US finally got its first fair trade town: Media, Pennsylvania.
Media joins about 300 fair trade towns in Europe, which got its first fair trade town back in 2000. The UK alone has 150 fair trade towns –
What’s a fair trade town? “To get Fairtrade status, a village, town, borough, city, zone, county or island has to make a substantial commitment to the promotion and uptake of Fairtrade foods, both at local authority level and in shops and businesses in the community.”
Specifically, Media had to:
- get the local council to pass a resolution supporting fair trade and serve fair trade coffee and tea at meetings and in offices — This happened on June 15, 2006.
- offer a range of fair trade products in area shops and restaurants
- use fair trade products in a number of work places
- get media coverage and popular support for the fair trade campaign
- convene a local fair trade steering committee to ensure continued commitment.
I don’t know much about Media — or how it got on the fair trade ball so quickly, comparatively speaking. Regardless, yey!
Maybe we can make the LA area the US’s first fair trade metropolis –
Update, 9/11/06: A cute article about Media’s fair trade status –
Interesting. Took a while. There is i think 12 in Ireland including the second biggest city cork.
Comment by simon — July 2, 2006 @ 6:53 am
Thanks for the info, Siel :-) Like always…you’re great at this kind of stuff ;-) I didn’t know that there’s such thing as Fair Trade town. I haven’t found it yet in France…or haven’t heard that there are towns in France that are labelled Fair Trade. Maybe I’m just ignorant…
Cool for Media…one leading town! Who’s next?
Comment by Maya — July 2, 2006 @ 9:59 am
simon — Do you know about decsramble?
Thanks Maya :) Not sure about the status of FT towns in France — but maybe you can look into it and illuminate us? :P
Comment by Siel — July 3, 2006 @ 1:12 am
Congratulations to Media!
I just read about a European Parliament plenary session (2006-07-06) in which the European Parliament adopted a resolution on Fair Trade and Development with an overwhelming majority. The text calls on the European Commission to come forward with a recommendation and step up public support for Fair Trade. For example by including Fair Trade as prerequisite in public prodcurement.
See more in this PDF file.
Maybe the whole EU will become Fair Trade one day? Sounds like Utopia …
Comment by johan — July 9, 2006 @ 11:05 am