Fairtrade fortnight: local cinemas will reveal coffee scandal

A film about the farmers who produce the coffee beans that end up in supermarkets and coffee shops will be specially screened in Chelmsford and Harlow to mark Fairtrade Fortnight, February 25- March 9. As westerners revel in designer lattes and cappuccinos, ‘Black Gold’ (certificate U) takes a look at the impoverished Ethiopian coffee growers who suffer the bitter taste of injustice. The film lifts the lid off the multi-billion dollar coffee industry and calls on consumers to wake up and smell the coffee. An online ‘coffee calculator’ which accompanies the film helps consumers to think again about where their money goes before ordering that next espresso. www.blackgoldmovie.com/CoffeeCalculator

Monday 25 February, Cramphorn Theatre, Chelmsford: 8pm following a Fairtrade food and wine tasting at 7pm. Tickets £3.50 from the Box Office, tel 01245 606505.

Tuesday 26 February, Harlow Playhouse: 11am, 2pm and 7.45pm. Tickets £5 (£4 concessions) from the Box Office, tel 01279 431945. Directors Marc and Nick Francis will be present at the 7.45pm screening to give the inside story on the making of the film and take questions from the audience. Tickets for this screening are £6 (£5 concessions).

Chelmsford Diocese is committed to a policy of promoting the principles and practice of Fairtrade in the interests of global economic, social and environmental justice. The Fairtrade Mark guarantees farmers a fair and stable price for their products and gives small farmers a stronger position in world markets. Farmers and plantation workers have the opportunity to improve their lives and greater respect is paid to the environment. For information about Fairtrade visit www.fairtrade.org.uk