Chorlton Central Church

The Bible has a great deal to say about justice, much of it with a strikingly modern character. This includes:

Working Hours and Work / Life Balance
one of the Ten Commandments is that everyone - even domesticated farm animals! - has one day off per week

Consumer Protection
including weights and measures rules

Health and Safety
flat roofed buildings must have parapet walls to prevent people falling

Follow this link to read an address by Dr David Goodbourn, a member at Chorlton Central Church and an executive member of the Christian Aid board at the time when the Fairtrade Foundation was set up.

Chorlton Central Church is a Fair Trade Church

This means that

• tea and coffee, and so far as possible other goods and materials we use are obtained from suppliers and manufacturers whose products are certified as meeting the requirement of the Fair Trade Mark
• we support and publicise Fair Trade initiatives

... but, why ?

Many of the goods we purchase are manufactured or grown in Less Economically Developed Countries under conditions which would never be tolerated in the UK. How can we accept the low costs which arise from working conditions overseas that we would not accept for ourselves ?

The Fair Trade movement developed in response to this problem.

... so what can we do ?

Organisations like Traidcraft work to redress the balance by

Importing and selling goods and materials direct from manufacturers or growers

Paying them a guaranteed rate, generally above world prices, allowing them to invest in and develop their industry

Helping manufacturers and growers to develop health care and educational projects for their communities

Campaigning for changes to World Trade rules and practices

To find out more, click on the names to visit these websites:

Traidcraft

Traidcraft Online Shop

The Fair Trade Foundation

Make Poverty History

Fairtrade Shops in Manchester

Fairtrade Cafes and Restaurants in Manchester

image copyright of the Fair Trade Foundation, used by permission

revised 8 May 2011