Sales rise for Fairtrade as shoppers buy responsibly

FAIRTRADE sales increased by 12% last year to more than £1.3bn despite the gloomy economic outlook, prompting claims today the movement chimes with the current desire for “responsible capitalism”.
The increase in sales is lower than 2010’s 40% rise, but the sector has continued to perform strongly despite tough economic times which saw the UK’s GDP grow at just 0.8% in 2011.
The new figures, coming at the start of Fairtrade Fortnight, were particularly welcomed by campaigners in Wales, which has the distinction of being the world’s first Fairtrade nation.


Read More http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2012/02/27/sales-rise-for-fairtrade-as-shoppers-buy-responsibly-91466-30412301/#ixzz1nc9htYp8

Giant Fairtrade Banana Split

Come along to Ammanford's  Arcade in College Street next Friday 2 March at 6.00pm to help us eat a giant 50 foot long banana split.

We will be constructing the banana split at 5,30 using fairtrade bananas, ice cream, cream and plenty of  chocolate and strawberry sauce.

Then at 6.00 everyone will be given a spoon and enjoy demolishing the work of art - by eating as much as we can.

Everyone is welcome and we hope we will see you there

Banana Split Masnach Deg

Dewch i'r Arcade yn Rhydaman, nos Wener nesaf, sef 2 Mawrth am 6 o'r gloch i fwyta Banana Split enfawr - tua 50 troedfedd o hyd. Byddwn yn adeialdu'r banana split am 5.30 gyda bocsus o fananas masnach deg, hufen ia, hufen, a digon o saws siocled a mefus. Yna bydd pawb yn cael llwy ac i ffwrdd a ni i fwyta'r cyfan. Gobeithio y byddwch yn gallu bod yn bresennol.

Take a Step for Fairtrade Fortnight

Fairtrade Cotton producers visit Ammanford

On Tuesday 6th March, a delegation of Fairtrade Cotton producers will be visiting the town to thank the people of Ammanford for their support, and to explain why the Fairtrade market has to be further expanded. They will stay on the Monday night at Fronlas Bed and Breakfast in Llandeilo which serves Fairtrade drinks and has Fairtrade cotton sheets.

Wales shows support for Fair Trade

The First Minister of Wales, Rt. Hon Carwyn Jones AM has shown his support for Fair Trade by attending the Fair Trade Nation exhibition launch in Cardiff.

The exhibition will be on display in the Senedd, Cardiff Bay in the run up to Fair Trade Fortnight (27th February – 11th March). The inspiring images showcase the importance of Fair Trade and the difference it can make to the lives of producers and their communities.

As the world’s only Fair Trade Nation, Wales is proud to lead the world by example. Local Authorities, schools and towns across the country are gaining Fair Trade status, learning about the importance of Fair Trade and making a big difference across the globe.

The First Minister said:

"I am very proud that Wales continues to lead the way in support of Fair Trade. I encourage people to come along and see the inspiring exhibition on display and take part in the events across the country during Fair Trade Fortnight."

Fair Trade is more than tea, coffee, chocolate and bananas. With more than 4,500 products available on the market, from olive oil to beauty products, clothing to gold, it’s easier now than ever before to choose Fair Trade.

In Mali, one of the world’s poorest countries, the average school attendance is 43%. For the children from a Fairtrade co-operative the figure rises to 95%.

DIRPRWYAETH CYNYRCHWYR COTWM MASNACH DEG

Ar 6 Mawrth, bydd dirprwyaeth o gynhyrchwyr Cotwm Masnach Deg yn ymweld a Rhydaman i ddiolch i bobl y dref am eu cefnogaeth, ac i esbonio pam bod angen ymestyn y farchnad Masnach Deg ac ei bod  mor bwysig. Byddant yn aros ar y nos Lun yng Ngwesty gwely a Brecwast Fronlas yn Llandeilo, sydd yn gweini diodydd Masnach Deg a gyda llenni Masnach Deg.

Fairtrade events 2012

Massive banana split in Ammanford! Fairtrade cotton producers sleeping in cotton sheets in Llandeilo! ... and more!!

2012 looks like being a busy year for Ammanford Fairtrade Group. The year marks the tenth anniversary of the town gaining Fairtrade Town status. Group member Phil Broadhurst said : "We were the first Fairtrade Town in Wales, and the fifth in the UK. Now there are over 500 Fairtrade Towns in the UK, and Wales has become the first country in the world to gain Fairtrade Nation status. In those ten years we have seen grass roots campaigns like ours create a massive rise in recognition of the Fairtrade mark and what it stands for, and an ever increasing rise in sales of Fairtrade products. We are still a long way from having a fair trading system in the world, but the work we are doing with Fairtrade is helping people around the world work their way out of poverty. It is something worth celebrating, and so we will be marking the tenth anniversary with a series of events throughout 2012."

The first big event will be the return of Ammanford's annual Fairtrade Banana Split which will see a thirty foot long Fairtrade Banana Split being built, and quickly eaten, in the College Street arcade on Friday 2nd March at 6pm.

Digwyddiadau Masnach Deg

Banana split enfawr yn Rhydaman! Cynhyrchwyr cotwm masnach Deg yn cysgu mewn llenni cotwm yn Llandeilo!  ….. a llawer mwy!

Mae 2012 yn edrych yn flwyddyn brysur i grŵp Masnach Deg Rhydaman . Mae’r flwyddyn yn nodi deng mlynedd ers i’r dref ennill statws Masnach Deg. Yn ôl Phil Broadhurst, aleod o’r grŵp
“Ni oedd y Dref Masnach Deg gyntaf yng Nghymru, a’r pumed yn y Deyrnas Unedig. Nawr mae yna dros 500 tref Masnach Deg yn y DU, ac mae Cymru wedi dod yn wlad Masnach Deg gyntaf yn y byd. Dros y ddeng mlynedd diwethaf rydym wedi gweld ymgyrchoedd lawr gwlad fel un ni yn creu ymwybyddiaeth enfawr o’r marc Masnach Deg a beth mae’n sefyll amdano. Hefyd mae gwerthiant cynnyrch Masnach Deg wedi cynyddu’r enfawr.

Rydym yn bell o gael system masnachu deg yn y byd, ond mae’r gwaith rydym yn ei wneud yn hyrwyddo Masnach Deg yn helpu pobl o amgylch y byd i weithio eu ffordd allan o dlodi. Mae’n rhywbeth werth ei ddathlu, a felly byddwn ni yn nodi ein degfed penblwydd gyda cyfres o weithgareddau drwy 2012.”

Y digwyddiad mawr cyntaf bydd y Banana Split Enfawr blynyddol a fydd yn gweld banana split 30 troedfedd o hyd yn cael ei adeiladu a’i fwyta yn gylfym yn arcade Stryd y Coleg, Rhdyaman ar 2il Mawrth am 6pm.

Ammanford Fairtrade group Meeting

Anyone who would like to get involved in campaigning for Fairtrade in Ammanford is welcome to come along to the group's next meeting which is at Gellimanwydd / Christian Temple Hall on Tuesday 21st February at 7.30pm, or call Phil Broadhurst on 01269 596933.

FAIRTRADE SHOOL OF THE MONTH

Ammanford's year of celebration has certainly got off to a good start, with the town's Nursery School winning Fair Trade Wales' "School of the Month" award for January, recognising the range of Fairtrade awareness raising the school has done with children, parents and in the community.

Ysgol Masnach Deg y Mis

Mae blwyddyn dathlu Rhydaman wedi dechrau’n dda gyda’r ysgol Feithrin yn derbyn Gwobr “Ysgol y Mis” Masnach Deg Cymru ar gyfer Ionawr. Mae hyn yn cydnabod y gwaith mae’r ysgol wedi ei wneud i godi ymwybyddiaeth Masnach Deg gyda’r planr, rhieni a’r gymuned.

Fairtrade Ways

One of the major campaigning projects for Fairtrade campaigners in Wales this year is developing a network of Fair Trade Ways throughout Wales. Phil Broadhurst has been working with Carmarthenshire Council's Rights Of Way department on creating the first officially waymarked Fair Trade Way in Wales, which will go from Ammanford to Carmarthen, with a suggested overnight stop at Fronlas. Phil says "The idea of the Fair Trade Way walks is really taking off. There will soon be a website where people can find, or put up their own Fair Trade walks. We are also hoping more B&Bs in Carmarthenshire and throughout Wales will follow Fronlas' lead and go Fairtrade."

Llwybr Masnach Deg

Un o’r priosectau mwyaf ar gyfer ymgyrchwyr eleni fydd datblygu rhywdwaith o Lwybrau masnach Deg ar draws Cymru.

Mae Phil Broadhurst, un o brif ymgyrchwyr Grwp masnach Deg Rhydaman wedi bod yn gweithio gyda Adran Hawl Tramwy Cyngor Sir Caerfyrddin i greu y Llwybr Masnach Deg cyntaf yng Nghymru, a fydd yn mynd o Rhydaman i Gaerfyrddin, gyda awgrym o aros noson yn Fronlas. Yn ol Phil –

“Mae’r syniad o lwybrau Masnach Deg yn cydio yn y dychymyg. Yn fuan bydd yna wefan ble gall pobl ffeindio gybodaeth am, a rhoi llwybr Masnach Deg eu hunain ifyny. Rydym hefyd yn gobeithio y bydd yna fwy o B&Bs yn Sir Gaerfyrddin a thrwy Gymru yn dilyn esiampl Fronlas amynd yn Fasnach Deg”.