Fairtrade Fortnight

The Fairtrade Fortnight is a two-week period all throughout the UK to raise awareness about fairtrade products and issues. It started February 25th and extends to March 8, I think. I haven't heard too much about goings-on, the university fairtrade group had a kickoff party featuring food made entirely of fairtrade ingredients. After Mass at the church I go to, there is always fairtrade coffee and tea, and this past Sunday the local MP (Member of Parliament), Nigel Griffiths, came to talk to the parishoners, especially to hear economics/fairtrade concerns.

A few stores have advertised that they have such-and-such fairtrade products, but I think mostly it is a period in which individuals try to put pressure on supermarkets to supply more fairtrade food, and when the local governments vow to support (or renew support for) developing nations.


Also, people actually use the word "fortnight" in everyday speech. "My tutorial meets fortnightly." "I went to Stirling about a fortnight ago." So on. Amazing!