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what is a Fairtrade town?
A Fairtrade town is one committed to provide itself with solidarity, sustainability and justice, all of it through the usage of FLO certified products.
who says a town is a Fairtrade town?
Well, the declaration procedure has changed slightly over time...
On thursday April 27th 2000, at an unusual public Town meeting, Garstang (Lancashire, United Kingdom) became the first of its kind in the world; as you may see in their own web, they appointed themselves, through their own resolution.
You can find the full story in Harriet Lamb's amazing book; it all was started some years earlier, by an enthusiastic Oxfam supporter, until all circumstances summoned up in one magical night...
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| two views of Garstang |
Nowadays, to be part of the club you have to apply for it and get assessed by any FLO national labelling initiative.
For example, the representative of FLO in the UK is the Fairtrade Foundation, and you can find all the information you need in their beautiful website.
Simply put, to be registered a town must formally declare its commitment to use Fairtrade certified products wherever possible and document it accordingly.
After Garstang, many other towns and cities have followed their steps, so that only in the United Kingdom, by May 2008 there were more than 340 registered towns. Other countries are also following this kind of certification, with Belgium towns in Flanders area doing nicely.
Italy and the nordic countries are also working on this, so that Rome and Copenhagen are already certified. By the end of 2008 there were some 560 Fairtrade towns all over the world.
Here in Spain, Córdoba has become in February 2008 the first Fairtrade town, appointed by IDEAS,
a spanish Fair Trade NGO. Some others are working for it... like Madrid (where I live 
);
we have done one of the five steps, the Town Hall resolution, in last June.
London has become the world's largest Fairtrade city; its mayor announced this on October 23rd 2008. Now they can proudly feel the Fair Trade capital of the world!
On the american side of the Atlantic, the USA has already several of them; Media, PA was the first one and San Francisco has recently joined. Canada scored its first one, Wolfville, in April 2007.
You can find the whole list of Fairtrade towns, cities, provinces, islands and more here
To help interested towns, TransFair USA offers a resource kit with information about becoming a certified town; you can have a look here and see how many tips and strategies they suggest.
which criteria are followed?
The procedure usually goes like this:
- A local Fair Trade steering committee is formed and meets regularly; they try to increase awareness of Fair Trade products through education and events.
- Fair Trade products, either certified or not, must be available in stores or elsewhere.
- Local organizations (churches, schools, the Town Hall, etc.) use Fair Trade products.
- There is some media coverage and support, and...
- The Town Council passes a resolution supporting Fair Trade.
Well, that's how it works!
a step beyond
Also, there is a number of Fair Trade universities, about 70 in Europe and in October 2008, the first one in the USA: the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh.
In june 2008 Wales has managed to be the first Fair Trade nation! The initiative was started two years earlier by the Wales Fair Trade Forum and has ended with the recognition from the Prime Minister of Wales. Congratulations!
