“Give a man a fish, you feed him for a
day. Teach a man to fish, you feed him
for a lifetime.”
Most
of us have heard this famous proverb. For
those committed to finding pathways that promote more just economic systems
that are sustainable, its simple wisdom is easily recognizable. It speaks
to the idea of alleviating poverty by facilitating self-sufficiency.
Supporting
Fair Trade practices throughout the world is an excellent way to accomplish just
that; alleviate poverty by facilitating self-sufficiency. It truly is a “hand up, not a hand out.” Not to be confused with “free trade,” fair
trade is a system of economic exchange that allows people living in poverty,
primarily in the developing world, to receive a living wage for their labor,
and to build strong, thriving businesses that alleviate distress in their local
communities. What’s more, the standards
they set often promote safe, healthy working conditions, protect the
environment through ecologically sound methods, enable transparency, and
empower communities in ways that can permanently break the cycle of
generational poverty. Fairly Traded
goods typically reach our markets through ethical companies that exist almost
entirely for the purpose of promoting and encouraging these practices. Often these companies make an initial
investment in factories and farms that provide safe working environments, and
then ship their produce and finished goods to be sold in the developed world at
a fair price comparable to those manufactured domestically. The profits they receive are then reinvested
into the communities that produced them so that workers are ethically
compensated, and business owners are adequately supported. These communities are subsequently
transformed by the labor of those who worked to make a better way of life for
themselves. “Learning to fish,” in other
words, they feed themselves for a lifetime.
I
share this with you because, as you know, Olivet has supported Fair Trade
practices for many years in various forms.
I have, likewise, made Fair Trade a major focal point of my own ministry
over the past decade. On Sunday,
November 20th, OCC’s Outreach Committee will again sponsor
our annual Fair Trade Fair in an
effort to not only give our faith community the opportunity to shop ethically
and compassionately this Christmas season, but to also educate us still further
about the important benefits of buying Fair Trade items. As the holidays approach, I encourage you to
consider reserving a portion of your Christmas spending for purchasing Fairly
Traded goods. You will have the opportunity
to do so, not only at Olivet, but throughout our community and on-line. With a little intentionality, you can turn
your holiday cash into a just way of life for many living in poverty throughout
the world. You can shop ethically and
compassionately in ways that give people hope.
My prayer is that we all find such ways to make the Christmas season a
time when our hopeful expectations for a better, more loving world become tangible
realities. After all, that’s what
Christmas is really all about.
Blessings of Peace,
wes
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