Fairtrade Fortnight in Great Britain

Two billion people still survive on less than $ 2 a day, according to the Fairtrade Foundation, and unfair trade rules keep them in poverty. Those people also face the global challenges of food shortages and climate change. Fairtrade aims to tip the balance of trade in favour of poor producers. The Fairtrade Foundation is holding a large event to raise awareness from February 23 to March 8. The Fairtrade Fortnight started with the launch event on February 22 - the Family Sports Day with a difference in London.

A further event is the “Go bananas for Fairtrade”. The foundation calls on everyone to just eat one Fairtrade banana from noon 6 March to noon 7 March to be part of the world’s biggest banana event. The Fairtrade Foundation, along with its member organisations including the World Development Movement, Traidcraft, Oxfam and Christian Aid, is also organising a series of debates across the UK during the Fortnight. At these events, Fairtrade experts, politicians, commentators, business people and NGO representatives will debate issues around ethical consumerism, fair trade versus free trade, climate change, trade justice and the future of Fairtrade.
 

The Fairtrade Fortnight Awards recognise some of the amazing work of campaigners and supporters during the Fortnight. And this year, for the first time ever and thanks to Shared Interest Foundation, there are cash prizes available to re-invest in the campaigns. The categories for entries are as follows: Best Outreach and Networking, Best Media Campaign, Most Imaginative Campaign, Best Fairtrade Banana Activity, Outstanding Achievement Award, Best Fairtrade Fortnight Image and Award for the best Fairtrade Fortnight event in a school. 
 

A full list of events by term and postcode is available here: http://www.fairtrade.org.uk