Type=image;ImageID=9111;ImageClass=left;ImageTitle=Fairtrade Fortnight;TitleClass=strong;
Fairtrade Fortnight is the Fairtrade Foundation's campaign to highlight the severe lack of food security for farmers around the world.
The theme of this year's campaign is 'Sit Down For Breakfast, Stand Up For Farmers' and aims to bring together shoppers, campaigners and businesses to take action in support of the farmers who grow the food we have every morning, such as coffee, tea, cocoa and bananas.
As Martin Luther King famously said, 'before you finish eating breakfast in the morning, you've depended on more than half the world'.
The specially prepared Fairtrade breakfast selection, available to purchase by staff and visitors to the Civic Centre during Fairtrade Fortnight, includes porridge naturally sweetened with Fairtrade products such as honey or raisins, Fairtrade Granola, a selection of Fairtrade juices and fruit.
Sehdev Bismal MBE, Chair of the Wolverhampton Fairtrade Partnership said: "The people who grow the food we take for granted can't always feed their own families. We can support farmers and workers to put food on the table for their families by harnessing the power of a Fairtrade breakfast. Everyone can support Fairtrade by looking out for and buying Fairtrade produce - so that farmers and workers behind our products can feel secure, knowing they can feed their families, all year round."
Wolverhampton celebrated 10 years of Fairtrade City status in 2014 and at the end of 2015 the Partnership was awarded second place in best outreach and networking category at the annual Fairtrade Campaign Awards in recognition of its commitment to raising awareness about the principles and values of Fairtrade in the local community.
Councillor Roger Lawrence, City of Wolverhampton Council Leader, said: "Despite our dependence on farmers and workers for the foods, drinks and products that we love, about 795 million people are undernourished globally. The City of Wolverhampton has been recognised by the Fairtrade Foundation as a Fairtrade City for over 10 years now, thanks to the activities of residents and the commitment of the Wolverhampton Fairtrade Partnership who do their utmost to engage everyone in support of this worthy cause. The city council is proud to be a member of that partnership as it moves into its second decade."
To celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight, the Partnership has organised a unique opportunity for people to hear from Sheena Biju, a Faitrade coffee and spice producer and manager of a coffee co-operative in Kerala, India. Sheena will share with everyone how Fairtrade has made a difference to her life.
An Evening with Sheena takes place on Tuesday 8 March at Beckminster Methodist Church, Birches Barn Road, Wolverhampton, WV3 7BQ, at 7.30pm. Refreshments will be served from 7pm. Everyone is welcome.
There will be ample parking available at the church and neighbouring Beckminster House. If you're travelling by bus: No 2 West Midlands Service, leaving bus station, Stand M at 7pm, via Art Gallery and Victoria Street, arriving at 7.09pm.
For further information about Fairtrade Fortnight and how to get involved, visit the Fairtrade Foundation Type=links;Linkid=6978;Title=website;Target=_blank;.
Caption: (l-r) Back row: Rick Bravery, Council Sustainability Officer and Debbie Edwards, Civic Centre Catering Manager. Front row: Barbara Gwinnett, Vice Chair of the Wolverhampton Fairtrade Partnership, Council Managing Director Keith Ireland, Council Leader Councillor Roger Lawrence, and Sehdev Bismal, Chair of the Wolverhampton Fairtrade Partnership
- released: Monday 29 February, 2016