Traidcraft

Fair Trade is not just for Christmas!

How often do we think that we can do little to help those whose lives are very different from our own, particularly when they live thousands of miles away? By our fair trade purchases, we can all make a difference and help in transforming the lives of the farmers and producers who benefit from them. As Christians, we are called to give to those less fortunate than us and support those in need. Through fair trade, we enable them to live with dignity and be self-sufficient, improving the quality of life both for individuals and communities.

Here in the UK we are undergoing a cost of living crisis where inflation now stands at more than 10%, which inevitably means that some people will need to rethink their purchasing choices and may therefore have to look for the cheapest, rather than the fairest, goods to buy. However, this does not mean that fair trade is no longer an option, as there are some good value products available in budget chains including Greggs, Lidl and Aldi. Supermarkets such as Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and the Co-op often have discounts on fair trade goods such as coffee and tea. Even the more ‘upmarket’ stores, Waitrose and M&S, have own brand lower cost fair trade items.

If the cost of living increases are feeling onerous here, it is easy to see how much worse it must be for those already living at subsistence levels, where the cost of production is also rising steeply. Soaring costs combined with the damage caused by climate change threatens not only the future of food, but also the communities already facing extreme hardship due to the deeply unfair global trade system.

At this time of year, we all make choices about what to buy as presents for friends and family. By buying fairly traded gifts, we benefit those who produce them not just for Christmas, but throughout the year. Skilled artisans and growers around the world report huge positive changes in their lives. Traditional skills and expertise can only continue to be passed on through