Fairtrade Exhibition Launched At Dalkeith Library

An exhibition promoting Fairtrade was launched at Dalkeith Library today. This exhibition will circulate Midlothian’s libraries over the coming months.

Fairtrade aims to prevent exploitation and poverty by making sure that producers of coffee, cocoa, tea, fruit, cotton and a growing list of other products are paid and treated fairly. The current campaign will aim to increase availability of such products in local businesses, and raise awareness of the benefits of Fairtrade for producers in some of the world’s poorest countries.

Cllr Russell Imrie, Chair of Fair Trade Midlothian said, “Several local authorities across the UK have now been awarded Fairtrade Zone status, and Midlothian is hoping to become one such zone over the coming months. In order to achieve this status, the area must meet several criteria proving that they actively support and engage in the sale of Fairtrade produce. This Exhibition aims to explain the benifits of Fairtrade to the residents of Midlothian.”

Midlothian Council, along with the Midlothian and East Lothian Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise, Scotmid, Bonnyrigg and Lasswade Community Council and other partners have formed a steering group called Fair Trade Midlothian in order to promote this bid for Fairtrade Zone Status. Following a sell-out ceilidh at the Scottish Mining Museum in February to mark Fairtrade Fortnight, Fair Trade Midlothian is organising the library exhibition and a series of other awareness-raising activities.

The exhibition will rotate fortnightly around all of Midlothian’s libraries. For further details about the exhibition, or to find out how you can get involved in promoting Fairtrade within your community, please see the Fair Trade Midlothian website: www.fairtrademidlothian.org.uk