Fair Trade for Our World

Press Release

World-wide Fair Trade event on Saturday, May 10^th calls attention to the connection between Fair Trade and the environment. Koperattiva Kummerċ Ġust is an IFAT (The International Fair Trade Association) member and will be part of this International Fair Trade movement event.

On Saturday, May 10^th, Fair Trade Organisations from all over the world and about 1.000 Worldshops all over Europe will offer a varied program to get people active for Fair Trade and the Environment. Koperattiva Kummerċ Ġust will take part in "World Fair Trade Day" too. Come and taste Fair Trade Coffee at L-Arka and learn more about the link between Fair Trade and sustainable development.

The current trading system and the push for liberalisation is a "driver" of environmental distruction and poverty. A truly sustainable policy that can respond to climate change, has to help tackle poverty and global inequality in global trade. Therefore - with the slogan "Fair Trade for Our World" - Koperattiva Kummerċ Ġust appeals to consumers and politicians alike.

One example are the long-term relationship contracts IFAT Fair Trade producers have with IFAT Fair Trade importer Organisations, thus allowing investment in sustainable development and environment protection. With short-term contracts and the related uncertainties only, this won't be possible. On these terms nobody will take the risk of medium-term production restructuring. With their daily shopping consumers can help to improve the climate in a double sense: it minimizes the environmental impact as well as allowing social and economic development.

Climate changes, such as desertification, are aggravating the situation especially of small-scale producers in the South, who have least contributed to climate change but who suffer the most from it. As Ruben Enxing from the German Weltladen-Dachverband (German association of Worldshops) remarks: "A temperature rise of 2 degrees centigrade in Uganda, for example, would make coffee growing there almost impossible." Therefore, particular attention is paid to the support of small-scale producers.

Chairman Eulogio Rusoke of Mabale Growers Tea Factory in Uganda, comments:

"Farmers' participation in the day to day field operations of the factory has greatly improved and has led to the quality of green leaf and made tea steadily improving."

Mabale Growers Tea Factory is made up of 1,885 smallholder tea growers and has been in partnership with Cafedirect (IFAT UK member) since 2000.

IFAT is the global network of Fair Trade Organizations. It links and promotes Fair Trade Organizations, and speaks out for greater justice in world trade. It sets the gold standard for organizations who have Fair Trade at the heart of their mission.

IFAT has members in 70 countries, encompassing approximately 1 million people who all believe that trade should improve the lives of marginalised people without harming the planet. Its membership represents the Fair Trade chain from production to sale, including producer co-operatives and associations, export marketing companies, importers, retailers, national and regional Fair Trade networks and financial institutions

In continuation of the World Fair Trade Day, the theme of Fair Trade and Environment has also been chosen for Worldfest 2008, during which a public forum will be held at 530pm to discuss "Climate Change and Global Justice". Koperattiva Kummerċ Ġust will hold this annual public event Worldfest, on the 22June at the Upper Barrakka Gardens from 4pm till 10pm.