Fairtrade city campaigning in Finland

CASE: Fairtrade table events on 9.5.2008

Background

Pro Fair Trade Finland (Repu) started the Fairtrade city campaigning in Turku in the year 2005

Campaign got a little bit media attention and other cities joined

Repu got funding from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and started Fair CITY -campaign (Reilu KAUPUNKI) in 2007

ProblemsEU legislation on public procurement is not very clear when it comes to ethical demands

There is a very few case examples and experts have different opinions and interpretations

In Finland the concern on legal matters is very strict and everything must be done by the book.

SolutionsAfter studying several publications and consulting the experts we found out that...

Social criteria is possible to include in the public tender Fair trade can be referred to by using EU parliaments resolution

(A6 0207/2006) EU parliament has given a definition on fair trade (fair trade:

FLO or IFAT -products) One legal case example from Holland (Groninge vs. Douwe

Egberts)Repu published a guide for fair public procurement and launched a website reilukaupunki.fi

CampaigningRepu created a common look for all its local Fairtrade city campaigns

Very cost efficient, gives local campaigns a more professional look

We published custom made material for all the biggest campaign cities

Proper material makes local campaigning a lot easierVolunteers have organised seminars, happenings, challenge campaigns etc. with campaign's financial support

Success

Nationwide launch of the campaign was on 9th of May 2008

Co-operation with Repu and Finnish Fairtrade Labelling initiative

Co-operation with political youth organisations and the labour unions

First Fairtrade City in Finland is Tampere

Turku, Pori, Jyväskylä, Kotka, Espoo, Mikkeli and Helsinki are working towards the status, more cities are joining the campaign

Background of the FT-table

Consept of the Fairtrade table was created in the first international FT volunteer seminar in 2007

In Finland co-operation with Repu and FT Labelling organisation

FT table the main campaign event in spring 2008 Timing was perfect: events on 9th of May

9.5. the launch of Fairtrade City campaign in Finland

9.-11.5. World Fair trade day celebration

Idea in a nutshell

Set a table with Fairtrade products on a city marketplace or other central place in a city

Invite politicians, local celebrities to join and discuss about fair trade

Passer-bys can join the table and taste Fairtrade products

Music, flyers, product samples, Fairtrade photoshow etc. attract people

Preparations - Support for the local groups Email-list for the campaigners, detailed directions for the

volunteers Own budget for every group (funds from the Ministry of Foreign

Affairs, EU-project and Finnish Fairtrade labelling initiative) Eventpackage

Papercups, coffee, tea, product samples, stirring sticks, brochures, gifts for the speakers, banana costumes, question sheets, roll-ups etc.

Mediakit

Fairtrade and My City -photocontest pictures on a cd Readymade press releases for the local media

Background info and trainings for the volunteers

What makes a great Fairtrade table event?

Good press release and announcements

Tip: take pictures and let media use them Event can be seen and heard

Music, interesting quests, attractive setting Key messages for the bypassers and the politicians: There's

a lot of Fairtrade products in Finland, we should choose Fairtrade in public procurement, Fairtrade is a big boom – be part of it!

Post-event press release

Tip: gather quotes and promises from the politicians and use them as news

Fairtrade table events in Finland

Fairtrade table events in Finland

Fairtrade table events in Finland

What we learned?

Co-operation with other organisations and Fairtrade license holders is very important

When working with limited volunteer resources you shouldn't take too big risks

In Helsinki we booked too busy and crowded promotion place in shopping and travelling center Kamppi

Some of the license holders were dissapointed with the arrangements and volunteers became stressed

With proper preparations it is possible to achieve great countrywide media attention with a very small funding

VOLUNTEER WORK WORKS!

Other ideas for Fairtrade city campaigning

Virtual demonstration Innovative address Electric petitition cards Fairtrade concert

Contact information:

Sonja Vartiala

Reilu KAUPUNKI -campaign

Pro Fair Trade Finland (Repu)

+ 358-50-349 52 30

sonja@repu.fi

www.reilukaupunki.fi

www.repu.fi