Fairtrade Fortnight, ending on 7^th March, prompts us to see if there are more Fairtrade products we can buy regularly, knowing that the original producers will get a realistic return for their labours. Can we persuade our shops to increase their range? Might our employers, or the clubs we attend, commit to Fairtrade? We can all help to eradicate injustice.

Is your church fully committed to Fairtrade? Does everyone know? Is the certificate displayed?

It’s not just Coffee and Bananas!

The Fairtrade product range includes Beauty, Beer & Ale, Biscuits, Cakes & Brownies, Cereals & Bars, Chocolate, Cocoa, Coffee, Cotton, Dried Fruit, Flowers, Fresh Fruits, Fresh Veg, Herbs & Spices, Honey, Hot Chocolate, Ice Cream, Jams & Spreads, Juice & Soft Drinks, Nuts/nut Oil, Olives & Olive Oil, Quinoa, Rice, Spirits, Sports Balls, Sugar, Sweets, Syrup, Tea & Herbal Tea, Wine, Yoghurt.

The Big Brew is a national initiative to raise awareness of fair trade issues. All are invited to Afternoon Tea at St Andrew’s Church, Great Cornard on Thursday 4 March between 2 pm and 4 pm.

On Saturday 6^th March, St John’s Methodist Church have a Fairtrade Coffee Morning from 10 am to 12 noon.

See also  www.fairtrade.org.uk and www.fairtrade.org.uk/thebigswap . Although overdue for updating, www.fairtradebraintreewitham.ik.com is a local example of what can be achieved.

Yet another link – Rachel Clark, now in Bristol, is blogging about Fairtrade again this year: thecommunitypub.co.uk/blog/?p=191 .

Many shops sell some Fairtrade products; at Somerfield the Cooperative Fairtrade range is increasing.