New Koforidua Celebration Evening
The people of Garstang celebrated twinning with New Koforidua during a Ghana evening held on Saturday 23rd November at the Westminster Club in Garstang. Over 100 people enjoyed authentic Ghanaian cuisine prepared by Victoria Amediku, now living in High Wycombe and some joined in with the African drumming and dancing provided by York based Drumdance. The highlight of the evening had to be the live web cam link with Kuapa Kokoo in Kumasi, Ghana. Local dignitaries and members of Garstang’s Fairtrade Steering Group were able to talk directly with Nuruddin Boateng of Kuapa and Mr. Ohemeng, Kuapa Kokoo’s Director. The Garstang based web design firm ‘Fuzzbox’ facilitated the link at the Garstang end. Andrews Addoquaye Tagoe from the Ghana Agricultural Workers Union also attended and spoke at the event.
Before the event the Fairtrade Steering Group met with community representatives interested in becoming part of the exchange visit to Ghana in 2004. Nick Maurice, Director of the UK One World Linking Association, attended the meeting. Alex Briault, Chair of the Garstang Fairtrade Steering Group, said that the day had been a great success and added, “to think that Fair Trade is just about cocoa or coffee or struggling Ghanaian farmers or struggling Ethiopian farmers is to miss the point. Fair Trade is about farmers all over the world, including those in the UK, who simply want to have a fair price to produce a quality product.”
Garstang Attracts Minister Double Whammy!
On Wednesday 2nd October 2002 Sally Keeble MP (Under Secretary of State for the Dept. for International Development) took time out of the Labour Party Conference to visit Garstang - the world's first Fairtrade Town. She was accompanied by Hilton Dawson MP for Lancaster and Wyre and his wife Susan and met with members of the Garstang Oxfam Group and the Garstang Fairtrade Steering comittee. While in Garstang she called in for a glass of fair trade wine at the Crown Pub, had lunch at the Coffee Pot cafe and visited Garstang Community Primary School where it is hoped that web cam links can be developed between pupils at the school and school children in Ghana. Sally Keeble was particularly impressed with the links made in Garstang between cocoa farmers in Ghana and local farmers struggling also to get a fair price for their produce and the work done in partnership with Garstang's schools. "It's a well thought through initiative," she said. "It also gives the town a unique selling point. The next time there is a Labour Party Conference we might encourage some people to stay here in a Fairtrade Town instead of in Blackpool."
This of course is not the first time Garstang has been honoured with a Ministerial visit. In June 2000 George Foulkes MP, the then Under Secretary of State for DfID, visited Garstang to celebrate its newly found status as the world's first Fairtrade Town. He then said, "..the beacon that has started here in Garstang can spread like wildfire across the whole of the country." Indeed now two years on his words have materialised. There are now six Fairtrade Towns and Cities across the UK, the latest of which is Haworth in West Yorkshire. There are a further 45 places working towards Fairtrade Status including Edinburgh, Belfast, Cardiff, Birmingham, Liverpool, Oxford and Cambridge.
Garstang and Ghana Exchange Visit
An exchange trip between Garstang and twin town New Koforidua is planned for the Summer of 2004. A group of about 10 local people, to include a farmer, teacher, business person, local councilor and school child will spend about 10 days visiting their Ghanaian counterparts in and around New Koforidua. Following the visit the Ghanaians will have a 10 days stay in Garstang hosted by their newly formed Garstang friends. Although still in its early stages the Fairtrade Steering Group organising the exchange are confident it will take place. The organisers will meet in the afternoon of November 23rd, before the Twin Town Celebration Evening, to start work on more detailed arrangements. This meeting will be attended by Nick Maurice, Director of the UK One World Linking Association.
It is very much hoped that the exchange will build on the Garstang / Ghana links already made and build up understanding between the two communities. In the words of the coffee producer Guillermo Vargus Leiton "If we can look one another in the eyes, we can understand each other's needs."
Garstang / New Koforidua Celebration Night
The Garstang Fairtrade Steering Group will celebrate Garstang's recent twinning with the cocoa farming community of New Koforidua in Ghana during an event to be held at Garstang's Westminster Club on Saturday 23rd November. During the event Ghanaian food and drink will be available as well as a performance and drumming workshop from Drumdance. With the help of local Web Site designers 'Fuzz Box' it is hoped that a web cam conferencing link, between people attending the event and the community of New Koforidua, can be established at some stage during the celebration. Tickets for the event cost £5, to include a buffet meal, and are available from the Discovery Centre, Cooperative Pioneer Supermarket and the Garstang Courier Office. All proceeds will go to the Garstang Fairtrade Steering Committee.
Fairtrade Town - What next?
Chester and Leicester have now joined Garstang in becoming Fairtrade Cities and there are many other towns and cities across the UK working towards Fairtrade status. But does the fair trade campaign stop once that Fairtrade status is achieved? We in Garstang hope not. Achieving Fairtrade status and increasing awareness of Fairtrade in your town or city is just the beginning and opens the door for much more work around fair trade issues, as the people of Garstang have discovered. The theme for Fairtrade Fortnight 2002 was about bringing the producer and consumer closer together. We feel this is applicable for local farmers also which is why we ran the event Garstang and Ghana - Why do their farmers get a raw deal? The links we have built up with Ghana, recently strengthened after Garstang twinned with its Ghanaian counterpart New Koforidia, will now be developed further. It is planned to hold video conferences between different aspects of Garstang's community and our Ghana links. The Fairtrade Foundation agree that the work should not end with achieving Fairtrade Town status and have published a document entitled 'Fairtrade Partners' containing further campaigning ideas.
Fairtrade Easter Eggs arrive in Garstang
Booths supermarket now stocks Fairtrade Easter eggs in their Garstang store. The 100g eggs made by Green and Black's are organic as well as carrying the Fairtrade Mark. Containing 34% cocoa solids this new arrival means we can now all enjoy delicious creamy milk chocolate eggs at Easter with a clear conscience. Thank you Booths!
Garstang features in Prime Minister's Question Time
During Prime Minister's Question Time on Wednesday 13th March, Hilton Dawson, M.P. for Lancaster and Wyre, raised the subject of Garstang's fair trade link up with Ghana. Garstang was heralded as an example to others after "linking up" with the Ghanaian cocoa producing community of New Koforidua during Fairtrade Fortnight. He asked the Prime Minister to agree that "This sort of initiative is precisely what we should welcome and precisely something which is in line with new economic policy for African development and will make globalisation work for the poor across the world." Tony Blair praised Garstang by replying "The point you make is right." The Government had cut Ghana's debt repayments by £250 million, he said, adding: "That is money that now can go into their health and education services."
The G.F.B.
Fairtrade Fortnight 2002 saw the appearance in Garstang of the G.F.B. (Garstang Fairtrade Banana). To make the G.F.B. simply place a peeled Fairtrade banana overnight in a refrigerator then melt delicious Fairtrade Divine milk chocolate and lovingly coat the banana from end to end. Replace in a refrigerator overnight to set. Simplicity at its best! It may not score many points on presentation but you will be driven bananas by its scrumptious divine taste! Eat your heart out Gary Rhodes!
Fairtrade Fortnight 2002
Fairtrade Fortnight 2002 will run from Monday 4th March to Sunday 17th March. Many events are planned in Garstang during that time of which some of these are listed below:
Monday 4th and Thursday 7th - The Fairtrade Steering Group will hold a Fair Trade stall outside Booths supermarket. Free samples available.
Saturday 9th - Coffee Morning and 'Bring and Buy' sale at Garstang Methodist Church Hall, Parkhill Road from 10am to 1pm. There will be displays, leaflets and Fairtrade video. Bring a 'Fairtrade' delicacy. All proceeds to go to 'Children in Need', Ghana.
Wednesday 13th - Garstang and Ghana - Why do their farmers get a raw deal? A public enquiry to be held at Myerscough Agricultural College, Bilsborrow starting at 1pm. A citizen's Jury will listen to testimonies from local farmers, Ghanaian farmers (including cocoa farmers from Garstang's twin town of New Koforidua) the Fairtrade Foundation, politicians and other interested parties. The Jury will then give recommendations on how the various players can help ensure farmers across the world get a fair price for their produce. The conclusions will be published on the Farmers Link page of this web site after the event. Fair Trade refreshments and stalls will be available and admission is free.
Monday 4th to Saturday 9th - Go Global fair trade/slave trade display will be in Garstang Library, Windsor road.
Monday 4th to Sunday 17th - Fairtrade Checklist Challenge! A competition for Garstang's Primary schools in which children have to count the number of coffee cup or banana posters in Garstang's town centre. First three correct entries win a bar of Fairtrade chocolate. Details available from any of the three Primary schools in Garstang.
Monday 4th to Sunday 17th - The Crown Hotel on the High Street will run a Fairtrade theme throughout Fairtrade Fortnight. As well as the usual Fairtrade tea and coffee they will also be selling the Co-op fair trade Chilean Carmenere red wine and Chilean oak aged Semillon white wine. Gary Rhodes' wonderful chocolate and banana desert (recipe donated to the Fairtrade Foundation) will also be served during the two weeks, and if successful it may well become a permanent feature? The Coffee Pot will of course sell its usual wide range of fair trade and local produce and Avis's specialty Fairtrade scones will be on offer during Fairtrade Fortnight including banana and chocolate flavours. During Fairtrade Fortnight the Co-op store will have a 20% reduction on all 17 of their Fairtrade Marked products as well as on their fair traded wines.
Garstang finds a Twin Town
At the Garstang town Council meeting held on Monday 18th February 2002, the Council accepted the proposal that Garstang forms a twin relationship with the town of New Koforidua outside Kumasi in Ghana. This is very much in line with Garstang's status as a Fairtrade Town because New Koforidua is a Fair Trade cocoa farming community, a part of the Kuapa Kokoo cooperative. The youngsters of the Go Global Group visited New Koforidua during their trip to Ghana in the summer of 2001.
New Koforidua, on the main Kumasi to Accra road, has a population of about 3,000 and three schools. It takes its name from Koforidua which is the provincial town for Ghana's Eastern Region. Koforidua is Twi (the local Ashanti language) for 'go to the forest tree'. The 'forest tree' would originally have been a place to trade, suggesting that, like Garstang, New Koforidua also evolved as a market town. It is hoped that this positive move by the town Council will further strengthen the links made between Garstang and Ghana. The decision can only help to build up a relationship between dairy farmers around Garstang and the cocoa farmers of New Koforidua in their common battle to get a fair price for their produce. See page on Farmers Link.
Fairtrade Steering Group set up in Garstang
On Monday 4th February 2002 Garstang will hold the inaugural meeting of its Fairtrade Steering Group in the Crown pub, High Street at 7.30pm. The Steering Group will ensure Garstang continues to be worthy of its title as the world's first Fairtrade Town . It will also coordinate events to be held in Garstang during Fairtrade Fortnight each year. Alex Briault, of the Garstang Oxfam Group, is acting as the interim Chairperson.
Chester becomes the first Fairtrade City
On Friday 18th January 2002 Chester became the first city to reach the five goals set by the Fairtrade Foundation to become the first Fairtrade City in the UK.
Tony Robinson comes to Garstang
On Thursday 22nd November 2001 Tony Robinson, of 'Blackadder' and 'Time Team' fame, unveiled a plaque to commemorate Garstang as the world's first Fairtrade Town. The unveiling ceremony took place at the Discovery Centre in Garstang. The plaque, sponsored by the Co-operative Group, will be permanently erected outside the Discovery Centre at the bottom of Garstang High Street. Harriet Lamb, Director of the Fairtrade Foundation, also presented the very first Fairtrade Town certificate to Councillor Lady Dulcie Atkins the town's Mayor. The new Garstang Fairtrade / Local Produce Directory was also launched at this event and is now available from the Discovery Centre and other outlets in and around Garstang. See Making Garstang a Fairtrade Town for further information on the day's activities.
Fairtrade Town Initiative launched Nationwide
You can now make your town (or city) a Fairtrade Town!
During September 2001 the Fairtrade Foundation launched the Fairtrade Town initiative across the UK. There are five goals to be achieved in order to create a Fairtrade Town, City or Zone. The Fairtrade Foundation will then officially recognise the achievement with the presentation of a certificate. For further details on how to become a Fairtrade Town, City or Zone you can obtain an Action Guide from the Fairtrade Foundation by calling 0207 405 5942 or visit their web site.
You can also join the Fairtrade Town online discussion forum by sending your message to FairtradeTown@yahoogroups.com
Go Global Go Ghana - and return!
On August 5th the Go Global team of 7 adults and 5 youngsters returned from their 3 week voyage of Ghana. While there they investigated the issues of Fairtrade, the Atlantic Slave Trade and Child Labour. For more information on their trip see Go Global Go Ghana.
Fairtrade Mark Survey 2001
Following Fairtrade Fortnight 2001 (5th - 18th March) the Fairtrade Foundation conducted a national survey that showed a 20% recognition of the Fairtrade Mark across the UK. The same survey was carried out in Garstang. 104 local people were surveyed showing a remarkable 71% recognition of the Fairtrade Mark. Perhaps more interesting is the fact that 91% of local people asked were aware that Garstang is the world's first Fairtrade Town suggesting that it is this initiative that has led to the increase in awareness of Fairtrade in Garstang. For the full results of this survey see Fairtrade Mark Survey 2001.
Fairtrade Town 1st Anniversary
In April 2001, one year on from Garstang becoming a Fairtrade Town the Garstang Oxfam Group went back to the premises in Garstang to see if they were still honouring the pledge forms stating that Fairtrade tea and coffee would be drunk on the premises. Out of a total of 96 premises asked only 2 declared they would no longer use Fairtrade drinks. Most of these are continuing to display the Fairtrade sticker.
For a list of the premises (excluding churches and schools) see the Fairtrade Directory.
Fairtrade Fortnight 2001
During Fairtrade Fortnight 2001 (5th - 18th March) the whole community of Garstang held events to promote awareness of Fairtrade and raise money for Comic Relief (Red Nose Day was on Friday 16th March). Many local businesses took part together with all the churches and schools in Garstang. A total of £1,493.79 was raised for the Garstang for Comic Relief account opened especially for Fairtrade Fortnight. Much more money raised was paid directly to Comic Relief and this amount unfortunately was not recorded. See the page Events and Exhibitions for details of some of the events held.
Road Signs Go Up
On Wednesday 28th February 2001 four road signs went up on Garstang's boundary stating "Garstang World's First Fairtrade town". These signs were sponsored by the Co-op and erected with permission from Lancashire County Council and Garstang Town Council. See Making Garstang a Fairtrade Town for photograph of the event.
