The last couple of weeks has been the annual Fairtrade Fortnight; a two week homage to all things Fairtrade. You may have been to one of the craft fairs which have been taking place or noticed that Fairtrade events have been plastered all over Facebook and Twitter. Whatever you have bought, seen or done over the past two weeks they all make a difference.
Fairtrade Fortnight 2011 poster
According to recent research undertaken by the Fairtrade Foundation, awareness of Fairtrade Fortnight this year was up by 10 million people since Fairtrade Fortnight 2010. That is a massive increase. Opulent Ethics hopes it keeps going.
If you have been on the Fairtrade Foundation website you will have noticed the massive amount of work that they have put into the event; encouraging Fairtrade towns, schools and church groups to take part, offering awards for those supporters who have really bent over backwards to raise awareness and even setting daily challenges on Facebook and Twitter to get you involved.
Of course, Fairtrade has already had an enormous impact on the jewellery industry so far this year with the release of Fairtrade and Fairmined gold on Valentines Day. This was then followed by the announcement that the wedding rings worn by Prince William and Kate Middleton may be Fairtrade. You can be just like Opulent Ethics and sign the GoPetition petition to convince the royal couple that their rings will be more beautiful if they use Fairtrade gold. And then there was Livia Firth wearing Fairtrade gold and a dress made of 11 other dresses on the Oscars Red Carpet. Busy busy busy!
Livia Firth wearing Anna Loucah's Fairtrade gold ring for the 2011 Oscars
And why is this of so much importance? Well, according to the Fairtrade Foundation there are 7.5 million people who work under Fairtrade principles to improve their lifestyles and communities and it is events like those taking place during Fairtrade Fortnight which are needed to continue raising awareness and increasing the numbers of people and communities that Fairtrade can reach out to.
With Fairtrade profits and participants rising year on year 2011 is going to be another exciting and busy year for all those who are involved. So well done to all who took part and keep up the hard work!
That’s all for now….
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