Keswick’s Fairtrade campaign is about to celebrate its 20th year and its supporters will be out and about at events in the town promoting the movement.
Fairtrade is an arrangement designed to help producers in developing countries achieve sustainable and equitable trade relationships. The fair movement combines the payment of higher prices to exporters with improved social and environmental standards for farmers.
Addressing the January meeting of Keswick Town Council, campaigner Jo Alberti said members of the local group always had a presence at the agricultural show and Victorian Fair and this year there will be an exhibition at the town’s museum.
There is also a ‘powerful’ advertisement about Fairtrade showing at the Alhambra before the beginning of films which had been well received.
During Fairtrade Fortnight – February 27 to March 12 – the group will once again be welcoming back Pushpanath Krishnamurty – always known as Push – who walked 400 miles from London to the COP 26 summit in Glasgow a couple of years ago to raise awareness of climate change. He will address pupils at St Herbert’s Primary and Keswick School and will visit other schools in the county.
Ms Alberti said that he is approaching 70 and was not just a speaker but a performer who has a presence. “Fairtrade globally is doing very well,” she said. “People just need a nudge every now and again to be reminded that there is Fairtrade and that farmers don’t get enough money for their products and will always get more than market price.”
