Park Primary eco warriers fight for Fairtrade
Park Primary School Eco Group has been leading the way in promoting a living wage and Fairtrade last week, writes Fiona Scott.
As part of Fairtrade Fortnight, the group of 12 has been encouraging pupils and staff within the school to opt for snacks that carry the Fairtrade logo as well as lobbying the larger supermarkets within Oban.
Group spokesperson Mirren McKenzie, 11, was not impressed with the response from the latter.
‘It was quite disappointing because only Marks and Spencer got back to us to let us know which Fairtrade products they use and the others didn’t even bother to respond,’ she told us.
‘As a group, we have been working really hard at getting people to be more aware about where our food comes from and that is starting to show in school and at home.
‘If the big shops joined in, too, then it would really make a difference.’
On Thursday and Friday last week the group set out a stall at the school selling only Fairtrade snacks, which went down very well at break time.
‘Farmers work very hard to produce a lot of the items we have for sale and it’s only fair that they get a decent pay,’ said 10-yearold Layla Anderson.
‘We could even run out of chocolate if things don’t improve because the farmers who produce the cocoa may just quit if they don’t get paid enough for it.’