ESC: Fairtrade, the new normal

Fairtrade Lëtzebuerg was originally founded in 1992 as Trans-Fair-Minka and changed its name to Fairtrade Lëtzebuerg a.s.b.l. in 2011. It exists as the Luxembourgish fair trade labeling association and as a member of the International Fair Trade labeling organisation FLO (www.fairtrade.net). Fairtrade Lëtzebuerg is supported by over 30 member associations from charity, environmental, social and religious movements. Fair trade is an alternative approach to conventional global trade. It is considered as kind of partnership between producers in the South (Africa, Latin America, Asia) and consumers in the North (Europe). The relation is based on mutual benefit and respect, which ensures that the producers in Africa, Latin America and Asia receive a fair price for their work and gain better access to markets in Europe. The aim is to tackle the long term development problems of rural producers in less developed countries through sustainable development, cooperation and fair prices. The effects of climate change and the resulting difficulties for the rural population in the South are also addressed and play a larger role each year. All activities of Fairtrade Lëtzebuerg are aimed to raise awareness of the population of Luxembourg (including the surrounding Greater Region) towards the unfortunate social conditions and world-wide supply chains of the producers in less developed countries. The Fairtrade Lëtzebuerg a.s.b.l. staff team consists of 3 full time staff members and - at present - of 5 part time staff members plus 3 European volunteers. In order to disseminate up-to-date information and to educate consumers in the Greater Region of Luxembourg, the Fairtrade Lëtzebuerg team regularly organizes awareness campaigns about different fair trade products (i.e. bananas, cotton, coffee and flowers) and its underlying philosophy which is widely disseminated on its website (www.fairtrade.lu) and its newsletters. Fairtrade Lëtzebuerg is frequently present in schools, on markets and has regular public appearances through press conferences in the national newspaper, radio and on TV.