Fairtrade

Fairtrade aims to address the plight of marginalised producers across the world by paying a price that more than covers the cost of production and is guaranteed not to fall below an agreed minimum, (so protecting from the volatility of world markets).

Additionally, a premium is paid for investment in the community. Contracts are longer term, often with part payment up front, to provide security and enable planning.
Fairtrade producers meet certain standards too. Producers must be organised democratically, such as in a co-operative, and achieve good labour standards (including no forced or child labour). Quality and environmental standards are also met ensuring consumers are guaranteed high quality products.

Biblical basis for Fairtrade

Throughout the Bible we are confronted by God's bias towards the poor and his anger at the way they are disregarded and their needs ignored. Jesus repeatedly makes the link between the plenty of a few and the lack of many to highlight the calling of his Gospel. This 'bias to the poor' is consistent with the Fairtrade principles of democracy, empowerment, equality, self-help, and mutual care.

Micah 6:8 What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and love mercy.
James 2:14-17 What good is it...if a man claims to have faith, but has no deeds? Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
God's nature is one of justice and fairness.
Isaiah 61:8: 'For I the LORD love justice, I hate robbery and wrongdoing."
Deuteronomy 24 looks at justice by relationships not rules, concerning debt and the poverty that is responsible for it.
Proverbs 23:4 A theology of 'enough' is expressed by the idea: Live simply so that others may simply live.
Deuteronomy 10:18-19 shows God's love of strangers and in the New Testament we are commanded by Jesus to love our neighbour as ourselves and to show strangers mercy (The Good Samaritan Luke 10:25-37).
Jesus conveys the fairness needed in peoples working lives in the parable of the labourers (Matthew 20:1-16).

Trade Justice and 'Make Poverty History'

Fairtrade forms one strand of the Trade Justice and Make Poverty History campaigns, which call for global changes to international trade rules and agreements, which tend to favour richer countries and multinational companies to the detriment of the poor.

Fairtrade at All Saints

At All Saints we currently run a Fairtrade stall twice a month after the morning service selling Fairtrade food, gifts, cards, clothes, musical instruments, footballs and much more! The stall was started in March 2005 and has so far sold in excess of £7200 of Fairtrade goods. We have taken the stall to various fetes and events around Peckham and have held positive pickets outside Morrisons in Peckham to promote Fairtrade products. Rachel Smith leads the team and the current members are - Ellie Ward, Kate Heywood, Bill Shaw, Eleanor Orr, Matt Smith, Sam Clarke, Sara Cody, Nikki Clarke and Lucy Dormandy. Rachel is also the Deanery's Fairtrade representative.

Getting Involved

• Pray - for justice and fairness in our world, use information on the websites of Christian Aid, Tearfund and Traidcraft to direct your prayers.
• Join the team - Help out on the stalls on Sunday mornings or fetes during the warmer months. Contact Rachel on 02086939347 or e-mail Rachelsmith1@aol.com
• Promote Fairtrade products - Rachel can order tea, coffee, sugar and biscuits in catering size packs so you can change your work or schools coffee times to being Fairtrade in an instant. We can attend your event at work or school, either you can borrow some Fairtrade goods and do it yourself or some of the team can come along and help out.
• Campaign - For big changes, which will improve the lives of many millions of people around the world, to be discussed and agreed by world leaders and governments they need to know people care and want these changes to make our world a fairer place. There are many campaigns run by Christian Aid, Tearfund and Traidcraft, amongst others, to get involved with, from simply filling in a postcard and sending it to Gordon Brown (you can't ignore thousands of cards all requesting the same thing!) or joining with thousands of other people at an organised rally.