Jonathan Ross, Bruce Forsyth, Tulisa and Harry Hill are among a raft of celebrities supporting Fairtrade Foundation’s campaign calling for action to end trade injustice around the world, which will see three-inch versions of the stars join a march on Parliament during Fairtrade Fortnight (25th Feb-10th March).
Marking a new model of campaigning for the Fairtrade Foundation, everyone who supports the petition at www.fairtrade.org.uk/jointhemarch will be able to create a personalised paper person, courtesy of technology start-up Foldable.Me.
In Fairtrade Fortnight, the campaign will culminate in thousands of paper people coming together for a march to highlight support for a fairer deal for small farmers.
Estimates show these small farmers grow around 70% of the world’s food, yet only receive an average of 3% of the retail price once their produce hits the supermarket shelves. The Fairtrade system helps provide these farmers with a fairer price for their produce, and a chance for a better livelihood for themselves and their families.
The Fairtrade Foundation is encouraging as many people as possible to sign the petition at www.fairtrade.org.uk/jointhemarch. Every digital signature will be turned into a Foldable character, who will join the march during Fairtrade Fortnight.
Cheryl McGechie, Director of Public Engagement, Fairtrade Foundation, said
“This Fortnight we wanted to do something a bit different. Our march on Parliament is an engaging way for everyone to go further to help smallholder farmers combat unfair trade practices.”
Levi Roots, ambassador for Fairtrade Fortnight, commented, “After visiting Fairtrade cocoa farmers in Ghana, this cause is very close to my heart. I’m sending a mini Levi to join the march because more needs to be done to improve the working conditions and pay for the people that produce our food.”
Other well-known names to join the march and support Fairtrade’s call for action include Tinchy Strider, Amanda Holden, Louis Smith, Richard Hammond, Dermot O'Leary, Andi Peters and Eddie Izzard.
How to join the march:
- Sign the online petition by visiting fairtrade.org.uk/jointhemarch.
- Create your very own paper person or send one of our pre-designed versions
- Your paper person will join the march to parliament on 4th March to demand that our government leaders go further for small farmers
To find out more about Fairtrade Fortnight visit http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/gofurther.
