Fairtrade flourishes on Arran

We’re well used now to the Fairtrade label on bananas, and to the principle that underlies it. The first Fairtrade Fortnight was promoted in the Voice in 2008, and it’s a matter of quiet pride to all of us that Arran declared itself a Fairtrade island. We take it for granted that the people who work so hard to produce the food we eat should earn a proper living from doing so – but there is always more to be done.

This year, Fairtrade Fortnight began on February 27th, so it has a further ten days to run. The theme is ‘Take a Step – Make a Change’ and picks up the fact that every small thing we can do makes a difference. Children will be writing poems, to be displayed on boards at the High School, and there is to be a Fairtrade fashion show at Easter.

The Co – op was the first supermarket to support Fairtrade, and this year, for the fifth time, it will be hosting a Prize Draw, with a massive Fairtrade hamper as a prize, including fairly traded wine and chocolates. The Scouts will be doing their International Awareness badge, and will be present at the Co – op event.

There is quite a history of activity building up behind Arran’s Fairtrade movement now. Nobody will forget the Big Banana that appeared in 2009, or last year’s strings of bunting made by children, or Marvin Elliott’s marvellous chainsaw carving. Much more lies ahead.

The Fairtrade AGM takes place on Thursday 22nd March at 7.30 in the Ormidale Pavilion, and all are welcome. It will be a social event, with cheese and Fairtrade chocolate and wine, and Jan MacGregor will give a talk about her Fairtrade journey to Peru to meet the makers of some of the lovely imported goods that add such colour and flavour to our lives. Please come!

For more about Fairtrade Fortnight, see www.fairtradefoundation.com