulo Silva, the Mayor of Pocos de Caldas, were three representatives from Sebrae, an organisation which supports the sustainable development of small enterprises in Brazil. Another of their aims in visiting the UK was to make links with universities, as they are trying to set up an international students’ network, so they were especially pleased to meet Gemma McNamara, a post-graduate student at Uni of West London and member of Ealing Fairtrade Group.

The Mayor of Pocos de Caldas, Brazil, meeting the Mayor of Ealing at Ealing Town Hall

Many thanks to our Brazilian visitors for coming such a long way to see us!

The conference gathered over 200 representatives from the world’s 1000 Fair Trade Towns.

The conference, hosted by the City of Malmö and Fairtrade Sweden, presented a wide program of  seminars and workshops on such issues as public procurement, local engagement, working with schools and creating links between producers and consumers. 25 countries were represented at the conference.

According to Jackie “It was an inspirational two days.  As well as people from many European countries, we met delegates from Japan, the U.S. and Brazil, and it was fascinating to hear how the Fairtrade Town movement is developing around the world.  We have come back full of ideas for ways to promote Fairtrade in the UK, London and England. Particularly interesting were the talks by Joyce Kaminja, a coffee producer from Kenya, Enbenezer Adjei, who grows pineapples in Ghana, and Walter Alifo, representing the first Fairtrade Town in Ghana (this is the first Fairtrade Town to be declared in a “producer” rather than a “consumer” country).

Jackie Whitaker with Joyce, a coffee producer from Ghana

The conference closed with a very emotional speech by Bruce Crowther, who started the whole movement when he declared his home town  of Garstang a Fairtrade Town in 2001.

If you are interested in hearing more about the conference, please come to our Steering Group meeting on December 8^th at Ealing Council’s Perceval House, 14/16 Uxbridge Road, Ealing W5 2HL. Please contact Jackie Whitaker at info@ealingfairtrade.org.uk to let us know if you are planning to attend a meeting, in case we have to change the date at the last moment.

The British delegation with Ebenezer Adjei the Fairtrade Officer from Gold Coast Fruit, pineapple company in Ghana

The British delegation launching a campaign for Fairtrade Rugby balls to be used at the next Rugby World Cup

Ealing Fairtrade Group volunteer Shakuntla Joshi helping promote a Fairtrade rugby ball campaign

Jackie Whitaker with Emma of Fairtrade Sweden

Ealing Fairtrade Group's Fairtrade cotton teatowel and bunting on display

Fairtrade cotton t-shirts and bags

More photos from the conference can be found at http://www.mynewsdesk.com/se/pressroom/malmo/image/view/5th-fair-trade-towns-conference-malmoe-november-2011-102748; some videos of the speeches are at http://bambuser.com/channel/Fairtrade.se.