“Many Australians, including Christians, generously donate to aid organisations who assist in times of disaster and in the development space by helping to lift living conditions. Fair trade can be seen as ‘aid through trade’. We all make purchases, including tea, coffee, chocolate, clothes and other goods. Fair trade is a way of doing differently what we already do every day,” says The Rev’d John Martin from Resource Church the Parish of Robina, as World Fair Trade Day approaches on 8 May
“I was first introduced to ‘fairtrade’ products one very cold night in 1997 while volunteering as a missionary for a year in Elizabeth South, a satellite city of Adelaide. A fellow member of an intentional Christian community invited my women’s household to a fairtrade hot beverage tasting event held in a local church,” says anglican focus Editor Michelle McDonald
With the UN World Day Against Child Labour approaching on Wednesday 12 June, The Rev’d Bronwyn Pagram reflects on the scourge of child labour exploitation and what we as Christians and members of a common humanity can do to assist: “Given Jesus’ commands to cherish children and to love our neighbours, as Christians we should care deeply about the issue of child labour”
With Christmas spending in Australia predicted to top more than $50 billion, anglican focus takes a look at how we can shop more ethically this holiday season by being mindful of supply chain slavery and labour exploitation risks