A screening of the film Black Gold took place at the Edinburgh Film House to celebrate the launch of the Scottish Fairtrade Forum. The event hosted by Oxfam marks the start of Scotland's journey to becoming one of the first Fair Trade Nations in the world. Oistein Thorsen, Black Gold's Associate Producer and Linda Fabiani, the Scottish Government's Europe & External Affairs Minister will be amongst the invited audience attending. Both Mr Thorsen and Ms Fabiani will take part in a panel that will take questions on fair trade issues after the screening.

Black Gold highlights the injustices faced by Ethiopian coffee farmers and their struggle to get a fair price for the goods they produce. The film has proved to be an international success, as well as receiving a string of good reviews from film critics.

Black Gold's Associate Producer, Oistein Thorsen said, "I think it is fitting that the country, which hosted one of the biggest anti poverty marches the world has ever seen, should be amongst one of the first to become a Fair Trade Nation.

"Black Gold highlights the plight of coffee workers in Ethiopia. The sad truth is that unfair trade rules are keeping millions of people throughout Africa and around the world in poverty. By becoming a Fair Trade Nation Scotland will be rejecting the notion that it is acceptable to exploit workers wherever they live."

Minister for Europe, External Affairs & Culture Linda Fabiani added, "Black Gold highlights the problems small producers in the developing world face when trying to access global markets and get a fair price for their product. The film raises audiences' awareness of the importance of trade justice and highlights how existing world trade rules force millions of producers and their families in developing countries to live in poverty.

"Fair Trade strikes a chord with Scots because we have a strong sense of social justice. The Scottish Government firmly believes in Fair Trade and protecting the rights of workers in the developing world, that is why we are working towards Fair Trade status for Scotland. "

ENDS