Fairtrade Fortnight 2023’s theme focussed on how the climate crisis endangers the future of some of the planet’s most beloved food products (bananas, chocolate and coffee) and the livelihoods of the farmers and agricultural workers who grow them. Unseasonal and unpredictable weather, storms, floods, droughts and increased plant diseases are making it hard for farmers to continue farming. Many low-income farmers do not have the resources to invest in recovery and adaptation. Many are leaving farming and their children are seeking alternatives. Fairtrade Certification offers farmers hope: a guaranteed minimum price allows them to earn a living income; an additional Premium Payment which they can choose to spend on improving their businesses, their communities and their environment. Training programmes which advise on sustainable farming methods, tree planting and soil improvement are resulting in higher and better-quality yields and healthy plants more resilient to diseases. Farmers can see a future with Fairtrade. This short (5 minutes) video about banana farmers in Colombia illustrates how Fairtrade is helping them: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_bBWAgKWBg And in this one a coffee farmer in Kenya explains how climate change is affecting his vegetable crops: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rR0YqhDmIw Fairtrade Ambassador, and cocoa farmer, Deborah Osei-Mensah, said to world leaders at COP 27: “If cocoa is not profitable for farmers, they will look elsewhere to source the income they need. They’ll move to industrialisation – they might sell their land to mines, to manufacturers. But once they are getting fair prices, farmers will protect their farm. Farmers use the Fairtrade Premium to contribute to their communities. If they feel they are being supported, they can invest in the future of food security.” Gosport Fairtrade Action campaigners, including Sarah Hirom, who is also a member of GFFOE, highlighted these issues during Fairtrade Fortnight at a Fairtrade tea party, hosted by the Mayor, for local environmental activists including GFFOE’s Lesley Goddard. GFA also had displays in the Discovery Centre, the Town Hall and Elson Community Library and Hub where they talked to the Sewing Group and the Senior Moments Coffee Morning (with coffee and chocolate tasting) about Fairtrade and endangered products. A key message is that whatever your budget and wherever you shop, when you choose Fairtrade, you support farmers to care for the environment through the Fairtrade Price, Premium and Programmes.
Sarah Hirom, GFA Co-ordinator, said: “We can all play a part. The future survival of the world’s most popular foods – such as bananas, cocoa, and coffee – depends upon the achievement of inclusive and equitable climate solutions. Farmers, who did little to cause the climate crisis, in all fairness, need help to address the consequences. We need to encourage our Government to support them, through the Loss and Damage Fund agreed internationally last year and helpful trade agreements.”. The last word to goes to Deborah Osei Mensah: “I want every one of us to be more conscious of the products we buy. Together, let’s make the future fair. Let’s buy more Fairtrade. Let’s advocate for producers across the globe to make sure we have a fair future for each and everyone.”
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![]() As part of the response to the COP 27 event in Egypt, groups around the world, including the UK, met to hold a Climate March on Saturday 12th November. Portsmouth was our nearest city and I decided to take part. This was my first Climate March and it was something I had wanted to do for a long time but, despite asking like-minded friends and members of various Eco groups, I have never managed to have someone to accompany me and I was not feeling brave enough to go on my own! However, since joining the Gosport and Fareham Friends of the Earth, and in particular the Trees and Bees group, I have met a great group of committed people who have made me welcome and who were also going to the March. I plucked up the courage and arranged to join them there. On the way I met people I knew from the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, so I already felt in good company. As this was my first march I was unsure what to expect. To be honest I had anticipated that there would be more people in Guildhall Square but nevertheless it was encouraging to see the passion and commitment of those attending. It was also good to hear a range of speakers and especially people from Sudan and Bangladesh, who are suffering at first hand the worst effects of climate change and yet have done the least to contribute towards it. Once the first speeches were finished we then marched from Guildhall Square up to the Commercial Road precinct and back again. I confess that I felt nervous walking through the busy shopping area as I wasn’t sure what reaction we would get from the shoppers, but it was nevertheless uplifting to be part of a group of environmentalists who want to see a change for the better, to save our planet from its current path of destruction. Once we returned to the Square there were more speeches and a sterling performance on the Guildhall steps by the GFFoE group, who put on a King Canute play to emphasise climate change issues and its challenges, exacerbated by the attitudes of leaders and industrialists. It can be easy to become disheartened by the inaction of the world’s Governments in the face of so much scientific evidence about the harm that we are causing to the earth. As individuals we can often feel powerless. By taking part in the march I felt that I was doing something practical to voice my concerns. Seeing the number of people and groups who feel the same way and are battling to keep these issues on the political agenda was encouraging. If you have not been on a march before I encourage you to give it a go! The more of us who can show that we care the better. Elaine Johnson ![]() Of course, the most important way to reduce food waste is meal planning and portion control. When you make a recipe the first time, you might find its enough for 1.5 meals for your household - so make a note on the recipe - then you have some choices:
My newest trick, thanks Meg - see photo - is to help keep shop bought herbs for far longer in my fridge. I fill a glass with water, put the herb stalks in the water (as if they are cut flowers) and then store in one of the fridge-door shelves. They last so much longer. (FYI placing them on the top shelf of the fridge, near the light, brings a quick death to the herbs). Much food comes with too much packaging - so consider buying ingredients from https://ecofreaksuk.com/?v=79cba1185463 in Lee on the Solent. Take along your empty jars + lids, they weight them, you refill and then they calculate the cost. Eco freak's sister shop is the trash cafe in Gosport - they make sure food from supermarkets, which would otherwise go to landfill - is eaten up. https://trashcafe.com/?page_id=1024 They also deliver hampers, much recommended by some GFFOE members. For Fareham residents there are https://www.fareham.gov.uk/leisure/community_pantries.aspx Gosport Shop – Trash Cafe 49a Stoke Road, Gosport, PO121LS – ( Not a Cafe) open for shopping. Mon, Tue, Thur & Friday – 10-12am. Wednesday 5-7pm. Saturday 10:30am-1pm. Sunday 10:30-12:30 trashcafe.com Eco Freaks Emporium – Zero-Waste Store
Coconutty Soapnut Shampoo Bar ( 90G ) £ 6.00 Organic Cotton Wool Balls £ 2.30; Organic Aduki Beans £ 0.01 per g/ 75p per 100g; Friendly Soap Tea Tree & Turmeric Soap Bar £ 3.00; Organic Mulberries £ 0.01 per g/ £1.48 per 100g; Mr Organic | Dairy Free Lasagne Sauce | 1 x 350ml £ 2.90; MAKE YOUR OWN CANDLE KIT – MIMOSA & MANDARIN £ 16.99; VEGAN Salted Caramel Fudge (100g) by Fudgin ... ecofreaksuk.com Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit reports that New Government statistics on UK energy trends in quarter 1 of 2022 show that the shortfall in gas generation is being filled by cheaper renewables, namely wind and solar, which have increased their share of electricity generation on the same quarter last year.
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The views expressed in these articles are those of the authors and may not reflect the views of Gosport and Fareham Friends of the Earth. Archives
April 2023
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