Fair trade effort reaches out to parishes, individuals

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Myles McCabe is the Archdiocesan fair trade representative. He held a sign from Catholic Relief Services representing the fair trade mission.

The fair trade movement has raised awareness that the goods people consume are sold at low prices because those who produce them "get the short end of the stick in terms of their ability to provide for their families," said the archdiocesan fair trade representative for Catholic Relief Services.

Myles McCabe, who has been involved with CRS in his work with the Marianists and various dioceses, has seen the work the agency has done with small craft co-ops in East Africa and Palestine.

The key to making the co-ops successful is the help they receive in marketing their products through fair trade. "They pay people a decent amount of money for the work they do -- a sustainable living wage which is not what they usually get. But in order to do that, you have to find a place to support it," McCabe said.

CRS fair trade efforts provide a concrete way to promote economic justice for artisans, farmers and workers living in poverty overseas. People can purchase fair trade coffee, chocolate or high quality handcrafts from a CRS partner or through the Work of Human Hands catalogue.

Fair trade products can be supported by individuals or through a fair trade event in a parish, office, school or community.

The fair trade movement has a wider footprint than just Catholic Relief Services' efforts, McCabe noted. Many religious orders have purchased stock in large retail companies and have pushed these companies to examine where their goods are coming from to make sure their partners are paying a decent wage and are not using child labor.

The movement has seen growth and has been stressed to keep up with verification. The advantage CRS has is that it is "on the ground in these places and most times these products are produced as a result of programs CRS has sponsored with the workers," McCabe said.

"There's a pretty good assurance that people are getting paid decently."

McCabe urges parishes and organizations to host sales to encourage ethical consumption opportunities; serve fair trade coffee as a commitment to Gospel values; and to use fair trade chocolate as a way to raise funds for school activities.

The catalogue, he noted, has a description of many of the people who have made the items. For example, it features baskets weaved by Buhle Sifundza of Swaziland, who said fair trade has given women money to pay for school tuition, food and home improvements.

CRS, McCabe said, is "trying to empower people to make decent lives for themselves and get out of poverty."

He noted that the agency still focuses on emergency aid, such as to victims of the devastating earthquake that hit Haiti. But it realizes that it has to do more in helping people become self-sufficient. "It's difficult to develop sustainability on a large scale, so these little worker-owned cooperatives are the best thing you can do."

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) offers some steps people can take to support fair trade:

• Order fair trade materials from CRS and distribute them.

• Buy fair trade products from a CRS partner.

• Host a fair trade event, using CRS resources.

• Suggest that your office or parish serve coffee from a fair trade provider.

• Use fair trade chocolate in school fundraising.

• Donate to the CRS fair trade fund.

• Tell others about fair trade

• Advocate for change in trade policies.

CRS says fair trade brings core values of the faith to choices as consumer by promoting the common good, human dignity and economic justice and empowering disadvantaged people.

For information see crsfairtrade.org.