Helping to make life fairer (From Gazette Series)

Helping to make life fairer

COUNCILLORS from Cam and Dursley were presented with hampers of Fairtrade products on Wednesday by the towns' Fairtrade Town Bid Committee.

Both councils have given their formal support to the bid that is being made to gain Dursley and Cam Fairtrade Town status by March, 2005.

They will have tea, coffee and sugar in their offices and support events throughout the year. Residents and businesses are being asked to become involved by using one or more Fairtrade products in their work place.

Committee member Su Chard said: "By doing something as simple as using fairly traded tea in the work place, people could significantly change the lives of workers in the southern hemisphere.

"Fairtrade products ensure producers get a fair price for their products enabling them to have a fair standard of living, education for their children, clean water and access to medical help."

She said that the committee needed to know if any businesses were already using Fairtrade products so the information could be added to the bid.

To find out how to help Cam and Dursley reach their goal, ring 01453 546049.

By next March the bid committee will have produced a directory leaflet showing all the places selling Fairtrade tea, coffee, chocolate and many other products. "If our bid is sucessful, we will have signs announcing that Cam and Dursley are Fairtrade towns, joining the county's other successes, Stroud and Nailsworth," said Ms Chard.