Justice
There's
an awful lot about justice in the Bible, and there seems to be a thread
that God is not terribly pleased with oppressors. It makes
sense, therefore, that Christians have concerns about justice, peace and
oppression, and therefore I include the following links that may prove
interesting and useful. What doesn't make sense is how few Christian sites
mention the subject. Others make up for it, however, I'm glad to say.
Fair Trade
This is a cause close to my heart. The principle is simple - western companies have traditionally used their size and power to set terms of trade that are detrimental to their trading partners. Fair Trade seeks to trade in a manner that is fair, rather than that which is most economically beneficial to the powerful western firms. As Christians I cannot see how we can fail to support this. The bottom line is, who is God - Our Lord Jesus Christ or the Free Market?
I'm particularly pleased to be able to say that Fair Trade Bananas are now freely available from Co-op and Sainsbury's supermakets. Bananas are, I believe, the most consumed fruit in Britain (in terms of dosh spent), and one where the producers have not always got what they earnt out of the deal. So this is a major victory. You can only encourage it by buying them if you can get them.
There are also some fair trade snack chocolate bars knocking around now, quite apart from the excellent high quality ones that have been available for some time (Mascao plain chocolate is unbelievably good). Look out for them. It's worth it.
| Amnesty International | Campaigns for the release of prisoners of conscience, who are imprisoned for their religious or political beliefs and have neither used nor advocated violence. Amnesty also campaigns for the abolition of torture and capital punishment. An organisation that should never have needed to exist had the church been doing its job. |
| Baby Milk Action Group | 'The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 1.5 million infants die around the world every year because they are not breastfed. Where water is unsafe a bottle-fed child is up to 25 times more likely to die as a result of diarrhoea than a breastfed child.' - Reason enough to take a look? |
| Amos Trust | Supports the
singer Garth Hewitt, whose songs are largely about justice, peace, and
the rotten way people treat the downtrodden. Sponsors a lot of good
work, especially in Palestine. |
| Christian Aid | This is a UK based charity which I've put in this section because they are very concerned with tackling the causes of poverty as well as the poverty itself. |
| Jubilee 2000 | Campaigned for a debt free start for the millenium for the poorest countries. As it is now 2001, Jubilee 2000 Coalition in the UK is closing, but debt campaigning will continue stronger than ever. |
| Drop the Debt | Continues Jubilee 2000's start. I couldn't get through on my last attempt, so it'll be interesting to see if it sorts itself out. |
| Jubilee Plus | As does this. At the moment, it takes you straight back to Jubilee 2000, so I imagine it's 'coming soon' |
| Traidcraft | If you don't know what fair trade is, then go here and find out. They have lots of links to other fair trade companies. |
| Equal Exchange | Is another major player in fair trade. |
| CaféDirect | Is the major fair trade brand available on supermarket shelves in the UK. The more you buy it, the more the stores will believe that their customers want fair trade. It is working - there's lots more than there used to be. This really really matters! Lives depend on it! |
| One World International Foundation | "OneWorld International Foundation is the guardian of OneWorld's vision - of a world where resources are shared fairly and sustainably, where human rights are nurtured and protected, and where democratic governance structures enable people to shape their own lives. OneWorld is dedicated to working with others to bring about this vision. " - site quote |
| Theological Library, Justice and Peace | Amazing collection of links from McGill-Toole Catholic High School in Mobile, Alabama. |
| The Diocese of Exeter The Church of England in Devon - Links to Social Justice and Christian Action Pages | Does what it says on the tin. |
| The Cardoner | Christian resources and social justice issues for Australia - Christian, mostly Catholic, from the Jesuits. |
| Justice Links | Christopher Menzel's collection of links |