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Fairtrade Fortnight 2011

Fairtrade Fortnight is from 28th February until 13th March. The Movement for Reform Judaism, as part of the Jewish Social Action Forum supports the Fairtrade campaign in the Jewish community. Find out how you and your community can get involved.

The Fairtrade Foundation's vision is of a world in which everyone, through their work, can maintain a decent and dignified livelihood and develop their full potential.

Fairtrade Fortnight is an annual event showing why fairtrade matters.

Download your copy of the Jewish Guide to Fairtrade and visit the Fairtrade Foundation website for more information and details of events taking place across the country.

Tzedek, the UK Jewish community's response to extreme poverty in the developing world, have resources on trade education which can be downloaded at their website and you can book a speaker from Traidcraft. Traidcraft's network of speakers across the UK can deliver an interesting presentation about fairtrade and their work fighting poverty through trade. They can also explain the many ways you can get involved.

Fairtrade Simchot

By turning your simcha or event fairtrade you are ensuring that whilst you celebrate, you are also improving the lives of the world's poorest farmers in the developing world. You can source fairtrade flowers, food, cotton tableware and even kippot for your event.  Download your guide to Fairtrade Simchot.

Fairtrade Kippot

As part of the Jewish community’s Fairtrade Campaign, members of the Jewish Social Action Forum have produced fairtrade cotton kippot. They are made of fairtrade yarn which has been ethically sourced and woven by a women’s cooperative in India. By purchasing a kippah you are ensuring that cotton farmers in the developing world can improve their livelihoods. Cotton is one of the focuses for the fairtrade movement this year. You can read about the 'great cotton stitch up' here.

In addition, the Assembly of Reform Rabbis UK has drawn up a comprehensive Sustainability Plan. The plan covers education, action and advocacy points on 15 key issues – consumption of meat, consumption of fish, caterers, water footprint, packaging, food miles, pesticide use, food waste, palm oil, free-range, organic, shade-grown coffee, fairly-traded goods, unethical brands and economic awareness. Find out more about the Assembly of Rabbis Sustainability Plan.