For the first time in Hackney we have a Hackney Fairtrade Group, set up on 3 February, and Hackney Council has voted to work towards declaring hackney as a Fairtrade borough.

The next meeting is on Saturday March 10 at 3pm in the Halkevi Centre on Stoke Newington Road. A Fairtrade producer, Sher Ghazi, who produces mountain fruits in Pakistan will be speaking about the benefits of Fairtrade and tackling global injustice.

Fairtrade is about justice in trade for poorer parts of the world. It means better prices and working conditions, local sustainability and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world. It deals with the injustices of conventional trade which can discriminate against the poorest and weakest producers. It enables them to improve their lot and have more control over their lives.

Fair and stable prices and the Fairtrade premium allows producer organisations to invest in things like health and education or to expand their businesses.

There are already some businesses in Hackney which sell Fairtrade products. We aim to see many more doing so. We also hope Hackney schools will get involved.

Meg Hiller, MP for Hackney South & Shoreditch, said at the launch meeting earlier this month: "Wherever people are in the world, they are entitled to be treated fairly and there are basic minimum conditions of trade, wages and employment conditions which we should all share."

Those interested in supporting Fairtrade should contact Councillor Ian Rathbone, Hackney Fairtrade Group Co-ordinator, on 07890 654068 or ian.rathbone@tiscali.co.uk