As I travelled across the lowland area of Frenchpark/Castlerea on the frosty yet sunny morning of 4th March, 2010, I had time to reflect on the very real connection between the event I was to be part of in St. Mary’s Church of Ireland Hall in Tuam and our own Congregational Chapter Statement. Centred in the God of Mercy, that morning, we were to gather with a wide representation of officials to show our commitment for the alleviation of extreme poverty through the promotion and use of Fairtrade products. In fact, we were gathered to celebrate the fruits of four years of continuous Mercy promotion of “Fair” trading in order to bring Tuam to this significant day. So congratulations to Collette, Therese and Patricia for persevering in the face of many struggles in order to get Fairtrade Status for yet another town in the Western Province.
Sr. Patricia, Sr. Colette, Josephat & Sr. Therese
Our Congregational Chapter Statement, the Eight United Nations Millennium Development Goals and Fairtrade Promotion are all central to our concern for our sisters and brothers in the developing world. Many people there live in extreme poverty with as many as five million children dying annually from hunger related diseases. Fairtrade co-operatives in these areas provide growers with a fair and guaranteed price for products, they ensure there is no child labour, no toxic chemicals in farming methods and provide a social premium to improve the health and well-being of communities.
Minister Michael Kitt T.D., a guest speaker at the launch spoke about the rate at which Fairtrade has grown in Ireland in recent years, so it is heartening to know there is such support nationally, locally and at Government level – in fact Dail Eireann canteen is now a Fairtrade canteen. There was a great cross-section of the local community in St. Marys to show their support – Gardai, Bank Officials, Teachers, Students, Chamber of Commerce, Traders, Church of Ireland Bishop, Mayor of Tuam, Mercy Sisters, Priests and many others.
Students with their homemade ‘goodies’
Young students present looked so proud of their homemade goodies made with as many Fairtrade ingredients as they could get. It was good to hear Josephat, our guest from Tanzania, speak of the benefits he has experienced through our support e.g. he said it was the difference between having a pump in his co-operative as against having to carry water seven or eight miles every day. Josephat said that it meant children had transport to school instead of being kept as labour on the plantations, and that he personally was enabled to get his University Education through the Social Premium from Fairtrade. He said a big “thank you” to Ireland and to Tuam that morning.At the Launch of Fairtrade Fortnight in City Hall Dublin on 22nd February, 2010, Peter from Fairtrade Mark Ireland asked me to thank Sisters for all the voluntary work carried out in so many corners of the country so I am taking this opportunity to insert his message here.Thank you also to all for promoting “The Big Swap” with numerous activities, press releases, radio slots and school visits over the past fortnight.
Congratulations to Tuam and to all who made this fortnight so significant in the Western Province in 2010.
KEEP UP THE “BIG SWAP” IT WILL BE PROOF THAT WE WANT A BETTER DEAL FOR PRODUCERS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
Visit http://www.fairtrade.ie/ to get more information.
Text and Photographs:
Nora Burke rsm
Mercy Justice Co-Ordinator
Western Province
