The global grass roots Fair Trade movement is under threat and we need to act now to dispel the myth that the Fair Trade global movement is coming to an end.
In light of the Fairtrade Foundation's announcement that they are proud to be partnering with Cadbury, to expand their cocoa sourcing program - Cocoa Life - which will include a FAIRTRADE Mark on a product that does not contain FAIRTRADE cocoa.
We the undersigned call on the UK and European Fair Trade movement to unite in expressing our grave concern that this is a further watering down of the Fair Trade Principles that underpin the global Fair Trade movement.
Gaining access and winning over the big players of the market was never the intention of Fair Trade.
We call on ALL the Fair Trade players, in the UK and Europe, to resist the downgrading of Fair Trade by the dominant players, to a market driven charity!
The WFTO Guarantee System, developed by and for its members, guarantees the Fair Trade credentials of its members while being credible yet affordable, especially for small producers.

“The alliance between producers and consumers is at the heart of fair trade; they agree to follow trade regulations in order not to harm anyone. This trade is both a rebellion and a proposal. It is a different model, a market model within the market, a powerful strategy for producers and consumers to take back the responsibility and actual power to initiate and implement trade alternatives. (Frans van der Hoff)