STUDENTS from one Bexley school are already backing the campaign to make Bexley a Fairtrade borough.

Tonight’s (March 2) motion to Bexley Council is being backed by pupils at Blackfen School for Girls in Blackfen, who have spent months investigating the lives of farmers in developing countries who produce goods such as tea, chocolate and bananas for the UK market.

Shenel Shekerzade, 11, said: “Many cocoa farmers in Ghana get only 7p from a £1 bar of chocolate.

“We don’t think that is fair.

“That is why we want Bexley to support trade by becoming a Fairtrade borough.”

The pupils, who will be in the council chamber tonight to hear the debate, say Fairtrade does not affect local farmers because they grow different produce, but provides farmers in poorer countries with the money to improve their communities.

Councillor wants Bexley to be Fairtrade borough

AN oppostion Labour councillor is to make another attempt to persuade Bexley to become a Fairtrade borough.

Councillor Munir Malik who represents Thamesmead East, is to propose Bexley becomes the 22nd London borough out of 32, to take up the Fairtrade mantle.

The motion goes before Bexley Council tonight (March 2).

But the last time councillors voted on the issue in 2009, it was defeated by 44 to eight with seven Tories abstaining.

London became a Fairtrade city in 2008 and Labour councillors hope they can persuade their Tory colleagues to back the proposal this time round.

Becoming a Fairtrade borough would commit the council to a series of activities.

These include offering Fairtrade food and drinks as an option within the council; urging local retailers to offer Fairtrade as well as other goods, both internally and to the public; publicising the Fairtrade Towns initiative; organising events and publicity during Fairtrade Fortnight.

It would also mean nominating a councillor to sit on the Fairtrade steering group to support the ongoing work to promote Fairtrade in Bexley.

Cllr Malik says a number of community groups such as churches and schools are supporting Fairtrade Fortnight, which runs for the next two weeks, with events.

He also claims increasing numbers of shops and cafes in the borough are selling Fairtrade goods.

Cllr Malik acknowledges the current financial difficulties of the council and says he would not expect the council to do anything which would mean spending extra money.

But he says the council could help the steering group raise funds and find sponsorship.

Leading Fairtrade supporter plans more Fairtrade products

JUST around the corner from Blackfen School for Girls, the Co-op store in Westwood Lane, Blackfen, marked the launch of Fairtrade Fortnight with staff dressed in giant fruit costumes and a series of Fairtrade offers.

The Co-op claims to be the UK’s leading supermarket supporter of Fairtrade and says it now has plans to convert more of its own-brand products to Fairtrade.

It is already sourcing the first ever fresh Fairtrade blueberries from Chile.

Not only does Fairtrade guarantee a fair price for the producers but also gives a social premium to fund community projects.

Store manager Gurj Singh said: “Hopefully our over-sized antics will have encouraged shoppers to stop and think about the global benefits of picking up Fairtrade products locally.”