A Night in the Fair-trade Life of a Supporter Relations Officer for Shared Interest

Posted by Sally

November 21, 2008

My evenings activity last night was attending the Ethical Christmas Emporium in London. Hosted by Hand Up Media and including the launch of the new Jellied Eel magazine, ‘London’s Leading Magazine for Ethical Eating’ which Shared Interest now sponsors.

I arrive at Waterloo station and head for the OXO tower Bargehouse. I get a little lost and walk past a girl in a green jacket going the opposite way, looking just as lost, whom I know I recognise but can’t work out where from. I find the right way and head to the Bargehouse, it is a fantastic venue and looks appropriately ethical and festive for the event. Ah-ha here is the girl in the green jacket, we have met before. Cass volunteers with the London Fairtrade Campaign and was at the London Borough Workshop. Our matching green jackets mean people ask if we’re Green Santa’s elves.

I introduce myself to Atif from Zaytoun, one of Shared Interest’s customers, and he tells me all about their olive growing and olive products. The difficulties the producers face on a daily basis are incredible, but he tells me of the success they’re having but also that there is the potential for even more growth. This really makes me see how much fairtrade helps the producers directly and how necessary it is for Shared Interest to grow and encourage people to invest their money with us so it can be used to help the producers like Atif’s olive farmers in Palestine.

I head to a fairtrade jewellery stall, Manumit, where I am told of the quest for fashionable and fairtrade items, they appreciate that people need to like the items before they will buy them, helping ensure a more sustainable trade for themselves and their producers.

Back downstairs for the speeches where John Bird from the Big Issue makes a call for Trade not Aid, he is a captivating speaker and engages his audience. We also hear from Ben Reynolds of the Jellied Eel who is excited about the newest issue and encourages everyone to pick up a copy and tell all their friends about it too.

We have a live link up with a school in Ghana where modern technology allows us to hear Christmas songs from half way around the world, with local school children joining in from the event in London. It is a fantastic sight and excites everyone in the room, reminding us of the connections between us that drive us to help each other.

A last look around the stalls and I buy some of the Blueberry Geobars as I’ve not seen them before and hear another of our customers, Apicoop, supplies the blueberries. I head off in the direction of home with Cass, from the Fair-trade London Campaign, hoping that we will cancel out each others’ poor directions and make it home!