Uni aims to join Fair Trade movement
The ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide will seek accreditation as the state's first Fair Trade university. The move follows the recommendation to the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide's Council by the Student Fair Trade Collective, the Adelaide ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ Union and the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥'s Ecoversity program. Making the announcement on the eve of Fair Trade Fortnight in May, the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ said it would seek accreditation to be recognised as an official provider of Fairtrade certified products, such as coffee, tea, chocolate and sugar, across all of the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥'s campuses. Fairtrade provides fair and stable prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world. The Fairtrade label also means that farmers and workers in developing countries can strengthen their businesses and invest in projects to benefit their communities, such as education, healthcare or environmental protection. If the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide becomes Fair Trade accredited, it will join a global network of non-government organisations tackling poverty and empowering producers through trade. "Increasing consumption of products on campus which are Fairtrade certified contributes to an ethical consumption that aims to help others help themselves, give them fairness and dignity at work, and essentially helps to make their business more economically, socially and environmentally sustainable," said ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide student Bec Taylor from the Student Fair Trade Collective. "It's fantastic that we have the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥'s support in this endeavour. It shows that they are willing to work with students on something that will make a positive change to people's lives elsewhere. It shows that the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ is committed to partaking in ethical and sustainable purchasing." The ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥'s Vice President (Services and Resources), Paul Duldig, said: "To become a Fair Trade ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥, we need to satisfy a range of minimum requirements as determined by the Fair Trade Association of ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ and New Zealand. We are well positioned already, with Fairtrade products used widely on campus by our retail outlets, in our offices and at meetings. "Seeking accreditation to become a Fair Trade ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ is the culmination of a lot of hard work by our students. It demonstrates how students and the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ are working together to achieve positive change." For more information about Fair Trade, go to:
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