Fairtrade Fortnight 2007In 2007 Fairtrade Fortnight took place between February 26 and March 11. As part of this national campaign, Southwark put on a number of events around the borough to raise awareness of Fairtrade.
Launch event
Simon Hughes MP, Tessa Jowell MP and Valerie Shawcross AM joined councillors from all parties of Southwark Council at Surrey Quays shopping centre to launch the council's Fairtrade Fortnight events.
Southwark Council are currently on target to achieve Fairtrade status for the borough in June 2007.
At the launch people were also asked to sign a petition supporting Fairtrade, and Southwark's bid to become a Fairtrade borough.  You too can sign this petition here.
Mayor's breakfast
To mark the start of Fairtrade Fortnight, the mayor of Southwark Paul Kyriacou hosted a Fairtrade breakfast in Town Hall.
Over breakfast with the mayor, MPs, councillors, local business representatives and community leaders heard from Fatima Lopez, a coffee taster from Nicaragua who spoke about how Fairtrade had helped her  community.
Sophi Tranchell, the managing director of Divine Chocolate, also spoke about how important it is for Southwark to become a Fairtrade borough in 2007.
In the afternoon school children from three schools in Southwark came to Town Hall to watch films and learn more about Fairtrade.
Fairtrade Fairs
Southwark held Fairtrade fairs around the borough during Fairtrade Fortnight - offering the people of Southwark the opportunity to get their hands on some Fairtrade freebies, as well as trying out Fairtrade chocolate, biscuits, tea, coffee, hot chocolate and wine!
The fairs were held at the Aylesham Centre (Peckham), Butterfly Walk, Elephant and Castle, Hays Galleria and Surrey Quays shopping centres.
The fairs were a tremendous success resulting in more than 2000 people signing Southwark's petition to achieve Fairtrade status.
Tina Olufumi, a long-term Peckham resident, came to the fair in the Aylesham Centre. She said
"I love Fairtrade. I can’t get enough. My family are from Ghana and I know that some Fairtrade chocolate is from Ghana. It’s really important to give people a good price for what they make – otherwise no one gets anywhere."
Fairtrade fashion show
Have you ever wondered how clothing can appear so cheaply in high street shops, or what percentage of the price you pay goes back to the producer?
Those who wanted to look good without feeling bad about their outfit’s origins went down to a Fairtrade fashion show at the Bread of Life Centre in East Dulwich during Fairtrade Fortnight.
Contact us
For more information about Fairtrade in Southwark, please contact us at
Southwark Council
Fairtrade project
Tel: 020 7525 7042
fairtrade@southwark.gov.uk
Town Hall
Peckham Road
London
SE5 8UB
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm |