Wales Celebrates Its Second Year As A Fair Trade Nation

Fair Trade supporters are celebrating Wales' second anniversary as a Fair Trade Nation this month. Wales achieved its status in June 2008 and is currently the only country to have reached the prestigious Fair Trade Nation standard. Elen Jones, the National Coordinator for Fair Trade Wales, said:

‘We are delighted to be celebrating our second year as a Fair Trade Nation. The Fairtrade Mark is now widely recognised throughout Wales, and Welsh shoppers are choosing Fairtrade on a regular basis. We are entering the second stage of the Fair Trade Nation campaign and now want to focus on increasing fair trade public policy and promoting a deeper understanding of Fair Trade issues throughout Wales.'

She said:

‘We would also like to congratulate Scotland who are in their final stages of their nation campaign and extend our support to any other countries who wish to join us.'

The Environment Minister, Jane Davidson, who strongly supported the Fair Trade Nation program said:

‘I am very proud that Wales was the first country to achieve Fair Trade status and delighted that we are now celebrating our second anniversary as a Fair Trade nation.'

‘I am encouraged to see that the sales of Fair Trade goods are still on the increase in Wales and that more and more of us are happy to pay a fair price for everyday goods such as tea, coffee and chocolate in the knowledge that we are supporting some of the poorest farmers and producers in the world to trade their way out of poverty.'

Wales has over 77% of its local authorities working towards Fair Trade status, compared to just 31% in Scotland and 25% in England along with 804 schools working towards becoming Fair Trade Schools. A recent independent survey, commissioned by the Welsh Assembly Government, shows that over 50% of Welsh shoppers choose Fair Trade on a regular basis.

Cymru Yn Dathlu Ail Flwyddyn Fel Cenedl Masnach Deg

Mae cefnogwyr Masnach Deg yn dathlu ail ben-blwydd Cymru fel Cenedl Masnach Deg y mis hwn. Cyflawnodd Cymru ei statws ym Mehefin 2008 ac ar y funud Cymru ydy’r unig wlad i gyrraedd safonau parchus Cenedl Masnach Deg. Dywedodd Elen Jones, Cydlynydd Cenedlaethol Masnach Deg Cymru:

“Rydym yn falch iawn o fod yn dathlu ein hail flwyddyn fel Cenedl Masnach Deg. Mae’r Marc Masnach Deg yn awr yn adnabyddus drwy Gymru, ac mae siopwyr Cymru yn dewis Masnach Deg yn rheolaidd. Rydym yn cychwyn yr ail gyfnod o’r ymgyrch Cenedl Masnach Deg a nawr eisiau ffocysu ar gynyddu polisi cyhoeddus masnach deg a hyrwyddo dealltwriaeth well o faterion Masnach Deg trwy Gymru.”

Meddai:

“Byddem yn hefyd yn hoffi llongyfarch Yr Alban sydd yn y cyfnod terfynol o’u hymgyrch cenedl ac yn ymestyn ein cymorth i unrhyw wlad sydd eisiau ymuno gyda ni.”

Dywedodd Gweinidog yr Amgylchedd, Jane Davidson, fu’n gefnogol iawn o’r rhaglen Cenedl Masnach Deg:

“Dwi’n falch iawn mai Cymru oedd y wlad gyntaf i ennill statws Masnach Deg ac wrth fy modd ein bod nawr yn dathlu ein hail ben-blwydd fel Cenedl Masnach Deg.”

“Mae’n galanogol gweld fod gwerthiant nwyddau Masnach Deg yn parhau i gynyddu yng Nghymru a bod mwy a mwy ohonom yn hapus i dalu pris teg am nwyddau bob dydd fel te, coffi a siocled yn ymwybodol ein bod yn cefnogi rhai o’r ffermwyr a’r cynhyrchwyr tlotaf yn y byd i fasnachu eu ffordd allan o dlodi.”

Mae dros 77% o awdurdodau lleol Cymru yn gweithio tuag at statws Masnach Deg, i gymharu efo dim ond 31% yn Yr Alban a 25% yn Lloegr ynghyd a 804 o ysgolion yn gweithio tuag at ddod yn ysgolion Masnach Deg. Dangosodd arolwg annibynnol diweddar, wedi’i gomisiynu gan Lywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru, fod dros 50% o siopwyr Cymru yn dewis Masnach Deg yn rheolaidd.

Fairtrade Barbecue

To celebrate Ammanford regaining Fairtrade Town status (Eight years now since we first got the status), we will be having a Fairtrade Barbecue (with fairtrade charcoal from the Co-Op and fairtrade nut cutlets from Jelf's and possibly local butcher's sausages?)

This will be in the new environmentally friendly garden behind the town's latest Fairtrade cafe, i-smooth, on Friday 16th July at 7pm. (Timed to fit in with youth groups who will attend.) (This will also be the opening night of the garden.)
Hope to see you at the barbecue!

Barbeciw Masnach Deg

I ddathlu Tref Masnach Deg yn cadw statws Tref Masnach deg (mae’n wyth mlynedd nawr ers i ni gael y statws gyntaf), byddwn yn cynnal Barbeciw Masnach Deg (gyda siarcol masnach deg o’r Co-Op a cytlet cnau Masnach Deg o Jelff’s a gobeithio sausages cigydd lleol).

Bydd y barbeciw yn yr ardd amglychedd gyfeillgar y tu ol i’r caffi Masnach Deg newydd yn y dref, i-smooth, ar Ddydd Gwener 16 Gorffennaf an 7.00pm.
Hwn hefyd bydd noson agor yr ardd.
GOBEITHIO EICH GWELD CHI YNO

500th Fairtrade Town

The 500th Fairtrade Town is likely to be declared soon. Possible ideas for a way to mark this include postcards from all 499 other fairtrade towns  and/or a 500 mile cycle ride linking the first fairtrade towns in Scotland, England and Wales. Any cyclist volunteers : Get in touch! (You wouldn't have to do the whole 500 miles!).
There is a posibility that Llanelli will be the 500th.

Y 500fedTref Masnach Deg

Mae’r 500fed tref Masnach Def yn cael ei chyhoeddi’n fuan. Er mwyn dathlu’r achlysur bydd y 499 tref Masnach Deg arall yn anfon cerdyn post at y Tref llwyddiannus. Hefyd mae yna syniad o gael reid feicio yn uno trefi masnach deg cyntaf yn yr Alban, Lloegr a Chymru. Os hoffech gymryd rhan yna cysylltwch a Phil Broadhurst. (Bydd ddim angen i chi wneud y 500milltir cyfan!) Mae yna bosibilrwydd mai Llanelli fydd y 500ed tref.

FAIRTRADE MEETING

the next fairtrade meeting will be held  at 2activ8 in wind street, Ammanford this thursday (17th june) at 10.30am.


hope to see you there!


(please pass this on to anyone you think might be interested.)