2 November 2006 - Green Party MEP Caroline Lucas is to speak at a public meeting organised to explain how Gosport ’s eating and shopping habits can improve lives in the developing world.

Caroline Lucas, Euro-MP for Hampshire and the South-East of England, will explain how world trade rules are weighted against developing nations and can undermine local economies, driving people into poverty.

The meeting will hear that producers face additional pressures from big businesses, which can demand prices so low that even the costs of production are not covered.

Dr Lucas, who is a member of the European Parliament’s international Trade Committee, said: “Every time we buy something imported from the developing world, we face a choice: whether to buy Fairtrade, or from another ethical scheme or co-operative which guarantees a fair price for the producers, or a profit-led corporate retailer, which doesn’t.

“Ultimately it should be the role of Government to ensure workers are paid fairly and properly treated – but until the Government requires all firms to fully respect workers’ rights as a condition of access to UK markets, the job is left to shoppers.”

Bruce Crowther from the Fairtrade Foundation and Simeon Greene from Windward Island Bananas will explain how buying goods bearing the FAIRTRADE Mark helps producers in this situation. The logo can be found on tea, coffee, fresh fruit, honey, snacks, preserves, wine, beers, chocolate, even footballs, cotton, flowers, and cosmetics.

Bruce said: "The FAIRTRADE Mark is your only guarantee that growers in the developing world are getting a fair deal, and by simply choosing foods with the FAIRTRADE Mark we can affect the lives of those thousands of miles away for the better."

Simeon added: "Apart from the direct benefits to producers, we are witnessing a successful process of democracy and empowerment that is having a positive knock-on effect in other areas of community life."

Gosport Borough Council is hosting the meeting on Thursday (Nov 9), which will be chaired by the mayor, June Cully. The council is backing a bid for Gosport to achieve Fairtrade borough status, which is being organised by Gosport Fairtrade Action.

Fairtrade borough status means that certain criteria will have been met including Fairtrade tea and coffee being served at council meetings and Fairtrade goods being available in shops, cafes, restaurants and workplaces in Gosport and Lee.

June said: " We ask that whenever the public go into a café or restaurant, they ask for Fairtrade tea or coffee. If more people ask for it, the chances are that café owners will listen and change over to serving it, resulting in more businesses coming onboard and Gosport becoming a Fairtrade town.”

The meeting starts at 7.15pm in the council chamber, Gosport Town Hall (entrance opposite the library), Gosport High Street .

ENDS