24 February 2011
A Fairtrade flag will fly above the Town Hall in Eastbourne to mark Fairtrade Fortnight. For two weeks, the Fairtrade flag will replace the Union Flag that normally flies above the Town Hall.
Leader of Eastbourne Borough Council, Councillor David Tutt says, “purchasing fairly traded goods really can make a major difference to some of the worlds poorest communities.”
The council is working with the local fair-trade organisers in Eastbourne to encourage the town to become a fair-trade town and see this as an ideal way of showing support.
Matt Wilkinson, Group Chair of Fairtrade Eastbourne says, “This year's Fairtrade Fortnight, beginning on Monday 28th February, is about showing off the Fairtrade Mark and I was thrilled when the Town Hall agreed to fly a Fairtrade cotton flag.
It was very important to us that the flag be made of Fairtrade cotton and so we set about sourcing the material and planning how to make it ourselves. Fortunately we found a UK website selling Fairtrade fabric that also had the right colours. I'm very pleased with the final result and can't wait to see it raised for the first time!
Cotton could have an enormous positive impact if poor farmers could get a fair price for their produce on the international market. However, European and American subsidies to their own cotton farmers are squeezing out 10 million West African farmers who rely on cotton as one of their principle exports. That's why the role of Fairtrade is so important.
Choosing Fairtrade cotton ensures that farmers in India and Africa get a fair deal. If Eastbourne shoppers choose to wear more Fairtrade cotton it would make a real difference to the lives of poor farmers, their families and communities.”
