Christmas shopping
When it comes to buying gifts for family and friends will you choose Fair Trade crafts as gifts? Craft gifts are not so easy to spot because they do not yet carry the Fairtrade Mark, due to the many different types and processes involved and the need to set standards for all of them.
How to find craft gifts that have been fairly traded? By purchasing them from Traidcraft, Oxfam or Tearfund you can be sure they meet fairtrade standards. Justicia in Bolton also sells fairtrade goods, or look out for events and stalls held by churches and the Mothers’ Union throughout the diocese.
A gift to the producers too!
Buying a gift made to Fair Trade standards is a big support to the producers and their communities at the best of times. Now, with a drop in export orders because of the credit crunch, combined with fewer tourists, Fair Trade craft producers are facing difficult times: lower sales means reduced family and community income, resulting in hardship and hard choices.
Some producer groups employ disabled people who find it especially hard to earn a livelihood. For instance, Bombolulu in Kenya runs four sheltered workshops for jewellery, tailoring, woodcraft and leather; at Bhopal in India the Rehabilitation Centre provides training in the production of leather, canvas, jute and silk for victims of the chemical disaster 25 years ago. The illustrations show some of their products.
"If you choose to buy the non-Fairtrade product, you are actively choosing to contribute to the poverty of others” said John Sentamu, Archbishop of York.
Fairtrade shops
Click here for a list of fairtrade shops, online catalogues and fairtrade organisations.
