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 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.
So if I am understanding correctly the two Black men on board were arrested & this fact was extensively reported but now it seems one of these men was actually the lone attacker.
I hope someone has apologised to the second completely innocent man arrested for complicity in an horrific knife attack
I hope someone has apologised to the second completely innocent man arrested for complicity in an horrific knife attack
November 3, 2025 at 9:04 AM
So if I am understanding correctly the two Black men on board were arrested & this fact was extensively reported but now it seems one of these men was actually the lone attacker.
I hope someone has apologised to the second completely innocent man arrested for complicity in an horrific knife attack
I hope someone has apologised to the second completely innocent man arrested for complicity in an horrific knife attack
When you live with someone from the majority world you start to realise how insanely complicated life in the UK is. Even the simplest thing needs tests, paperwork, evidence. Rachel Reeves and Angela Rayner falling foul of almost Kafkaesque bureaucratic property laws is extremely unsurprising to me
October 31, 2025 at 7:43 AM
When you live with someone from the majority world you start to realise how insanely complicated life in the UK is. Even the simplest thing needs tests, paperwork, evidence. Rachel Reeves and Angela Rayner falling foul of almost Kafkaesque bureaucratic property laws is extremely unsurprising to me
I wonder if the current Royal family's belated decision to go No Contact with Andrew is partly because William, unlike his Dad, has a daughter. Is he an example of those men who "as the father of a daughter" suddenly become conscious of how shittily some men treat women and treat it seriously?
October 31, 2025 at 6:28 AM
I wonder if the current Royal family's belated decision to go No Contact with Andrew is partly because William, unlike his Dad, has a daughter. Is he an example of those men who "as the father of a daughter" suddenly become conscious of how shittily some men treat women and treat it seriously?
Finally someone on #r4today talking about the Kafkaesque visa renewal system. You have to be earning £41,700 to get a skilled worker visa. Prison officers certainly deserve this and certainly don't earn it. Disingenuous of the government who sets their wages to suggest they apply
October 28, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Finally someone on #r4today talking about the Kafkaesque visa renewal system. You have to be earning £41,700 to get a skilled worker visa. Prison officers certainly deserve this and certainly don't earn it. Disingenuous of the government who sets their wages to suggest they apply
Reposted by Joanna Abena Fianu
The way the Today show has interviewed two separate white tourist families about the Jamaica storm in the last 15 mn, but not one of the hundreds of thousands of dual citizens or Britons with Jamaican relatives tells you all you need to know about immigrant representation in this country’s media.
October 28, 2025 at 7:21 AM
The way the Today show has interviewed two separate white tourist families about the Jamaica storm in the last 15 mn, but not one of the hundreds of thousands of dual citizens or Britons with Jamaican relatives tells you all you need to know about immigrant representation in this country’s media.
This is exactly what needs to be done across the majority world. For many low income countries tariffs make it too expensive to export any goods that have been processed, entrenching poverty. But keeping the raw materials (vegetable & mineral) in the country means you're forced to add value inhouse
Here’s an example of something interesting and important I learned today from @shamjaff.bsky.social. A link to her free weekly newsletter of underreported stories is in her profile. 📰
October 28, 2025 at 8:20 AM
This is exactly what needs to be done across the majority world. For many low income countries tariffs make it too expensive to export any goods that have been processed, entrenching poverty. But keeping the raw materials (vegetable & mineral) in the country means you're forced to add value inhouse
My cat likes sitting behind the curtains and peering in between when you enter the room. Yesterday she booped me on both cheeks with her two front paws
I am living with the ghost of Eric Morecambe in feline form.
I am living with the ghost of Eric Morecambe in feline form.
October 27, 2025 at 9:26 AM
My cat likes sitting behind the curtains and peering in between when you enter the room. Yesterday she booped me on both cheeks with her two front paws
I am living with the ghost of Eric Morecambe in feline form.
I am living with the ghost of Eric Morecambe in feline form.
I'm an Irish citizen but not resident so I didn't get a vote in the Presidential election
But I would have been part of the 63% who voted for Catherine Connolly and she seems like a breath of fresh air among the insurgent rightward creep in the rest of Europe #Aras
But I would have been part of the 63% who voted for Catherine Connolly and she seems like a breath of fresh air among the insurgent rightward creep in the rest of Europe #Aras
October 26, 2025 at 10:56 AM
I'm an Irish citizen but not resident so I didn't get a vote in the Presidential election
But I would have been part of the 63% who voted for Catherine Connolly and she seems like a breath of fresh air among the insurgent rightward creep in the rest of Europe #Aras
But I would have been part of the 63% who voted for Catherine Connolly and she seems like a breath of fresh air among the insurgent rightward creep in the rest of Europe #Aras
Accidentally started watching one of those "drop an episode a week" dramas last night and was completely confused by the ending until I realized we're only half way through
October 26, 2025 at 7:12 AM
Accidentally started watching one of those "drop an episode a week" dramas last night and was completely confused by the ending until I realized we're only half way through
I've just been asked by a young woman serving in Greggs if mince pies are nice and honestly I despair of the incuriosity of some people. You literally work in a place where presumably you can get a staff discount off the 80p full price - why haven't you tried them?
Also, why would I be saying no?
Also, why would I be saying no?
October 24, 2025 at 4:47 PM
I've just been asked by a young woman serving in Greggs if mince pies are nice and honestly I despair of the incuriosity of some people. You literally work in a place where presumably you can get a staff discount off the 80p full price - why haven't you tried them?
Also, why would I be saying no?
Also, why would I be saying no?
Reposted by Joanna Abena Fianu
After the British museum theft and now the Louvre heist, the premise of Euro-custodianship of global south heritage is more than debatable. Return the possessions to their community custodians.
Much like colonizing museums claim about African artifacts held in European and American collections, if the Louvre cannot properly take care of its possessions, perhaps another nation can. I heard the Benin Royal Museum in Nigeria may have a space.
PARIS (AP) — Paris prosecutor says jewels stolen in Louvre heist worth an estimated 88 million euros ($102 million).
October 21, 2025 at 10:28 PM
After the British museum theft and now the Louvre heist, the premise of Euro-custodianship of global south heritage is more than debatable. Return the possessions to their community custodians.
I had a bit of a revelation today about the future of fair trade
We need to shift the mindset from "We grow / make things and you buy them" to "We grow / make things and we sell them"
On the surface it's the same thing but in practice it's a subtle shift in agency and ownership
We need to shift the mindset from "We grow / make things and you buy them" to "We grow / make things and we sell them"
On the surface it's the same thing but in practice it's a subtle shift in agency and ownership
October 19, 2025 at 10:18 PM
I had a bit of a revelation today about the future of fair trade
We need to shift the mindset from "We grow / make things and you buy them" to "We grow / make things and we sell them"
On the surface it's the same thing but in practice it's a subtle shift in agency and ownership
We need to shift the mindset from "We grow / make things and you buy them" to "We grow / make things and we sell them"
On the surface it's the same thing but in practice it's a subtle shift in agency and ownership
This is devastating for the Bangladeshi garment industry still trying to get over the pandemic losses from fast fashion firms cancelling orders
The fire gutted import cargo terminals areas at Dhaka airport, destroying an estimated $1bn of 'urgent air shipments'.
Bangladesh garment exporters fear $1bn losses after huge airport fire
The fire gutted import cargo terminals areas at Dhaka airport, destroying an estimated $1bn of 'urgent air shipments'.
bit.ly
October 19, 2025 at 6:08 PM
This is devastating for the Bangladeshi garment industry still trying to get over the pandemic losses from fast fashion firms cancelling orders
Growing up in an Irish Catholic family in Lancashire it was clear that our culture and traditions were very different from friends who were what my parents called "non-Catholic"
The family's social life was with other Catholics mostly of Irish heritage either through church or our Catholic school
The family's social life was with other Catholics mostly of Irish heritage either through church or our Catholic school
All White British people, regardless of class, region, age, politics, gender, sexuality, politics share a "culture"
And all not-White British people are "culturally" different
Is a cute but not very coded or historically unfamiliar definition of racism
And all not-White British people are "culturally" different
Is a cute but not very coded or historically unfamiliar definition of racism
October 19, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Growing up in an Irish Catholic family in Lancashire it was clear that our culture and traditions were very different from friends who were what my parents called "non-Catholic"
The family's social life was with other Catholics mostly of Irish heritage either through church or our Catholic school
The family's social life was with other Catholics mostly of Irish heritage either through church or our Catholic school
Reposted by Joanna Abena Fianu
I feel someone needs to ask this govt "what is the point of the economy?"
Because if it isn't to improve the lives, health and prospects of us ALL, I suggest we need a new system.
Right now the system seems to be "throw the littlest ones on the fire to keep the rest JUST warm enough to work".
Because if it isn't to improve the lives, health and prospects of us ALL, I suggest we need a new system.
Right now the system seems to be "throw the littlest ones on the fire to keep the rest JUST warm enough to work".
October 18, 2025 at 9:47 AM
I feel someone needs to ask this govt "what is the point of the economy?"
Because if it isn't to improve the lives, health and prospects of us ALL, I suggest we need a new system.
Right now the system seems to be "throw the littlest ones on the fire to keep the rest JUST warm enough to work".
Because if it isn't to improve the lives, health and prospects of us ALL, I suggest we need a new system.
Right now the system seems to be "throw the littlest ones on the fire to keep the rest JUST warm enough to work".
One thing that really annoys me about political announcements: your country doesn't always have to be the best in the world, a powerhouse, leading the way to justify spending money. It's enough to say "we think this is important so we're investing in helping people who live here get better at it"
October 19, 2025 at 8:08 AM
One thing that really annoys me about political announcements: your country doesn't always have to be the best in the world, a powerhouse, leading the way to justify spending money. It's enough to say "we think this is important so we're investing in helping people who live here get better at it"
Tiring but rewarding afternoon staffing a fair trade stall at Bolton Socialist Club for Black History month. Nigerian jollof and Jamaican curried goat for lunch, dancing to reggae tunes from Marlon and learning all the different ways to play oware.
October 18, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Tiring but rewarding afternoon staffing a fair trade stall at Bolton Socialist Club for Black History month. Nigerian jollof and Jamaican curried goat for lunch, dancing to reggae tunes from Marlon and learning all the different ways to play oware.
First mince pie of the year and it's not even Halloween.
So sue me.
So sue me.
October 18, 2025 at 5:24 PM
First mince pie of the year and it's not even Halloween.
So sue me.
So sue me.
It's a while since I went to an author event but I really enjoyed Mick Herron at Home (not my home, or his home - the one in Manchester)
The reference to John Finnemore's iconic version of the Yellow Car game made it especially rewarding
The reference to John Finnemore's iconic version of the Yellow Car game made it especially rewarding
October 15, 2025 at 10:22 PM
It's a while since I went to an author event but I really enjoyed Mick Herron at Home (not my home, or his home - the one in Manchester)
The reference to John Finnemore's iconic version of the Yellow Car game made it especially rewarding
The reference to John Finnemore's iconic version of the Yellow Car game made it especially rewarding
When someone you know a bit dies unexpectedly it takes a while to process. One of Greater Manchester's strongest fair trade supporters died suddenly on Saturday morning. Iain was a Director of the fair trade shop where I work, helped set up various fair trade groups and worked for the diocese
October 14, 2025 at 4:57 PM
When someone you know a bit dies unexpectedly it takes a while to process. One of Greater Manchester's strongest fair trade supporters died suddenly on Saturday morning. Iain was a Director of the fair trade shop where I work, helped set up various fair trade groups and worked for the diocese