MEDIA RELEASE

Tuesday 12 May 2009

A cross-party fair trade coffee break

Trade Aid is delighted that MPs from both major political parties will be enjoying an afternoon cup of fair trade coffee together in Parliament on Wednesday afternoon.

Labour MP Phil Twyford has organised the coffee break as part of a Trade Aid promotion for Fair Trade Fortnight. It will be co-hosted by National Party co-leader Simon Bridges. It takes place at the Parliament Buildings on Wednesday 13th May, from 3:30 to 4:30 pm.

Trade Aid’s “Big Action for Big Change” campaign running throughout Fair Trade Fortnight (2nd-17th May) encourages members of the public to sign up to www.mybigaction.ning.com and think of an action they can take to support fair trade. Mr Twyford is using his NGO background and status as an MP to highlight the benefits of fair trade to parliament.

Trade Aid General Manager Geoff White says he is extremely pleased fair trade will be discussed and celebrated by the country’s politicians.

He says in the midst of a global economic crisis, fair trade serves to highlight a successful form of sustainable and transparent trade that the world is now asking for.

“Throwing money at the problem will not fix it - the system is broken. We need a new economic model based on transparency, accountability and honesty. A stakeholder rather than shareholder model, that rewards all those involved in it and where effectiveness is measured in terms of outcomes rather than GDP. Fair trade is a step in that direction.”

The tea, coffee, drinking chocolate, and chocolate served at Parliament on Wednesday afternoon is being supplied from Trade Aid.

© Scoop Media