Imperial Becomes a Fairtrade University
Monday 10 Dec 2007
As the Centenary Year draws to a close Imperial College Union has finally completed its search for a compelling and profound New Years Resolution. After a long summer of compiling evidence to create an impressive document detailing Fairtrade Products, events and publicity on the Imperial College Campus the Fairtrade Foundation has announced last week that we were successful in our bid for Fairtrade University Status. Having got involved in the campaign for Fairtrade on our Campuses at Freshers’ Fair in my first year I think this is the biggest achievement that I have made as an Imperial College Student and something the College and its students should be really proud of for making it happen.
Over the past eight years considerable pressure has been placed on the College from Student Campaigners to increase its Fairtrade offering. Recognised as ULU Student Campaign Group of the Year in 2006, the Fairtrade Campaign Group went on to form the Fairtrade Society in 2007. In the same year the Fairtrade Steering Group, a joint collaboration between Imperial College London and Imperial College Union, was formed and the Union and College both passed new policies stating their intentions to promote and support Fairtrade on our Campus.
Fairtrade University Status is a mark of recognition for the efforts of the College and Students’ Union to promote and support Fairtrade Products. By becoming a Fairtrade University we will be able to improve social and cultural awareness amongst staff and students and highlight the way in which our actions can affect the standard of living for a wide variety of people all over the world. Imperial College Graduates, as the World Leaders of tomorrow, have a wide social responsibility to support high standards of ethical and environmental influences in future global trading. The importance of such matters becoming more and more evident in the choices made by consumers, prospective students and businesses all over the world.
The demand for Ethical Products on campus is high, with over 1.6 million Fairtrade Hot Beverages being served in the past year. Imperial College Union’s new range of Fairtrade Hoodies and T-shirts have been flying off the shelves, with the colours, designs and quality of the garments exceeding everyone’s expectations. Having achieved Fairtrade Status in such a short period of time, the Fairtrade Society and the Union are turning their efforts towards the Borough of Westminster and the City of London, to help in their campaigns for Fairtrade Status.
It is particularly fitting that Imperial College has received this long awaited recognition during its Centenary Year. With new environmental initiatives being implemented and these positive steps in social responsibility and awareness Imperial is finally closing the gap with its competitors and is no longer lagging behind on important global issues. It is a great cause for celebration and will send a positive message to our dynamic multi-cultural society, our prospective students, graduate employers and the government.
Jason Parmar
(020) 7594 8060
IC Extension 45646