Home Truth

Just been away with the family to Spring Harvest, an annual Christian conference - at Butlins Skegness, no less! And ‘stop the traffik’ is not a misspelling of any fears, hopes or prayers for the journey: it is the slogan for the coalition that was flagged up throughout the time there.

Tying in with the launch of “Wilberforce” and the celebrations surrounding the anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade, ‘Stop the Traffik!’ aims to put an end to the continuing slave trade, the human trafficking that takes place all over the world.

Clips were shown to heighten awareness of the plight of millions, particularly women and children, bought and sold to be used and abused. The UNICEF video narrated by Robbie Williams is well worth watching. Harrowing in the extreme.

We were encouraged to give - a one-off generous offering to four particular projects giving shelter and refuge to those affected by this evil. Great in itself.

But it cannot end there. That is not enough.

It was interesting that it took until the last day to make the link between poverty and this horrific trade. Fair trade can affect slave trade. It is the most vulnerable, the least educated, the poorest of the poor who are most at risk. Fair trade can lift people out of abject poverty and prepare them to fight this war.

Shouting the slogans and buying the merchandise are only part of the story. Making poverty history is still very much a part of the present. Reflect on this: the products we buy and sell make a difference to those who are bought and sold.

Filed under: Uncategorized on April 12th, 2007