Fairtrade Fortnight runs between 27th February to 12th March 2023 and Fairtrade farmers, workers and campaigners up and down the country are highlighting the difference fair trade can make to lives, communities and our shared environment.    

Fairtrade does this by rallying a global community of millions - farmers, supply chain partners, schools and governments - to pay fair prices and uphold fair production practices for workers struggling with low incomes and disadvantaged by global trade to make trade fair.  In the UK it is represented by the Fairtrade Foundation. 

      Wolverhampton became a Fairtrade City in 2005 following a resolution of the City Council.  The faith communities in Wolverhampton are an important part of Wolverhampton`s Fairtrade Partnership.  They work with schools, the university, colleges and businesses to develop Fairtrade practices across Wolverhampton.       The Poet in Residence at Wolverhampton`s radio station, WCR FM, is urging everyone to support Fairtrade Fortnight in Wolverhampton.

  "Making the small switch to Fairtrade supports producers in protecting the future of some of our most loved food and the planet" explained Ian Henery.  

    According to Ian Henery, staples like coffee, bananas and chocolate are in the endangered aisle and  could soon be difficult to buy because of global climate change. 

"Combined with unfair trade communities growing these crops are facing extinction" explained Ian Henery.  "The good news" said Ian Henery "is by switching to Fairtrade means extra income and support for those communities  in protecting the future of some of our most-loved food and the planet".  

  Centuries of exploitation of people and the planet by the world`s wealthiest countries have caused the climate crisis.  According to Ian Henery 50% of global emissions are the responsibility of the highest-earning 10% of people but it`s the communities already facing extreme hardship who are taking the brunt of the global climate crisis: drought, desertification,  infrequent plant diseases and insecure food supplies.  

  Buying Faitrade products means more power and money for farmers to use to adapt to climate change and invest in climate-smart farming.  Across Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean small-scale farmers are experiencing the worst effects of climate breakdown.  

  "We need to build a fairer, greener future" said Ian Henery "if we are to have a future given the fact that global climate change is a reality.  We need climate justice for farmers, reduce greenhouses gases and carbons, avoid deforestation and protect forests, tackle soil erosion and reduce water wastage."

No Planet B  

Global climate change, what has happened here? 

  Extinction, butterflies have lost their wings

And there`s pollution in the atmosphere.

Earth is dying, birds no longer sing,

The air`s too thick for my children to breathe

And there`s something in the drinking water.

What have we done?  It makes me want to grieve;

Where`s our future?  Dying sons and daughters.  

    Media seduction from satellites 

Say not to worry, it`s better today

But we are not fooled; none of that seems right,

We can see life on earth fading away.  

What have we done?  Why can`t humans just be?

To live without beginning or an end?

Look around, there`s no answer I can see

Witnessing deaths of family and friends.  

    New day.  The sun comes up and I`m alone,

Traffic stretches over the horizon

Covered in tarmac, an incessant moan.

Purpose come undone, witnessed by the sun.

Famine, starvation, pretty birds are dying

There is no Eden, the air is poisonous.

What have we done?  I see children crying

No Planet B.  What have we done - to us.