There are 3 other debates happening in September on Tourism (3rd September), Energy (16th September) and Investment (23rd September). On the 30th September we will be holding our main TED-style all day conference.

“Free trade trumps fair trade in helping developing economies.”

An Oxford-style debate.

This event is proudly support by:

Arguments for

One commentator called free trade the “greatest aid to real development – and the proven route out of mass poverty”. Conversely, the Adam Smith Institute, in a 2008 paper, said fair trade negatively impacted the economic prosperity of developing world farmers, and didn’t actually help them.

Read more.

Arguments against

The charity Action Aid, which campaigns for fair trade, argues free trade leads to “poverty and inequality”. Meanwhile, many argue developing countries are unable to be self-dependent with free trade. Under fair trade, producers are paid fairly, working conditions are better and communities are empowered.

Read more.

Confirmed speakers:

Speaking for the motion
Sam Bowman
Research Director at the Adam Smith Institute

Sam Bowman is Research Director of the Adam Smith Institute, Britain's leading libertarian think tank, where he has worked since 2010. He is responsible for managing and editing the Institute's publications and research, as well as managing the Institute's team on a daily basis and helping with the ASI's overall policy strategy.

His current research agenda is the political economy of "Bleeding Heart Libertarianism", a school of thought that tries to use free market policies to improve the welfare of the poor. His key policy areas are immigration and planning, which he sees as the two major areas where states hurt the poor globally and in the UK respectively. He is also interested in market monetarism, the epistemic challenges facing social democracy, and the case for wealth redistribution within free markets.

Speaking for the motion
Linda Whetstone
Chairman of Network for a Free Society and board member at the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA)

Linda Whetstone is Chairman of Network for a Free Society and a member of the boards of the Institute of Economic Affairs, Atlas Economic Research Foundation, Mont Pelerin Society, Istanbul Network for Liberty and British Dressage. She runs a small business in Sussex with her husband and writes on agricultural, trade, and development issues. She is also daughter of IEA founder, Sir Antony Fisher.

Speaking against the motion
Stuart Singleton-White
Senior Manager, External Communiations (Europe & Australia), Rainforest Alliance

Stuart has more than 18 years experience of public affairs, campaigning and media in both the political arena and with NGOs. This has included successfully leading the campaign to bring in the Wildlife and Countryside Act 2000 and the Draft Marine Bill, chairing the Wildlife and Countryside Links Marine Group between 2002 and 2004.

Stuart has regularly advised government ministers and special advisors (including 10 Downing Street policy staff) on issues in the areas of climate change and the marine environment. While representing NGOs he has also regularly advised MPs from the three main political parties on environmental issues and provided advice and information to select committees. Stuart successfully led the 1997, 2001 and 2005 general election campaigns in Reading, returning MPs to parliament on each occasion. He has also run a number of successful local elections campaigns.

He developed the international children's agency, Plan, first global advocacy campaign on Universal Birth Registration, securing the support of Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the then UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. As Head of Advocacy at WWF, Stuart successfully brought together the public affairs, media and campaigning functions into a single advocacy communications function.

As a local councillor for more than 13 years Stuart was a leading force in developing environmental policy on both Berkshire County Council and Reading Borough Council. Stuart has extensive media experience both in terms of press and broadcast interviews and in media management - from story development and placement to developing communications strategies designed to deliver both effective exposure and communicate key messages.

Stuart has run his own communications agency, The Message Hub, since 2007. Clients have included the Rainforest Alliance, WWF-UK, Tearfund, Friends of the Earth, Green Alliance, UK-Green Building Council and openDemocracy. Stuart is Chairman and a non-executive director of Reading Transport Limited.

Speaking against the motion
Tim Aldred
Head of Policy and Research at the Fairtrade Foundation

Tim Aldred has over 15 years of experience in international relief and development work with particularly strong experience of humanitarian aid. In recent years he has been focusing increasingly on policy development and advocacy work.

The Fairtrade Foundation is the independent non-profit organisation that licenses use of the FAIRTRADE Mark on products in the UK in accordance with internationally agreed Fairtrade standards.

The Foundation was established in 1992 by CAFOD, Christian Aid, Oxfam, Traidcraft, the World Development Movement, and the National Federation of Women’s Institutes. Member organisations now also include Banana Link, Methodist Relief and Development Fund, National Campaigner Committee, Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign, People & Planet, Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund,Shared Interest Foundation, Soroptimist International , Tearfund and Commitment to Life / United Reformed Church.

The Foundation is the UK member of Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International (FLO), which unites 21 labelling initiatives across Europe, Japan, North America, Mexico and Australia/New Zealand as well as networks of producer organisations from Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean.

Moderator

Very shortly to be confirmed

Watch the video of a previous event we ran here: Sustainable Investment Bootcamp

FAQs

Are there ID requirements or an age limit to enter the event?
Over 18

What are my transport/parking options getting to the event?
Public Transport

Where can I contact the organizer with any questions?
sustainableseptember@blueandgreencommunications.com

Is my registration/ticket transferrable?
No

Can I update my registration information?
No

Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?
Yes

What is the refund policy?
Tickets are non-refundable

The name on the registration/ticket doesn't match the attendee. Is that okay?
No