June 30, 2008

Trade fair and bring good news to the poor

Members of Uniting Church congregations in Springwood and Keiraview have been inspired by the way Fair Trade in the UK has grown from something largely supported by churches to being widely accepted in supermarkets, clothes shops and even motorway cafes.

Fair Trade seeks to change how international trade operates by ensuring producers in the Third World receive a fair price for their products. It enables them to invest in their communities and gain knowledge and skills. It also promotes environmentally-sustainable farming methods.

For the last 20 years John and Noelene Martin have tried to encourage people in parishes and the wider church community to buy Third World crafts and to use fairly-traded tea and coffee at church, in their homes and work places.

They see it as an easy and practical way to fulfil the gospel: to act justly and to bring good news to the poor.

The Martins were involved with fair trading even before it was given the name "fair trading".

"Our first experience of alternative trading was in the early '80s. John was ministering in a parish in the Riverina. The World Development Movement was encouraging parishes to buy tea from Sri Lanka, enabling the workers to get paid a fair wage.

"We decided to get involved and a tea chest arrived at the manse. It was packed with small woven boxes of broken orange pekoe tea which we sold throughout the parish.

"In 1985 we moved to a parish in Shropshire, England, for three years.

"One morning a Traidcraft catalogue arrived in a church mailing. Traidcraft, a Christian alternative trading organisation, had begun in 1979 and was then in its infancy. It is now the UK's leading fair trading organisation, selling over 450 products and with a current annual turnover of $35 million.

"Traidcraft's policy was to fight poverty through trade. They ensured that the people they dealt with in the Third World countries who had made or grown the products were paid a fair wage. They were earning a living rather than relying on aid."

Noelene was enthusiastic. She became a volunteer representative and Traidcraft took over their lives.

She spoke to various groups (mainly church groups} about justice issues and sold Traidcraft tea, coffee, foodstuffs and crafts to groups and had stalls at markets.

"We tried to encourage people to use Traidcraft tea and coffee in their churches and homes and to buy the crafts for gifts."

While some caught the vision and became regular customers, others strongly resisted the whole idea.

"They liked the tea and coffee they were using and didn't want to change. And they weren't interested in the justice issues at all."

But the concept of fair trade was growing in England and the Martins found it very exciting.

The story was quite different upon their return to Australia.

"We became disappointed and frustrated. There was nothing like Traidcraft here. Trade Winds Tea and Coffee sold fairly-traded tea and coffee and there were some outlets for Third World crafts where the producers received a fair wage. But here was nothing on the scale we had been used to in England."

Nevertheless, the Martins persisted.

"We always had a box of tea and coffee at church so people could buy it with little bother. For those who objected to buying on Sunday, John always had a box in the car when he was visiting, so there was no excuse."

Committed to justice

Members of Keiraview Uniting Church see Fair Trade as part of their commitment to social justice and as part of how they aim to operate ethically in a broader way.

During Fair Trade fortnight in 2006 several congregation members who were involved in the Oxfam group at the University of Wollongong talked about Fair Trade during church services.

"We wanted to be able to support Fair Trade by regularly buying Fair Trade products and encouraging others to do so," says Fiona Carlisle.

Keiraview is now is a certified Fair Trade faith community which holds monthly Fair Trade stalls after church services.

"We started our stall by holding a much anticipated tasting event for tea and coffee at both our morning and evening gatherings. People could sample different brands to choose one they liked before purchasing from the stall.

"We do not stock tea and coffee available from local supermarkets, but at the tasting event people were able to sample those also.

"Initially we limited what we stocked to a range of black, green and herbal teas, coffee, cocoa and hot chocolate.

"Our profits have gone back into the stall to expand the range of what we sell. We now also sell chocolate, toiletries and environmentally friendly bags."

Fiona says it has been exciting to find new products and talk to suppliers about wholesale prices and terms of supply. "The internet is a great way to find out what is out there," she says.

"We initially sourced from three suppliers. Some of these have changed but we now regularly order from six. Some will accept payment after receipt of goods and some will require minimum orders and payment in advance."

Fiona says, "It is great to see a growing number of Fair Trade products on our supermarket shelves, but the range is limited. We want to be able to give people a choice and help to grow the Fair Trade market in Australia."

Biblical principles

Why become a fair trade church? Surely, say the Martins, the question is, "Why not?"

"Fairness and justice are integral in the Bible's teachings. The Bible is full of references where the Old Testament prophets and Jesus have urged people to act justly.

"Justice and fairness are biblical principles; for example, Isaiah 58: 6, 'The kind of fasting I want is this. Remove the chains of oppression and the yoke of injustice and let the oppressed go free.'

"It is odd that many Christians will pray for the poor but will often baulk at the suggestion they change their buying habits so the poor will benefit and gain a dignity in life. We in the church should be at the forefront of fair trading, not dragging our feet making excuses.

"People often look at the problems in the world and ask, 'What can one person do?' Fair Trade is a way we can help. And it's all as easy as making a cup of tea or coffee."

The Fair Trade Association of Australia and New Zealand has information about how to become a Fair Trade Church. To get your Fair Trade Certificate you should:

• use fair trade tea and coffee for all church functions;
  
• encourage people to buy and use fair trade tea and coffee;
  
• promote and advertise it at church in the news sheet and with posters and leaflets;
  
• hold fair trade events;
  
• hold a tea tasting;
  
• sell fair trade goods (a really good idea especially before Christmas).

The Fair Trade Association also has a procurement guide listing suppliers and products. There are many out there, but here are contact details of some that provide a broad range of products:

• Bang Consortium, 25/6 Malabar Road, Coogee 2034. Tel. (02) 9349 4339, Mob. 0438 608 271. Supplies environmentally friendly Fair Trade jute bags from Bangladesh.
  
• Bercat, PO Box 63, Revesby North 2212. Tel. (02) 9792 1094. Supplies coffee and tea.
  
• Kadac, PO Box 139, Moorabbin 3189. Tel. 1300 762 025. Supplies Clipper teas, Green & Black's chocolate, cocoa and hot chocolate.
  
• Organic Trader, PO Box 552, St Leonards 1590. Tel. (02) 8399 0122. Supplies Cocolo chocolate (and promotional leaflets), Qi teas, Nui body care products and coconut oil, Richesse de l'Afrique body care products, Toby's Estate coffee, Trash bags, Universal Village tea bags, Fair Trade promotional leaflets.
  
• Trade Winds Tea and Coffee, PO Box 3424, Sydney 2001. Tel. (02) 9252 5365. Supplies coffee and tea.

Information and Fair Trade products also can be obtained from:

• Oxfam, World Vision and New Internationalist;
  
• Tribes and Nations, based in Lawson, New South Wales, for crafts and tea and coffee; and
  
• Di and Robert Martin, based at Parramatta, for talks to groups and sales of crafts, tea and coffee (0401274547).

If you are thinking of starting your own Fair Trade stall these are some of the things you need to consider:

• Is there already interest in your congregation or do you need to do some education and promotion before you start? The FTANZ can help you with information and promotional material such as posters, postcards and leaflets.
  
• What is already available in your local shops and cafes and how are you going to help promote and support this?
  
• Where are your start up funds coming from, how are you paying for goods and how are you going to keep your accounts?
  
• What products do you wish to stock, where are you buying them from, how long will it take for delivery, what is your pricing policy?
  
• Coffee beans and ground coffees need to be freshly roasted and ground to attract the real coffee lovers. Don't buy too much at once. See if there is anyone in your local area who is roasting their own and try it out. The Martins have used Voodoo Coffee's Sacred Grounds range. Currently they use State of Bean from North Wollongong.
  
• Where and how are you going to store the goods so that they are kept in good condition? How are you going to keep track of stock sold and stock held?