Fairtrade fortnight events

The aim has been to spread the word about ethical trading and fairness and local Fairtrade committee spokesman Jack Doherty has been encouraged by response to the campaign.

He said: "We are very pleased at the level of awareness and we believe the uptake is increasing on Fairtrade goods on this our first Fairtrade fortnight as a Fairtrade town.

"It is up to the the people of Bexhill to continue to make it a Fairtrade town, and to get their friends to use more and more Fairtrade products.

"It is also a great tribute to the people of Bexhill that we are not only absorbed in our own problems in the town. By buying Fairtrade we are thinking globally."

Friday sees a free showing of the film Black Gold at 7pm at Grosvenor Park, the BUPA residential home just off De La Warr Parade on Brookfield Road.

The film runs for 1hr 15mins and is an acclaimed documentary which centres on a farmer in Ethiopia and his struggle to achieve a decent price for the coffee grown in his village.

Jack said: "The film had had some fantastic reviews. There is a brilliant comparison and juxtaposition between what is happening at his coffee farm and at Starbucks - it is a staggering contast."

Saturday morning from 9am-1pm, Devonshire Square will be home to a number of stalls selling a huge variety of ethically produced items, from carvings and ornaments to Visionary soap made in Hastings and Fairtrade cotton t-shirts.

If weather is bad the market will take place inside St Mary Magdalene's church hall.

On Sunday there will be two Fairtrade breakfasts to wind up the successful fortnight - one at St Martha's church hall in Little Common from 10.15, and the other at Our Lady's church hall in Southalnds Road from 10.55am.