Renfrewshire is moving towards Fairtrade status, a noble and,

if we are to hold our heads high as Scots, essential goal.

But what is fairtrade?

Imagine if you went to work, walked miles to get there, worked hard and long hours just to get enough to feed you for that day. Imagine if you would no holidays, no welfare provisions for your children and not a shred of a chance to lift your self out of this situation. Destitute and with no hope. That's life for so many on farms supplying us with cheap food and goods. Now, imagine if you would a system that allows the pricing to provide decent working conditions, sustainability at a local level offering farmers and their workers fair terms for the work they do. It's called Fairtrade [Fair Trade].

Fairtrade addresses the injustices of conventional trade, which traditionally discriminates against the poorest, weakest producers. It enables them to improve their position and have more control over their lives. In short dignity and a fair return for the work they do. It requires companies to pay sustainable prices (which must never fall lower than the market price).

You pay a few pence more they get dignity and decent life.

You and Us because it's about Them We can make such a big difference in such a small way, that small way is to include goods and products with the Fairtrade logo on it in your shopping basket. The goods are good quality so you're not sacrificing anything, and just think every time you reach for the Fairtrade coffee in the morning you have helped a family - OMG! it's that easy! The team here drink Fairtrade coffee and when we go to a coffee shop we drink Fairtrade coffee, we eat Fairtrade bananas, where possible we make OUR CHOICE! We choose to do to others what we would want them to do to us: Here's a video from Fairtrade USA that helps tell you what the fairtrade message is:		Bishopton Fairtrade   Renfrewshire Council   Paisley Fairtrade
Fairtrade in Renfrewshire On 8 November 2007, Renfrewshire Council approved an action plan to enable all of Renfrewshire to be accredited as a Fairtrade area. A steering group has been established with the aim of making Renfrewshire a Fairtrade Zone. "There's an increasing acceptance that public organisations have to take a leading role on this issue. Working together as a community and a council, Renfrewshire can play its part in helping third world producers increase their control over their own future, have a fair and just return for their work and enjoy decent living and working conditions." Council leader Derek Mackay, chair of Renfrewshire Fairtrade steering group www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/fairtrade		Fairtrade Fairtrade in the UK, a source of information and help towards helping you get the Fairtrade message across: www.fairtrade.org.uk Fairtrade in the Workplace A big way to make a difference is in the workplace. Companies can make the conscious decision to be part of the movement towards this ethical standard, it makes a POWERFUL statement about you and your organisation. For more on Fairtrade in the workplace see: www.fairtrade.org.uk/work

A Helping Hand

If your community or group are working towards Fairtrade status and you think a web site would help, we're here to provide it free of charge! Simply click on www.3DC.org.uk and request a site. See what Bishopton done with their web site www.fairtradebishopton.org.uk.

It's easy to update and you get your support from 3DC.org.uk every step of the way:

YOU HELP THE WORLD

WE'LL HELP YOU!