On the Sunday prior to Yom Kippur I attended the half day seminar organised by Birmingham members of the Jewish Coalition for Make Poverty History. As the key speakers explained the issues of Aid, Trade and Debt which were later individually discussed in the workshops, it became very clear that the enormous humanitarian issue of 1.3 billion people living on less than $1 a day was a problem for which everyone including world Jewry must accept some responsibility. It also became obvious that we could have a very positive role to play in the efforts to alleviate this situation.
28,800 children die every day in sub saharan Africa, the 49 poorest countries in the world have only 0.4% of the world trade market, 25.4 million Africans live with HIV Aids and a 1% increase in Africa's world exports would enable African countries to increase their income by $70 million, which would make a significant difference to the lives of millions who currently have no means of sustaining themselves.
As this year's fast and meaning of Yom Kippur should still be in our memory, we can reflect on how the lack of food and water not just for 25 hours but on a daily basis with hardly any likelihood of change and the prospect of death, must offer the victims little or no spiritual connection and no hope for the future. It is beyond human comprehension to fathom the reasons why those who suffer do and why others don't. Yet some suffering need never happen and this appalling human catastrophe is in this category. Why those of us in the so called developed world have not only declared it unacceptable that there are billions born to die without food, water and basic human needs but ensured that this situation is eradicated, is as much beyond comprehension as why bad things happen to good people. And yet this needless suffering has arisen out of human action or non action, not divine.
What can we do to make a difference? On a basic level we can start to support the farmers in the developing world through the purchase of Fairtrade products. What is Fairtrade?
International trade may seem a remote issue, but when commodity prices fall dramatically it has a catastrophic impact on the lives of millions of small scale producers, forcing many into crippling debt and countless others to lose their land and their homes. Too many farmers in the developing world have to contend with fluctuating prices that may not even cover what it costs to produce their crop. Development agencies have recognised the important role that consumers could play to improve the situation for producers. By buying direct from farmers at better prices, helping to strengthen their organisations and marketing their produce directly through one world shops and catalogues, the charities offer consumers the opportunity to buy products which are bought on the basis of a fair trade.
There are now over 350 Fairtrade certified retail products in the UK including bananas, citrus fruits, coffee, tea, mangoes, sugar, fruit juices, honey, snacks, chocolate and cocoa and roses. Stockists include Asda, Budgens, Co-op, Marks & Spencer, Morrisons, Sainsburys , Safeway, Somerfield, Spar, Tesco, Waitrose, Holland and Barrett and Woolworths
On Rosh Hashana, we are encouraged to consider taking on at least one new mitzvah. By purchasing these products even the shul will be fulfilling this request by taking on the mitzvah to change the cycle of poverty. If everyone regularly purchased even one Fairtrade product, that small action on our part could make an impact on those for whom even one dollar more is the difference between life and death.
Ruth Jacobs
click here to contact us, or phone 07891 439 646