Fairtrade 'Demo'

I've been somewhat busy with 'Real Life' in the last week, but that doesn't mean that nothing was happening in Hay.
On the contrary, in fact.
Monday evening was foul - cold, raining, windy, and it was the evening of the Council meeting, so all the Fairtrade supporters turned out to huddle under the clock tower with our placards. It was actually a very good natured affair, and after a while Gareth came out to talk to us, and he invited us all up to the Council chamber to have our photo taken. He said that, obviously, he couldn't speak for the other councillors, but he was in favour, and had hopes of turning Hay into an eco-town. Most people stayed for the meeting. Someone from the Fairtrade group at Llandrindod Wells had come down to give a presentation to the Council, and Fairtrade tea and coffee was provided. I met Nigel Birch on his way up as I was on the way down, and he grumbled about having to drink the coffee.
I saw Elen at Backfold Books the next day, and she said it had all been very interesting. She'd never been to a council meeting before. The councillors voted in favour of Fairtrade status, though - and the day after that I got an email saying that all of Powys has just been declared a Fairtrade county. When all the counties are Fairtrade, Wales will be one of the first Fairtrade countries!