It’s easy to feel over-whelmed by the problems facing our world today: climate change; drought; famine; wars; disease.  More than one billion people throughout the world live in grinding poverty, with no chance of escape.

Many of us, aware of how lucky we are to live our comfortable existence in a quiet corner of England, would like to make a difference, but don’t know where to start.

Yet there is an easy and practical way in which we can help to improve the lives of millions of poor farmers, textile workers and craftsmen and women in all corners of the globe.

Next time you’re out shopping look for the Fairtrade mark on goods, including chocolate, coffee, tea and sugar.

Buying fair trade means that you’re guaranteed that the person who grew the cocoa and coffee beans, tea leaves and sugar cane was paid a fair price for his or her produce.

This in turn means that their families are guaranteed a living wage – and a route out of poverty which will benefit individuals and communities now and in the future.

Because of fair trade children can go to school, wells can be dug, hospitals built, teachers, doctors and nurses paid, while the earth is worked in a sustainable way.

Fair trade gives people a fair chance to make something of their own lives.

To find out more about the Fairtrade Foundation visit www.fairtrade.org.uk

To buy fairly traded goods visit www.traidcraftshop.co.uk

What Can I Do?

As a consumer you can:

·         buy fairly traded goods

·         ask shopkeepers to stock Fairtrade goods – and to expand their range.

·         support local fair trade - shop at the Farmers’ Market on the 4^th Saturday of every month in the car park between the library and Beacon Road.

As an employer you can:

·         supply Fairtrade tea and coffee and sugar to your workers and customers

·         promote the use of Fairtrade products wherever possible

As a member of a voluntary organisation you can:

·         ask for Fairtrade products to be used at all meetings and social events

·         spread the word about fair trade and the benefits it brings

As a school pupil you can:

·         ask your head teacher to help you become a Fairtrade school

·         find out more about how and why fair trade helps people to help themselves

As a resident of Crowborough you can:

·         write to the town council to make Crowborough a Fairtrade town

·         ask your local councillor to take up the cause and support it at council meetings

·         join CrAFT – Crowborough Action on Fair Trade and add your voice to the call to make Crowborough a Fairtrade Town – for more information about CrAFT:

o        telephone: 01892 661779

o        email: cra.ft@virgin.net

o       or visit: www.thelocalchannel.co.uk/craft

What We Have Achieved from St John’s Church

The Crowborough Christian Aid Committee has supported the principles of fair trade and specifically Traidcraft for 20 years or more.

Since 1999 Janet and Michael Prince have coordinated sales of Traidcraft products in the area through contacts with local churches and other organizations.  A wide range of food products is supplied, including tea, coffee, rice, sugar, muesli, chocolate, biscuits, etc, and a variety of craft work such as hand made jewelry and wooden toys is also sold.

Currently five Crowborough churches, together with churches in Rotherfield, Mayfield and Groombridge hold regular Traidcraft sales. 

St John’s was one of the first churches in the district to achieve fair trade status and in addition, St John’s School has recently become a fair trade school, using fairly traded products and promoting them through sales for parents.

Over the seven years some £40,000 worth of goods has been sold through these activities.