Belfast now a Fairtrade City

Belfast has become the latest city in the UK to be granted Fairtrade City status by The Fairtrade Foundation, it was confirmed this morning.

A city or town must meet five goals to gain Fairtrade status.

For the past nine months, Fairtrade Belfast has been working to raise awareness of the plight of producers in developing countries - particularly coffee, cocoa and tea growers - and guarantee them a fair price for their product.

Currently, almost one hundred Belfast shops and cafes sell or serve Fairtrade products, and the number is continuing to rise.

The campaign was started in October 2004 by Oxfam Ireland, the Northern Ireland Coop and individuals. It has been supported by a range of organisations including Traidcraft, Queen's University and Belfast City Council as well as many voluntary and community groups.

Chairman of Fairtrade Belfast, Tony Weeks, said:

"To the outside world, Belfast often is viewed as a divided, inward looking people and culture, but it is clear that, when it comes to the issues associated with trade and injustice, which affect the livelihoods and future of so many in the developing worlds, we can work together."

Hotels next on the list

The campaign is now focusing on hotels, restaurants and their suppliers to offer Fairtrade products to their customers. Fairtrade Belfast is also is working to obtain the designation from Fairtrade Mark Ireland.

The Fairtrade Foundation is a member of the Make Poverty History campaign and will be lobbying the G8 summit of richest nations at Gleneagles for better terms of trade for developing countries.

For more information about the campaign, and details of Fairtrade retailers, go to www.fairtradebelfast.com or info@fairtradebelfast.com.