London 2012 Should Be Fairtrade Olympics - Teather

12.00.00am GMT Tue 3rd Mar 2009

Sarah Teather wants an Olymics that everyone in Brent can be proud of

Local Liberal Democrat Brent East MP Sarah Teather has called for London 2012 to be a "Fairtrade Olympics", at a meeting organized by the Brent Fairtrade Network.

The Fairtrade movement helps people in the developing world by guaranteeing that goods are ethically produced, with fair prices paid to farmers and producers who could otherwise be open to exploitation. Sarah marked annual Fairtrade Fortnight, which runs this year from 23rd February to 8th March, by joining local Fairtrade campaigners at a busy meeting at the Harlesden Methodist Church.

The Liberal Democrats are calling for Gordon Brown to make greater use of Fairtrade products in government departments, and for the UK to take the lead in international development by making London 2012 a "Fairtrade Olympics".

Local Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East Sarah Teather said:

"I congratulate the Harlesden Methodist Church on organising such a popular and well attended meeting, and the Brent Fairtrade Network on all their hard work to promote this important issue. It simply isn't acceptable for wealthy countries like the UK to exploit those who are desperate to trade with us.

"The Fairtrade mark gives an important guarantee that the food and clothes that we buy are produced in a way that doesn't harm the environment or the communities we are trading with. We need to make sure that Fairtrade Fortnight isn't an isolated event, and that people keep buying Fairtrade products even when these events are over.

"The UK has an opportunity to send out a clear signal to the rest of the world that fair trade is important. We should make London 2012 games a Fairtrade Olympics, with food, drinks, clothing and merchandise produced ethically. This would leave a global economic legacy that all Londoners could be proud of."

Related Link:

Fairtrade.