International trade may seem a remote issue, but when commodity prices fall dramatically it has a catastrophic impact on the lives of millions of small scale producers, forcing many into crippling debt and countless others to lose their land and their homes.

The Students Union now sells Fairtrade goods from all their outlets, due to an initiative started in 2001 by the Chaplaincy. The Students union and People and Planet are now trying to persuade the University to stock Fairtrade goods and to use Fairtrade products across the campus. For further details contact the SU Environmental and Ethical Officer eande@lborosu.org.uk

The Chaplaincy regularly receives information about the international campaign for fair trading laws, especially from Christian Aid and the Fairtrade Foundation

Do look at the People & Planet page on the SU web site  . It keeps you updated as to what the University & Colleges are up to with regards to Fair Trade, Environmental and Justice issues

The FAIRTRADE Mark is an independent consumer label which appears on products as an independent guarantee that disadvantaged producers in the developing world are getting a better deal.

For a product to display the FAIRTRADE Mark it must meet international Fairtrade standards. These standards are set by the international certification body Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International (FLO).

Producer organisations that supply Fairtrade products are inspected and certified by FLO. They receive a minimum price that covers the cost of sustainable production and an extra premium that is invested in social or economic development projects.