Lisburn & Castlereagh to Light Up in Support of World Fair Trade Day

May 13, 2022

Chair and Vice-Chair of Corporate Services Committee, Councillor John Laverty BEM and Alderman Michael Henderson MBE welcomed Dr Christopher Stange, Consul General for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Secretariat, All-Party Group on Fairtrade to Lagan Valley Island to mark World Fair Trade Day, celebrated on Saturday 14th May.

Councillor Laverty said: “Lisburn & Castlereagh has held Fair Trade status for many years now and we are delighted to light Lagan Valley Island blue, green and black to celebrate World Fairtrade Day. From 2017 we have been working across our communities to promote the importance of Fairtrade values. By purchasing Fairtrade products, we enable these producers to undertake vital business, environmental and social projects in their own communities.”

Celebrated the second Saturday of May each year, World Fair Trade Day helps raise awareness about Fair Trade projects and the need for a fairer global economy. The World Fair Trade Organization encourages the public to, where possible, choose Fair Trade goods, becoming fair and ethical consumers. Fair Trade is a trading partnership that observes the human rights of all involved, paying fairly for goods and services that have been sustainably sourced and also engaging in supporting the fight against economic crisis, poverty, gender inequality and climate change.

Dr Stange said: “These signs are a celebration of the hard work and a demonstration of the Council’s continued promotion and support of Fairtrade across the City to help the most disadvantaged developing world farmers and producers. Displaying Fairtrade signs immediately lets visitors and residents know that Lisburn & Castlereagh City is a Fairtrade Community. I applaud the work of the Fairtrade Committee to mark this major milestone in their work on Fairtrade.”