Across the UK, tens of thousands of people have celebrated the first ever Co-operatives Fortnight, which ran from 19 June to 3 July. From events to early day motions, Twitter and tastings, members and supporters of co-operatives have got together to promote the co-operative alternative.
Over the course of Co-operatives Fortnight, an incredible range of activities took place, including:

•    Over 150 events in every region and devolved nation in the UK
•    Over 3,000 stores promoting the Fortnight nation-wide
•    Over 4,000 people watching the Co-operatives Fortnight film
•    Thousands getting involved through online social networks
•    13 co-operative schools being established
•    Two parliamentary motions being passed: one in Westminster, one in Edinburgh
•    The first formula for co-operation being revealed
•    And Co-operatives UK announcing that the co-operative economy has grown to £33.5 billion.

http://www.thereisanalternative.coop/events/fortnight

Linda gave a short presentation about how the Co-operative Enterprise Hub has helped Total Coverage with business advise and training plus there was a presentation from another Southampton co-operative whomadeyourpants?

During Fairtrade Fortnight in February the coffee drinkers at Total Coverage sampled a range of fairly traded instant coffees that are currently on the market. We tasted five types in all. After much deliberation we have voted Percol Fairtrade Americano Arabica Coffee Strength 4 our favorite for the second year running.

Don’t forget that it’s Fairtrade Fortnight! Swap your regular goods for fairly traded ones and make a difference.

The Co-operative has been supporting Fairtrade since the inception of the Fairtrade mark back in 1994. And in 1998 launched their own long-term plan to ‘mainstream’ Fairtrade. Through ongoing campaigning, product innovation and leadership they’ve helped develop the UK as one of the largest Fairtrade markets in the world, supporting millions of growers and producers in developing countries.
Fairtrade ensures that disadvantaged producers in developing countries get a better deal for their crop.  The premium they receive can be used to improve their working and living conditions and for community projects, such as providing clean drinking water.

This year’s Fairtrade Fortnight (22 February – 7 March) is going to be the most ambitious two weeks yet. The Fairtrade Foundation wants one million and one people to join them in The Big Swap. They’ll be asking the nation swap their usual stuff for Fairtrade stuff;  usual wine, sugar, or oranges for Fairtrade wine, sugar or oranges. Each swap will be proof that the UK wants developing world producers to get a better deal.

Register your swap on the Fairtrade Foundation website and get swapping.

The Nestle announcement that Kit Kat is going Fairtrade, is a breakthrough for cocoa farmers in Côte d’Ivoire as well as for snack lovers in the UK and Ireland. The move which will kick off in mid-January 2010 when the first certified Kit Kat four-finger bars arrive on shop shelves, is benefiting thousands of farmers in Côte d’Ivoire.  As well as the Fairtrade price for the cocoa, farmers’ organisations receive additional Fairtrade premium payments to invest in long-term community and business development projects of their own choice, such as education and health care, the environment or their businesses.

Total Coverage says: “It’s about time too, we can now add Kit Kats to our Fairtrade coffee breaks!”.

Ethics Girls is a one-stop shop for ethical living that YOU get a share in. They think that since people are at the heart of what they do and why they do it, then they think YOU should be able to have a stake in the business!

Become a member of the Ethics Girls Co-operative to have a say in how the business is run, help to determine policy, stand for the Board, get involved in the big decisions, and decide what products to sell.

Go to the website for more details.

Your Tomorrow sells ethical gifts to people who care about creating a better world for the future. Each of their products is identified as to why it helps the world using their eco-icons. A 5% of the purchase price is given to charity and visitors to the site vote for the recipient charity. The ethical presents are sent out next day by first class post gift-wrapped in attractive tissue paper including a gift card containing a personal message.