What Fairtrade is doing. Fairtrade is making a real difference to the lives of more than 1.65 million farmers and workers in 74 developing countries.
What can church members do? •
Buy fairly traded products wherever you find them – on the church stall, in the supermarket, and in the Traidcraft catalogue.
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Patronise the two Fairtrade shops in Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds.
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If your local shop does not stock Fairtrade products, ask them to consider doing so.
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Ask your favourite workplace or café to use Fairtrade products.
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Pray for changes to be made to unfair trade rules, and then join campaigns for trade justice. Contacts: Diocesan World Development Advisors: Rev. Carol Mansell :
[email protected] 01449 744484 Richard Stainer:
[email protected] 01284 388175 Fairtrade Foundation: www.fairtrade.org.uk Traidcraft: www.traidcraft.co.uk Trade Justice Movement: www.tjm.org.uk Just Traid shop: St John’s Centre, St John’s Street Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1SJ 01284 756860
[email protected] Fair Trade Shop: 20A Upper Brook Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4 1EB 01473288225 email:
[email protected]
January 2018
Fairtrade and Trade Justice Why is Fairtrade important? Many farmers and workers in developing countries struggle to provide for their families. They face the global challenges of unfair trade rules, volatile food prices and climate change. The price they get for their crops often does not cover the cost of production. Fairtrade aims to build a world in which justice and sustainable development are at the heart of trade structures and practices. It restores justice and dignity to silenced communities, enables them to lift themselves out of poverty, and allows us to trade with respect and fairness. The FAIRTRADE mark is found on thousands of products from coffee to wine to chocolate, and even gold. It means that producers receive stable and sustainable prices and an extra payment (a ‘social premium’) to invest in their community. For their part the producer groups must be democratically organised and meet environmental standards. The Fairtrade Foundation is the non-profit organisation in the UK that licenses use of the FAIRTRADE mark on products, in accordance with internationally agreed Fairtrade standards. It also raises awareness of Fairtrade and trade justice issues in schools, businesses, faith groups and communities, and lobbies governments and companies for change.
What does the Lord require?
What can churches do?
The Scriptures proclaim the love of God, and also contain repeated calls to act justly. As Christians we are required to address the needs of the poor and also to challenge systems and structures that keep them in poverty. By supporting and campaigning for Fairtrade we can make a difference as a diocese, in our churches and as individual Christians.
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In becoming a Fairtrade church, your PCC must agree to the following:
‘ …what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?’ Micah 6.8
1. Use Fairtrade tea and coffee after services and in all meetings for which you have responsibility 2. Move forward on using other Fairtrade products such as sugar, biscuits and fruit
Dear God, we know that the food we eat and drink is grown by people far away. Even though we will never meet them Help us care for their needs As well as our own. Amen
3. Promote Fairtrade during Fairtrade Fortnight and during the year through events, worship and other activities whenever possible •
Hold events in Fairtrade Fortnight. Many churches in the diocese have participated in the Big Brew since 2010, organising tea parties, coffee mornings, concerts and tea dances. Resources to support your event can be obtained from the Fairtrade Foundation or Traidcraft (see over).
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Introduce a Fairtrade stall to your church, maybe once a month after worship. A wide range of products can be obtained from Traidcraft or from local Fairtrade shops in Bury St Edmunds and Ipswich
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Bring a concern for trade justice into worship, prayers, Bible studies, home groups, Sunday Schools and youth groups. The Fairtrade Foundation and Traidcraft provide excellent resources and your world development advisers would be delighted to come along and speak. (see over for contact details)
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Work with local communities to raise awareness of Fairtrade. Join others to work towards making your town or village a Fairtrade town. There are now 9 Fairtrade towns in Suffolk (see http://www.suffolkfairtrade.org.uk/)
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Join national and international campaigns for trade justice.
Christian Aid
Fairtrade and the Diocese The Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich became a Fairtrade diocese in 2005. Over half of our churches, the cathedral, the Diocesan offices, the Bishops’ Houses and other offices have achieved Fairtrade status. We continue to encourage all churches to adopt Fairtrade and to promote the Big Brew in the Diocese during Fairtrade Fortnight. We also encourage churches to campaign for trade justice.
Become an official Fairtrade church if you are not one already. To do this it is necessary to apply to the Fairtrade Foundation. You can download an application form from their website https://www.fairtrade.org.uk/Get-Involved/In-your-community/ Faith-Groups/Fairtrade-Churches
