The truth about students

Before you ask, this post is not about Castle st. It’s not about burning couches or smashing glass. It’s definitely not about riot police or the banning of car rallies, although you will be hard pressed to find any other stories being told about Otago Uni students at the moment.

So if I’m not going to talk about the events of the weekend, what is this about? Well, Channel 9 has managed to find a different student story. Catching on to the growing awareness of Fairtrade and the campaigns to convert the city and the University to Fairtrade, Channel 9 have interviewed students to see what they think of it all and to find out if they are concerned about where the products they buy come from. Check out the video here.

Fairtrade gets illuminated on campus

Thats right! The Fairtrade logo is shining brightly in blue and green on the walls of the Union Bar and Grill, down the end of the Student Union building. The beans are brought in by Trade Aid as green beans and then roasted by Cerebos-Greggs, the Uni supplier who have their factory on Forth St.

Today I have to recommend getting your coffee takeaway and heading out to the union lawn so as to enjoy the springing of Spring and the gorgeous sunshine! As you will have noticed, daffodils are popping up and the cherry trees are bursting out all over campus and it’s 18°C - who’d have thought Dunedin could get days like this in September?!

As for the logo, New Zealand has the quickest growing recognition of the Fairtrade logo of all western countries. According to the Fairtrade Association, 46% of kiwis recognise the logo, up 50% from last year. Best of all, along with the recognition comes understanding as almost all those who know the label know what it means. (In the UK 88% of people recognise the label but only half know what Fairtrade means.)

ps. the image hidden inside the FT logo is a farmer with his arm raised..