Queen's Market
Queen's Market, the most ethnically diverse market in London.
Currently, the market is under threat of demolition by Newham Council, who fails to recognise the importance of this public market to the people in East London and far beyond. The Friends of Queen's Market have successfully campaigned against the replacement of the market by an ASDA (Wal-Mart) Supermarket, and recently the private developers have pulled out.
The market has been an inspiration for various people in and around London, leading to the Greater London Authority's aim to include the protection of market in its updated London Plan.
However, the market is still not saved from short-term investment plans by the local Borough Council, who also hosts the upcoming 2012 Olympic Games.
The market is situated in Green Street, a predominantly Asian shopping street that has a UK wide reputation. Both Green Street and Queen's Market have been the focus of various articles, chapters, films, exhibitions and so on.
Location(s)
Market day at CPUT
Last week saw two market days at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) in Cape Town. The concept of market day is not new to CPUT; it does take place about twice a year, allowing students, staff and other stakeholders to sell wide range of products and services on campus to the CPUT community. This is an interesting phenomenon, as it allows students especially, to showcase their sales and entrepreneurial skills while making some pocket money. Not a bad concept at all.
Rural Development Workshop
Dear all,
I recently attended a workshop on Rural Development in Southern Africa, organised by the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation Southern Africa. It's focus was on how transformation of agricultural production can lead to increased food security. Attention was given to the current status of small scale local farmers and how they can contribute to food security. The role of supermarkets in this process was also highlighted.
For contributions to this workshop, visit www.rosalux.co.za
or the link below:
http://www.rosalux.co.za/?page_id=4078
Joburg Market
The Joburg Market is the largest fresh produce or farmers market in South Africa. As indicated on its website, the market houses an average of 9000 buyers at any given time, including retailers, wholesalers, exporters, processors, informal traders and other individual buyers of fresh farm produce. See the joburg market's website for more details.
Location(s)
2010 FIFA World Cup and informal trading in South Africa
Hi all,
From the start of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, there has been an increase in street and open market activities; selling of lags, t-shirts and other items made of national colours of participating Countries. Although there are designated areas for these informal activities, people are often spotted at high pedestrian traffic areas and at traffic lights (called robots in South Africa) selling flags and the famous vuvuzela (plastic trumpet). Hey, I bought my vuvuzela from one of the designated trading areas in Cape Town. The 2010 FIFA World Cup has indeed stimulated informal trading in South Africa, especially the host cities.
I'll back with more on Markets in Africa.
