The Swiss nation has always prided itself on being a neutral country.  Its second city gives its name to the convention which governs how warring nations treat each other’s captured soldiers.  The International Red Cross was born here and the country’s flag, reversed, was adopted as its emblem.

Numerous international organisations, including those dealing with environmental law, trade and sustainable development, torture and pharmaceutical manufacturers have based themselves here; as have the World Health Organisation and the Fairtrade Institute; presumably drawn to the country by its tolerant internationalist outlook.

So it was some surprise this morning to hear that the Swiss were to vote in a referendum to decide whether or not minarets should be banned.  And it was a greater surprise this afternoon to hear that the Swiss have gone along with what is little more than a racist stand.

I use the word racist quite deliberately.  Of course Islam and its followers are a faith and a faith community rather than a nation and a race; but hostility to Islam often appears to be much closer to hatred based on racial identity than any ideological difference about Islamic belief.

At one level, the referendum sounds very reasonable.  Having travelled to the Middle East and to Islamic countries further afield I have heard the Muslim call to prayer being broadcast five times a day across cities.  The truth is that you soon get used to it; in the same way that living in the shadow of St Paul’s in London, as I did some years ago, you soon stop hearing the cathedral’s bells every 15 minutes of the day and night.  But while the call to prayer is appropriate in a country with a long-standing Islamic culture; I would not support the call to prayer being adopted by mosques in Britain.

But the contributors to a report on BBC Radio Four’s Sunday Programme this morning left no doubt that much of the hostility had very little to do with the desirability or otherwise of an amplified call to prayer and much more to do with hatred of all things Islamic.

One of those featured was Swiss MP Oskar Freysinger of the Swiss People’s Party, one of the people behind today’s referendum.  He said:

“The biggest problem is a demographic problem.  The Islamic people, even in Europe, have three or four times the children that we have.  You can only wait 20, 30 or 40 years and the problem will be impossible to resolve because we’ll have two parallel societies living in the same country with internal conflicts between two visions of what a state must be.  That can’t be a harmonic development of Europe.”

Swiss Anti-Islamic Campaign poster

And the poster used by campaigners to persuade people to vote for a ban included a picture of a woman wearing a burqa against a background of the Swiss flag.

The Swiss campaigners have been dishonest.  They are using what appears to be modest stance to send a message to Muslims that they are not welcome.  This will be a particularly disturbing message to the majority of Muslims in Switzerland, as unlike Britain, most Swiss Muslims are former Yugoslavians, who saw their own Mosques destroyed during the brutal war in Bosnia.

How should Christians respond to such moves?  Of course, we believe that Jesus Christ is the way the truth and the life and that nobody goes to the Father except through him (John 14:6 and John 3:18).  But that doesn’t mean we should seek to ban those with a different view.  Rather, we should show respect to their beliefs while being prepared to challenge them by preaching the Gospel of Christ. 

This is what Paul did in Greece at Mars Hill / the Areopagus (Acts 17:16-34).  He didn’t condemn the locals for their worship of Pagan gods; but challenged them and used his knowledge of their beliefs (the altar to the unknown god) as a tool with which to explain the uniqueness of Jesus’ sacrificial grace.

It is good to see that churches in Switzerland were amongst those uniting against the ban.  And they weren’t acting alone.  Christians, Jews, Muslims and people of other faiths and none could see the damage such a ban would bring.
Unfortunately, anybody listening to the Radio Four piece this morning would have got the impression that the churches weren’t united on this issue.  They reported that evangelical Christians were supporting the ban.  Their reporter obviously didn’t ask the Swiss Evangelical Alliance before making such a claim.  The Alliance Evangélique Suisse / Allianza Evangelica Svizzera has produced a detailed opinion document in which they explains why a federal constitutional ban on minarets is the wrong way to resolve issues of coexistence between Christians and Muslims in Switzerland.

Most Christians and people of faith will see this as a further attack by aggressive secularists who want to drive all faith and religions from the market place.  The Muslims are first in line because it is easy to use 9/11 and other recent terrorist attacks to stoke widespread public fear and revulsion.  And, after the Muslims have been sidelined it is a logical next step to say that to prevent Muslims being unfairly discriminated against; similar restrictions should be imposed on all religious groups.

The Swiss vote to ban minarets is wrong on so many fronts.  If I were Swiss, I would be extremely ashamed tonight.

Niet zo’n overrompeling viel het voorbije weekend te noteren op de Geschenkenbeurs in het OC Sint-Katarina in de Casterwijk dan vorig jaar in zaal Steborg in Stevoort. Nochtans deden de vele vrijwilligers van Oxfam Wereldwinkel Hasselt, Stevoort en Alken hun uiterste best om de aanwezige bezoekers te verrassen met een fraaie tafelopstelling in de grote zaal, tafels vol met leuke fairtradehebbedingetjes, -gebruiksvoorwerpen, -wijnen en fruitsappen. Leuke ideetjes ook voor de eindejaarsfeesten.

Kleurwedstrijd

Zaterdag bracht sinterklaas en zwarte piet reeds een bezoek aan de Geschenkenbeurs, terwijl zondagnamiddag de winnende kinderen van de kleurwedstrijd werden opgewacht om hun prijs te komen afhalen. “Meer dan 800 kids van de basisscholen Sint-Katarina, De Hazelaar, Sint-Martinus en de Tuinwijk kregen uitleg over eerlijke handel en werden uitgenodigd voor een kleurwedstrijd. Uiteindelijk hebben er maar 87 kinderen een tekening binnengestuurd, waarvan we er negen over de zes jaren hebben uitgekozen voor een prijs in de vorm van schoolbenodigdheden”, aldus Steven Schepers van WW Hasselt.

En de winnaars zijn….

Geneviève Terranova – 1ste lj BS Sint-Martinus, Amani El Makhoukhi – 2e lj BS Tuinwijk, Lies Urbanek – 3e lj Sint-Martinus, Helena Gielen – 3elj Sint-Martinus, Nouhayla El Makhouki – 4e lj BS Tuinwijk, Yannick Goedhuys – 4e lj BS Tuinwijk, Emma Lambeets – 5e lj BS Sint-Martinus, Charlotte Brialmont – 6e lj BS Catharina en Laura Michiels – 6e lj BS Catharina.

Zoektocht

Aan de ingang van de  Geschenkenbeurs kregen de bezoekers een papieren tasje voor  hun aankopen met een vragenlijst overhandigd. Opzet was om aan de hand van vier simpele vragen het antwoord te zoeken op de verpakking van voedingsproducten. Als schiftingsvraag moest men dan nog aan de nieuwe kassa met scanner het aantal koffieboontjes in de bokaal raden. “Hoeveel bonen erin zitten, kunnen we zelf nog niet zeggen. Daarom moeten ze nog geteld worden”, lacht Steven ons toe.

Waar volgend jaar de Geschenkenbeurs plaatsvindt, wist de organisatie nog niet.

www.oft.be, www.oww.be/hasselt, www.oww.be/stevoort, www.oww.be/alken

vor einigen wochen durfte ich während meiner kleinen SCHOTTLANDreise an einer sehr interessanten PODIUMSDISKUSSION zum thema FAIRTRADE teilnehmen. hier ein paar facts, die mir (neu) bewusst, wichtig und teilenswert geworden sind:

das habe ich nicht gewusst: wenn wir fairtrade-produkte kaufen, haben die bauern dadurch nicht mehr geld zur freien verfügung, sie können nur die produktionsKOSTEN ZAHLEN und geringfügig in neue produkte investieren. für sie ist durch unseren kauf also nur der normalzustand, das ÜBERLEBEN, gesichert. ihr LEBENSSTANDARD erhöht sich dadurch leider nicht.

meine schlussfolgerung daraus: durch den kauf fair gehandelter produkte helfen wir den bauern im geschäft zu bleiben, aber nicht sich zu ENTWICKELN. in 60 jahren kann theoretisch also alles für sie noch genauso sein wie heute.

positiv I: wir können einen positiven effekt, einen wirklich aktiven BEITRAG für dritte-welt-länder leisten.

positiv II: fairtrade-produkte kaufen ist ein MENSCHLICHer FAKTOR in einer welt, die von der WIRTSCHAFT regiert wird.

positiv III: es gibt weniger KRIMINALITÄT in den dritte-welt-ländern, weil mehr leute zur produktion dieser erzeugnisse BESCHÄFTIGT werden können.

gefahren: fairtrade-produkte nur für ein reines GEWISSEN kaufen.

bedenkenswert: fair gehandelte produkte kaufen ist das mindeste, was wir tun können. fairtrade ist nicht perfekt, weil es den bauern nicht hilft zu wachsen, aber es ist ein ANFANG und macht die welt sicherlich ein stück gerechter. diese sparte ist ausbaufähig, aber im moment das beste was wir supporten können. damit sich aber wirklich etwas in der welt ändert, müssten wir allerdings folgendes tun: „DECREASE OUR STANDARD OF LIVING“. unser lebensstandard in der WESTLICHEN WELT ist viel zu hoch, wir leben in einer ÜBERFLUSSGESELLSCHAFT. solange wir übermäßig weiter BILLIGPRODUKTE und MASSENWARE beziehen und verbrauchen, wird sich nicht viel ändern. BEWUSSTES KAUFEN und VERANTWORTLICHES HANDELN sollten mehr in den vordergrund rücken.

und wie ist es bei mir: seit ich hier in england bin, kaufe ich fairtrade-produkte wenn sich mir die möglichkeit bietet. habe ich „GUT & BILLIG“- oder fairen kakao mit dem schicken blau-grün-schwarzen LOGO zur auswahl, nehme ich zweiteres. aber zwei sachen dazu: 1. hier in england wird es mir einfach gemacht, fairtrade zu supporten, da fairtrade-produkte schon flächendeckend zum SORTIMENT in jedem gewöhnlichen supermarkt zu finden sind. und das besten daran ist, dass diese produkte richtig GÜNSTIG sind. kosten mich bspw. acht fairtrade-bananen in deutschland mindestens ca. 3€, bezahle ich hier mal gerade 1,15€! und das führt mich auch zu punkt 2. der GELDFAKTOR. als armer, nicht verdienender student konnte ich mir die letzten drei jahre auch nicht wirklich oft fairtrade-produkte leisten. deswegen will ich niemanden verurteilen, angreifen oder in unkosten stürzen, der das geld einfach nicht hat, fair gehandelte sachen kaufen zu können. mein wunsch ist einfach nur: wenn ihr das geld und die möglichkeit habt, fairtrade zu unterstützen, dann macht es. ist eine gute sache.

FREE POSTAGE OFFER – to anywhere in the WORLD! just write EKA CHRISTMAS OFFER in the comments box when you order and we’ll refund your postage fee, offer open till Dec 24th.

Hi Everyone,
Have you bought your Christmas presents yet?
I just wanted to let you know that the eka online store is all stocked with this years collection of cozy knitwear. Here’s some gift ideas for ‘him’ and ‘her’.

Ethical Accessories Brand eka give have an abundance of lovely, hand crafted knitwear for your Christmas list.
Every item in the eka collection is hand made in the eco village of Auroville in India where profits go towards developing the town and surrounding landscape in environmentally friendly ways.
Each employee working in Auroville is given a living wage along with health insurance and a pension.

For Her-
The Hayworth Beret with matching Mittens is a set of wooly luxuries any woman would be pleased to receive.
For the computer nerds, there are sweet matching iPod and Laptop Cases, all hand made to a very high standard.
There is a lovely cotton hat and mitten set which are not only grown organically, but also dyed using natural plant extracts.
Trendy girls out there won’t be disappointed to see a lovely Hayworth Beret in under the tree, these hats are spot on trend with their floppy beret shape and are available in an array of colours from.
For Him-
What about a hand made Laptop Case and iPod Case to match?
This winter boys won’t be seen dead without their ‘watchcap’, the eka anchor beanie is a firm favourite with the trend setting gents.
How about giving him the most ethical hat out there? the eka organic range is both grown organically and dyed using plant extracts.
What about a wooly deerstalker hat that has ears that can be folded down to keep the chill at bay?

Have fun shopping! : )
Love From eka xx

Douglas Alexander, Desmond Tutu & the Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu today launched the Church of England’s 2009 online Advent calendar.

The online Advent calendar encourages people to take time out to slow down and consider your lifestyle (such as buying Fairtrade!) with daily challenges and thoughts. The website contains a range of reflections, actions and video clips. Have a look at it here!

Mike Muchilwa directs the work of KICK Trading, a Ten Thousand Villages trading partner in Kisumu, Kenya.  Kisumu was a site of much post-election violence in Kenya earlier this year.

Muchilwa shares his thoughts and observations on the violence and its impact on Kisumu and the work done by KICK:

Kisumu, located on Lake Victoria in Western Kenya, and the location of KICK Trading, suffered economic damage of more than $45 million, which will take as many as 20 years to rebuild. Thousands have lost their livelihoods, and crime has risen proportionally. Property has been looted and destroyed, and the city resembled a war zone.

International observers have recognized the need to address many underlying issues that have boiled to the surface following disputed elections in Kenya. Key issues have been unemployment, poverty and inequality. Kenya has the third worst income distribution in the world, with 20 percent of its population controlling half its wealth. Many unemployed people, desperate to earn a living, have been forced into the informal sector, popularly known as the “jua kali” (Swahili for hot sun). It is these producers with whom KICK Trading has worked since its inception. The organization has always seen the potential of these marginalized people who have been left out of the formal economy.

I believe many artisans would have joined the looting, destruction and death had it not been for fair trade. Others have been rehabilitated from crime and prostitution because fair trade gave them the means to earn an honest living. When fair trade opportunities are lost, we see the death, desperation and hopelessness arising.

Fortunately, all of KICK’s producers were alright, with no reports of any having been harmed. Credit goes to partners like Ten Thousand Villages in the United States and Canada, as well as Trade Aid New Zealand, whose orders have kept producers working in spite of the hardships Kisumu faces. The recent chaos has strengthened KICK’s resolve to promote fair trade and benefit many more marginalized producers and desperate youth. With support from its trading partners, KICK can prevent a young life from becoming a death statistic—and prove that fair trade does save lives.

Recycled Metal Elf Earrings, Kenya

These little handmade gems are made from a thrifted army blanket and hold many things! Buttons, earrings, coins, pens…

Your next cuppa is sorted too. They come with an organic, fairtrade tea bag such as Earl Grey or English Breakfast. Yum!

I förra posten kritiserades Fairtrade och det kan vara intressant att ta upp vad som är problemet med Fairtrade. I grunden handlar det om hur ett samhälle blir rikt. Det enda sättet jag känner till är genom handel och särskilt genom kapitalism och fria marknader. Ibland förs det fram argument för fördelning av materiella tillgångar t.ex. att om alla världens rikedom fördelades jämt mellan alla människor så skulle alla ha en levnadstandard som genomsnittet i 1950-talets Sverige. Oavsätt om det stämmer eller inte så är ett sådant argument missvisande eftersom rikedom inte är statiskt. Pengar är i sig inte något annat än en bytbar symbol för arbete. Vad som gör ett samhälle rikt är effektiv organisation av arbete (att man har tur besitter en resurs som andra vill ha, så som olja, är endast ett undantag). Saken är i alla fall den att för att ett samhälle ska bli rikt måste det organisera sig effektivt (genom handel och kapitalism) och denna omorganisation innebär att hela samhället måste omorganiseras i en mer eller mindre smärtsam process. Eftersom grunden för allt arbete är det livsupphållande så måste först och främst jordbruket effektiviseras. (I ett handelssystem kan ett samhälle specialisera sig och importera mat men det är lättare att göra den omvandlingen efter att ens egna jordbruk effektiviserats.) Det Fairtrade innebär att denna strukturomvandling hämmas och bönderna stängs inne i ett ineffektivt produktionssystem där de blir beroende av välviljan hos dem som vill köpa rättvisemärkta produkter. De kortsiktiga positiva fördelarna äts alltså upp de långsiktiga fördelarna. Eller som Helena Joahansson skriver:

…Fairtrades ansats med produktionskoppling och fokus på småskalighet [är] statisk och kortsiktig. Dessutom adresserar inte Fairtrade flera av de underliggande hinder som motverkar strukturomvandling, som behovet av kreditmöjligheter utan koppling till viss produktion.

… [M]ärkningen [har] vissa positiva effekter i liten skala, men modellen kan inte skalas upp till större volymer. Det är dessutom viktigt att rättvisemärkning inte förleder människor att tro att vanlig handel är till nackdel för u-länderna. Konventionell handel har, på grund av sin omfattning, möjlighet att lyfta många fler människor ur fattigdom än Fairtrade. Skulle rättvisemärkning leda till att konsumenterna avstår från att köpa arbetsintensiva varor som importerats från utvecklingsländerna får det en negativ effekt på fattiga jordbrukares och arbetares inkomster och försörjningsmöjligheter.”

Fair trade

Running parallel with the eco-friendly movement is the push for fair trade, which prohibits the use of child, forced and prison labor prevalent in much of the developing world. Fair trade policies also are concerned with environmental accountability.

via What’s on the horizon for eco-friendly products?.

On Saturday, to Crystal Palace Farmers' Market - possibly the last before Christmas.  Difficult to say what the reason was for poor attendance at the market this time - the weather was pretty good until late afternoon (4pm or so).  We only had to contend with a wind that at one point lifted my gazebo well in the air - it was rescued by one of my lecturer colleagues at Croydon College.

Made a determined effort to shift Dark Chocolate Advent Calendars and Godstone apple juices.  Disappointingly few people took advantage of the "3 for" offer - which means more profit, but low turnover.

Anyway, we made sufficient profit to cover the pitch fee, and then in the evening went to Tatsfield to deliver a case of Dark Chocolate Advent Calendars to a leading light of the Tatsfield Fairtrade Village campaign.

Thanks to photographer Lina and model Anna for all their hard work. These images are for the new FRANK webshop which we will be launching 10th December, watch this space for invites to the party : )