First Minister sees how Wales is promoting Fair Trade in Uganda

First Minister, Carwyn Jones, has today (Thursday 9 January) seen first hand how Wales – the world’s first Fair Trade nation – is helping farmers and workers in Uganda receive better trade and working conditions and promoting sustainability.

The First Minister visited the Gumutindo Fairtrade Coffee Cooperative, which was created to improve coffee quality on Mount Elgon, an extinct volcano on the Ugandan border, and provide better trade conditions for producers in the area.

The cooperative, which has received support from the Welsh Government’s Wales for Africa scheme through Fair Trade Wales, has developed significantly since its launch. It now has around 9000 farmer members and has built the reputation of Mount Elgon coffee, shipping it worldwide.

The First Minister also met staff at the Gumutindo Tree Nursery. The cooperative is one of the four tree planting members of the successful Million Trees project.

Run by environmental charity, Size of Wales, and supported by the Welsh Government, the Million Trees project aims to plant one million trees in Mbale - a highly deforested area of Uganda.
The First Minister said:
“Becoming the very first Fair Trade Nation was a huge moment for Wales. We showed the world that we are an outward-looking, compassionate nation which cares about ensuring that producers receive a fair deal. 
“Today I’ve seen first hand the impact Welsh projects are having on real people here in Uganda. Our commitment to better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers,
Is improving living standards for individuals and families and helping to protect the environment.”
The First Minister also saw the effects a Welsh organisation which aims to assist people in poor areas of the world to make a livelihood through beekeeping, is having on communities in the area.
Based in Monmouth, Bees for Development is working with farmers already engaged in the Million Trees project in Uganda to generate income through producing and selling honey and beeswax. The project, supported by the
Welsh Government, also enhances the Million Trees scheme as the bees pollinate the trees.
The First Minister is in Uganda on a series of visits to see the impact Welsh projects, supported by the Welsh Government’s Wales for Africa programme, are having on the lives of individuals and families living ther

Fairtrade Christmas

Ammanford Fairtrade campaigners have been busy promoting Fairtrade in the Festive season. Members of the Ammanford Fairtrade Town Group were at the switching on of the Christmas lights, working in partnership with Fairtrade Community Cafe iSmooth, distributing free Fairtrade chocolates and Fairtrade bananas to children in Quay Street at the Elves Reunion event.

DIVINE Fairtrade Chocolate advent calendars were also given to each of the town's primary schools, in recognition of and with thanks for their work in support of Fairtrade throughout the year.

The Group is also publicising through their website the opportunities to shop locally for a Fairtrade Christmas. Visitors to http://www.ammanfordfairtrade.blogspot.co.uk/ can access a Fairtrade Directory showing local outlets selling Fairtrade. Group member Phil Broadhurst said : "You can get a great range of Fairtrade Christmas presents in Ammanford;  You can buy Fair Trade toys and musical instruments in Bartram's,  Fair Trade gifts and ornaments in Harmony, and Fair Trade clothing in Catherine Blair. You can get Fairtrade fruit, nuts and chocolate snacks and gifts from the Co-Op, where you can also celebrate with Fairtrade wine. If you're vegetarian, you can even get Fairtrade nut cutlets for Christmas Day from Jelf's."

The Directory also lists cafes you can stop in for a Fairtrade hot drink as you take a rest from Christmas shopping.

Phil adds : "Christmas is a time of sharing and giving and buying Fairly traded products is a great way of doing that

Nadolig Masnach Deg

Mae Ymgyrchwyr Masnach Deg Rhydaman wedi bod yn brysur yn hyrwyddo Masnach Deg yn y tymor y Nadolig . Roedd Aelodau o  Grŵp Tref Masnach Deg Rhydaman yn noson goleuo Coeden Nadolig y dref  ,mewn partneriaeth a Caffi Cymunedol Masnach Deg iSmooth , yn  dosbarthu siocledi Masnach Deg am ddim a bananas Masnach Deg i blant yn Stryd y Cei yn y digwyddiad “Aduniad y Coblynnod “.

Hefyd rhoddwyd Calendrau Adfent Siocled Masnach Deg Divine i bob un o ysgolion cynradd y dref , i gydnabod a gyda diolch am eu gwaith i gefnogi Masnach Deg drwy gydol y flwyddyn .

Mae'r Grŵp hefyd yn rhoi cyhoeddusrwydd trwy eu gwefan am y cyfleoedd i siopa'n lleol am Nadolig Masnach Deg . Gall ymwelwyr fynd i  http://www.ammanfordfairtrade.blogspot.co.uk

I weld Cyfeirlyfr Masnach Deg sy’n dangos siopau lleol sy'n gwerthu nwyddau Masnach Deg.

Dywedodd aelod o'r Grŵp Phil Broadhurst : "Gallwch gael amrywiaeth mawr o nwyddau  Nadolig Masnach Deg sydd ar gael yn Rhydaman , Gallwch brynu teganau Masnach Deg ac offerynnau cerddorol , anrhegion Masnach Deg Bartram ac addurniadau yn Harmony , a dillad Masnach Deg yng Catherine Blair, gallwch gael ffrwythau Masnach Deg , cnau a byrbrydau siocled ac anrhegion oddi wrth y Co - Op , lle y gallwch hefyd ddathlu gyda gwin Masnach Deg. Os ydych yn llysieuwr , gallwch hyd yn oed gael cytled cnau Masnach Deg ar gyfer Diwrnod Nadolig o Jelfs . "

Mae'r Cyfeirlyfr hefyd yn rhestru caffis gallwch alw i mewn am ddiod boeth Masnach Deg wrth i chi gymryd hoe o'r siopa Nadolig .

Ychwanega Phil : "Mae'r Nadolig yn gyfnod o rannu a rhoi a mae  prynu cynnyrch Masnach Deg yn ffordd wych o wneud hynny”.

 

Carmarthen Journal Article on 30 October

FAIR Trade supporters in Ammanford put their best walking boots to good use last week, just weeks after winning the Most Creative Campaign.

The Carmarthenshire Fair Trade Group was given the award, which recognises the work of local Fair Trade supporters in establishing and walking the 26-mile Carmarthenshire Fair Trade Way, by the Fair Trade Foundation.

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The inaugural walk was first launched in June, and last week walkers brave high winds and torrential rain to complete the trek from Ammanford to Swansea.

Local schoolchildren also showed their support for Fair Trade by walking through the rain to give the walkers are a warm send off. 

Pupils from Ysgol Gymraeg Rhydaman and Ysgol Bro Banw made Fairtrade banana smoothies for the walkers on a special bicycle powered smoothie maker at the start of the walk in iSmooth Community Cafe in Ammanford.

While children and staff from Ysgol Parcyrhun braved the pouring rain to come out and cheer on the walkers as they passed by their school.

Before making their way through Carmarthen and on to Swansea.

Phil Broadhurst of the Ammanford Fair Trade group and organiser of the walk said the second Fair Trade Way event was a big success.

"The Carmarthenshire walk was a fantastic day of inspiring campaigning, spreading the Fairtrade message as we walked."

The new route from Ammanford to Swansea is part of a growing network of Fair Trade Way walks around the UK which links Fair Trade towns and cities. The initiative, which is aimed at highlighting the work of Fair Trade, is supported by the Co-operative and also by the Welsh Government through Fair Trade Wales.

Read more: http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/Winners-walk-way-campaign/story-20005761-detail/story.html#ixzz2jHayl9ju
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fairtrade status

Congratulations to Carmarthenshire County Council. The authority has been awarded Fairtrade status three years in a row.