Tunbridge Wells Celebrates World Fair Trade Day

A new community art installation will be on display in Tunbridge Wells from the 12th May, World Fair Trade Day. Entitled ‘take a step for Fairtrade’, it is a celebration of the benefits Fairtrade brings to farmers across the world. Over 1000 students from local schools have contributed to the project, which combines sight and sound to create an unusual and stimulating work of art.

The installation, which will be in place for two weeks, follows the theme set this year by the Fairtrade Foundation, ‘Take a step for Fairtrade’, which encourages all UK consumers to commit further to support the aims of Fairtrade by each taking their own ‘step’ to help the world’s poorest.

Farmers in developing countries work hard to secure a living and support their families,only to see the fruits of their labour swallowed through unjust global trading systems. These allow multinationals to flood the markets with cheaper produce, eventually forcing them out of business. They sink deeper into the spiral of debt and poverty in their struggle to survive.

The Fairtrade foundation works with farmers, guaranteeing a fair price for their produce, plus a social premium for business or community development. By supporting these producers we are standing up for justice in the market place. Simply by using our consumer power we can change the world for the better.

"Let justice roll on like a river, righteousness
like a never-failing stream" Amos 5:24