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Photos from Fairtrade 2010
Launch of Portlaoise as a Fairtrade Town
Portlaoise was awarded the Fairtrade Town status on the 2nd of March at 4.30 p.m, 2007. in the canteen of the Áras an Chontae.
A signed and dated certificate was presented by Peter Gaynor of Fairtrade Mark Ireland to the Town.
Mayor Mr. Brian Stanley, Clare Coleman, Chloe Fitzgibbon, Laura Kearns, Allison Lewis, Laura Moylan, and Aoife Turley signed the certificate which was framed and displayed in the town.
Renwick Rose - the coordinator of the Windward Islands farmers Association (WINFA) an umbrella body that represents national farmers' organization of five Caribbean countries – Dominica, St. Lucia, Granada, Martinique and St. Vincent and the Grenadines was the guest speaker.
What this means to the people of the Windward Islands farmers Association (WINFA).
"Going the Fairtrade coffee route is just a small step for us but we are pleased that it will benefit producers with a fair price."
Get ready , it's coming
(03/Mar/2011)
The people of Portlaoise have over the years showed their commitment to the ideals of Fair Trade. This year let’s get loud and proud about Fair Trade
We can bring about tangible change for communities struggling against poverty and Unfair Trade, by getting more people excited about the difference their choices can make.
Millions of farmers and workers in the developing world are struggling against unfair trade rules, and we can change this by buying fairly traded products. Fairtrade is about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world. Whatever the price of the product on the shelf, only the FAIRTRADE Mark ensures that the producers have received what has been agreed to be a fairer price, as well as the social premiums to invest in the future of their communities.
As a result of the lobbing by the youth and the people we are proud to see that the Town Council have erected signs coming into the town announcing that Portlaoise has been awarded the status of a fair-trade town.
Yet Portlaoise has still some way to go before we can say that 100% of our Coffee Shops or public offices serve Fairly Traded tea and coffee. We the people can change this situation by asking for fairly traded tea and coffee when we next visit. Our supermarkets stock what the customers want so why not demand that fairly traded goods be available on the shelves.
- Cocoa
- Coffee
- Bananas
- Dried Fruit
- Fresh Fruit & Fresh Vegetables
- Honey
- Juices
- Nuts/Oil Seeds
- Wine
- Flowers
- Cotton etc
Many towns and villages have made this change and Portlaoise need not lag behind. Let this year be special e.g. organise an event yourself, or come along to the Parish Centre on the 7th March at 11 am.- where you will be served fair trade coffee etc., and learn more about how you can make a difference.