It’s Solihull Go Green this Saturday. Come and see us on the LUCIA stall!
Monday, 17 June 2013
Thursday, 16 May 2013
First taste of the new Fair trade Directory
We have a
new fair-trade directory of the City Centre!!!
New
businesses along Birmingham City Centre, new experiences and initiatives have
been told by University of Birmingham, groups and associations. More information about Fairtrade Birmingham
and many curiosities about fair trade movement as well.
We are going
to enjoy a printed directory next 2nd of June in The Birmingham Big Green Lunch
Event on the Botanical Gardens.
Don’t be
shy, ask and look for the new Fair trade directory of the
Birmingham City Centre next Sunday.
Saturday, 11 May 2013
World Fairtrade Day
Petition! Thanks to each and every one of you who created a mini marcher, signed and shared the petition or organised an event to support the campaign and demand a change. We couldn’t have done it without you!
The mini-marchers teamed up with Oxfam and the Co-operative’s Grow Co-operatives campaign at Downing Street this week to hand in over 75,000 signatures calling on David Cameron to champion a better deal for smallholder farmers. Watch the story of mini marchers and Fairtrade campaigners who joined forces this Fairtrade Fortnight to Make Food Fair here.
But the journey isn’t finished yet – in fact it’s just started! The mini marchers have now infiltrated No 10 by clinging to the petition box! They want to hold David Cameron to account and make sure that he really listens and supports the smallholders during the G8 summit, and we are going to do the same. So stay tuned for updates and keep your fingers crossed for these brave paper activists!
So what is left to do now? Celebrations! Celebrate this World Fair Trade Day by having a Fairtrade breakfast. It is a perfect opportunity to talk about the difference Fairtrade makes to people’s lives while enjoying a delicious cup of aromatic Fairtrade coffee or sharing Fairtrade baked goods with friends and family. And while you’re doing that you can discuss together how you could get involved in the Enough Food For Everyone IF campaign and its Big IF moment on 8 June, which we are proudly supporting. You can also get a bit closer to a dedicated group of Fairtrade farmers in Malawi by asking them a question at
Now doesn’t it sound like a perfect Fairtrade recipe for a fantasticSaturday?
Happy World Fair Trade Day!
The Campaigns Team and the mini marchers
Fairtrade Foundation
Thursday, 9 May 2013
Wednesday, 8 May 2013
Big Lunch Brum
The Big Lunch is an initiative started by the Eden Project in 2009 to
encourage people across the UK to come together for a few hours of food,
friendship and fun. It aims to create stronger, friendlier communities where
people start to share things, from conversation and ideas to skills and
resources. Last year a staggering 8.5 million people participated in Big
Lunches across the UK.
As Birmingham is striving to be a leading green city, we thought we would take the opportunity to highlight this national initiative promoting a stronger friendlier community being both a sustainable and low carbon also. Why not have a vision for a Green City that involves all its green entrepreneurs and practitioners in the community coming together to create a green village?
What activities are taking place?
The Big Green Lunch upholds eco-friendly ideas, embraces the arts and celebrates efforts to encourage more sustainable lifestyles. There will be music, dancing and entertainment on a biodiesel stage and family friendly activities that will create a fun, green festival environment.
The Big Lunch obviously emphasises sustainable food that’s locally grown, locally purchased and food that is healthy as well as fairly traded. A selection of Birmingham’s rich diversity of food will be on show through local food suppliers and caterers that include Caribbean, Indian, Italian and Vegetarian chefs who will be cooking their food for people to purchase. The Love Food Hate Waste campaign will be showing people how to shop, store and prepare food more effectively to save money and waste. The Smoothie Bike will also be encouraging more exercise and the drinking of healthy, self prepared fruit juice.
Attractions include Bollywood dancing workshops and henna tattoos as well as zero carbon activities for kids like trampoline/ bungee jumping. There will be circus workshops offering the chance to ride a unicycle, walk on stilts and juggle a Chinese diabolo. Children can also take part in workshops with the ‘Scrap Store’ play workers, play giant lawn games and visit the mini petting farm which will include pygmy goats, sheep, pigs, poultry, rabbits, a miniature horse and an alpaca.
All ages can have a go at riding on a penny farthing or learn how to fix a bicycle. The city’s acclaimed Fairtrade and Ethical Market will be there with it’s ever increasing range of fair-trade, recycled, ethical and eco-suppliers including members of Birmingham’s Fairtrade Association.
Who is attending?
We expect a lot of people connected with the green agenda in Birmingham will be attending along with other interested parties as well as the plain curious.
The Venue:
The Botanical Gardens is a tried and tested venue which attracted around 1,200 people to the Sustainability Spring Fair back in March. Everyone we spoke to thought the venue was perfect and it provided a perfect backdrop to a sustainability event. The Botanical Gardens is a great day out in its own right with wonderful displays of plants and landscaped gardens, but it is a facility under used by the public. Maybe this is because of cost, but the offer of a free visit seemed a very popular incentive to entice visitors to our last event.
We did an evaluation exercise of the Sustainability Fair earlier this year. Everyone rated the event and the venue as ‘good’ or ‘excellent’. We asked the question - “What did you learn about sustainable living today?” Some of the responses included: composting toilets (50 yrs); there is a lot going on I never knew about (65 yrs); everyone should have a bike blender in their house it would encourage you to keep fit and eat healthily (15yrs); I learned what to do with grapes when they are going mouldy rather than throw them away (15yrs); you can recycle bottles to make something new (12 yrs); ideas for recycling crafts (42 yrs); all the stuff about bees (38 yrs). Inspired and encouraged by this excellent feed back and the turnout of newcomers, not to mention the amazing atmosphere, we have set out to create and even bigger and more exciting event this June.
Listening to suggestions from previous attendees, we are planning to put on more outdoor activities, have more dynamic music in the bandstand and all in all aim to achieve a really fun day out so Birmingham’s diverse communities can come together and be converted to a greener lifestyle.
Summary
This event is another step in reaching the unreached for sustainable living and includes the adaptation to climate change and economic factors that influence what we buy. The Energy Road Show from Carillion will be there recruiting people for Green Deal retrofits to their properties. A direct result of our partnership with the Botanical Gardens is they are now keen to be retro-fitted themselves and have a cottage which is perfect for a show case ‘Eco Home’ that we can advertise to the public. One of the ladies evaluated mentioned how much she liked the cottage and what a pity there was nothing green about it. This is a project we hope to address with Carillion in the coming year ahead.
As Birmingham is striving to be a leading green city, we thought we would take the opportunity to highlight this national initiative promoting a stronger friendlier community being both a sustainable and low carbon also. Why not have a vision for a Green City that involves all its green entrepreneurs and practitioners in the community coming together to create a green village?
What activities are taking place?
The Big Green Lunch upholds eco-friendly ideas, embraces the arts and celebrates efforts to encourage more sustainable lifestyles. There will be music, dancing and entertainment on a biodiesel stage and family friendly activities that will create a fun, green festival environment.
The Big Lunch obviously emphasises sustainable food that’s locally grown, locally purchased and food that is healthy as well as fairly traded. A selection of Birmingham’s rich diversity of food will be on show through local food suppliers and caterers that include Caribbean, Indian, Italian and Vegetarian chefs who will be cooking their food for people to purchase. The Love Food Hate Waste campaign will be showing people how to shop, store and prepare food more effectively to save money and waste. The Smoothie Bike will also be encouraging more exercise and the drinking of healthy, self prepared fruit juice.
Attractions include Bollywood dancing workshops and henna tattoos as well as zero carbon activities for kids like trampoline/ bungee jumping. There will be circus workshops offering the chance to ride a unicycle, walk on stilts and juggle a Chinese diabolo. Children can also take part in workshops with the ‘Scrap Store’ play workers, play giant lawn games and visit the mini petting farm which will include pygmy goats, sheep, pigs, poultry, rabbits, a miniature horse and an alpaca.
All ages can have a go at riding on a penny farthing or learn how to fix a bicycle. The city’s acclaimed Fairtrade and Ethical Market will be there with it’s ever increasing range of fair-trade, recycled, ethical and eco-suppliers including members of Birmingham’s Fairtrade Association.
Who is attending?
We expect a lot of people connected with the green agenda in Birmingham will be attending along with other interested parties as well as the plain curious.
The Venue:
The Botanical Gardens is a tried and tested venue which attracted around 1,200 people to the Sustainability Spring Fair back in March. Everyone we spoke to thought the venue was perfect and it provided a perfect backdrop to a sustainability event. The Botanical Gardens is a great day out in its own right with wonderful displays of plants and landscaped gardens, but it is a facility under used by the public. Maybe this is because of cost, but the offer of a free visit seemed a very popular incentive to entice visitors to our last event.
We did an evaluation exercise of the Sustainability Fair earlier this year. Everyone rated the event and the venue as ‘good’ or ‘excellent’. We asked the question - “What did you learn about sustainable living today?” Some of the responses included: composting toilets (50 yrs); there is a lot going on I never knew about (65 yrs); everyone should have a bike blender in their house it would encourage you to keep fit and eat healthily (15yrs); I learned what to do with grapes when they are going mouldy rather than throw them away (15yrs); you can recycle bottles to make something new (12 yrs); ideas for recycling crafts (42 yrs); all the stuff about bees (38 yrs). Inspired and encouraged by this excellent feed back and the turnout of newcomers, not to mention the amazing atmosphere, we have set out to create and even bigger and more exciting event this June.
Listening to suggestions from previous attendees, we are planning to put on more outdoor activities, have more dynamic music in the bandstand and all in all aim to achieve a really fun day out so Birmingham’s diverse communities can come together and be converted to a greener lifestyle.
Summary
This event is another step in reaching the unreached for sustainable living and includes the adaptation to climate change and economic factors that influence what we buy. The Energy Road Show from Carillion will be there recruiting people for Green Deal retrofits to their properties. A direct result of our partnership with the Botanical Gardens is they are now keen to be retro-fitted themselves and have a cottage which is perfect for a show case ‘Eco Home’ that we can advertise to the public. One of the ladies evaluated mentioned how much she liked the cottage and what a pity there was nothing green about it. This is a project we hope to address with Carillion in the coming year ahead.
Wednesday, 10 April 2013
FW: Oxfam speaker in Birmingham
Land and Food
Wednesday April 17th at 7pm
George Fox room, the Priory Rooms, Quaker Meeting House, Bull Street, Birmingham B4 6AF. (http://www.theprioryrooms.co.uk/page/location)
Drinks and light refreshments will be available from 6.30pm.
Ruth Kelly of Oxfam will present the topic, with a response from Jubilee Debt Campaign and others. She is an economic policy adviser working on Oxfam's GROW campaign and on policy recommendations to help ensure that everybody in the world has enough to eat. She works on policy responses to the causes and consequences of high and volatile food prices, specifically challenging biofuels policies and working to prevent land grabs.
Friday, 22 March 2013
Fairtrade Fortnight at the University of Birmingham
Students and staff at the University of Birmingham enjoyed tasting a variety of delicious Fairtrade wines at one of the University’s Fairtrade Fortnight events. Other events included a coffee morning, a speaker event and a cooking demo. The University has proudly maintained its Fairtrade status since 2003 when it became the second UK University to receive the award.
Fairtrade Game
Lots of young people enjoyed playing FAB’s new Fairtrade Game at the Sustainability Spring Fair on 9th March at Birmingham’s Botanical Gardens. Players threw a dice and followed the steps around the ‘board’. Landing on a Fairtrade product resulted in moving forward extra spaces, while a non-Fairtrade product meant moving backwards or missing a go – eventually reaching ‘Fair World’ where they received a delicious Fairtrade chocolate! J
Sunday, 10 March 2013
Sustainability Fair at Botanical Garden
Fairtrade was well represented at this, our main event in 2013. Fairtrade movement, as always working side by side along other campaigners for fairer and more sustainable trade.
Update on Fairtrade events
Fairtrade in 2013 - Speaker Event
27th February 6:00 pm
UG03 Learning Centre Sally Reith from Shared Interest and John Boyle from Fairtrade Association Birmingham will be speaking
1st March 6.00pm (ish)
Fairtrade Wine Tasting
Café Aroma, 1st floor Staff House tickets £5 on the door
Saturday 2nd March
Kings Heath Fairtrade Market
Farmers market with a fairtrade twist
Sunday 3rd March
Fairtrade at All Saints
Education sunday combined with fairtrade stall and special Easter Egg focus
Tuesday 5th March, 7pm
Cooking Demo - Hadisa from Icing and cakes
Oasis Kitchen in the Chaplaincy. A cake decorating class
Friday 8th March (10am - 1pm)
Coffee morning, Guild of Unions
Underground. The event is combined with International World Womens Day
Saturday 9th March
Sustainability Fair, Botanical Gardens
Fairtrade at sustainability fair
Wednesday, 6 March 2013
LUCIA Fundraiser Concert
Sinfonia of Birmingham has kindly donated tickets to LUCIA for its concert on March 23rd when they’re playing Brahms and Mendelssohn. Suggested donation for tickets is £12.00 (£10.00 seniors £6.00 other concessions). Email info@luciacharity.org.uk or phone 0121 745 6463
Sunday, 3 March 2013
Fairtrade Market and don't forget eggs at Kings Heath
 |
| Traidcraft Stall at All Saints Church open on Sundays |
Beautiful sunshine, a morris dancing side and excellent products brought bumper sales for Traidcraft store at Kings Heath Market yesterday.
Top product to look out for is the real easter egg - http://realeasteregg.co.uk/
Hurry to put your orders in while stocks last - Gill will take your orders, and you can arrange pick up your eggs from All Saints Church. Contact Gill on 01216046127.
Friday, 15 February 2013
Thursday, 7 February 2013
Sunday, 3 February 2013
Sustainable Spring Fair
Saturday 9th March 2013
Birmingham Botanical Gardens, B15 3TR
T: 0121 454 1860
Climate Week is Britain’s biggest climate change campaign. To mark this event the Birmingham Sustainable Spring Fair is bringing together sustainability practitioners and entrepreneurs in Birmingham to promote and sell their ideas and produce.
Birmingham is striving to become a leading, green city and the Birmingham Botanical Gardens is working on being the Flag Ship for a ‘Green Family Day Out’.
Ball Room Bar Area
Energy Road Show – learn about the latest energy saving techniques, sign up to the Birmingham Green Deal to get your house or community building retrofitted. Other activities include making your own smoothie with pedal power and a children’s artist will be painting energy saving pictorial messages which kids can colour in.
The Fairtrade and Ethical Market will be selling a range of locally sourced produce and crafts from all over the world.
Birmingham Scrap Store – the Birmingham Play Care Network will be supervising children’s play activities using 'scrap' materials.
Swap-a-thon - bring something from home you don’t want (like unwanted books, bric-a-brac, clothes, shoes and toys) and swap it for something you do.
Love Food Hate Waste - cookery demonstrations showing how to make tasty food from leftovers.
Sustainable Transport, Health, other green practitioners will be there to give advice and promote their initiatives.
Ball Room Stage
Dancers, story telling, music and magic!
Terrace
Big games and entertainment on the lawn
Animals and reptiles corner
Living Statues
Get your hands dirty with clay oven building and have a go at 'scrap to craft' activities.
Botanical Garden’s Biodiversity trail for children
Band Stand
Live local dance and music acts will entertain the crowds powered by a bio- diesel generator.
For a free entrance ticket, visit the Birmingham City Council website and download your e-ticket. This ticket is valid for you and your family on Saturday 9th March 2013 only.
www.birmingham.gov.uk/springfair
For more information ring 0121 464 9166
Thursday, 24 January 2013
Harry Potter joins campaign for fairly traded chocolate
Harry Potter Alliance have enlisted support of non other than the real Harry Potter, following several 'friendly conversations' with Warner Bros:
"regarding our advisors' concerns that the cocoa was coming from kidnapped children and exploited farmers. Warner Bros responded citing a report they obtained, saying it negates the "F" grade in the Free2Work report"
Please see the video and visit showusthereport.com to join campaign to keep HP chocolate fairtrade
"regarding our advisors' concerns that the cocoa was coming from kidnapped children and exploited farmers. Warner Bros responded citing a report they obtained, saying it negates the "F" grade in the Free2Work report"
Please see the video and visit showusthereport.com to join campaign to keep HP chocolate fairtrade
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