Why the emphasis on trade?

It is Christmas time. Who wants to do their shopping in a place with pictures of starving children and begging mothers? We feel that it is better to emphasise the wonderful things made in the midst of poverty and deprivation.

Hopefully what we learn at the fair will educate us in other spheres of life; throughout the year we can buy coffee that has been produced under ethical conditions in the South, as well as tea, chocolate bars, dried fruit, and many other products that are the result of a chain of equality.

This is what fair trade means here; there is no exploitation along the line from production to the market.

The background

The event is celebrating its 21st year. For some 13 years major British charities in the fields of global economic and social development and the environment have been coming together for an annual event called the GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP WORLD FAIR.

The first of these events was mounted in 1987 and was opened by Bob Geldof, Glenys Kinnock and Moira Stuart. About 20 organisations took part in 1987. By 1999 the number had reached 175. From attracting some 500 visitors in its first year, numbers rose to some 12,000 in 1999 at Olympia.

Over the years a wide range of organisations have taken part, representing more than 550 bodies. Latterly, the organisers have also encouraged small UK-based companies importing craft products from various parts of the world.

Such companies - and others in other fields - have participated because of the growing interest in the country as a whole of issues such as 'Fair Trade', the importance of buying items that have been produced ethically and the role that trade can play in reducing world poverty.

To the craft producers have been added coffee and tea importers, companies making goods from recycled products and other ethical traders.

In 2000 the trustees of the organising charity decided to engage the services of a company specialising in organising conferences and exhibitions. Regrettably this proved to be unsuccessful.

Benny Dembitzer, the original director of Global Partnership, is now returning the event to its original aims. In keeping with accepted trends of recent years, the aim of the event is to remind people that as consumers they have the ultimate power: that of refusing to buy a product that might have been made under conditions that are unacceptable to most people in Britain.

Fair Trade means different things to different people, but the common denominator of the participating organisations in 2006 is that they pay a fair wage, that they do not exploit their strength in the market place to unfairly delay payments to their suppliers, that they help with the production problems of small suppliers, and that the environment in which workers and their families operate are the best that conditions allow. These measures help to ensure that the products purchased are part of a fair trading system benefiting the producer as well.

Most of those taking stands at this year's Fair will be trading, but there will be others who are giving information about their continuing work. For a full list of participants click here.

Where does your money go?

Your £3 admission fee contributes towards the hire of Central hall, Westminster, insurance, advertising, and some of the personnel costs. Organisers vet all participating retailers at the fair to ensure their ethical policies and help make sure your money generates wealth in the developing world.

Can you help?

Yes! Here is how; you can come to the event of course.

You can ask us to send you leaflets or posters. Send us an email telling us how many posters/leaflets you require, and don't forget to include you postal address.

Email us the name of an organisation that would welcome such a poster.

You could convince a company, a group, a voluntary organisation with which you are connected to take part or to come and visit this year with a view to participate next year.

We also need volunteers to help us.Email us for further information.

If this year's event does not make a profit, there will be no funds with which to organise it in 2004. This is why it is important for you to tell family and friends about our event and direct them to this website.