St Mary with St Alban

The Fairtrade Movement’s annual Fortnight runs this year from 22nd February to 7th March.  The theme for 2010 is The Big SWAP when we are all asked to swap to buying and using fairly traded goods – be it bananas, coffee, cotton, sugar, dried fruit, tea, whatever.  Each and every swap by each and every consumer makes a real, and in some cases life-saving, difference to producers and farmers in the developing world.  It is easy to do and the effects are great.

The Fairtrade premium we pay is vital for farmers.  It goes towards clinics, schools, marketing advice, emergency funding after production setbacks; it is the difference between nervous subsistence and secure employment, between exploitation and a healthy future.  

We are marking Fairtrade Fortnight with a Big Swap Tea Party on Sunday 7th March in the Parish Hall from 2.30-4.30pm when we aim to register 100 people to commit to SWAP. 

• Everyone is invited – indeed it would be a good opportunity tobring an elderly or housebound friend or neighbour.

• The Guides, who this year celebrate their centenary, will be hosting the occasion as part of their Adventure 100 Challenge and serving Fairtrade tea and cakes and biscuits made with fairly traded ingredients

• There will be a small (voluntary) charge to cover costs: the aim is not to raise money but awareness and to encourage everyone to SWAP to fairly traded products whenever possible.

• There will be a Traidcraft stall selling fairly traded foodstuffs.

• No tickets are needed but a phone call during the week before to Kathy Gold would be appreciated for catering purposes.

Please spread the word, bring a friend, and come along to the Parish Hall for a fairly traded cuppa and a cake on the afternoon of Sunday 7th March.