JustShare is a coalition of churches and development agencies which seeks to raise awareness within the City of London of issues of social and economic justice, and to encourage positive action in response. Promoting Fairtrade is a key part of meeting that objective. Based at St Mary-le-Bow, a Fairtrade Church on Cheapside, JustShare is proud to have been a part of the Corporation of London Fairtrade Campaign from the beginning. JustShare wrote to the Corporation during Fairtrade Fortnight 2006 to ask it to consider applying for Fairtrade Zone status. In response, the Corporation established its Fairtrade Steering Group and invited the Revd George Bush, member of JustShare and Rector of St Mary-le-Bow, Cheapside, to chair it. The City achieved Fairtrade Status 18 months later. JustShare also sits on the London Fairtrade Diocese Campaign steering group and actively seeks to promote Fairtrade through its City and Church networks. For example, during Fairtrade Fortnight 2008 we were delighted to welcome Kojo Aduhene-Tano and Paul Ayepah, two farmers from the Kuapa Kokoo Fairtrade Cocoa Co-operative in Ghana, who took part in a special panel debate: 'What's the Point of Fairtrade?' Other activities in 2008 included a Fairtrade Wine-Tasting to encourage companies to offer Fairtrade wine at their functions, and the Big Brew in July, where we served over 250 cups of free Fairtrade tea and coffee to passers-by at St Paul's, giving away 800 leaflets about Fairtrade at the same time. Highlights so far in 2009 include hosting a conference for churches across the diocese called: 'Fairtrade Church: Make it Happen,' and organising a Fairtrade Wine-Tasting and Carpet Sale for Fairtrade Fortnight. Find out more at www.justshare.org.uk.
Website: http://www.justshare.org.uk