ILKLEY Fairtrade Group is inviting people to two free online festivals to learn more about how the climate crisis is impacting farmers and food supplies in developing countries.

The events will be part of Fairtrade Fortnight which begins on Monday, February 22.The Ilkley group says farmers and workers in the global south have done the least to contribute to the climate crisis, but are suffering from some of its worst effects.

The Fairtrade Foundation’s ‘Choose the world you want’ festival includes discussions between farmers, experts and famous faces about what needs to be done for a better future. It also includes interactive workshops on sustainable living in the UK, and a quiz. Booking details are on www.fairtrade.org.uk."

Ilkley Fairtrade Group is sponsoring Fairtrade Yorkshire’s free online ‘Fairtrade Connections’ community arts festival, which is designed to have something for all ages. Participants are being invited to hear from acclaimed poets and photographers, cook along with a Bake Off contestant, learn how to make chocolate truffles, entertain the children with Fairtrade-themed craft activities and games, and hear from banana and coffee farmers in Ghana, Rwanda and Uganda. All the event details and booking links are on www.fairtradeyorkshire.org.uk.

A number of post boxes across Yorkshire are being "yarn bombed" with the Fairtrade logo. Anyone who finds one is asked to take a photograph and post it on social media using #FairtradeConnections.

Chair of Ilkley Fairtrade Group, Karen Palframan, said: “We hope the free online festival events enable people to learn more about all that Fairtrade does to help achieve economic, social and environmental sustainability for farmers and workers. Fairtrade has always had strict environmental certification standards, and has a range of training programmes to help farmers deal with climate change.

"We urge everyone, including businesses, to buy more Fairtrade products – every single purchase of Fairtrade items such as tea, coffee, chocolate, bananas and wine really does help towards achieving a more sustainable and fairer world.

"Members from several of Ilkley’s churches and Ilkley Soroptimists are having fund-raising events for Traidcraft Exchange and JTS during Fairtrade Fortnight, and have ordered their Fairtrade items from local Traidcraft reps for online Fairtrade tea parties, meals and quizzes. Fairtrade products are also available in all of Ilkley’s supermarkets, so it’s easy to find them and help choose the world we want."

For further information about Fairtrade or Ilkley Fairtrade Group, contact the group via Facebook @ilkleyfairtrade or email ilkleyfairtradegroup@gmail.com.