Fair Trade information evening
at the Auckland Cathedral of the Holy Trinity
Thursday 19th May 2005 from 7.30pm

'Trade for people, not people for trade.'

Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane of Cape Town would like to live in a world with a human face, where every individual would be able to smile together in complete freedom, in unity, in peace, in prosperity. “It would be a world where every human being can fulfil their potential as God created them to be.

“Around half of the world's population live on about two dollars a day - or less. Indeed, over 300 million people in sub-Saharan Africa live on less than one dollar a day,” he said in a sermon during last week’s Inter-Faith Service Sermon for the Global Week of Action on Trade.
The impact of globalisation on poor nations is of great concern to him.

“Extreme poverty is actually growing in sub-Saharan Africa, having risen by 72 million in the last ten years. Global hunger is also growing – the number who go to bed hungry is over 850 million,” he said.

“The numbers float before our eyes - but the human impact is beyond our imagining.

“Of this we can be sure: poverty is evil,” the archbishop said.

The Auckland Cathedral of the Holy Trinity is offering Aucklanders the opportunity to discover how we in Aotearoa/New Zealand can help create better lives for poor people, such as coffee growers, one cup at the time. During this year’s Fair Trade Fortnight, organised by Oxfam, Trade Aid and the Fair Trade Association of New Zealand, the Cathedral will be holding an information evening about fair trade in general and fair trade in coffee, the world’s second most traded commodity, in particular.

“If we didn’t have fair trade, most of the farmers would be cutting down their trees,” says one of the night’s speakers, Guillermo Vargas Leiton, a coffee grower from Costa Rica, who is touring New Zealand in May. Other speakers include a New Zealand importer of fair trade coffee beans, Barry Coates, executive director of Oxfam. They will outline the need for fair trade, where fair trade certified products, such as coffee, crafts and no-sweat shoes, can be bought and highlight the positive impact fair trade agreements have on the communities in, mostly poor, developing countries. They will bring some of their ware to sell on the night and there will be a lot of information available for you to take home. Fair Trade coffee will be served.

We would like to encourage individuals, as well as churches, schools and businesses to consider buying fair trade coffee for their own consumption. You can discuss this further on the night.

When: Thursday 19th May 2005 from 7.30pm
Where: Holy Trinity Cathedral, corner of Parnell Rd and St Stpehen’s Avenue, Parnell

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