Fair Trade in Clonakilty

CLONAKILTY - IRELAND’S FIRST FAIR TRADE TOWN

(September 2003)

Clonakilty is a town used to accolades over the last few years. In the last decade, the unique community spirit for which it is envied has seen it rise to the top in environmental competitions like Tidy Towns, Entente Florale, Nations in Bloom, etc. These are National, European and International Awards that do so much to boost the profile of the area, and have lead it to becoming one of the top tourist destinations in the country.

It should come as no surprise then that Clonakilty is in the news again this week, as it receives another accolade, another title. On Monday, the town will be officially launched as Ireland’s first ever official Fair Trade Town. That this has come about only after an eight month campaign is testimont to the dedication of the five-person committee, and in particular it’s energetic Chairperson, Jennifer Sleeman, and the people of the town and surrounding areas.

The title is timely, coming as it does just a week after the collapse of the World Trade Organisation talks in Cancun, Mexico. Organisations who lobby for fairness and justice for Third World producers, are advocates of the Fair Trade movement. Fair Trade is not a charity; it is a means of empowering people in developing countries to improve their own lives and environments through fair prices for their produce. Tea, coffee and bananas are exported in huge volumes from Third World countries to the wealthy economies. Most of the farmers and growers of these crops are exploited by the multinationals, who keep down prices. Thousands of growers and their families are denied shelter, education and health care because of the revolving poverty, and economies cannot develop in these communities. In fact in some cases, this exploitation and unfair trade leads to death through disease and starvation. Fair Trade is a system whereby these farmers are guaranteed a fair price for their crops, often before they even plant them. This leads to a stable economy, and the farmer being able to plan ahead and expand. Produce sourced in developing countries in this way, is given the international Fair Trade symbol, which carries the slogan - “Guarantees a Better Deal for Third World Producers”. As a result, consumers in Ireland and throughout the world can make a conscious decision when they go to a shop to choose Fair Trade items on the shelves, because of the Fair Trade mark on the packaging.

Twelve months ago, not too many people in Clonakilty knew anything about Fair Trade, and only one or two small shops carried the goods. In November, Fr. Gerard Galvin wrote a series of articles on the Parish Newsletter on the whole issue of Fair Trade, and on the last Sunday of that month, in co-operation with Rev. Ian Jonas and the Church of Ireland community, a Fair Trade “Coffee Day” was held at the Parochial Hall after church services. People were invited in and encouraged to taste free samples of Fair Trade Teas, Coffees, Chocolates, Biscuits, Fruit Juices, etc. Around 300 people took advantage of the feast!

At that event, the seeds of the Fair Trade Town project were sown. A few people including Jennifer Sleeman spoke with the two clerics, urging that the momentum should continue and offering to help. A few weeks later, they found out about the Fairtrade Town project, and early in the New Year, Jennifer Sleeman, Fr. Galvin, Rev. Jonas, Imelda Kingston and Cllr. Cionnaith Ó Súilleabháin met for the first time to discuss the possibility of making Clonakilty Ireland’s First Fairtrade Town.

Five Goals to Meet

To become a FT Town, five strict goals had to be met, and with encouragement from the National Fairtrade Office in Dublin, the Steering Group began working on these immediately. They are:

1. A Fairtrade Steering Group be formed to attain and maintain the FT Town Status, and this should be representative of churches, educators, businesses and council.
2. That a range of Fairtrade products be readily available in local outlets and catering establishments. At least two shops and two cafés should stock and serve FT Products and this fact be advertised and promoted among customers.
3. Fairtrade Products be used by at least ten local businesses and organisations.
4. The Town Council to pass a motion in support of Fairtrade and encourage constituents to do likewise.
5. Ongoing media coverage to keep the community aware of ongoing Fairtrade activities in the town.

While it looked easy on paper, the group were under no illusion about the task ahead. Weekly meeting were held with action points and progress reports. Very soon it was obvious that this was an unstoppable campaign.

Chairperson Jennifer Sleeman and Imelda Kingston spent days canvassing local shops and cafés, explaining the FT concept and giving out samples. Some businesses were naturally cautious, others embraced the idea wholeheartedly. Local organisations were lobbied to use FT products at their meetings and their members urged to use them in their daily lives. It worked! Shopkeepers often complained that they were unable to keep the stuff on the shelves, as demand continued to grow for the brands with the FairTrade logo. The two women went to the secondary schools and gave talks to students and teachers. Fr. Galvin and Rev. Jonas, encouraged their flocks to use FT in the home, and also used their influence with businesspeople. Cllr. Cionnaith Ó Súilleabháin was appointed P.R.O., and kept the campaign in the spotlight and also got the necessary motion passed at the March Council meeting.

The first two weeks of March are designated “Fairtrade Fortnight” when nationally people are encouraged to think about the issue. The Clonakilty Group organised a public meeting which was addressed by Jackie O’ Keeffe of the Dublin Fairtrade office and Patricia Sleeman, who gave an illustrated talk on Fair Trade in Nicaragua where she worked with Coffee growers for a year in the Central American country. The same weekend, another “Coffee Day” was held at the Parochial Hall.

In April, the Steering Group produced a bilingual window sticker, and all shops and restaurants where Fair Trade produce is available, were presented with a sticker, which clearly shows that the business supports FT. The group was very thankful to the Town Council who sponsored the cost of the printing of these, as the group has no funds itself and everything is done voluntarily by the members. Walking around Clonakilty now, every second business has the sticker displayed on their windows/doors proclaiming, “Fair Trade Products Here – Fair Trade Le Fáil Anseo!” and it incorporates the official logo.

COUNTDOWN BEGINS

By early June, the Steering Group was confident that it had met all the necessary criteria to be declared an Official Fair Trade Town. A status form, detailing the name of every business and organisation selling and using FT products had to be submitted to the National Office. The detailed report had to include the actual brands used and the name of the person responsible for ensuring that supplies were maintained. A three month “probation period” followed, during which the Dublin Officials regularly rang people listed on the status form to ensure that they continued to use FT products. Soon afterwards, the Clonakilty Group were informed that if one catering business in the town converted to 100% FT coffee and/or tea, it would greatly enhance the campaign. The committee knew that this was their greatest challenge yet. Every café, hotel and pub that served tea and coffee received a letter from the group to this effect. Within a few days, David Henry, Manager of the Quality Hotel responded positively, and now there was no turning back. On Monday, Clonakilty will be launched as Ireland’s First Official Fairtrade Town. This is a huge honour for the community, and illustrates that Clonakilty can attain awards for all sorts of good reasons, while at the same time not forgetting the fundamental issues in today’s world. Millions of our fellow human beings live in abject poverty because of the way they are treated by the wealthier countries who control world trade. Clonakilty is saying that it cares about these issues, and while getting the title of Irelands first FT Town is a great achievement, the real success is that people here by their purchasing power are sending out a statement to the world that they care about the lives of people in India, Africa and Central and South American countries who grow the tea, coffee, bananas and other products we consume on a daily basis. Fair Trade is not about getting a title, it’s saying “We Care”.  

THANKS The Steering Group expresses it’s thanks to everyone who has supports Fair Trade in Clonakilty – all the business people who stock and sell it, the local groups and organisations who consciously use it in their daily work, the Town Council whose support has been vital, local and national media, the clergy of all denominations, Peter, Melanie and Jackie at the National FT Office, and to the Chairperson Jennifer Sleeman, whose energy and commitment has been inspiring over the last 8 months. Most of all huge “Go raibh maith agat” to the ordinary people, who shop and dine in Clonakilty and say every day, “I want to support Fair Trade goods”, and put their money where their mouths are. By your actions you are guaranteeing a better deal for Third World Producers.

 

FAIRTRADE PRESENTATIONS

31st March 2007

Photo: Seen at the presentation of prizes last week for winners of the Clonakilty Fairtrade Fortnight “Paint a Poster” competition for local national schools were: Trevor Kingston (Chairperson Clonakilty Fairtrade Committee), Muirghein Harding Smith (Gaelscoil) – 2nd Prize, Síle Ní Choileáin (Gaelscoil) 4th Prize, Dalopo Folorunso, (St. Joseph’s Girls’ National School) 5th Prize, Brian Shorten (Kilgarriffe National School) 1st prize and Jason Helen, (Kilgarriffe National School) 3rd Prize, and Cionnaith Ó Súilleabháin, Clonakilty FT Committee.

A pleasant function took place last week when the Clonakilty Fairtrade Committee presented prizes to the winners of the “Paint a Poster” competition organised as part of the recent Fairtrade Fortnight programme of events. Trevor Kingston, Chairperson, Clonakilty FT Committee, expressed his thanks to all entries, which totalled over 200 from all the local national schools in Clonakilty. During FT Fortnight, all the paintings were on display at Clonakilty library and he thanked all the teachers in the various schools who helped to facilitate and encourage their pupils to get involved, the Library Staff, parents and of course all the children who entered. All the posters, (which had to include a Fairtrade Banana in them), were of a very high standard he said, and the adjudicators had a very difficult job judging them. Trevor also paid tribute to the Parish Hall committee for hosting the Fairtrade Coffee Day during FT Fortnight at which the posters were also on display. He also paid tribute to the people of Clonakilty for their continued support for Fairtrade products and encouraged everyone to continue this support. The prize winners were: 1st prize: Brian Shorten (Kilgarriffe National School), 2nd Prize: Muirghein Harding Smith (An Gaelscoil), 3rd Prize: Jason Helen, (Kilgarriffe National School), 4th Prize: Síle Ní Choileáin (An Gaelscoil) and 5th Prize: Dalopo Folorunso, (St. Joseph’s Girls’ National School).

 

FAIRTRADE COFFEE MACHINE PRESENTED

 

April 07 - During the recent Fairtrade Fortnight, Kieran White of Java Republic coffee  distribution company (on right), presented Pat O’ Leary (Chairperson of the Parish Hall Committee) with a complimentary coffee making machine for use in the Parish Centre on Oliver Plunkett St. The presentation was made at the Fairtrade Coffee Morning organised by the Clonakilty FT Committee as part of Fairtrade Fortnight. Also present was Trevor Kingston, Chairperson Clonakilty Fairtrade Committee and young Aoife and Rory White. The FT Committee are grateful to Kieran White for his ongoing support and Java Republic carry a number of Fairtrade Coffees which come highly recommended.

 

Cionnaith Ó Súilleabháin, P.R.O., Clonakilty Fair Trade Steering Group

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