Fairtrade Flashmob Finances a Solar-Power System

Fairtrade Flashmob Finances a Solar-Power System

Three cafes in Auckland, Hamilton and Wellington had customers spilling onto the streets today, as nearly a thousand people mobbed the businesses in support of their Fairtrade coffee. For every $1 that was spent by customers the cafes donated 45-70 cents to fund a solar-power system for a Pacific Island coffee farm.

“The events were a great success”, said Ben Gleisner, the National Director of Conscious Consumers (the social enterprise that organised the Carrotmobs). “Over $2200 was raised, which is more than enough to set up a solar power system for the coffee farmers”, he said. Speaking from the Auckland event, Angus Coull, Marketing and Communications Officer of Fairtrade Association of NZ, said “I know that the Neknasi coffee farmers in Papua New Guinea will be delighted with the effort from the kiwi Conscious Consumers to help provide them with a sustainable energy source”.

Auckland’s Carrotmob was the first ever in that city. Owner of Cosset Café in Mt Albert, Kellie Gray, was totally blown away by the interest in the event. “It was awesome to see such massive support from conscious consumers and loyal Cosset customers, but also from lots of generous strangers who donated cakes and books”, she said. Anna Lowe, who organised the event in Auckland, was “really stoked” by the turn-out of nearly 500 people, and wanted to say thanks to everyone that came. “It was great to see so many people getting together for such an awesome cause”, she said.

In Wellington, the event attracted nearly 200 people to Celcius Café in Petone. Stephanie Fry, owner of the café, commented that “it was an absolutely fantastic day. I am totally blown away with the number of mobbers. Everyone was having such a great time – it was infectious! We are thrilled to have raised more than enough for the farmers”. The organiser of the event in the capital city, Melissa Keys, speaking from the sun-soaked café said “the second Carrotmob in Wellington was even better than the first! It was an amazing day, with lots of generous people enjoying great coffee in the sun”. Matt Morrison, who brought a wheelbarrow full of Fairtrade bananas from his company All Good Bananas, was having a great time in a gorilla suit. “There is a growing movement of people that want to support Fairtrade practices, and the turn-out today demonstrates that” he said.

Hamilton’s Just Food Café had a really festive atmosphere with live music from two local bands. Kirsty Proctor, the Waikato Coordinator of Conscious Consumers, was impressed with the numbers of people that attended. “It was such an amazing event, and everyone had so much fun” she said. “It is totally cool to get people together for such a worthy cause” she said. Manager of Just Food, Robert Moore, was “run off his feet”. “We are totally excited about the opportunity to be on-board with this” he said.

Conscious Consumers plans to organise more Carrotmobs in the future to support businesses that are members of their ethical accreditation programme.

Links:
www.consciousconsumers.org.nz
www.carrotmob.org
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpH8VKwZcYk

ENDS

© Scoop Media