Barbara Crowther

Recent Activity

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  Barbara commented on the article | about 3 years ago

  What is Fair Trade?

  For me, as well as being a way of doing trade to deliver more sustainable outcomes for both people living in poverty and the planet, fair trade is a people's movement for change. It seeks to empower both ends of a supply chain - the producer and the consumer - with a united vision of trade tackling inequality, promoting social and economic development and protecting the planet. Although I work for one of the Fairtrade labelling organisations (Fairtrade Foundation UK), we see certification only as a means to a much bigger end, and that is tipping the balance of international trade in favour of those who are traditionally marginalised or exploited by conventional trade, and using the benefits to build better stronger communities. Certification is one tool to do that, but there are others - the dedicated fair trade business model, other forms of producer support and empowerment, as well as public awareness and trade justice campaigning in both North and South.

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  Barbara commented on the article | about 3 years ago

  Cadbury Chocolate Goes Fair Trade

  Hi, Barbara here from the Fairtrade Foundation in the UK - we're brimming with excitement here! This is just the start - as well as the Cadbury Dairy Milk bar, they've already said they're going to also commit to all their cocoa beverages going Fairtrade in the UK and Ireland, and we're already talking about taking the Cadbury Dairy Milk Fairtrade commitment to other countries too, and other products in the longer term.  You can follow the unfolding story, find out the history behind this, and ask your questions, on Cadbury's new blog at cadburydairymilk.typepad.com.
  
  I want to pay tribute too to the 100% Fair Trade chocolate brands - like Divine - who've done so much to build this market, worked with the cocoa growers in Ghana, and also operate a 'Gold Standard' model with additional profits reinvested back into growers' communities and, crucially, a massive stake in owning the brand too. We set out together to take Fair Trade into the mainstream - Cadbury's commitment today takes us one step (one giant leap?) further! So tonight, I'm going to eat a bar of Divine chocolate to celebrate! (Come late Summer, I reckon I'll be tucking into the odd bar of Cadbury Dairy Milk Fairtrade too)
  
  Barbara
  www.fairtrade.org.uk