In case you haven’t already realised there are only four shopping weeks left before Christmas. If like me you haven’t yet completed your Christmas shopping, why not consider buying gifts which you family and friends will not only enjoy but will also make a difference to others around the world.
It is becoming much easy to purchase Fair Trade, ethical or alternative gifts which benefit people in the developing world – particularly if you have access to the internet. For example Christian Aid (www.presentaid.og) and Oxfam (www.oxfamunwrapped.com) provide a range of alternative gift ideas. For example you can buy a loved one a goat, or a new toilet, and the money from that gift goes to people in the developing world, and helps them build a better life. In turn the person for whom the gift is intended receives a card telling them how the money is being used.
Alternatively you may like to buy a fairly traded gift. Tearcraft (www.tearcraft.org) provide a range of beautifully handcrafted home, gift and jewellery items from around the world. These items are made by skilled craftspeople from some of the world’s poorest communities. Not only do you receive beautiful gifts, but you have the knowledge that your purchase provides employment, fair wages and the hope of a brighter future for some of the world’s poorest.
When we think of fair trade we tend to think about food items, but it is now possible to buy a whole range of fairly traded items, including clothes, toys, kitchenware, items for the home, etc. If you have access to the internet, you may like to visit http://www.getethical.com/ which finds the best ethical, Fair Trade and environmentally friendly products and services and brings them together in one easy-to-access online shop. Do not worry if you don’t have access to the internet, increasingly high street stores are starting to realise the great market for fair trade and ethical goods, and if you search careful it is possible to find these some of these items on the high street (and if you high street store doesn’t supply fairly traded ethical goods, demand to know why not!). We also have a number of catalogues from a variety of Christian organisations with a range of gift ideas in church.
When we purchase fairly traded and ethical gifts it is good to know that not only does it bring pleasure to those for whom the gift is intended, but it also brings benefits to others by building a more just and fair world.
God bless
Simon
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