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Over 50 tea-ladies in blue and pink pinafores and head scarves came to Westminster this morning to urge everyone to switch to Fair Trade products, including tea, as a part of 'The Big Swap', a whole series of events across the country in Fair Trade Fortnight, 22 Feb - 7 March organised by the Fairtrade Foundation. After demonstrating outside the Houses of Parliament they went up Whitehall to Trafalgar Square where they held a tea dance. London, UK. 25/02/2010 Over 50 tea-ladies in blue and pink pinafores and head scarves came to Westminster this morning to urge everyone to switch to Fair Trade products, including tea, as a part of '<em>The Big Swap</em>'. This was one of a whole series of events across the country in <em>Fair Trade Fortnight</em>, 22 Feb - 7 March and was organised by the <em>Fairtrade Foundation</em>. After demonstrating outside the Houses of Parliament they went up Whitehall to Trafalgar Square where they held a tea dance. London, 25/02/2010 London is now the world's largest Fair Trade city, and around two thirds of its 33 boroughs also have Fair Trade status, along with many workplaces, cafés, tourist attractions, schools and colleges - including 9 of London's universities - churches and other faith groups. Fair trade means that the people who produce the goods in developing countries get a proper return for their labour and that they enjoy decent conditions of work. As well as providing fair and stable prices for the producers, the Fairtrade Foundation products also provides a social premium which is spent on community projects - such as building schools and providing health care and roads. The Fairtrade Foundation mainly certifies agricultural commodities such as sugar, tea, coffee, cotton and chocolate, licensing them to carry the Fairtrade Foundation symbol which guarantees they have been produced under agreed and audited labour and environmental standards. There are many other fairly traded goods - such as craft products, greetings cards and some fashion items and accessories for which Fairtrade certification is not appropriate. The fair trade movement began around sixty years ago, mainly with charities and small activist groups importing handicrafts. In the 1960s there were just one or two outlets scattered around the country selling fairly traded instant coffee that required political dedication to drink; now we buy Fair Trade teas and coffee not just to support producers but because of its high quality. They are stocked by Sainsbury's, the Co-operative, Waitrose, ASDA, Morrisons, Somerfield, Spar, Tesco and other major retailers as well as many smaller stores. Last year Sainsbury's switched all its own-brand roast and ground coffee to Fairtrade, along with its Red Label tea. Fairtrade bananas and other fruits and vegetables are also now widely available and products such as Divine chocolate have set new quality standards for widely available sweets and snacks. There are some fine and reasonably priced fairly traded wines and other drinks. Swapping to Fair Trade products can benefit consumers as well as the producers, although some retailers have been criticised for adding increased profit margins on these items. Most cotton goods we wear - whether dirt-cheap on market stalls and mass-market retailers or at ridiculous expense from fashion boutiques are produced from cotton grown using near-slave labour and made up in sweat shops by people working long hours in dangerous and often unsanitary conditions. Now there is an alternative - Fairtrade certified cotton, and it is being used to make reasonably priced clothing, including various uniform items as well as fashion clothing and tea towels. And you can also get Fair Trade beauty products and soaps. I joined the tea-ladies - who included a few men – outside the Houses of Parliament as they made their way around Parliament Square. Some carried teapots or tea trays, and there was a man with a large inflated plastic teacup with the message '<em>Swap Your Cuppa</em>'. They sang some Fair Trade slogans and practised dancing, along with the occasional 'Mexican Wave’ that passed along the line. From there the tea-ladies went up Whitehall and stopped at the Strand for a final briefing from the event organisers and a brief rest before making their way to the North Terrace of Trafalgar Square for their main dance, to music provided by a rather smart road sweeper and his barrow.

Politics

Invasion of the Tea Ladies

DMTX. Over 50 tea-ladies in blue and pink pinafores and head scarves came to Westminster this morning to urge everyone to switch to Fair Trade...

by Peter Marshall in United Kingdom on 25/02/2010

Shia Muslims gathered at London's Marble Arch to Celebrate the Martyrdom of Ali. Mourners remember Ali who was killed by an assassin in 66ICE. After a long period of mourning a coffin was brought out which was touched by the mourners .The procession went down Park lane with the men beating their chests followed by the women.

Society

Hub- e -Ali London Procession

Shia Muslims gather in London for The Hub-e-Ali Procession. London, UK. 06/09/09.

by trainer in United Kingdom on 06/09/2009

Latest News

London Syrians show solidarity with people in Syria - London

Politics

London Syrians show solidarity with people in Syria - L...

Syrians of all ages marched from the Syrian embassy to a noisy protest at Downing St., calling for freedom in Syria and an end to oppression, atrocities and humiliation by the Assad reg...
by Peter Marshall, on 3rd of September 2011
Thousands March for Pensions and Against Cuts - London

Politics

Thousands March for Pensions and Against Cuts - London

A march through London organised by public services unions NUT, ATL and PCS against pension cuts, attracted many thousands of union members as well as others protesting against cuts in ...
by Peter Marshall, on 30th of June 2011
FEMEN protest at Saudi Embassy for women to be allowed to drive - Kiev

Society

FEMEN protest at Saudi Embassy for women to be allowed ...

Ukrainian women's movement FEMEN held a topless rally in front of the Embassy of Saudi Arabia. The protest was in demonstration against the Saudi governments refusal to let women d...
by Kost Bezginsky, on 16th of June 2011
Bald Is Beautiful - Individual Womens Portraits

Society

Bald Is Beautiful - Individual Womens Portraits

A series of portraits of bald women in New York together with their individual stories. Some of them have alopecia, some have been through chemotherapy, others simply like being bald. N...
by enzo dal verme, on 16th of February 2004
Traditional Scarf Factory - Hebron

Business

Traditional Scarf Factory - Hebron

A Palestinian man works at a Kefiyeh (traditional Arab scarf) factory in the West Bank city of Hebron. 14/10/2010
by Najeh Haslamoun, on 14th of October 2010
Hizb ut-Tahrir Women Protest French Veil Ban

Politics

Hizb ut-Tahrir Women Protest French Veil Ban

Around 80 Muslim women from Hizb ut-Tahrir Britain brought a letter to the French Ambassador and protested on the pavement outside the Knightsbridge Embassy against the French parliamen...
by Peter Marshall, on 25th of September 2010
Invasion of the Tea Ladies

Politics

Invasion of the Tea Ladies

DMTX. Over 50 tea-ladies in blue and pink pinafores and head scarves came to Westminster this morning to urge everyone to switch to Fair Trade products, including tea, as a part of ...
by Peter Marshall, on 25th of February 2010
Siged: The Ethiopian Zionist festival

Arts & Entertainment

Siged: The Ethiopian Zionist festival

Ethiopian Jewish immigrants commemorate the ancient festival of Sigd, celebrating their connection to Jerusalem.
by Judy Lash Balint, on 16th of November 2009
Hub- e -Ali London Procession

Society

Hub- e -Ali London Procession

Shia Muslims gather in London for The Hub-e-Ali Procession. London, UK. 06/09/09.
by trainer, on 6th of September 2009
The Imad Mughniyeh unit of Gaza

Society

The Imad Mughniyeh unit of Gaza

A little known group of fighters in Gaza, the Imad Mughniyeh Brigade, has decided to open up. The group of 100-or so fighters, predominanly ex-Fatah Aqsa Brigade, are fully backed by Le...
by Eman Mohammed, on 18th of April 2009

Reporters