Fairtrade Weekend

Fairtrade Afternoon Tea Party
DURING the festival, treat yourself to a special Fairtrade afternoon tea at cafés, restaurants and hotels across NewcastleGateshead - and help support local and Fairtrade producers. Throughout May, many local venues will launch special new afternoon tea menus that feature locally-sourced and fairly-traded ingredients. From Ugandan coffee beans to Gilchester's flour, milled in Northumberland, sample the very best in Fairtrade food and drink. Don't forget to pick up a voting card and score your tea; the winners will be announced at the festival's closing gala dinner, Ten Things to Eat Before They Die.

Venues include: Belle & Herbs, Heaton Road, Newcastle; Blackfriars, Low Friar Street, Newcastle; Tyneside Coffee Rooms, Old Town Hall, Gateshead; Urban Café, Dance City, Newcastle; Thistle Hotel, Neville Street, Newcastle; The Living Room, Grey Street, Newcastle; BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art Cafe, South Shore Road, Baltic Quays. 

The EAT! Campaign 08 & Black Gold
ON the eve of World Fairtrade Day, Fairtrade Foundation spokesman George Alagiah will be touring the region's schools, businesses and public organisations talking about fair trade, and explaining how life as a BBC war correspondent has shown him that supporting fair trade is relevant to us all.

In the evening, head to Newcastle Civic Centre for a special showing of Black Gold, the provocative award-winning documentary film that reveals the dark truths behind your morning latte. This will be followed by a discussion about the issues raised, hosted by Black Gold director, Nick Francis and chaired by Chris Jewitt, Chair of the Newcastle Fairtrade Partnership.

As westerners revel in designer lattes and cappuccinos, impoverished Ethiopian coffee growers suffer the bitter taste of injustice. In this eye-opening expose of the multi-billion dollar industry, Black Gold traces one man's fight for a fair price. Black Gold has already created a stir among the conglomerates and the consumers of the coffee industry. At the world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival last year, Starbucks mounted a PR “charm offensive” and turned up to every screening. Since then shareholders have reconsidered their investments and consumers have been galvanised into action. 

What the press has had to say: 
“Excellent – angry, good-humoured and essential” – Phillip French, Observer 
“Visually ravishing... The Francises are aces behind the camera” – Robert Koehler, Variety 
“Black Gold is galvanising Audiences wherever it plays” – David Smith, Observer 

See what you think for yourself and hear what Director Nick Francis has to say by coming along to NewcastleGateshead’s very own Black Gold event.

For more information on the film visit www.blackgoldmovie.com

Fri 9 May, 7.30pm
Newcastle Civic Centre
Price: £7
To book: call 0191 230 5151

EAT! in the Street & The Angel Cake of the North
A traditional street party brings cake and cuppas to the banks of the River Tyne, as Baltic Square is transformed with trestle tables, benches, gazebos, bunting and flags. Tuck into Fairtrade drinks, soups made from produce grown by local allotment owners and slices of a giant cake, created specially by school children across NewcastleGateshead to celebrate the Angel of the North's tenth birthday. Everyone's welcome at the bustling market, where stalls will be piled high with Fairtrade goods and luscious prize produce from local allotments.

AS part of EAT! in the Street, join us in the Co-operative marquee with Chef Mark Earnden to find out how all the family can make cooking more ethical. Mark will be tempting you with some wonderful recipes including vegetable tagine and banana cheesecake. 1pm and 2.45pm.  

Sat 10 May
Baltic Square, Gateshead
Price: FREE