Page 43 - link magazine

The Link Magazine • February 2006 43
Curry and coffee wins Fairtrade status for town
As reported in November's Link, one more cafe was needed for Swindon to become a SAMARITANS
Fairtrade Borough. Now the Curry Place restaurant in Rodbourne Road has saved the day
by agreeing to offer customers fairly traded coffee and tea.
Emotional Support
Restaurant manager, Mahmod The Swindon Fairtrade Coali- Fairtrade Borough ^+++++++^+^i
Ali said, "we are very proud to be tion had to demonstrate that a has now been sub- 24 hours a day
the first Indian restaurant to sign range of Fairtrade products is read- mitted.
up. This will help people's lives. ily available in the town's shops. Barbara Aftelak, ..if you need someone
It's one community helping an- The number of businesses, retail- chair of the coalition
other." ers and cafes required is deter- said, "this really is to talk to in confidence
mined by the borough's an excellent achieve-
(lire' population. With ment for the borough as it shows Tel: 08457 90 90 90
180,000 people, 18 cafes the care and concern Swindon peo-
serving Fair Trade ple have for producers in develop- www.samoritans.org
products were needed. ing countries who are stuck in a
The bid to become cycle of poverty.
6 Curtis Street, Swindon
"Fairtrade means small scale
U Look out for this poster
around town designed by farmers receive a decent price for
former Swindon College their products, one that is a fair
graphic design student reflection of their labour."
Daniel Russo who won a Help launch Swindon:
competition run on the Fairtrade town
theme of 'Make the Mark
Celebrate the achievement of , vange/.
Famous' Fairtrade status on 25 February,
He is pictured with Swin- O^ tWorsley Road
1Gt^ r donAgenda2lofficerLynn 1 2noon, at the Millenium Clock in
the town centre.
Forrester
Make Poverty History is `not so last year' building with people
Sunday services are at
You bought the white wrist bands, went to Live 8 or watched it on TV, you might have gone on a march Oam & 6.30pm
or written to your MP. 'Is that it?' you may ask. Not at all, says Emma Bushell of Swindon Oxfam.
For further information you can
Some gains were made as a re- and the Global Call to Action on meeting is open to anyone inter- either ring (01793) 873050;
sult of Make Poverty History - the Poverty (GCAP), the international ested in saying'I'm in.' For details e-mail: office@ freshbrook.org
2005 G8 summit promised an ex- grouping which launched Make mail: [email protected] or visit: www.freshbook.org
tra $48 billion a year for poor coun- Poverty History, will continue to www.oxfam.org.uk ift of God is Eternal Liti " !Romans 6 r2$
tries by 2010, which including $15 fight poverty, campaign for trade
to $20 billion of new money, and justice, debt cancellation and a
the G8's debt deal, if finally agreed major increase in the quantity and
by the IMF and World Bank, should quality of aid. West Swindon & the
be worth up to $!billion per year Oxfam, one of the members of
for the 18 countries that qualify. GCAP, has launched an advertis- Lydiards churches
However, many campaigners ing campaign to get people who
were disappointed and angry supported Make Poverty History All Saints', Lydiard Millicent
when world leaders failed to de- to commit to further campaigning. Holy Trinity, Shaw
liver on promises and betrayed the The theme is: 'I'm In.'
world's poor at December's World A Swindon Oxfam campaign- St Mary's, Lydiard Tregoze
Trade Organisation meeting by ing group will be planning its 2006 Toothill Church; Westlea Church
refusing to change trade rules fundraising and campaigning
rigged in favour of rich countries. strategy on 13 February, 8pm at For details of our weekly
The pressure must be sustained The George, Eastcott Road. The services please contact the
For God loved the world Partnership Office on 874221
Catholic gifts to the wider world so much that He gave [email protected]
Robert Barrett describes how parishes worked together His only Son.' John 3:16
In the lead-up to Christmas, people in every Catholic parish and
school in Swindon bought £25,032 worth of two-in-one Christmas
presents: certificates for relatives or friends representing real gifts o
school starter kits, emergency shelters, or other practical items to
needy families or communities in developing countries.
The project, called Swindon's The activity gave a new sense of
Virtual Village, was unique in the purpose and unity to the deanery Sunday Worship 10.30am
country. The process was simple: and showed us what can be Th Sunday School and Creche
people purchased 'World Gifts' achieved when neighbouring par- Meeting at Abbey Meads
fromtheCatholicAgencyforOver- ishes work together. Community School
seas Development, (CAFOD) and Special recognition goes to
then used paper forms or a website Wootton Bassett parish for raising
^TNAM.SDOWN DRIVE';,
to tell the organisers what they'd £950 to buy World Gifts in a single
bought and the value, collection, to the Holy Rood Abbcy
Meatls
The purpose of the project was Church choir for buying a cow, to Community
Primary
to bring help to people in areas of Holy Rood Junior School for rais- School
^' Nfioey
the world in which CAFOD is al- ing £500 to buy a community wa- Alea4s
A. Cemre
ready deeply involved but, as is so ter supply, and to Holy Rood In-
often the case, the Swindon Catho- fants School staff for buying a cow
lic Deanery gained huge benefits insteadofgivingeachotherChrist-
also. mas cards this year.