fairtrade and traidcraft in union with our parish

 

Established in 1979 as a Christian response to poverty, Traidcraft combines a trading company and a development charity.  The vision is a world freed from the scandal of poverty, where trade is just, and people and communities can flourish.  Traidcraft pioneers the development of fair trade by building lasting relationships with small-scale producers in developing countries supporting people to trade out of poverty working to bring about trade justice being open and transparent about their practices.

 

 

 

 

Traidcraft operates utlising 3 interlocking activities –

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trade can bring direct benefit to

producer communities

Support by helping people develop

skills needed to run their own business

and train others to do this also

Influence by challenging injustice

and encouraging changes in public

and political attitudes

Grays Thurrock Team Ministry

what is fair trade?

Fair trade differs from standard trade in five principal ways.  As an organisation committed to fair trade, Traidcraft focuses on –

 

       trading with poor and marginalised producer groups, helping them develop skills and sustainable livelihoods through the trading relationship

       pays fair prices that cover the full cost of production and enable a living wage and other fair rewards to be earned by producers.

       provides credit when needed to allow orders to be fulfilled and pays premiums to be used to provide further benefits to producer communities.

       encourages the fair treatment of all workers, ensuring good conditions in the workplace and throughout the supply chain.

       aims to build up long-term relationships, rather than looking for short-term commercial advantage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

influencing others

In addition to trading through our fair trade company, Traidcraft's charity takes action to change the lives of struggling producers. This includes:

       Advocacy and campaigning to change the rules of trade which keep people poor

       Encouraging businesses to behave more responsibily

 

The FAIRTRADE Mark is an independent consumer label which appears on products as an independent guarantee that disadvantaged producers in the developing world are getting a better deal.

For a product to display the FAIRTRADE Mark it must meet international Fairtrade standards. These standards are set by the international certification body Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International (FLO).

Producer organisations that supply Fairtrade products are inspected and certified by FLO. They receive a minimum price that covers the cost of sustainable production and an extra premium that is invested in social or economic development projects.

 

For more information – www.traidcraft.co.uk and www.fairtrade.org.uk

 

‘the fields of the poor may produce abundant food,

but injustice sweeps it away’

 

Abundance - proverbs 13:23

A Prayer from Fairtrade Fortnight 2001

 

Tilt the scales,
O God of the mustard seed:
That the poor shall see justice.

 

Share the feast,
O God of Eden’s abundant garden:
That each crop may fetch a fair price.

 

Upset the tables,
O God of the upside-down Kingdom:
That the least can benefit from their trade.

 

Open our eyes,
O God of life in all its fullness:
That we may learn to walk the way of your son
tilting, sharing, upsetting this world

 

Not satisfied
until the products we bring to our table
Give a better deal, to all who hunger for one.

 

In His name, Amen.

fair-trade, our story… and how we can make a difference in our daily routines…

 

 

In the supermarket when reaching for that box of tea bags, have your tried the Fairtrade brands?

 

 

When you bake your next cake, or chocolate goodies have you tried the Fairtrade cocoa powder and sugar?

 

 

When rushing to the shop for your next chocolate fix, have you checked out the Fairtrade chocolate?

 

 

 

With a little consideration we can all make a positive impact!

 

 

 

 

Check out the Thurrock Council website, www.thurrockcouncil.gov.uk there is a comprehensive list of local Fairtrade produce and suppliers. 

 

 

 

 

 

Check out your local Church Fairtrade rep, who will be happy to help you J

Back to Team