Big County leaders focus on Fairtrade
Councillors unite to help achieve zone status
Perth and Kinross Councillors are banding together to achieve Fairtrade Zone Status for the whole area.
One Councillor from each of the 12 electoral wards has volunteered to act as a Fairtrade Champion or to pass on relevant information, promoting the benefits of Fairtrade to businesses and residents in their area, and acting as a link to their local Community Councils.
Buying Fairtrade goods supports producers in other countries, ensuring they are paid a fair price for their goods, have safe working conditions and use responsible environmental practices.
Perth and Kinross has a long history of supporting the Fairtrade movement. In 2002 Aberfeldy became the first Fairtrade Town in Scotland, and in 2005 Perth became a Fairtrade City and Kinross-shire became Scotland’s first Fairtrade County.
Karena Jarvie of the Kinrossshire Fairtrade Steering Group, also chairs the Perth and Kinross Fairtrade Steering Group, which brings together representatives who support Fairtrade, from across the area.
Karena said: “It is important that we work together across the whole area to emphasise the importance of using and selling Fairtrade products.
“The group was very pleased to get an extremely positive response to our request for Councillors to be Fairtrade Champions in their wards.
“We now have councillors in all 12 Wards who have agreed to take on this role or to support the campaign by passing on information to their area.”
“We now need the support of people and communities across Perth and Kinross. Everyone can help by keeping up to date and sharing developments on our Facebook and Twitter pages, asking their local shop, workplace, school and church to buy and use Fairtrade products, and of course by choosing to buy Fairtrade products wherever possible.”
The Fairtrade Champion Councillors are: • Ward 1 – Carse of Gowrie: Councillor Douglas Pover • Ward 2 – Strathmore: Councillor Lewis Simpson • Ward 3 – Blairgowrie and the Glens: Councillor Bob Ellis • Ward 4 – Highland: Councillor MikeWilliamson • Ward 5 – Strathtay: Councillor Grant Laing • Ward 6 – Strathearn: Councillor Rhona Brock • Ward 7 – Strathallan: Councillor Ann Gaunt • Ward 8 – Kinross-shire: Councillor Branding for Fairtrade Fortnight 2016
Willie Robertson • Ward 9 – Almond and Earn: Councillor Alan Livingstone • Ward 10 – Perth South: Councillor WillieWilson • Ward 11 – Perth North: Councillor John Flynn • Ward 12 – Perth City Centre: Councillor Peter Barrett
For more information and updates about the work to achieve Fairtrade Zone Status for Perth and Kinross visit http://www.investinperth. co.uk/support/fair-trade-in-perthkinross or search for P&K Fairtrade Zone Group on Facebook, and @ PKFairtrade on Twitter.