Take a Fairtrade Step with the EAUC

20th February 2012

Fairtrade Fortnight is coming up next week and we know that this event is a key sustainability campaign in our Members’ calendars. So this year, the EAUC will be supporting the campaign and taking part in its own Fairtrade activities.

Fairtrade Fortnight will take place between 27th February – 11th March and the theme for this year’s campaign is ‘Take a step in 2012’.

The idea is simple… get everyone in your institution to take a step for Fairtrade. It can be a basic step, like encouraging people to try a new Fairtrade product, or it could be a bigger step like organising a Fairtrade cocktail night at the Student Union bar, using Fairtrade wine and spirits. Make it as inventive, daring, funny or as messy as you like and you’ll be sure to get staff and student support.

Fairtrade Fortnight has a target of 1.5 million steps by the end of 2012 – that’s one for every Fairtrade farmer and employee they are aiming to work with. Each step will take the Fairtrade Foundation closer to the better deal from global trade, which millions more farmers and workers so urgently need. Register your step and watch the number go up on the step-o-meter here.

What will your ‘step’ be?

We will keep you updated on the ‘steps’ the EAUC takes during the campaign, but we would also love to hear what you are doing for Fairtrade Fortnight 2012. Perhaps you will only buy Fairtrade tea and coffee for the office? Perhaps you are holding a Fairtrade chocolate tasting event? Or, perhaps you are even holding a Fairtrade fashion show? Whatever Fairtrade steps you are taking, let us know!

For Fairtrade Fortnight, I pledge to...

EAUC staff have pledged to take a step towards Fairtrade by making one pledge and implementing this throughout the two weeks. This is in addition to activies and themed days we will be partaking in. Some of our pledges are:

"I will switch from my shop made coffee and only drink Fairtrade tea for the fortnight"

"To buy only Fairtrade coffee at home, I will bake my Dad’s 60th bday cake (on the leap year day!) with as many Fairtrade products as possible and I’ll even bake some Fairtrade brownies for the office"

"Having already stocked up on Fairtrade chocolate I am also pledging to bring a box of good tea with me when I next come up - the company that blend it are based in the Westcountry, and they also belong to the Ethical Tea Partnership."

"I will only shop at the Co-op and buy more from them."

"I pledge to ensure that I eat or drink at least one additional Fairtrade product every single day of the fortnight over and above my existing Fairtrade shopping i.e. in addition to my normal coffee, fruit, chocolate, spices etc."