Campaigner at national event
A FAIRTRADE campaigner from Barwell represented the East Midlands at a national event.
Mathew Hulbert, who chairs Hinckley and Bosworth Fairtrade Forum, is the region’s representative on the Fairtrade Foundation’s National Campaigner Committee (NCC.)
He attended the Foundation’s national supporters’ conference in London, alongside fellow campaigners from across the region, and Fairtrade Foundation chief executive Michael Gidney.
A keynote discussion considered the future of the Fairtrade mark, in the light of moves by supermarket chain Sainsbury’s to drop the branding in favour of its own ethical standards labelling.
NCC chairman Barbara Gwinnett, who spearheaded a change.org online petition calling on Sainsbury’s to reverse its decision, spoke about the importance of work by campaigners and supporters across the country in encouraging big businesses to stick with Fairtrade.
Mr Hulbert, who was Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council’s Fairtrade champion from 2012 to 2015, said: “It was a real honour to attend this conference on behalf of Hinckley and Bosworth and to meet and talk with so many Fairtrade campaigners and supporters from our region and across the country.
“The Fairtrade Mark remains the most recognised and trusted ethical label, with nine out of every ten people recognising it and 83% saying it’s trusted more than any other such label.
“This shows that, despite real challenges and need to innovate further, people continue to recognise that by simply buying an item with the Fairtrade Mark on it, they not only get a great product but also ensure that developing world farmers, growers and miners get paid a fairer wage.
“And they are able to spend the Fairtrade Premium in their communities on much needed schools, transport and other infrastructure projects.
“I’m so proud of all of the efforts of campaigners, locally, regionally and nationally, for continuing to do all we can to ensure this compelling answer to the problems of trade injustice continues to work so well in helping those who need it the most.”
To find out more about Mathew’s work on the NCC, you can follow him on Twitter via @EastMidsFTNCC and @HulbertMathew.