Trade Justice

Trade Justice is:

  • A Christian response to poverty
  • Our mission is to fight poverty through trade.
  • We respect people and the environment
  • We abide by and promote fairer trading practices
  • We strive to be transparent and accountable.

THE OMBERSLEY ROAD METHODIST CHURCH COUNCIL, WORCESTER

… passed a resolution on Tuesday 22nd October 2002 to support the Trade Justice Movement, and noted the following:

  1. Poverty and inequality are a scandal - 1.2 billion people are struggling to survive on less than a dollar a day. These real concerns were expressed by our local Church members and community by signing a petition which was handed in to our local Member of Parliament, Michael Foster, on Wednesday 19th June 2002 at the Fair Trade Justice Rally held in London.
  2. The international rules and practices that govern trade are unfairly biased in favour of the richest nations and companies. Instead, they should give the weakest and most vulnerable special help until they are strong enough to compete without it.
  3. We believe that God calls us to challenge this injustice and to make trade work for all, especially the poor.

We therefore –

  • Call upon world leaders to rewrite the international rules and practices that govern trade, with poverty reduction and environmental protection recognised as their highest priorities, and to give governments of developing countries the right to intervene to ensure the well-being of their poorer citizens.
  • Express our support for the campaign for the Trade Justice Movement.

We resolve to –

  • Write to our Members of Parliament, asking them to urge government to take a lead on the international stage to ensure that Trade rules are rewritten with poverty reduction and environmental protection recognised as their highest priorities, and to ensure that governments of developing countries have the right to intervene to ensure the well-being of their poorest citizens.
  • Encourage our congregation / local community to take part in campaign actions and events in support of Trade Justice – for example advertise and campaign for signatures on pledge cards, letters to Members of Parliament, at local Co-ops / supermarkets, Church Luncheon Club, Bible Study Groups and local shops.