Graefelfing and Gauting have been Fairtrade communities for years, Neuried and Krailling are on their way there.
Only in Planegg has the municipal council refused to pursue the title awarded by TransFair eV.
The argument: too much work.
Planegg
- Fairtrade communities promote trade in products at the local level that stand for sustainability and fair working conditions.
Gauting has been participating in the international “Fairtrade Towns” campaign since 2012, Graefelfing since 2013. In Neuried, too, the municipal council passed a corresponding resolution in 2015;
The districts of Munich and Starnberg have been able to call themselves Fairtrade districts since last year.
Everywhere there is the declared political will to act as a role model by supporting fair trade.
Fair products are definitely available in Planegger's shops
Eva Schreier has been a member of the Planegger municipal council for Green Group 21 (gG21) since May.
For years she herself has “adjusted her consumption to prevent a little bit of suffering” by buying fairly.
When she and her parliamentary group colleague Angelika Lawo applied to follow suit and thus make the entire Würmtal a fair trade region, she was more likely to be asked why this idea was only coming up now.
Because fair products are definitely available in the Planegger shops and they fill the gift baskets that the community presents on official occasions.
In addition, fair coffee is already being served in facilities such as the community library and the music school.
"I really didn't expect a rejection," said Schreier in an interview with Mercury.
Feared of immense workload
In order to become a Fairtrade Town, municipalities have to meet various criteria, such as forming a steering group with people from civil society, politics and business.
Public relations work is also a requirement.
Mayor Hermann Nafziger saw an “immense amount of work for economic development and press and public relations.
That would really put a strain on the administration. ”He came up with figures: a survey in neighboring communities would have shown a need for“ ten percent of the working time in the areas mentioned ”and another two weeks to prepare for a Fairtrade week.
With 12:11 votes, the local council declined to pursue the title Fairtrade Town.
A positive Council decision is one of the five criteria that must be met.
That is why it does not help that a 20: 3 decision was made to support the project, should actors be found who take care of the fulfillment of the other conditions.
Eva Schreier still doesn't want to give up.
“Especially now,” she says.
She is supported by Roman Brugger (SPD), who has agreed to join the steering group.