19 Mar 2005 - TRADE POVERTY FOR A FAIR LIVING
TRADE POVERTY FOR A FAIR LIVING Gloucestershire Echo - 19 March 2005
Churches in Gloucestershire are being urged to use more Fairtrade products.
The Diocese of Gloucester has made the call in a bid to become a Fairtrade diocese in 2006. For the Church of England diocese to win the Fairtrade mark, two-thirds of its 400 churches must commit to serving Fairtrade tea and coffee.
Coralie Slade, a worshipper at St Luke's in Cheltenham's College Road, has sold Fairtrade goods from a Traidcraft stall after Sunday services for 18 years.
The teacher sells tea, coffee, sugar, cookies, chocolate, greetings cards, muesli, rice and pasta.
She said: "It isn't a charity. It's about giving a fair price for a quality product.
"We've seen a steady increase in interest and trade over the years and now mainstream supermarkets are selling the goods because they know people buy them.
"Some of the people who saw the early Fairtrade products were put off but all the teething problems are over now.
"It's great idea that the diocese is aiming to become Fairtrade although it's slightly overdue. It's something that's obtainable and maintainable."
The Rev Mike Lodge, of St Luke's, said: "We've always sold Fairtrade goods. Now there's been an increasing emphasis on it.
"When I visited Uganda and saw people trying to make a living, it brought home how important it was for us to think carefully about where the goods we buy come from."
Diocesan director of social responsibility, Canon Adrian Slade said there was no reason not to sell Fairtrade products.
He said: "The quality is definitely good enough. I challenge anyone to give it a go.
"Fairtrade empowers producers and workers in the supply chain. It also challenges all companies to move away from unsustainable low commodity prices and unethical sourcing."
Archdeacon of Gloucester the Ven Geoffrey Sidaway said: "We harm the world's poor more through unfair trade we help them with aid.
"There are more than 500 different fairly traded products available in our supermarkets.
"By only offering Fairtrade goods in our churches and with a bit of thoughtful shopping, we can change lives and change the world."
The teacher sells tea, coffee, sugar, cookies, chocolate, greetings cards, muesli, rice and pasta.
She said: "It isn't a charity. It's about giving a fair price for a quality product.
"We've seen a steady increase in interest and trade over the years and now mainstream supermarkets are selling the goods because they know people buy them.
"Some of the people who saw the early Fairtrade products were put off but all the teething problems are over now.
"It's great idea that the diocese is aiming to become Fairtrade although it's slightly overdue. It's something that's obtainable and maintainable."
The Rev Mike Lodge, of St Luke's, said: "We've always sold Fairtrade goods. Now there's been an increasing emphasis on it.
"When I visited Uganda and saw people trying to make a living, it brought home how important it was for us to think carefully about where the goods we buy come from."
Diocesan director of social responsibility, Canon Adrian Slade said there was no reason not to sell Fairtrade products.
He said: "The quality is definitely good enough. I challenge anyone to give it a go.
"Fairtrade empowers producers and workers in the supply chain. It also challenges all companies to move away from unsustainable low commodity prices and unethical sourcing."
Archdeacon of Gloucester the Ven Geoffrey Sidaway said: "We harm the world's poor more through unfair trade we help them with aid.
"There are more than 500 different fairly traded products available in our supermarkets.
"By only offering Fairtrade goods in our churches and with a bit of thoughtful shopping, we can change lives and change the world."