FAITH AND JUSTICE

Fairtrade Fortnight

Fairtrade Fortnight (27th February to 11th March) is a good time to celebrate the progress made towards improving prices, working conditions, local sustainability and terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world.

We can now choose to buy Fairtrade products from biscuits to bananas, and fruit juice to flowers, and most of the major supermarkets carry own brand versions of Fairtrade coffee. Fairtrade shows that trade can be a means out of poverty if the conditions are right.

Seven million disadvantaged producers, workers and their families are benefiting from Fairtrade, but they and millions more still remain at the mercy of unfair international trade rules. For example, climate problems (with changing weather patterns) make planning coffee growing seasons difficult, and fluctuating prices allow speculators to gamble with price and demand, distorting the coffee market.

We, as consumers keen for a more equitable world, can buy Fairtrade products, but the Fairtrade Foundation www.fairtrade.org.uk wants to see fairer trade rules, and is one of more than 60 organisations, together with Christian Aid, campaigning for “Trade Justice – not free trade – with the rules weighted to benefit poor people and the environment”. www.tjm.org.uk

Alison Reynolds

Ethical Investment

We are mindful of the needs of those who have so much less than us, and of course donations, including our Gift Aid presents at Christmas, are very important, but there is a need to look beyond donations to tackle the world’s greatest disparities.

Ethical, or socially responsible, investment can mean more than simply avoiding harm by not investing in businesses involved in, for example, gambling or weapons production. It can encompass positive action with investment in environmentally sound projects and can support schemes working for social justice that aim to allow people to lift themselves out of poverty.

It is not a new idea. In the eighteenth century the Quakers prohibited their members from participating in the slave trade, and John Wesley, in his sermons, preached on the importance of not harming your neighbour through your business practices, and not investing in industries which could harm the health of their workforce. For us in the twenty first century, as we recognize the stark contrasts between Western affluence and intense poverty, ethical investment may involve micro finance initiatives. Many organizations are committed to giving people that can’t get credit elsewhere the opportunity to earn their way out of poverty.

Shared Interest

http://www.shared-interest.com/ is an ethical investment co-operative. It lends money to farmers and handicraft workers in the developing world and claims to be the world’s only 100% Fairtrade lender.

Kiva

http://www.kiva.org/ is an international organisation that lets individuals lend small amounts to borrowers in the developing world, administered by Field Partners. When the loan has been repaid by the borrower the lender can choose to lend again, or withdraw the money.

Arcubus

http://www.arcubus.org.uk/ slogan: Invest in Life, “is a new charitable company whose objectives are: (a) The relief of poverty through supporting Microfinance initiatives in Africa; and (b) The advancement of the education of the public on ethical issues in relation to the developing world and elsewhere.” It aims to keep the developing world in the eye of the City of London, and works in conjunction with both the Diocese of London and the Corporation of London.

Oikocredit

http://www.oikocredit.org/en/home slogan: Investing in People, an initiative of the World Council of Churches, makes loans to the poor and disadvantaged, with a special emphasis on rural areas and women.

These, and many other groups, have the potential to address the issue of poverty, and send out signals about ethical values. It is worth remembering that the Fairtrade movement grew from stalls in church halls, and helped to “reset the moral compass” in high-street shops. Perhaps these micro finance initiatives may have a similar snowballing effect if enough people support them.

Christians and Climate Change – What do you think?

It has been said that action on climate change is “central to our faith – it is our commitment to love our neighbour as ourselves, especially when our neighbours live without Western privileges.” The World Development Movement recently highlighted the fact that the average person in Britain emits as much carbon dioxide in 13 days as the average person in Kenya will do in an entire year. Yet despite their minimal emissions Kenya and other East African countries face some of the worst weather-related disasters globally, and last year suffered their worst drought in 60 years, resulting in a severe food crisis.

Campaigners are calling on the UK government to meet its commitments to reduce emissions under the Climate Change Act. The Archbishop of Canterbury recently called for politicians and communities to take their share of responsibility to prevent the worst of climate change.

Within the Church of England, the Good Steward campaign argues that the Church Commissioners, on behalf of the C of E, should disinvest from the oil industry “because of the devastating environmental consequences of this industry” thus “reflecting our theology through our investments”. They point out that the British Quakers have disinvested from BP, while the Commissioners commit funds (in excess of £170 million) to Shell, BP and Exxon Mobil. They call on Christians to contribute by writing to bishops, signing online petitions, and preaching about climate change.

How do we respond to these arguments? Where do our responsibilities lie? How should the church behave?

About Faith and Justice Spokesperson

Just recently at St. Giles we have appointed Alison Reynolds as our Faith and Justice spokesperson. The role of Faith & Justice Spokesperson will be to bring to our attention some of those issues and injustices affecting people who are disadvantaged, marginalised or vulnerable. Christians have a responsibility and duty individually and collectively as a church to practise the love that Jesus has taught us. The role is not to persuade us to give more money but rather to encourage a thoughtful engagement with the issues around global poverty, injustice and ethical behaviour.

Our aim will be to share information which might help to inform our thinking and our prayers. If there are particular issues, needs or concerns that you feel strongly about please do get in touch with Alison: alisonreynolds306@hotmail.com.

Matthew Hughes