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The FAIRTRADE FOUNDATION

http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/

http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/resources/fair_comment/autumn_2008/building_a_

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REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE FROM PROJECTS IN OTHER PARTS OF AFRICA

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Make Trade Fair
As important as development assistance and debt relief are, no African person or government wants to rely on foreign aid for the provision of basic needs. Africans want a fairer system which lets them trade with the rich nations and earn more money, so they can grow their economies and pay for their own education and healthcare. But instead of earning more money to invest in improving the lives of their people, Africa has been earning less and less. In 1980 Africa had a 6% share of world trade. By 2002 this had dropped to just 2% despite the fact that Africa has 12 % of the world's population. If Africa could regain just an additional 1% share of global trade, it would earn $70 billion more in exports each year - several times more than what the region currently receives in foreign aid.
Rich countries are very interested in talking about the importance of trade as the primary motor of economic growth in developing countries, yet there's been no real action because these rich countries heavily protect their own markets against exports from the poorest countries through import duties and quotas. Furthermore rich countries continue to subsidize their own agricultural sectors to the tune of a billion dollars a day, making it impossible for African farmers to compete internationally. What rich countries fail to realize is that fairer trade is not just an opportunity for Africa but for the all countries—even them.
Africans in turn know they need to diversify their exports from unprofitable basic crops such as coffee and cocoa and into products which earn more money such as clothes, textiles and manufactured goods. But Africans could also earn more from basic crops if they were allowed to process these for export. For example Ghana can export raw cocoa duty free to Europe, but a 25% tariff is imposed if they process that cocoa before exporting it to Europe. It is this processing (tinning, roasting, labeling) which helps a country earn more money and develop its manufacturing base - and which allows its economy to grow. While fair trade could be Africa's ticket out of the vicious cycles of poverty, unfair trade rules like these trap Africa at the gates.
These double standards have to end. It is important to have rules - but not ones only written by the rich. The World Trade Organization (WTO) is the place where these rules are written. But of the 38 African nations which are members of the WTO, 15 nations have no representative at all at the headquarters in Geneva, and 4 nations have an office of only one person. Most rich nations have dozens of staff to protect their trading interests.
WHAT MUST HAPPEN
The richest nations must open their markets quota and duty free to African exports and remove agricultural subsidies which hurt African farmers.
African countries must be allowed to harness the power of trade in their own way to maximize poverty alleviation and economic growth - there is no "cookie-cutter" trade policy to force on poor countries.
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Markets in the United Kingdom
Brick Lane Market
Brick Lane - north of railway bridge, Cygnet Street, Sclater Street, E1; Bacon Street, Cheshire Street, Chilton Street, E2. Spitalfields. Aldgate East or Shoreditch tube/Liverpool Street tube/rail.
Open daybreak-2pm Sun.
This positively folkloric East End institution has stalls selling cheap soaps and razors, magazines, towels, bric-a-brac, second-hand clothes and old furniture, along with bagel shops, back-of-a-lorry hustlers and East End seafood stalls. The market spreads out along a number of narrow streets that are now lined with trendy clothes shops and expensive home accessories stores alongside Bangladeshi and Pakistani restaurants and sweetshops. The most browsable is Cheshire Street.
Brixton Market
Electric Avenue, Pope’s Road, Brixton Station Road, Atlantic Road, Brixton, SW9 8JX. Brixton tube/rail.
Open 8am-6pm Mon, Tue, Thur-Sat; 8am-3pm Wed (varies according to the weather).
Visiting Brixton’s thronging market is like being plunged into another country. Electric Avenue is packed with stalls piled high with exotic fruit and veg - yams, plantains, mangoes, papaya and more - as well as fresh tomatoes, courgettes, carrots and other staples. Opposite the stalls are stores crammed with halal meats and an incredible variety of fish. Around Atlantic Road it’s more clothes, towels and cheap wallets. ‘Brixton Village’ (previously Granville Arcade) houses African and Caribbean food stores, household goods, books, crafts and specialist hair and wig shops.
Greenwich Market
(General enquiries 020 8293 3110 / www.greenwichmarket.net). Greenwich rail/DLR/Cutty Sark DLR/Maze Hill rail.
Open Antiques & Collectibles Market 7.30am-5.30pm Thur-Fri. Village Market Stockwell Street, 8am-5pm Sat, Sun. Arts & Crafts Market 9.30am-5.30pm Thur-Sun. Food Court 9.30am-5.30pm Sat, Sun.
Greenwich has not one, but three markets. Heading into the town centre from the station you come first to the antiques market, a collection of bric-a-brac and junk that varies from tat to treasures. Next along is the Village Market, where a second-hand clothes flea market mingles with Chinese silk dresses, cheap trendy clothes, ethnic ornaments, CDs and more. Passing the food court - noodles, curries, Thai, etc - you come to the covered Crafts Market which is bristling with young designer-makers and ideal for gift-hunting. The central hub of stalls sells a delicious selection of olives, breads, jam doughnuts and chocolate brownies.
Portobello Road Market
Portobello Road, W10, W11; Golborne Road, W10. Ladbroke Grove, Notting Hill Gate or Westbourne Park tube.
Open General 8am-6.30pm Mon-Wed, Fri, Sat; 8am-1pm Thur. Antiques 5.30am-4.30pm Sat.
Portobello Road is several markets rolled into one. Starting at the Notting Hill end are mainly antiques stalls selling toy soldiers, vases, bric-a-brac and general Victoriana. Further up you come to the food stalls, ranging from traditional fruit and veg to tasty cheeses, stuffed olives, organic biscuits and crackers, bratwurst and crěpes. Next up come clothes and jewellery, ranging from cheap trendy club-and casualwear to delightful craft bracelets and earrings. The cafés under the Westway are a good place to rest before plunging into the next section - new designers’ clothes and vintage wear along the walkway to Ladbroke Grove, while on the right-hand side are random selections of bric-a-brac.
Spitalfields Market
Commercial Street, between Lamb Street & Brushfield Street, E1 (020 7247 8556). Liverpool Street tube/rail.
Open General market 10am-5pm Mon-Fri, Sun. Organic food market 10am-4pm Wed, Sun. Antiques market 9am-4pm Thur. Fashion & art markets 10am-4pm Fri. Records & books market 10am-4pm 1st and 3rd Wed.
Historic Spitalfields Market and its gorgeous vaulted roof have already been the victim of City expansion; protesters are trying to keep the remaining square untouched. Surrounded by cool shops selling movie posters, second-hand books and modish vintage furniture, the stalls offer everything from handmade cards, dyed sheepskin rugs and craft jewellery to aromatherapy products, CDs and quirky fashions. There are cake and bread stalls and a mini food court selling grub from all over the world at bargain prices. A visit to Spitalfields is easily combined with a quick poke around Brick Lane .
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AID AND DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA
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World African Musical Events
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NEWS, STORIES AND COMMENTS FROM OUR MEMBERS
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WORTHY CHARITY PROJECTS IN NEED OF FUNDING

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