25 February 2011

A feast to start Fairtrade Fortnight

Students, staff and visitors to the University of Dundee will be encouraged to consider the ethics of their shopping choices over the next two weeks.

This year’s Fairtrade Fortnight will get off to a mouth-watering start next week when a fairtrade chocolate fountain is unveiled at Dundee University Students Association (DUSA) on Monday, 28th February at 12pm.

The next two weeks will see a host of free events aimed at raising awareness of the benefits of Fairtrade. Activities planned include a stall in DUSA every weekday selling fair-trade goods, a fashion show at Mono on Friday, 4th March, coffee and tea taste tests, curry and rice pudding taste tests, film screenings on Campus Green and fair-trade quizzes being held on Sunday 6th and 13th of March.

Environment and Sustainability officer Trudy Cunningham said the Fairtrade Fortnight was part of a wider effort by the University to promote and sustain fairer trade alternatives.

'Fairtrade foods are already available in all campus shops and are used in all cafes, restaurants and bars on campus,' she said. 'Buying fairtrade goods helps provide support through trade for marginalized farmers in the developing world by implementing and constantly reassessing standards regarding the workers rights on issues such as conditions, wages, child labour and the environment.

'Fairtrade Fortnight is aimed at reminding people of the benefits of fairtrade and having fun at the same time.'

For more information on the events visit www.dundee.ac.uk/estates/energy&environment/whatson/

For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07854 953277