fairtrade

FAIR TRADE and the CHALLENGE OF POVERTY

The MAKE POVERTY HISTORY campaign has helped to make people more aware of the URGENCY of tackling global poverty. Trade, obviously, has a great role to play in finding a solution. Yes, there has been progress, but the challenge of poverty is still HUGE: one fifth of the population of the world STILL lives on LESS than $1 a day!

TRAIDCRAFT is one of the original pioneers of Fair Trade and their approach goes beyond the standards required for the Fair Trade Mark- i.e.

1) Traidcraft works to build sustainable businesses in poor communities in parts of Africa, Asia and South America and abides by AND promotes fair trade business practice.
2) Traidcraft pays prices that enable producers to earn a FAIR return for their efforts, and, in addition, gives them access to credit and advances payments where needed to enable orders to be fulfilled. This is one of the focuses of their charity TRAIDCRAFT EXCHANGE.
3) Traidcraft buys from producer groups who respect and promote the RIGHTS, DIGNITY and WELFARE of their producers and wider communities.
4) Through Traidcraft Exchange they are able to implement vital projects in the developing world by building up SUPPORT NETWORKS, working alongside the Fair Trade Foundation and the Fair Trade Labelling Organisation.

Traidcraft`s VISION is of ‘a world freed from the scandal of poverty; where trade is just and people and communities flourish.'

HOW CAN WE HELP IN THE FULFILMENT OF THIS VISION?

I) When we buy Fairly traded goods we are sending a powerful message to businesses and governments through our PURCHASING POWER.

2) TRAIDCRAFT EXCHANGE'S vital work relies heavily on donations from the public. Donations can be made online at www.traidcraft.org.uk/givingmatters or by phoning the Fundraising dept. on 0191 497 6445 or in the box we always have on the_table at our TRAIDCRAFT sales.

3) When we support the TRAIDCRAFT stall WE BECOME PART OF THE VISION.

MALAWI AND FAIR TRADE - SIGNS OF HOPE?

Malawi: is one of the world's poorest countries with a population of 12.3 million and a life expectancy of 37 years.

Mchinji Hospital In the far west of the country, built nearly twenty years ago to serve 275,000 as the sick pour over the borders from Zambia and Mozambique. In addition this hospital has the lowest number of doctors per person in the world! So you might wonder where are the Signs of Hope?

A shelter opposite the hospital has been built on scrubby grass where women, (some of them pregnant and waiting to go into labour) also their children, used to be at the mercy of the weather.

This shelter has been paid for by Fair Trade ground nuts, grown in Malawi and sold to British shoppers.

All over Malawi Fair Trade is paying for improvements to the life chances of the people, especially homes, water pumps, the provision of electricity, repair of bridges and roads etc. (information from The Guardian, 15th Feb 2008)

Traidcraft buys from the Mchinji Association of farmers, Development Trading and Kasinthula (sugar) Cane Growers Ltd. Alfred Butao is a member of the latter company and reports in the Traidcraft Bulletin, (Feb 2008), 'Before I was growing sugar my family could only manage to have one type of vegetable, now we are able to buy cooking oil and have meat as well so we have a balanced diet.

Traidcraft Exchange encourages farmers to band together so that they can achieve better prices and benefit from training and quality management to make sure that their products meet the standards of the Fair Trade Foundation of which Traidcraft is a part.

SO - every time we buy Geobars, Traidcraft cookies or Fairbreaks we are contributing in a small way to Malawi's SIGNS OF HOPE!

You are making a difference -!

This year Fairtrade Fortnight, 1-14th March, celebrated 10 years of the Fairtrade mark. Have you noticed how many more goods in the supermarket now tell us that they are Fairtrade?

We are told that the postcards and letters that we send to MPs and other decision makers are really making a difference - so let us be encouraged in our campaigning.
At a parliamentary debate on trade in October 2005 John Barrett MP speaking of the increased awareness of trade justice said, 'The trade justice lobby in this country is a force to be reckoned with.'
Before he became Secretary of State for the Department for International Development, Hilary Benn MP speaking at a meeting about Africa said, 'The churches are a really important part of the development constituency in this country' - we are called to be that, aren't we?

If you would like to receive regular campaign action requests, about five times a year, with messages to send to MPs and/or other decision makers - contact Christian Aid. There is also a letter of the month available on Christian Aid's website: www.christianaid.org.uk