News Date: Monday 3rd October 2005
Worthing goes officially 'fairtrade' and Tim helps certify it
Last Thursday, Tim Loughton MP spoke at the celebrations held to officially confirm that Worthing has been granted Fairtrade Town status. After speaking at the launch, Tim handed the certificate confirming the town's status to the Mayor.
After the official launch, guests at the event had the opportunity to sample a variety of local Fairtrade products and meet local Fairtrade suppliers.
Tim commented:
"This award is another feather in the cap for Worthing and is the culmination of 2 years of hard work by the steering group with support from Worthing Council and others, and I was honoured to have been asked to be a patron of the campaign. I congratulate them all and I am delighted that so many shops and other establishments have already signed up and hope that many more will now follow their lead with all the favourable publicity this should generate.
"Fairtrade is an important issue and having seen the poverty caused in sub-Saharan African countries for example through unfair trading practices by western nations, we all have a moral duty to ensure that we look beyond our own immediate needs. The enthusiasm with which this accolade has been greeted shows that the people of Worthing have concerns for justice and fair play which goes well beyond our local boundaries and that is a great recommendation for our town and our residents."
ENDS
Note to Editor:
1) The above event took place on Thursday 29th September in the Richmond Rooms in Stoke Abbott Road.
2) Tim Loughton MP is a patron of Worthing Fairtrade Steering Group. To find out more about Fairtrade in Worthing, contact the coordinator of the Steering Group, Rod Thick at enquiries@worthingfairtrade.org.uk or on 01903 504767.
3) The Fairtrade Foundation was established in 1992. To find out more about the origins and the aims of Fairtrade, visit http://www.fairtrade.org.uk
Tim Loughton MP , 2005
