CAMPAIGNERS turned out in force to celebrate Oxford keeping its Fairtrade city status, but the achievement has received a mixed reception on the city’s streets.

More than 80 campaigners including the executive director of the Fairtrade Foundation Harriet Lamb were at the Town Hall on Monday to celebrate the city being awarded Fairtrade status for the fourth year running.

The award has been given to 401 towns and cities in the UK that support ethically-harvested products from third world countries.

Since 1998, the value of Fairtrade goods sold in the UK has risen from £16.7m to more than £700m last year.

To earn Fairtrade city status the council must pass a motion to support and serve Fairtrade goods and the products must be widely available in local shops.

There are now more than 50 cafes and shops selling Fairtrade goods in Oxford, double the number two years ago.

Oxford also has a dedicated Fairtrade shop at St Michael at the Northgate Church in Cornmarket Street.

A member of Oxfordshire’s Fairtrade Coalition said it was up to shoppers to drive businesses into selling ethical goods.

Maranda St John Nicolle said: “In an ideal world, Fairtrade would be the norm.

“In the meantime we are trying to celebrate the progress that has already been made and to inspire more people to buy Fairtrade goods.

“There is always more work to be done but we are hoping if we create a big enough wave of positive interest it will pressure more people to get involved.

“This is a consumer revolution. Customers are the people that businesses want to please, so if they ask a company to sell Fairtrade products that will have the most impact.”

Iain McDiarmid, 27,of Iffley Road, said: “This is a move in the right direction, but I think people buy less Fairtrade when times are hard.

“The council should incentivise businesses to go Fairtrade by offering discounts in their rates or putting conditions on their licence that they have to sell a certain range of Fairtrade goods.

Helen Crawford, 38, from Berinsfield, said: “I think this is a bit of an empty gesture, there aren’t that many Fairtrade shops in town.”

Nikolette Incze, 26, from Botley, said: “This is great. Our public institutions like the council and the university should set a good example for the people."

Jennie Cooke, 21, from Headington, said: “I don’t think Oxford is a Fairtrade city because there are shops around that don’t seem to pay people in the third world the right wages. I think we need a few more Fairtrade shops to say we’re a Fairtrade city."

OXFORD Brookes University, which was the world’s first Fairtrade University, will be marking Fairtrade Fortnight, which runs until Sunday, March 8, with a series of activities.

Two talks will be held, the film Black Gold will be screened and the celebrations will culminate with a Fairtrade football match.

Next Thursday, staff from the university’s directorate of estates and facilities management will play the first game of five-a-side football using Fairtrade footballs bought by Brookes Centre for Sport.

Ryan Scott, from Brookes’ sustainability team said: “We are calling on everyone from students, staff and the local community to do their bit in joining this powerful global movement for change by taking part in events.

“As the world’s first Fairtrade university, we are immensely proud of our record and remain firmly in support of the positive difference buying Fairtrade can make.”

All events are free and open to the public – formore details go to brookes.ac.uk /fairtradefortnight.