Fairtrade Fortnight
By Charlotte ReynoldsDid you know that Fairtrade Fortnight begins in February?
Do you know what ‘Fairtrade’ is all about, and, most importantly did you know that the parish of St John the Baptist has signed up to being a Fairtrade Church?
Well no, nor did I, so in the manner of all good investigative journalism I went to find a source to tell all, and found Andrew Burnett a willing and knowledgeable voice!
According to its website, Fairtrade is about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability and fair terms for farmers and workers in the developing world. Fairtrade labelling was first created in the late 1980s and there are now over 2000 Fairtrade products available from supermarkets, wholefood and Fairtrade shops and by mail order. Please do take time to look up its excellent website to gain a fuller picture of its aims and achievements, www.fairtrade.org.uk
So how does that affect us at St John’s church? Well, by pledging to become a Fairtrade Church we are required to use only Fairtrade tea, coffee and sugar at church meetings, i.e. after the service.
We must also aim to move forward on using other Fairtrade products, to promote Fairtrade Fortnight and to promote Fairtrade as opportunities arise at other times.
The PCC agreed to sign up to the pledge late last year and the church was supplied with Fairtrade tea, coffee and sugar in November; this has been donated and will continue to be so. This summer all the tea, coffee etc. served during our ‘Old Church Cream Teas’ on Sunday afternoons will also be fully Fairtrade.
26th February marks the beginning of Fairtrade Fortnight and I hope to be able to display some further information in church during these two weeks.
So, how can you be a part of this fortnight of Fairtrade celebrations? Well, come and join us at church on Sunday morning and linger afterwards over a delicious cup of freshly made coffee! It is as easy as that! We look forward to seeing you there.