The Make Trade Fair campaign was officially launched in a series of events including pop concerts, workshops and lectures to mark 'Make Trade Fair' month. Hundreds of Palestinians and Israelis have already signed-up to join the Big Noise petition.

In Israel, the campaign was launched at the College for Social and Economic Studies in Tel Aviv. Students had the chance to join workshops and find out more about international trade. They also learned about the struggles that Palestinian farmers face trying to sell their produce at both nearby and distant markets.

Avi Levi, Director of Green Action, which markets Palestinian olive oil in Israel, explained the difficulties that poor farmers face and how they are working to overcome them. Olive oil, transported from the West Bank village of Messrah, was on sale throughout the event, and Fair Trade tea and coffee was served.

More than 70 students signed up to the Big Noise petition at the college. Eran Bineth from Tel Aviv, said: "I know that things should be better, in terms of trade, all over the world but I am not sure how. This is not just about emotions. This campaign raises lots of important questions and we need more answers about the way trade works."

In the Palestinian Territories, events were held at Birzeit University, in Ramallah, West Bank, and at Bethlehem University. Representatives from Fair Trade organizations attended, including the Palestine Fair Trade Association and Zaytoun, which imports olive oil to the UK.

Palestinian students learned more about the power of Fair Trade and how it can make a real difference to poor farmers' lives. More than 500 of them signed up to The Big Noise. They were particularly concerned about the problems that farmers face every day in the Palestinian Territories.

Faisal Barghothi, from Dear Ghasaneh, Palestinian Territories, is a student at Birzeit University. He explained that his family struggles to sell the olive oil they produce: "My family produces around 2000 litres of olive oil each year. We used to produce ten times that amount but it has decreased over time. For now, we can export it to Saudi Arabia but it is very difficult. Olive oil production is so important here because it is our tradition. It is our life. I want to raise my children to produce olive oil and for their children to do the same."

Signing The Big Noise petition, Faisal said, "I hope this campaign succeeds because it will make a difference to people's lives."

The Big Noise Petition will be presented to Ministers this December at the WTO Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong.