Christian Concern for One World - Resources

Resources

admin — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 17:40:34 +0000

Located across our website are useful resources. This area of the website brings all those resources together in one place.

Some Resources for Harvest 2008

Maranda — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 08:28:45 +0000

This page currently duplicates materials on the Worship Resources for the Church Year page, and was created because an outdated Google link was causing confusion.

Some Resources for Harvest 2008

CAFOD

will hold its Harvest Fast Day on 3 October 2008. The day focuses on training HIV activists, who volunteer their own time to stand alongside families struggling to cope with the impact of HIV and AIDS. Resources available for download at the Harvest Fast Day section of the CAFOD website, or in hard copy from your local CAFOD office.

Christian Aid

offers harvest appeal resources with the theme "We will harvest the desert." The material focuses on the story of Ally Ouedraogo and his community: they are using simple farming and water harvesting techniques to reclaim desert land on the edge of the Sahel in Burkina Faso. Materials include a poster with Ally's story on it, a worship sheet, powerpoint and reflective video. All are available for download from the Harvest Appeal section of the Christian Aid website; posters can be ordered in hard copy from the Christian Aid office, oxford@christian-aid.org, 01865 246818.

Harvest Help -- Self Help Africa (one charity, in the process of changing names)

This year's resource is called "Hands of Hope," and includes children's activities, an African recipe, youth group suggestions, prayer ideas, posters, sermon notes, and more. To receive a copy, call 01743 277170. A downloadable powerpoint with studies of specific Self Help Africa projects will be available from their website shortly.

Methodist Relief and Development Fund (MRDF)

offers a pack called "Reclaim Harvest!" which "features MRDF's work in Ethiopia, where deforestation and soil erosion have made farming almost impossible, but MRDF support has provided training, seeds and tools that enable communities to manage natural resources sustainably." The free pack includes worship materials, all-age activities and ideas for Harvest celebration events. It can be ordered online or by calling 020 7467 5132, or the materials can be downloaded from the Harvest pack website. An accompanying CD-ROM may be ordered for £5, or its material downloaded from the website.

Tearfund

has a harvest pack called "Step up to the plate," which shares the agency's vision for helping families in the poorest areas access good food. The pack includes: "free recipes from Rick Stein, Delia Smith and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, a short film by multi-award-winning company Pretzel, a 32pp booklet which includes a special report on Tearfund's partners' intervention since 2005's Sahel crisis, activities for children and youth groups, as well as fundraising and harvest service ideas, a poster for advertising, giving envelopes and more." Individual elements can be downloaded, or the whole pack ordered, at the Step up to the Plate webpage.

USPG

has a harvest pack which focuses on "how the San Pablo church, in Villa Felicidad, Uruguay, is reaching out to an impoverished community - by offering a recipe for life that includes a nutritious mixture of faith, pastoral care and practical support." Background information, all-age resources, a powerpoint about San Pablo, children's activities, sermon notes, suggestions of hymns and prayers and material for use during communion can all be downloaded from the USPG harvest website.

And if you're thinking of holding a harvest supper, what about making it a fiesta? USPG is asking its supporters to help raise funds for Latin American projects by holding a Latin American party. Materials available on the fiesta website include recipes, suggestions and instructions on entertainment (make a pinata, anyone?), Latin American prayers and short stories for worship, posters, etc. There's also information on how to order a DVD and traveling photo exhibition of pictures from the Uruguayan Church.

What's New in Climate and Sustainability

Maranda — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 15:00:13 +0000

October 2008: Cutting Emissions, Earth from the Air, Campaigning from the Ground

UK Government's Decision to Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 80%

The Government's announcement that it was committing itself in the Climate Change Bill to 80% rather than 60% cuts in emissions by 2050 was this week's big news -- with the simultaneous announcement of proposals for feed-in tariffs and an attack on unfair pricing. Find out more, by clicking on

the link to the official Dept of Climate Change and Energy news story, with the full text of Miliband's statement

Guardian articles by Ben Caldecott and Michael Meacher that offer a skeptical view of the Government's ability to deliver

responses from WDM and environmental charities and from Tearfund that welcome the announcement but make the point that the cuts, to be effective, must take place "at home" and not, to a large extent, through the purchasing of carbon credits

calls from Christian Aid to continue their campaign to make UK companies responsible for their global emissions

The EU meanwhile had a more difficult time with its negotiations . . .

To find out more about the EU negotiations, see

a special section on the EU negotiations in the Guardian's environment pages, and an article in the Financial Times on last week's events

a paper written by Gary Wilton, the Church of England's representative to the European Union

Earth from the Air

This exhibition is on display at the Oxford Castle until January 2009. It consists of 120 giant flood-lit (?!) pictures that can be viewed day and night. Leaving aside the floodlighting, the exhibit offers a tremendous chance to appreciate the vast and diverse beauties of God's creation. . . . and to think about our obligations of stewardship and care. For more information, go to the Earth from the Air website.

Oxfordshire from the Ground

As part of the events surrounding "Earth from the Air," Climate-X has prepared an exhibition and posters documenting local responses to Climate Change called "Oxfordshire from the Ground." One of the three posters shows Oxfordshire community responses to climate change, and includes many pictures of the Living Green event held on St. Margaret's Church, Oxford. Congratulations to St Margaret's for representing the Churches' involvement in this issue. If you would like to download the poster, click here. And if you'd like larger copies of the posters, or want to email in something your church is doing for inclusion in "Oxfordshire from the Ground," email jo[at] climatex.org, or ring 01865 275 856.

September 2008: Hurricanes and Floods

What are the links between hurricanes and climate change?

This is a controversial area. The link between global warming and hurricanes is one that has seized the popular imagination . . . witness the poster for "An Inconvenient Truth." Having said that, the explicit link between climate change and the impact of Katrina was one of the points on which a UK judge found "An Inconvenient Truth" inaccurate. So is there or isn't there a link?

The New Scientist has a helpful blog which touches on the subject (and on the other contested areas of An Inconvenient Truth) . . . and a search of Nature (if you can get, or are willing to pay for, access) provides any number of references. An assessment report was written by participants in the World Meteorological Association's November 2006 International Workshop on Tropical Cyclones. This has all the caution one would expect from a piece of international committee work; its basic position, in the end, is that the links between global warming and hurricane frequency are unclear, but that a correlation between future global warming and increased hurricane intensity is fairly certain, with the questions being ones of degree. They note, moreover, that "Despite the diversity of research opinions on this issue it is agreed that if there has been a recent increase in tropical cyclone activity that is largely anthropogenic in origin, then humanity is faced with a substantial and unanticipated threat."

An Associated Press website provides some interesting food for thought in this respect: it shows the tracks of Atlantic hurricanes over the decades, providing an index of both frequency and intensity. The number of thick, deep red lines (representing Category 5 hurricanes) recently is quite noticeable.

But what does it all really mean for people? The pictures and videos from Haiti pierce the heart, as did the fervent posting on one recent blog from that country when another tropical storm seemed to be heading their way: "Can you believe it! Pray…pray…pray that it stays FAR FAR away from us." In the US, the Houston Chronicle has been giving full coverage of the impact of Ike. When we talk about climate change creating more intense storms, we are talking about worse scenarios than these becoming more frequent. It's a good reason for starting to change our behaviour to avoid worst-case global warming scenarios . . . and for working to ensure that vulnerable communities are adequately funded to prepare for the results of any intensification that may already be set in motion.

How can we help in Haiti and Bihar?

Christian Aid has updates on the work its partners are doing to help in Bihar and also Haiti, with opportunities to donate.
CAFOD has an emergency fund that enables people to contribute to Haiti and India: http://www.cafod.org.uk/emergencies/haiti-india-2008-09-09 CAFOD director Chris Bain also has an article in this week's “Tablet” that talks about how CAFOD makes decisions about and funds its emergency relief work: http://www.thetablet.co.uk/articles/12006/
Tearfund has updates on the work its partners are doing on the floods in North India, together with information on how to donate. It also has a prayer page for Haiti.
You can also donate to the relief work being undertaken by Oxfam, the Red Cross, Medecins sans Frontieres

September 2008: A Selection of New and Interesting Items

New from the Churches

helping your church "go green"

The Church of England has released "Don't Stop at the Lights," a guide by Claire Foster and David Shreeve that aims to resource churches to take climate change seriously and act on their concerns.

The newsletters from "Creation Challenge," a joint project of the URC and the Methodist Church are always packed full of useful information and contacts. The August newsletter can be read here.

Christian Ecology Link has a new programme of study called ecocell. They note that it is "a toolkit to help you to live a more simple, more Christian lifestyle. . . .Intended for use with house-groups, bible-study groups or any other group it comprises 5 modules covering everyday lifestyles - Waste, Food and Shopping, Energy in the Home, Water and Travel and Transport." The material can be ordered on CD from CEL, or a copy is available on loan from CCOW.

The Diocese of Oxford's World Development Group is sponsoring the third in its series of "Climate Change: God's World and Our Response" panels on the 30th of September. The panel, chaired by the Bishop of Dorchester, will be held at St John the Baptist, Burford, and will feature a presentation on the science of climate change by Revd. Prof. Ian James, Diocesan Environment Officer; a discussion of climate change's impact on developing countries by Paul Valentin, International Director of Christian Aid; and a discussion of what we and our churches can do by the Revd Sarah Tillett, Vicar of Bloxham and board member of A Rocha and Tearfund. Full details in the Events section.
worship materials
See below in the July/August section for Creation Time, Operation Noah, and Call to Creation resources.

New on the Science of Climate Change

A special issueof the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society has been published on Geoengineering, or large-scale interventions or manipulations of the environment that might help deal with climate change. This is a contentious area, but the President of the Royal Society argues that "the challenge we face in avoiding the worst impacts of climate change" necessitates looking at all options that might help alleviate the problem. To read the preface and certain articles from the report, click here. The whole is summarised in a Guardian article here.

Campaigning Roundup

MPs will vote on the Climate Change Bill in October - so this is our last chance to press for a strengthened bill. You can take action with Tearfund by clicking here or with CAFOD by clicking here.
Christian Aid is asking supporters to email E.ON to protest their plans to build a new coal-fired power plant at Kingsnorth; WDM is asking supporters to email the Prime Minister on the same subject.

July/August 2008

New from the Churches

policy

Climate was a key topic at the July 2008 URC General Assembly, where Mark Dowd's talk focused on environmental refugees.

The Church of England's General Synod, also in July, debated a paper entitled "Climate Change and Human Security: A Challenging Environment of Injustice," which looked at issues around the impact of climate change globally, and the questions of equity involved. Synod accepted the paper's recommendations that the Church become a corporate member of Stop Climate Chaos and that it continue steps to establish a Church Adaptation Fund for projects in developing countries adversely affected by Climate Change.

worship materials

Churches Together in Britain and Ireland and its constituent members are encouraging congregations to take "Time for Creation" between 1 September and 4 October. If you want to plan a service with a "green" theme then or at any other time, you can't do better than to look at the CTBI resources for Creation Time. Prayers, sermon notes, activities for children and young people. . . . Just an extraordinary collection.

"This advent, we want PROPHETS, not PROFITS!" Great slogan, isn't it? To engage your church in thinking about a sustainable, Christ-focused Advent, take a look at Operation Noah's "Putting the Waiting back into Wanting" campaign. Op Noah also has a pack for doing a day of prayer and fasting on climate change.

Download Eco-Congregations latest newsletter to find out more about what churches are doing locally.

CAFOD has produced a Call of Creation PowerPoint and Call of Creation reflections, available from http://www.cafod.org.uk/worship/live-simply. They link to the Catholic Bishops' Policy Statement, "Call of Creation," available from Progressio. CAFOD has also produced material for youth groups.

New on Climate Change and Development

Africa

Africa: Atlas of Our Changing Environment contains pictorial evidence of the impacts of change in more than 100 locations across all countries in Africa. You can download the atlas, as well as powerpoints, satellite images, interactive maps and more at the UNEP website here.
MDGs
The challenge of meeting the MDGs in Africa is compounded by climate change, according to a joint report from the UN and the African Union. You can read about, and download, the report of the MDGs Africa Steering Group here.

The UN recently held a special event on climate change and the MDGs. You can read Andrew Simms' speech here.
Emerging Economies
At the end of May, EU Commission President Barroso and his Advisory Group on Energy and Climate Change met with members of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's high level advisory group on climate change. You can read the report of the conference here. You can also find the Indian National Climate Action Plan and the Indian "Climate Challenge" response to it here.
World Bank and Sustainability
The World Bank's internal review body has noted the need for progress in the way the Bank considers environmental factors in its work. Read the report here.

New on the international policy front

What happened at the latest climate talks in Bonn?
At the G8? Get analysis of the latter from CAFOD, Carbon Positive, Oxfam, Tearfund

New on the national policy front

The "Green New Deal" group, which includes Andrew Simms, Ann Pettifor, Caroline Lucas, Charles Secrett, Colin Hines, Jeremy Leggett, Larry Elliott, Richard Murphy and Tony Juniper, released a report entitled "A Green New Deal: Joined-up policies to solve the triple crunch of the credit crisis, climate change and high oil prices." The report calls for investment in renewables, the creation of "green collar" jobs, "reining in reckless aspects of the financial sector but making low-cost capital available to fund the UK's green economic shift," and "building a new alliance between environmentalists, industry, agriculture, and unions to put the interests of the real economy ahead of those of footloose finance." You can download the report here.
A new book called "The Limits to Travel: How far will you go?" by David Metz, formerly Chief Scientist for the Dept of Transport, questions the sustainability of the way we think about travel and makes suggestions for improvements.
New on the personal action/lifestyle front
measuring our impact . . . and taking steps
Have a look at Operation Noah's "No Fly Pledge," (family emergencies and business travel can be excepted). If you want hard data on the amounts of CO2 released by flying, use the ICAO Carbon Emissions Calculator to work it out.

If you'd like to get better feedback on your home energy use, why not try the Environmental Change Institute's new tool, i-measure.

Worship Resources for the Church Year

Maranda — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:03:09 +0000

Advent and Christmas 2008

CAFOD

has put together a beautiful livesimply Advent service, which incorporates the livesimply community challenges. The full order of service is on two sides of A4 and can be downloaded from the worship section of the CAFOD website.

Christian Aid

is holding a "Hope" Christmas appeal, which focuses on rebuilding after the Tsunami. Worship resources and Christmas "prayer box" ornaments are available to download or to order.

CMS

is offering an advent mission resource called "Share the Light." Their website notes: "Share the Light challenges church members to commit to praying for someone they know for a year. Once they’ve selected someone, they give that person or family a beautiful presentation candle, explaining how they will be praying for them over the next twelve months. Candle recipients are also invited to a special candlelit Advent carol service at your church. CMS provides free worship and activity resources for a “Share the Light” service as well high-quality, low-cost the candles." More information and a downloadable pack is available at the weblink above.

The Mennonite Central Committee

has a series of Advent resources that focus on the people who lived in Bethlehem at the time of the Nativity and the people who live in Bethlehem today. The material would be particularly suitable for a children's church. There are five powerpoints, and colouring sheets for the children. To view and download the materials, click here.

USPG

is offering a "Christ, Be Our Light" resource pack for Advent. Based around Bernadette Farrell's "Christ, Be Our Light," it offers for each week of Advent a suggested passage, short meditation, and prayer. The sections for each week could also be combined into a single Advent service.

Time for Creation

Churches Together in Britain and Ireland and its constituent members are encouraging congregations to take "Time for Creation" between 1 September and 4 October. If you want to plan a service with a "green" theme then or at any other time, you can't do better than to look at the CTBI resources for Creation Time. Prayers, sermon notes, activities for children and young people. . . . Just an extraordinary collection.

Some Resources for Harvest 2008

CAFOD

Christian Aid

Harvest Help -- Self Help Africa (one charity, in the process of changing names)

Methodist Relief and Development Fund (MRDF)

Tearfund

USPG

Resources on the Millennium Development Goals

Maranda — Tue, 29 May 2007 21:34:06 +0000

Basic Introductions to the MDGs

Briefing pack on the Millennium Development Goals (Micah UK, 2007)

Worship resources on the MDGs

Weekly reflections from the Micah campaign
Millennium prayer (Center of Concern)
Prayer service (Sisters of Mercy)
Evening prayer for Advent with prayers for the end of global poverty (Episcopal Public Policy Network)

Assessing progress on the MDGs

Indicators for Monitoring the MDGs -- Definitions, rationale, concepts and sources (UNDP)
Progress Reports (UNSTATS, 2005, 2006)
Reports of the Secretary General (UN)

More coming soon!

Resources on Debt

Maranda — Sat, 26 May 2007 09:55:54 +0000

This is a selective list. More resources can be found via ELDIS and through the Choike "external debt" page as well as from individual agencies and coalitions.

Basic Introductions to Debt Issues

"The World Can't Wait for Debt Cancellation" is an accessible powerpoint presentation that reflects the status quo as of 2007.

"Top Line" information about the G8 debt deal and its implementation through 2007 (Eurodad, 2007), an accessible 2 page pdf giving a fine overview of the basics, is also a good entrance point to the present situation.

There is also a lot of good introductory material in "Jubilee Worship" and the Jubilee Congregations Handbook (see below) -- all of it compiled with specific reference to churches. Like the accessible and thorough "Rough Guide to Debt," (CAFOD, 2002) however, much of it doesn't reflect the most recent realities.

Theological and Worship Resources

"Development Matters" Linked Lectionary -- links lectionary readings to development issues, including debt. Archive, with subject index.
The JDC worship resources page contains
- "Jubilee Worship," a compendium including
  - materials for preparation (announcements, bulletin notes and thoughts for creating worship)
  - an introduction to set the theological context
  - facts and stories about the impact of debt
  - an exploration of Jubilee
  - a reading from Leviticus 25 with a litany to follow
  - a Jubilee sermon (by Bono)
  - prayers

"Praying in Public Places: A Pilgrimage for Our Time ," a prayer pilgrimage that invites Christians to walk to local places such as hospitals or surgeries, schools and banks to reflect on/pray about debt and the impact it has on access to essential services.

"Jubilee Congregations Handbook" (Jubilee USA, 2005) This resource offered everything a [US] church needed to engage with the campaign in 2005. The fact that it was written before the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative means that some of its background information is now outdated. But the liturgical/theological material remains very helpful. It includes:

CAFOD offers a variety of prayers on debt relief.

Church Statements Online

Joint Letter from Seventeen Faith Leaders on Debt (2007) -- pdf of a short, clear letter urging further reform of the debt relief process from leaders including the Abp of York, Gen'l Sec'y of the Baptist Union, the Moderators of the Free Churches and the URC, and the Director of the EA.
Church of England General Synod Misc 640 -- "Drop the Debt: Towards a New Deal on Debt" and July 2001 Synod debates on development and debt, which include some fine contributions from a variety of people.
URC General Assembly: Address to the Throne 2002 -- on the occasion of the Queen's Jubilee reaffirms the URC's support for jubilee campaigning on debt relief and asks the government to progress the issue. To find a wide range of URC comments on the Church's commitment to debt relief, go to the United Reformed Church website and type Jubilee 2000 into the "search" box.

The MDRI

"Top Line" information about the G8 debt deal and its implementation through 2007 (Eurodad, 2007) -- accessible 2 page pdf giving a fine overview of the basics
Multilateral Debt: One Step Forward, How Many Back? (Eurodad, 2007) More detailed summary of the agreement and some of the challenges surrounding its implementation and the next stages.
G8 Debt Deal One Year On: What Happened and What Next? (Eurodad, 2006)
CAFOD submission to the International Development Select Committee (CAFOD, 2005) -- Brief (3 page) statement advocating a human development approach to debt sustainability and taking issue with aspects of eligibility for receiving debt relief and increased aid under the MDRI.
Loose Ends (JDC and Jubilee USA, 2005) -- an analysis of what the World Bank/IMF needed to resolve at the annual meetings in order to deliver the G8 debt deal.
G8 Debt Deal: What the Countries Will Really Get (Debt Relief International, 2005) -- A technical analysis of the deal's functioning and its impact on a country by country basis.
What about Us? Debt and the Countries the G8 Left Behind (Christian Aid, 2005) -- Critiques the limited scope of the G8 deal, calls for a fairer and more transparent process for debt relief, and urges debtor governments to emphasise the illegitimate nature of many debts, be more assertive in negotiations with creditors, and reduce their reliance on loans

World Bank and IMF Conditionality

Cut the Strings (JDC, with support from Action Aid, CAFOD, Christian Aid and WDM, 2006)
Kicking the Habit: How the World Bank and IMF are still addicted to attaching economic policy conditions to aid (Oxfam, 2006) -- with a focus on the experience of Mali
Tightening the Chains or Cutting the Strings (JDC with research sponsored by a broad coalition, 2006)

Debt and the MDGs

To Pay or to Develop -- Debt Sustainability Handbook (Erlassjahr.de/Eurodad, 2006) -- argues for debt sustainability criteria to be based on capacity to meet the MDGs.
Beyond HIPC: Debt Cancellation and the Millennium Development Goals (Oxfam, 2005) -- a post G8 analysis that calls for debt relief to be linked to capacity to meet MDGs
In the Balance JDC, Action Aid and Christian Aid, 2005 -- why debts need to be cancelled so that countries can meet the MDGs.
The Unbreakable Link (JDC and nef, 2002) -- an analysis as of 2002 of countries' progress through the HIPC process, together with an estimate of their likely progress on the MDGs.

Debt and Particular Regions/Countries

If not now, when? JDC and All Party Parliamentary Group on HIPCs, 2005 -- recommends debt relief as necessary for a strong, prospeous Africa

A Case for Debt Relief for Kenya (Justice and Peace Commission, St Paul's Church, Nairobi University, 2005) -- argues that Kenya's debt burden should be relieved as much of it is illegitimate, it is a major factor promoting dependence and impeding development, and most of the burden relates to interest not principal

Zambia after the HIPC "Surgery" and the Completion Point (Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection, 2006 ) -- A clear overview of the impact of the HIPC and MDRI on Zambia that also makes recommendations on the process for further debt cancellation and on the Zambian government's strategy for contracting new loans.

Comments from Antonio Gumende, Mozambique's High Commissioner to the UK (2005) -- brief statement of impact of debt relief on Mozambique

Governance

How to fit 27 elephants in a single chair (Eurodad, 2007) -- Suggests progressive positions European governments might take on reform at the World Bank and IMF.

Debt Sustainability, Transparency of Process and New Lending

Debt Sustainability or Defensive Deterrence? (Eurodad, 2007) -- argues that the World Bank's plan to penalise countries who borrow on non-concessional terms from commercial banks or new sovereign lenders (ie China) places developing countries in a dilemma because the lack of sufficient concessional aid within the traditional system simultaneously requires them to seek new lenders
Preventing New Cycles of Debt (CIDSE, 2007) -- argues that policy failures in the G7/G8 and IFI initiatives underlie the failure to find a holistic solution for debt and suggests processes that could help improve the situation and prevent future debt cycles.
To Pay or to Develop -- Debt Sustainability Handbook (Erlassjahr.de/Eurodad, 2006) -- argues for debt sustainability criteria to be based on capacity to meet the MDGs.
The New World Bank/IMF Debt Sustainability Framework: A Human Development Assessment (CIDSE, Center of Concern, 2006) -- comprehensive, often technical, assessment of the framework based on the experience of numerous countries, arguing on the basis of Catholic social teaching that a human development perspective is necessary
World Bank and IMF Review of the Debt Sustainability Framework and the Implications of the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (Eurodad, 2006) and Still Missing the Point: Unpacking the New World Bank/IMF Debt Sustainability Initiative (Eurodad, 2005) -- Eurodad's critique of the framework and the internal analysis thereof, looks at the implications of the framework for countries' ability to develop. Pre-MDRI, but the analysis of the debt sustainability framework itself remains valid.
To lend or to grant: Critique of the IMF/World Bank Approach to Debt Sustainability (CAFOD, 2004)

Repudiation and other options

The Repudiation Option: Southern Government Debt Strategies (Christian Aid, 2007 ) -- argues that Southern governments should refuse to pay their debts in order to free resources for pro-poor human development

Debt Campaigning

From Jubilee 2000 to Make Poverty History -- Building a New Future for the World's Poor (Door newspaper, 2005)

A Timeline in Reports

Debt is unusual among the issues that we cover in that there has actually been a fair amount of change over the past decade. The section below, therefore, offers some "historical" background to the more recent papers above, showing "where we have come from" . . . and where the current plans and programmes reflect (or in the case of governance, conditionality, and transparency of process, have yet to reflect) the proposals put forward in the Jubilee campaigns.

2005

Do the Deal. The G7 Must Act Now to Cancel Poor Country Debts (Action Aid UK, CAFOD, Oxfam GB, Feb 2005) -- a paper submitted before the G7 finance ministers meeting, setting out the case for debt relief and making recommendations for how it should be accomplished.

2004

Fool's Gold: The Case for 100% Multilateral Debt Cancellation for the Poorest Countries (Action Aid UK, CAFOD, Oxfam GB, 2004) -- a good summary of the case for debt relief, looking in depth at five specific reasons for debt cancellation, exploring sources for financing debt relief, and calling for an end to harmful conditionalities.

2003

Did the G8 Drop the Debt? (Jubilee Research, CAFOD, JDC) -- an analysis of what had happened in the five years since the Birmingham chain, and what needed yet to be done

2002

A Joint Submission to the World Bank and IMF Review of HIPC and Debt Sustainability (CAFOD, Christian Aid, Oxfam GB, Eurodad, 2002) -- wide-ranging discussion of debt issues as they then stood

2001

From Debt to Poverty Eradication: What Role for Poverty Reduction Strategies? (CIDSE-Caritas, 2001) -- a lengthy (but with a good summary) paper analysing the strengths and weaknesses of the PRSP from the perspective of Catholic social teaching.

2000

Still Waiting: Time for a New Deal on Third World Debt (Christian Aid, 2000)

1999

Beyond Cologne, Towards Jubilee (CIDSE-Caritas, 1999) -- The Catholic agencies' clear, succinct (4 pg) response to the Cologne G8 initiatives.

Some Resources on Fair Trade

Maranda — Tue, 08 May 2007 09:40:03 +0000

Three Books to Read

50 Reasons to Buy Fair Trade. John Madeley and Miles Litvinoff, Pluto Press, 2007. To order, click here.
An accessible journey through some of the reasons why we need Fair Trade -- and how we can support it.

Fair Trade: Market-Driven Ethical Consumption. Alex Nicholls and Charlotte Opal. Sage Publications, 2005. To order, click here.
An academic consideration of Fair Trade's origins, current manifestations and future.

Markets, Fair Trade and the Kingdom of God, ed Peter Johnson and Christopher Catherwood.Traidcraft and Regnum Books, 2001.
Essays combining theological and developmental perspectives, primarily by key figures from Traidcraft.

Copies of these books may be borrowed from CCOW.

Online Resources to Download

Basic Introductions

Fairtrade Explained (Fairtrade Foundation)
Introducing Fairtrade (FLO International) -- designed for producers, so more depth
A Better Deal: The FAIRTRADE Mark Explained (Fairtrade Foundation)
Fifty Years of Fair Trade: A Brief History of the Fair Trade Movement (EFTA and IFAT)
The Fair Trade Movement: Parameters, Issues and Future Research (Geoff Moore) -academic introductory paper looking at Fair Trade from a business/business ethics perspective. Comprehensive and comprehensible.
Why Fairtrade? (FLO International) -- brief summary of aims and objectives

Bible Study, Prayer and Theology

"Fairtrade and Faith" (Fr Rob Esdailles) -- theological reflection on Fair Trade
Ideas for Worship (Fairtrade Fortnight -- Tea focus), Harvest Resources, and Prayers, Poems and Reflections (Traidcraft)
Prayers (CCOW -- download below)
Sketch ("Praying for Change") (Traidcraft)

Facts and Figures, Case Studies and Academic Papers

Facts and Figures for Fair Trade in Europe: 1995, 1998, 2001 and 2006 (EFTA)
Fair Trade in Europe 2005 (FLO, IFAT, NEWS, EFTA) -- facts and figures on Fair Trade in 25 countries
Producer Profiles from Transfair USA -- a series of 1 page pdfs profiling different producer groups
The background research for Oxfam's coffee report, Mugged, offers several case studies (Oxfam)
Making Trade Work for the Producers: Fifteen Years of Fairtrade Labelled Coffee in the Netherlands (Max Havelaar Foundation) -- comprehensive overview of Fairtrade labelled coffee, with some very good producer case studies
One Cup at a Time: Poverty Alleviation and Fair Trade in Latin America (Colorado State Fair Trade Research Group) -- case studies of Fairtrade coffee impacts in Latin America
Thriving in a Hostile Environment: Fairtrade's Role as a Positive Mechanism for Disadvantaged Producers (Alex Nicholls)

Church Activities

Promoting Fair Trade -- Events that Engage (CCOW -- download below)
Promoting Fair Trade -- Making Products Available (CCOW -- download below)

Fair Trade and Environmental Issues

Environmental Benefits of Fairtrade Coffee, Cocoa and Tea (Transfair USA) -- A4 sheet
Environmental Benefits of Fairtrade Fruit (Transfair USA) -- A4 sheet
Fair Trade and Food Miles: Should we buy food from the other side of the world? (Wokingham Fair Trade Campaign) -- A5 leaflet advocating a local first and Fairtrade if imported approach
"Fair Miles"? The concept of "food miles" through a sustainable development lens (IIED)

Fair Trade and Wider Trade Issues

Fairness in Trade (UK Food Group) -- report examines how one could extend the concept of fair trading throughout the retail sector

Information about Fairtrade Products and Availability

List of Fairtrade Product Categories (CCOW -- download below)
Fairtrade Retail Products and Availability (Fairtrade Foundation) -- the "long list" -- comprehensive, if slightly daunting
Out of Home Directories of Registered Distributors for cafes etc (Fairtrade Foundation)
For local information, go to our Where to Buy Fair Trade locally page.

Resources Focused on Specific Products

Bananas (for a far more complete listing, visit BananaLink)

European Trade Rules and the Threat to Fairtrade Bananas (Fairtrade Foundation)
Unpeeling the Banana Trade (Fairtrade Foundation)

Cocoa

Fair Trade Cocoa Backgrounder (Transfair USA) -- Basic facts for US campaigners
Fair Trade Cocoa Fast Facts (Transfair USA) -- Zingy facts to spice up your presentations
Monitoring Impact of Fair Trade Initiatives: A Case Study of Kuapa Kokoo and the Day Chocolate Company (Ronchi/TWIN)

Coffee

Fair Trade Coffee Backgrounder (Transfair USA) -- Basic facts for US campaigners
Fair Trade Coffee Fast Facts (Tranfair USA) -- Zingy facts to spice up your presentations
Making Trade Work for the Producers: Fifteen Years of Fairtrade Labelled Coffee in the Netherlands (Max Havelaar Foundation) -- comprehensive overview of Fairtrade labelled coffee, with some very good producer case studies
Mugged : Poverty in Your Coffee Cup (Oxfam) . The background research for Mugged , including several good case studies and sets of interviews, is also available on Oxfam's website.
One Cup at a Time: Poverty Alleviation and Fair Trade in Latin America (Colorado State Fair Trade Research Group) -- case studies of Fairtrade coffee impacts in Latin America

Cotton

"Follow the Thread" (ft.com; if you do not have access to the FT online, contact CCOW to borrow the article)

Roses

Fairtrade Roses -- Questions and Answers (Fairtrade Foundation)

Articles Critiquing Fair Trade or Aspects Thereof -- and Responses to Them

"Good Food?" Economist, 7 December 2006.

Alan Beattie's "Follow the Thread" not only presents a case study in cotton, but also offers a balanced assessment of some of these common criticisms of Fair Trade.

Photographs courtesy of the Fairtrade Foundation, www.fairtrade.org.uk

Some Resources on Trade

Maranda — Fri, 04 May 2007 08:17:03 +0000

If you want to download some resources to help you understand the trade issues and campaigns, here are some suggestions.

General Trade Issues

Rigged Rules and Double Standards: Trade, Globalisation and the Fight against Poverty (Oxfam, 2002) -- the basis for the Make Trade Fair campaign. At times controversial, particularly in its emphasis on market access (read the debates, helpfully provided by Oxfam), but very influential.

Trade for Life: Making Trade Work for Poor People (Christian Aid, 2001) -- Mark Curtis' book laid the foundations for Christian Aid's trade campaigning. Again controversial, again influential. Available on loan from CCOW.

Trade Justice: A Christian Response to Global Poverty (Christian Aid/Church of England, 2004) -- briefer than the above; a summary of the rationale for the Trade Justice campaign in a Christian context

Trade and Theology

Trade Justice: A Christian Response to Global Poverty (Christian Aid/Church of England, 2004)

Lifting the Burden, Weighting the Rules (Christian Aid, 2003)

"When Trade Serves God's Justice: Biblical and Ethical Flashlights and Considerations" (Prof. Dr. Christoph Stückelberger /Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance, 2003) in the Briefing Papers section of the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance website

Trading away Injustice: Tearfund Bible Study for home groups

Faith in the Balance is a resource that CCOW produced before the Cancun WTO Meetings in 2003. While some of the issues it presents have moved on, many are -- unfortunately -- still the same. You can download the resource below.

The Trade Justice Campaign

The TJM's Founding Statement is a helpful summary of the movement's goals.

Further updates on goals at particular times can be found on the Briefings page of the TJM website.

Specific Trade Issues:

EPAs

Introductions to EPAs

EPAs Campaign Briefing (Tearfund, 2006) -- 2 sides of A4 resume of EPAs and Tearfund's concerns

Economic Partnership Agreements: A Tearfund Policy Briefing (Tearfund, 2006) -- longer (6 page) brief giving a good basic resume of EPAs and the issues around them

The Real Costs and Benefits of Economic Partnership Agreements (Christian Aid, Tearfund, Traidcraft, 2007) -- 9 page brief describing EPAs and assessing potential costs and benefits to developing countries

UK Government position on EPAs

EPAs and Particular Countries/Regions

Much to Lose, Little to Gain: Assessing EPAs from the Perspective of Malawi (Tearfund, 2007)

EPAs through the Lens of Kenya (Traidcraft/ECO News Africa, 2005)

Trade in Agriculture

The Development Dimension of the Agriculture Negotiations (South Centre, 2007) -- good, somewhat technical 8-page summary of developing country interests and concerns. See also the list of papers in this area at http://www.southcentre.org/publications/publist_issue_area_TradeInAgric_index.htm.

A Depreciating Asset, Too High a Price (Action Aid and CAFOD, 2006) -- discussion of why the EU decided to end export subsidies by 2013, what the offer is worth, and whether developing countries should make concessions in response

Special Products in the Doha Round (CAFOD/South Centre, 2007)

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Resources on Climate Change

Maranda — Fri, 04 May 2007 07:49:18 +0000

Some Books to Read

Policy, Science, Lifestyle Change and Theology: Books with a Christian Perspective

A Moral Climate: The Ethics of Global Warming. Michael Northcott, Christian Aid/DLT, 2007.

Caring for Creation: Biblical and theological perspectives. Edited by Sarah Tillett, forward by John Stott - contributors include: Eugene Peterson, John Houghton, Sam Berry, Chris Wright. A valuable contribution that links theology and practical work.

Cherishing the Earth: How to Care for God's Creation. Margot and Martin Hodson, Lion 2008. An engaging look at the theology and practice of creation care.

Christianity, Climate Change and Sustainable Living. Nick Spencer and Robert White, SPCK 2007. A thorough look by two experts at the realities of climate change, Biblical teaching on sustainability, and how Christians might implement those teachings in a time of global warming.

Eggs and Ashes. Ruth Burgess and Chris Polhill, Wild Goose Publications 2004. Focuses on the environment over the weeks of Lent, with beautiful prayers, hymns and ideas.

Global Warming: The challenge to all of us. Sean McDonagh, Columbia Press, 2007. A good description of climate change and its predicted impacts, together with a call for leadership from the Catholic Church in response to the impending crisis.

How Many Lightbulbs Does It Take to Change a Christian? and Don't Stop at the Lights! Leading Your Church through a Changing Climate. Claire Foster and David Shreeve, Church House Publishing, 2007 and 2008. "Lightbulbs" offers hints for small changes that can make a difference;"Don't Stop" takes the message further and encourages churches to engage wholeheartedly in response to climate change.

Jesus and the Earth. James Jones, SPCK 2003. James Jones scans the New Testament for new insights on the links between Jesus and Creation.

Planetwise: Dare to Care for God's World. Dave Bookless, IVP, 2008.

When Enough Is Enough: A Christian Framework for Environmental Sustainability. Ed R J Berry, IVP, 2007. Experts from a wide range of fields examine the concept of sustainability. Contributors include Sir John Houghton, Donald Hay, Sir Ghillean Prance, Dave Bookless, Margot Hodson, John Wibberley, Sir Brian Heap and Flavio Comin.

Policy, Science and Lifestyle Change

The Economics of Climate Change: The Stern Review. Sir Nicholas Stern, CUP, 2007. "Costs" the impact of taking action -- or not doing so -- on climate change. Highly influential.

Heat: How We Can Stop the Planet Burning. George Monbiot, Penguin, 2007. How could we cut emissions by 90% by 2030? Monbiot offers some potential answers. Passionate and principled.

How to Live a Low-Carbon Life: The Individuals Guide to Stopping Climate Change. Chris Goodall, Earthscan, 2007. Practical, challenging, thorough . . . and fun. A very useful guide to lifestyle change.

Six Degrees: Our Future on a Hotter Planet. Mark Lynas, Fourth Estate, 2007 or HarperPerennial, 2008. We've all heard of potential global warming of 1 to 6 degrees celsius. But what do those temperature increases actually mean for life on earth? Lynas offers a picture, degree by degree. . . .

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