Fair Trade Forum 2007 in Perth

Scotland's first fair trade forum was launched this week in Perth by International Development Minister Patricia Ferguson.  One of the topics of discussion is movement towards making Scotland a "fair trade nation."  If successful, Scotland may become a leading player in the fight against poverty worldwide, moving fair trade beyond "product-based" or even "company-level" approaches, and into the realm of public policy.

The criteria Scotland is working to meet in order to attain "fair trade nation" status are as follows:

• 100 per cent of local authorities to have active Fair Trade groups working towards Fair Trade status
• 55 per cent of local authority areas to have Fair Trade status, with 10% annual increase in following years
• All of Scotland's cities to have Fair Trade status
• Minimum of 55 per cent of Scottish towns to have active Fair Trade groups working towards Fair Trade status
• 60 per cent of Higher Education institutions to have active Fair Trade groups working towards Fair Trade status
• Increase by 5 per cent each year the proportion of the population who know about Fair Trade (currently 45 per cent)
• 75 per cent of people to buy a Fair Trade product every year
• 40 per cent of people who regularly buy Fair Trade products

According to the BBC: "Fair trade activism is one of the fastest growing grassroots social movements across Europe."

"In 1994 there were just three fair trade products on the market. Now there are more than 2,000 - including coffee and chocolate - on sale in Scottish shops and supermarkets."

The movement in Europe is an indication both of how much room the fair trade movement has to grow in the United States, as well as a hopeful sign of what may lie ahead.

Sources:

BBC: Fair Trade forum Launch in Perth
Scotland Set to Become 'Fair Trade Nation.'