Photo: Ian Palmer

The magnificent 3 metre square banner of the world-wide International Fair trade Association [IFAT] was in Bradford on Sunday 22 and Monday 23 April. It had visited 47 countries and attracted vast crowds in Africa, Asia, and the Americas. The banner symbolises the global movement of Fairtrade producers and retailers. Since Bradford has been a Fairtrade Zone since 2006, the banner came here on its journey through cities in Britain. It brought a fair trade message which had been read out to thousands in 17 languages. It was read out six times at key fair trade locations in Bradford.

On Sunday 22 April at the Methodist Church, Newton Way, Baildon a Fair trade, not slave trade service was held, bringing together the celebrations of the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade in the British Empire and the bounding success since then of fair trade. Then it was borne ceremonially to Baildon Coop, a flagship retailer for Fairtrade Baildon, where it was received by the manager.

The banner next went to Haworth Fairtrade village; to the accompaniment of Morris Dancers, djembe drummers and a brass band it was carried noisily down Main Street to Haworth Station where it took a journey on the Fairtrade Haworth and Worth Valley Railway. It was filmed with a fair trade steam locomotive. For photographs of this colourful event please go to the Haworth Village website.

Cocoa Farmers from Ghana Joining Joanne Harris in Haworth for Evening of Fairtrade and ‘Chocolat’

The Chocolat evening on the 5th March is now complete. Not only do you get the film and Joanne Harris but also two Ghanaian Cocoa farmers, Anna Awere and Veronica Mintah are able to join us. They are visiting a number of places during Fairtrade Fortnight and we are delighted that they will be able to join us to give us a different perspective on what Fairtrade really means for commodity producers.

Demand for tickets has been very high and sadly for those without one the evening is completely sold out.

Haworth Fairtrade Group invite you to celebrate our 6th year as a Fairtrade Village with ‘Chuffin Fair’, an event at the Oxenhope Engine Shed of the Keighley and Worth Valley Steam Railway on Saturday 28th Feb 6.30 till 10pm.

There will be a buffet, live music, raffle etc.

You are also invited to participate in the Chuffin Fair cookery book. Do you have a favourite recipe you would like to share? Make the cake or dish (using Fairtrade ingredients if possible of course!) and bring it along for others to sample and you could be photographed and featured in the book.

Other Fairtrade Fortnight 2009 events

Bronte Weaving Shed North Street Saturday 28th Feb information stand and chocolate tasting.

Fairtrade Trail. Pick up a leaflet at the Tourist Information and answer the Fairtrade Questions.

Cobbles and Clay, Fairtrade specials.

On Sunday September 13 2009,  Mikron Theatre performed the play Fair Trade at West Lane Baptist Church in Haworth.

A fantastic night was had by all who attended “Fair Trade”. The Mikron theatre company, a small team of just four performers, worked well with many quick changes of costume to bring to life the 160 years or so of the Cooperative movement. With drama, dance and song they told their story with humour, irony and pathos. Many of the sketches focused on the Coop’s effective on the other competing businesses, and the greatest laugh of the night came with the dance of a Mr Rigor and a Mr Mortis (independent funeral directors in competition with the Coop Funeral Service) berating their new competition. The rise of the Fairtrade movement featured towards the end of the show and the ethical dilemmas of modern shopping were highlighted. No simplistic solution was proffered and this challenged the audience to remember to think carefully before simply buying what is convenient..

Many thanks have to be offered to the Haworth Fairtrade Steering committee and West Lane Baptist Chapel for such a good and thought provoking evening. We look forward to seeing Mikron again when they next come to Haworth!

Haworth Fairtrade Village Group held a Fairtrade Café event at the Old School Room to mark World Fair Trade Day on May 10th. Fairtrade refreshments and cakes were available and entertainment included storytelling and music assisted by Doreen and Maureen Haworth’s famous tea ladies with proceeds going to support the conservation of the Old School Room.

The event contributed to the re-establishment of the Old School Room back into community life. “The Old School Room was built by Patrick Brontë in 1832 to serve the community, a role it continued and fulfilled throughout its life, up until a couple of years ago,” said Dr Angela Redmond, Project Development Officer at the Old School Room. “It is our aim to restore the building as a valuable community resource, and we intend that this will be the first of many events.

Over the years the Fairtrade Group in Haworth have put on a huge variety of events throughout the year. As we rebuild the site this section will contain information on a few of them to give you a flavour of what we have done.

Fair Intents

Mikron Theatre

Chuffin Fair

Chocolat

IFAT Banner in Bradford