Joanna Abena Fianu
@joannafairtrade.bsky.social
Trade justice campaigner - supporting social and fair trade enterprise - working with cocoa farmers in Ghana via The FIG Tree
https://fairtradecentre.org/workshops-2/
Was Ranavalona111 on the other place
https://fairtradecentre.org/workshops-2/
Was Ranavalona111 on the other place
I've always thought Small Business Saturday being in December's ridiculous. Anyone actually running a successful customer facing retail small business is far too busy to take part. Come back to me in March when it's freezing, the shop's been open all day and we've sold a chocolate bar and a flapjack
December 7, 2025 at 8:59 AM
I've always thought Small Business Saturday being in December's ridiculous. Anyone actually running a successful customer facing retail small business is far too busy to take part. Come back to me in March when it's freezing, the shop's been open all day and we've sold a chocolate bar and a flapjack
Watching the snooker with a kitten who keeps trying to chase and catch the balls and punch the referee adds a whole extra dimension I didn't know I needed #UKSnookerChampionships
December 6, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Watching the snooker with a kitten who keeps trying to chase and catch the balls and punch the referee adds a whole extra dimension I didn't know I needed #UKSnookerChampionships
Stumbled upon BBC4's rerun of Edge of Darkness and hoo boy is it hitting home - big tech trying to take us to other planets, protesters blamed, killed and jailed, Western governments complicit and covering up and the planet destroyed in service of profit
Forty years on and nothing changes
Forty years on and nothing changes
December 6, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Stumbled upon BBC4's rerun of Edge of Darkness and hoo boy is it hitting home - big tech trying to take us to other planets, protesters blamed, killed and jailed, Western governments complicit and covering up and the planet destroyed in service of profit
Forty years on and nothing changes
Forty years on and nothing changes
Reposted by Joanna Abena Fianu
A timely reminder that the definition of the word ‘farage’ is the liquid found at the bottom of a waste bin or container.
And yes you can get your public service announcement T Towel at www.markthomasinfo.co.uk/store/
And yes you can get your public service announcement T Towel at www.markthomasinfo.co.uk/store/
![Red and white t towel design. Reading in red, Public Health Warning. Please mind the farage. Beneath is a health and safety logo of a leaking bin. Beneath the logo are the words ‘Farage (noun) [fa-rij] The liquid found at the bottom of a waste bin or container.’](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:2dsjjyd6tv34uyxd75o44o4p/bafkreiakzmcl5fdykwhpkndq3zkwpdknkwtc4piddfans2ewkjclqiq7cq@jpeg)
December 5, 2025 at 10:54 AM
A timely reminder that the definition of the word ‘farage’ is the liquid found at the bottom of a waste bin or container.
And yes you can get your public service announcement T Towel at www.markthomasinfo.co.uk/store/
And yes you can get your public service announcement T Towel at www.markthomasinfo.co.uk/store/
I'm enjoying the UK Snooker Championships but what I'm really waiting for is the WSA announcing RFK Junior as the winner of its inaugural Prize for Medicine while the draw for the Masters is happening
December 5, 2025 at 11:06 PM
I'm enjoying the UK Snooker Championships but what I'm really waiting for is the WSA announcing RFK Junior as the winner of its inaugural Prize for Medicine while the draw for the Masters is happening
There are few things in life more disconcerting than listening to a storm rage outside when you know you have to do a street market with a gazebo tomorrow
Fingers crossed it calms down
Fingers crossed it calms down
December 5, 2025 at 8:35 PM
There are few things in life more disconcerting than listening to a storm rage outside when you know you have to do a street market with a gazebo tomorrow
Fingers crossed it calms down
Fingers crossed it calms down
Retail is really hard at the moment, especially independent retail. High street footfall struggled to return, online customers demand the lowest possible prices, free delivery, free returns, none of which are actually free. So it's heartening to realise that our shop sales are 10% up on last year
December 3, 2025 at 8:36 AM
Retail is really hard at the moment, especially independent retail. High street footfall struggled to return, online customers demand the lowest possible prices, free delivery, free returns, none of which are actually free. So it's heartening to realise that our shop sales are 10% up on last year
Why ruin a really important piece by insisting on trying to interview someone live over the phone? If the interviewee can't come in it could easily be pre recorded on good equipment. This is a dreadful way to treat someone who has suffered an unimaginable loss #R4today
December 3, 2025 at 7:43 AM
Why ruin a really important piece by insisting on trying to interview someone live over the phone? If the interviewee can't come in it could easily be pre recorded on good equipment. This is a dreadful way to treat someone who has suffered an unimaginable loss #R4today
I've had some interesting encounters with online shopping but this takes the biscuit. Literally.
What I ordered:
What I ordered:
December 2, 2025 at 4:34 PM
I've had some interesting encounters with online shopping but this takes the biscuit. Literally.
What I ordered:
What I ordered:
Elephant in the room of the race to replace workers with AI is where all the money will come from if nobody has a job. Henry Ford at least understood your workers are customers for your own & other businesses so they need money
Though I'm sure somewhere a tech bro's working on replacing all humans
Though I'm sure somewhere a tech bro's working on replacing all humans
December 1, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Elephant in the room of the race to replace workers with AI is where all the money will come from if nobody has a job. Henry Ford at least understood your workers are customers for your own & other businesses so they need money
Though I'm sure somewhere a tech bro's working on replacing all humans
Though I'm sure somewhere a tech bro's working on replacing all humans
If you ask me to email someone I will do it straight away. Ask me to ring them and it will be days, or probably never. The reason is auditory processing. Tell me something over the phone and unless I write it down I immediately forget it. So phone calls are just a waste of both our times.
November 28, 2025 at 5:32 AM
If you ask me to email someone I will do it straight away. Ask me to ring them and it will be days, or probably never. The reason is auditory processing. Tell me something over the phone and unless I write it down I immediately forget it. So phone calls are just a waste of both our times.
Training a new volunteer in the shop on Friday an older gentleman comes in and buys 9 packs of Christmas cards. Great scanning practice and the transaction goes through perfectly
Once he goes the volunteer (early 20s) asks me "What were they?" He had no concept of posting cards to people
Once he goes the volunteer (early 20s) asks me "What were they?" He had no concept of posting cards to people
November 23, 2025 at 10:32 AM
Training a new volunteer in the shop on Friday an older gentleman comes in and buys 9 packs of Christmas cards. Great scanning practice and the transaction goes through perfectly
Once he goes the volunteer (early 20s) asks me "What were they?" He had no concept of posting cards to people
Once he goes the volunteer (early 20s) asks me "What were they?" He had no concept of posting cards to people
Sitting wearing a Fairtrade mark T shirt in Booths cafe in the World's first Fairtrade Town drinking a £3 cup of non Fairtrade tea because there is nowhere in Garstang to buy a cup of Fairtrade tea or coffee (honourable exception of Thursday mornings when they're available free at the Community Hub)
November 22, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Sitting wearing a Fairtrade mark T shirt in Booths cafe in the World's first Fairtrade Town drinking a £3 cup of non Fairtrade tea because there is nowhere in Garstang to buy a cup of Fairtrade tea or coffee (honourable exception of Thursday mornings when they're available free at the Community Hub)
You can't spend 300 years building a global empire and telling all its subjects that you are the best country in the world and then when they believe you and try to live here - in what many consider to be the motherland - tell them no, actually, not for you #R4Today
November 18, 2025 at 8:17 AM
You can't spend 300 years building a global empire and telling all its subjects that you are the best country in the world and then when they believe you and try to live here - in what many consider to be the motherland - tell them no, actually, not for you #R4Today
This time next week I will be preparing for my first day at a new job.
Tomorrow is my last day at Social Enterprise UK after almost 5 years running the eBay for Change programme.
I've learnt a lot and met some incredible people who have changed my life in almost incalculable ways.
Tomorrow is my last day at Social Enterprise UK after almost 5 years running the eBay for Change programme.
I've learnt a lot and met some incredible people who have changed my life in almost incalculable ways.
November 17, 2025 at 6:51 AM
This time next week I will be preparing for my first day at a new job.
Tomorrow is my last day at Social Enterprise UK after almost 5 years running the eBay for Change programme.
I've learnt a lot and met some incredible people who have changed my life in almost incalculable ways.
Tomorrow is my last day at Social Enterprise UK after almost 5 years running the eBay for Change programme.
I've learnt a lot and met some incredible people who have changed my life in almost incalculable ways.
There is a special circle of hell reserved for people who stand chatting with their friends in front of your stall for ages meaning other customers can't get to look at your products
Especially when there are loads of other places you could be standing
Especially when there are loads of other places you could be standing
November 16, 2025 at 2:37 PM
There is a special circle of hell reserved for people who stand chatting with their friends in front of your stall for ages meaning other customers can't get to look at your products
Especially when there are loads of other places you could be standing
Especially when there are loads of other places you could be standing
I ran a business called All's Fair for many years so it has been rather upsetting to read all the negative reviews of the Disney+ drama of the same name but my God it's terrible. You're absolutely right to drag it.
I'm going to go back to pretending my All's Fair was the only one and it was great
I'm going to go back to pretending my All's Fair was the only one and it was great
November 14, 2025 at 7:24 AM
I ran a business called All's Fair for many years so it has been rather upsetting to read all the negative reviews of the Disney+ drama of the same name but my God it's terrible. You're absolutely right to drag it.
I'm going to go back to pretending my All's Fair was the only one and it was great
I'm going to go back to pretending my All's Fair was the only one and it was great
It's hard to escape from consumerism at Christmas but your money goes further if you shop locally, sustainably and ethically
Luckily you can accomplish all of these with a visit to your local #fairtrade shop (if you're in Greater Manchester or Lancashire that might be Justicia in Bolton)
#Shoplocal
Luckily you can accomplish all of these with a visit to your local #fairtrade shop (if you're in Greater Manchester or Lancashire that might be Justicia in Bolton)
#Shoplocal
November 12, 2025 at 4:45 PM
It's hard to escape from consumerism at Christmas but your money goes further if you shop locally, sustainably and ethically
Luckily you can accomplish all of these with a visit to your local #fairtrade shop (if you're in Greater Manchester or Lancashire that might be Justicia in Bolton)
#Shoplocal
Luckily you can accomplish all of these with a visit to your local #fairtrade shop (if you're in Greater Manchester or Lancashire that might be Justicia in Bolton)
#Shoplocal
In all the Serious Think Pieces and hot takes about whether the BBC is politically biased nobody seems to be saying that actually don't we want it to be taking a stand in support of the American people and residents who are being daily harmed by their President. It's what we wanted in the 1930s.
November 11, 2025 at 7:14 AM
In all the Serious Think Pieces and hot takes about whether the BBC is politically biased nobody seems to be saying that actually don't we want it to be taking a stand in support of the American people and residents who are being daily harmed by their President. It's what we wanted in the 1930s.
I'm reluctantly acknowledging that I will have to forego a Christmas tree at home this year due to having an inquisitive and speedy kitten (she pulled down my bedroom curtains at 3am on Saturday)
But I do get to decorate the tree in the shop
But I do get to decorate the tree in the shop
November 10, 2025 at 4:27 PM
I'm reluctantly acknowledging that I will have to forego a Christmas tree at home this year due to having an inquisitive and speedy kitten (she pulled down my bedroom curtains at 3am on Saturday)
But I do get to decorate the tree in the shop
But I do get to decorate the tree in the shop
I like to tell British people about the NHS surcharge that you have to pay upfront when you apply for a visa. At the moment it comes to over £2000 for a standard spousal visa and covers 2 years 9 months. British people are normally outraged. But many American families pay that every month.
November 10, 2025 at 6:30 AM
I like to tell British people about the NHS surcharge that you have to pay upfront when you apply for a visa. At the moment it comes to over £2000 for a standard spousal visa and covers 2 years 9 months. British people are normally outraged. But many American families pay that every month.
Wondering why I am awake at this ungodly hour before realising the kitten has pulled down the bedroom curtains
November 8, 2025 at 5:18 AM
Wondering why I am awake at this ungodly hour before realising the kitten has pulled down the bedroom curtains
I was 5 when Citizen Smith was first broadcast and it was my favourite programme
I used to raise my right fist and shout "Power to the People" at every opportunity
This explains a lot about how the rest of my life has unfolded
I used to raise my right fist and shout "Power to the People" at every opportunity
This explains a lot about how the rest of my life has unfolded
The first episode of Series One of the classic 🇬🇧 British sitcom "CITIZEN SMITH" written by John Sullivan, starring Robert Lindsay, Mike Grady, Cheryl Hall, Hilda Braid and Tony Steedman first broadcast #OnThisDay in 1977, on the BBC One Network. It ran for 4 seasons producing 30 episodes
📺 BBC
📺 BBC
November 4, 2025 at 8:37 AM
I was 5 when Citizen Smith was first broadcast and it was my favourite programme
I used to raise my right fist and shout "Power to the People" at every opportunity
This explains a lot about how the rest of my life has unfolded
I used to raise my right fist and shout "Power to the People" at every opportunity
This explains a lot about how the rest of my life has unfolded
Experts: "Smartphones are bad for children's anxiety"
Parents: "BUT HOW WILL I TRACK MY CHILD'S EVERY MOVE WITHOUT A SMARTPHONE? THE WORLD IS TERRIFYING AND THEY ARE IN CONSTANT PERIL"
Maybe the causes of children's anxiety are a bit more complex
#R4Today
Parents: "BUT HOW WILL I TRACK MY CHILD'S EVERY MOVE WITHOUT A SMARTPHONE? THE WORLD IS TERRIFYING AND THEY ARE IN CONSTANT PERIL"
Maybe the causes of children's anxiety are a bit more complex
#R4Today
November 4, 2025 at 7:42 AM
Experts: "Smartphones are bad for children's anxiety"
Parents: "BUT HOW WILL I TRACK MY CHILD'S EVERY MOVE WITHOUT A SMARTPHONE? THE WORLD IS TERRIFYING AND THEY ARE IN CONSTANT PERIL"
Maybe the causes of children's anxiety are a bit more complex
#R4Today
Parents: "BUT HOW WILL I TRACK MY CHILD'S EVERY MOVE WITHOUT A SMARTPHONE? THE WORLD IS TERRIFYING AND THEY ARE IN CONSTANT PERIL"
Maybe the causes of children's anxiety are a bit more complex
#R4Today
Reposted by Joanna Abena Fianu
The fact a *single* Amazon full-time employee requires SNAP benefits should be a crime. The fact Amazon is the largest employer of SNAP recipients is a disgrace. Jeff Bezos shouldnt be that rich; he should be in jail.
November 3, 2025 at 4:01 PM
The fact a *single* Amazon full-time employee requires SNAP benefits should be a crime. The fact Amazon is the largest employer of SNAP recipients is a disgrace. Jeff Bezos shouldnt be that rich; he should be in jail.