Bristol University’s Fair Trade Society (UBFT) is organising a week of events [November 17 to 23] to raise awareness amongst students about trade justice issues as part of the society’s campaign to make Bristol into a Fair Trade University.
Planned activities for the week include awareness stalls around the precinct with key information and free samples, an unfair tug of war where the rules are rigged with 50 western shoppers against three representatives of the developing world and a public lecture on the Economics of globalisation.
The UBFT is working to transform Bristol into an accredited Fair Trade University. In order to achieve Fairtrade accreditation the University must meet the five goals set up by the Fairtrade Foundation. The goals include to stock and promote Fairtrade goods at University shops and outlets, serve Fairtrade products at University and Students’ Union meetings and establish a written policy and steering group on setting and meeting Fairtrade targets.
David Biles, President of the Fair Trade Society, said: “There is an incredibly pressing need for Trade Justice and buying Fairtrade can play a practical role in increasing the sale of products which benefit the world’s poorest nations.”
Events taking place during the week include:
University-wide awareness stalls together with a petition to support making Bristol University a Fairtrade University, along with support for Oxfam’s Big Noise trade justice campaign, a global petition to make trade fair.
Tuesday, November 18. Public lecture, entitled Economics of Globalisation, from 6 to 7.30 pm at the Unitarian Church, Brunswick Square, Bristol. The speakers are Paul Dunne, Professor of Economics at the University of the West of England; Sam Perlo-Freeman, co-author of Oxfam’s arms trade paper and Mike Sansom, co-ordinator of African Initiatives.
Thursday, November 20. An Unfair Tug of War, on the grass opposite Senate House, Tyndall Avenue, from 1 to 2 pm.
Thursday, November 20. Fair Play Club night at the Warehouse, Prince Street, with fairtrade cocktails and chocolate bars continuing the theme into the early hours.