We are delighted to announce that Banana producer representative Alexis Palacios from Colombia will launch the Westminster Diocesan Fairtrade Fortnight celebration on Saturday March 1st at Holy Apostles Pimlico church.
The Fairtrade Foundation campaign this year seeks to make all 760,000 tonnes of bananas in the UK Fairtrade. Westminster Justice and Peace meanwhile is trying to persuade all the diocesan parishes to register with Fairtrade, to give the message that they want trade justice for banana growers and all other workers and producers in less developed countries.
This great Fairtrade Fortnight occasion, chaired by Bishop John Arnold, will celebrate the 85 or so Westminster parishes signed up so far, more than any other Catholic diocese in England and Wales. To be a Fairtrade diocese we need another 20 or so parishes to sign up. There will be a chance to find out how to do this and to obtain our new ‘Fairtrade Spoons’ campaign resource.
As well as meeting Alexis Palacios, parish promoters will hear from Bishop John, Chair of CAFOD, as to why CAFOD supports Fairtrade, from Sophi Tranchell, managing director of Divine Chocolate and Chair of Fairtrade London, and from Mike Gidney, Executive Director of the Fairtrade Foundation, who will explain the importance of Fairtrade to global trade justice.
Holy Apostles Justice and Peace group will offer a ‘blind tasting’ of Fairtrade and other teas and coffees, to check whether we can really tell the difference!
All are welcome at this free event, but please book as places are limited (see Events page for on-line registration).
