Labour MP for Newcastle North, Catherine McKinnell, will join young people from across Newcastle and Gateshead tomorrow (11th March) at the Gateshead Millennium Bridge to celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight. Catherine will join pupils, and the Lord Mayor of Newcastle and Mayor of Gateshead, at the event at 10.30am.
The Bridge will be decorated in bright, colourful bunting that has been decorated by primary school pupils across Newcastle and Gateshead. They have been inspired by a national record-breaking attempt by the Fairtrade Foundation to create the world’s longest string of bunting. The Foundation wants people to design 308,000 individual bunting flags – all on Fairtrade cotton – which will later be sewn together to make a 40 mile long statement about the importance of Fairtrade and trade justice.
Catherine said:
“Getting involved in the Fairtrade movement as a student is how I first became active in politics, where I successfully campaigned for Fairtrade goods to be sold in all University outlets.
“Celebrating Fairtrade Fortnight is there an issue which is very close to my heart.
“I know from visits to local primary schools in my constituency that this is also an issue which young people across Newcastle care passionately about, and I am really looking forward to joining them tomorrow for this event.
“Decorating one of the North East’s most iconic bridges with our Fairtrade bunting sends a powerful message that the people of Newcastle and Gateshead want to ensure that farmers and workers in the developing world receive better prices, decent working conditions and fair terms of trade”.