Patrick and Bronagh tell Sainsbury’s “Don’t ditch Fairtrade”

Patrick Chabviaka is a volunteer with CAFOD and is trying to reach as many parishes and schools to engage in CAFOD camping actions including ‘Power to Be’ and ‘Live Simply’

This morning Patrick took action and downloaded the letter to give to his local Sainsbury Store Manager saying he was really unhappy that they have decided to ditch the Fairtrade certification on their popular Red label and Gold Label tea products. (Link to the letter to download here)

Patrick Chabviaka: Wrtiting to Sainsbury’s asking them not to ditch Fairtrade

 

Patrick said, “I am really worried about this, the communities I have seen to benefit from Fairtrade will be badly effected by this decision. I am going into my local Sainsbury’s this afternoon to let them know how I feel and that they should reconsider.”

Sainsbury’s is the largest retailer of Fairtrade products in the UK. They’ve decided to abandon Fairtrade certification on some of their own-brand tea products and pilot their own scheme instead, known as ‘Fairly Traded’.

Tea farmers in Africa have publicly opposed the move away from the Fairtrade Mark as it takes away their power to decide where to invest the Fairtrade Premium in their communities. We are concerned that this new ‘Fairly Traded’ tea, and any products that follow it, could mean an unfair deal for poor farmers.

Bronagh was inspired to do likewise, “Patrick is such a good campaign volunteer, he has encourage so many people in parishes across the Diocese of Leeds to take part in actions that collectively will make a big difference. I will be handing my local Sainsbury’s store Manager a letter this afternoon too. If you want to organise a group action but you’re not really sure where to begin, you can find an organiser’s guide, Fairtrade mug props, fliers and even a template press release on the Don’t Ditch Fairtrade website and let us know what you get up to by sending a tweet to @CAFODLeeds ”

Campaigners outside the Sainsbury’s AGM have a clear message: Don’t ditch Fairtrade on its own-brand tea.

For more information, click here

Please let us know if you have downloaded the letter and handed it to your local Sainsbury’s Store Manager leeds@cafod.org.uk (0113) 275 9302

Power to Be round-up from across our Diocese

We are delighted to see such a great response to our ‘Power to Be’ campaign, there have been a lot of campaign actions taken in churches and schools. Thank you for sending us pictures and updates of how you have got your local community involved in the campaigning action, supporting our global brothers and sisters to have increased access to clean, sustainable renewable energy.

Every child has the power in them to achieve great things. But with one in six people still living without electricity, the hopes of millions of the world’s children are too often a distant dream. Local, renewable energy is usually the cheapest, fastest and most efficient solution to bring power to the poorest communities. It can help families to lift themselves out of poverty, without harming the world we share

CAFOD volunteers; Ciara, Sophie, Patrick are joined by CAFOD’s Bolivia Programme Officer Nikki Evans to promote the Power to Be campaign during the week of action.

We have received ‘Power to Be’ sun actions from many schools across the diocese including:

St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Wetherby
St Wilfred’s Catholic Primary School, Ripon
St Robert’s Catholic Primary School, Harrogate
St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Knaresborough
St Joseph’s Catholic Primary, Harrogate

Schools across the diocese have received visits from trained CAFOD Schools Volunteers learning more about how The World Bank could do so much more to invest in long term sustainable renewable energy projects to help the poorest communities.

 

 

Parishioners at Our Lady of Kirkstal held two signings at churches in their parish; both at Holy Name of Jesus Church in Cookridge and also at the Assumption of Our Lady church, Spen Lane.

Parishioners getting involved in the card signing action at the Assumption of our Lady church, Spen Lane Leeds.

 

Michael Emly, CAFOD volunteer at Our Lady of Kirkstal said ” Parishioners were very supportive of the card-signing event.  Because our parish CAFOD group is well-established and regularly organises events like this, we have a good relationship and the majority of those attending Mass are very willing to help in whatever way we ask.  We got 45 cards signed on Sunday which represents well over half of all the adults who attended Mass.  And we encouraged them to take home the other half of the card and read more about the campaign.”

Cathy Mc Partlan encouraging parishioners at Holy Name or Jesus, Cookridge to take action in the ‘Power to Be’ campaign.

 

Cathy Mc Partlan spoke about her experience of the ‘Power to Be’ card signing which was held at her church last Sunday, “It is a really simple ask of our parishioners as all they have to do is sing the card and send it off, we have had several people com up to us and offer support, saying they will take the cards home and send them off. It is important to put pressure on the World Bank to invest in renewable energy, it is so cost effective and I am happy to do my bit to spread the message”

If you would like some cards to organise a signing session after mass, please get in touch with Bronagh or Joanne (0113) 275 9302 or leeds@cafod.org.uk

For more information about Power to Be resources and guides click here

If you would like to book a school visit using the Power to Be resources email us at leeds@cafod.org.uk with your details and a named person we can arrange the visit with. All our Schools volunteers are specially trained to deliver the ‘Power to Be’ resources.

1st-9th July WEEK OF ACTION

Nikki Evans, CAFODs Bolivia Officer joined volunteers at the CAFOD Leeds Volunteer Centre, who were taking part in CAFODs ‘Power to Be’ campaign action. Volunteers at the centre included Patrick Chabviaka, Ciara Mc Veigh and Sophie Aulton who all signed their petition to ask Melanie Robinson, the UK’s representative at the World Bank, to shift the balance to support renewable energy which tackles poverty, so everyone can have the chance to fulfil their God-given potential.

Nikki said “It is great to meet volunteers who care passionately about the Power to Be campaign and who have united to help poorer countries like Bolivia to tackle climate change and develop their energy services in a way that does not lock them in to using outdated, polluting fossil fuels.”

Patrick Chabviaka is a campaign volunteer for CAFOD and has been supporting parishes from across the Diocese of Leeds to get involved with the campaign, “We asked people in the parishes to take part in a card signing and the response has been great so far, but we need many more people to take action. We have cards waiting to be sent to your parishes, just get online and order your petition cards and let us know when and where you are using them. We are also asking all our CAFOD campaigners to get in touch with their local MP and ask them to write to the Prime Minister to make sure they work with international allies to fully implement the Paris Agreement and ensure all government departments work together to meet the Climate Change Act targets”

All across the Diocese of Leeds this weekend, there will be card signings, MP briefings and meet ups. Would you and your fellow parishioners like to take part?

Primary and secondary schools are getting involved too by organising ‘Power to Be’ workshops and  liturgies, the resources are all here to download and order.

During the Week of Action 1st July – 9th July 2017, there will be numerous campaign activities for you to get involved in. If you would like to attend or set up a ‘Power to Be’ activity during the week of action, please have a look here.

We would love to receive your photos and emails letting us know how you are supporting the ‘Power to Be’ campaign. Don’t forget to use the @CAFODLeeds on Twitter and include #SpeakUp #PowerToBe in your tweets.

Don’t forget to share your photos, stories and videos with us on Facebook or email us leeds@cafod.org.uk so we can inspire many more people to get involved.