GIANT STRIDES were taken at the weekend as Scotland sets off on the track to become a fairtrade nation.

More than 150 activists were in Perth for FairTrade Scotland 2007, dubbed one of the “fastest growing grassroots social movements” in Europe.

The event featured a mass debate on the criteria for achieving a national designation as representatives from fair trade shops, businesses, towns, cities and universities joined forces with charities and other campaign groups.

The stated aim was to “forge a new inclusive, democratic, transparent and accountable vehicle to make Scotland a fair trade nation.”

Chris Hegarty, advocacy manager with the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (SCIAF) and chairman of FairTrade Scotland 2007, said, “In 1994 there were just three fairtrade products on the market and a handful of dedicated and committed activists who bought them.

“Today there are more than 2000 fairtrade products sold in supermarkets and shops across Scotland, a fair trade buying public that is growing at an annual rate of 40% and a mushrooming grassroots movement that has sparked the creation of fairtrade cities, towns, islands and universities across the nation.”