Fairtrade at Christmas

The re-release of Do They Know It's Christmas?, by Band Aid 20 has struck me.

It's partly nostalgia. Partly tragedy.

Twenty years ago, I was in the sixth form and a member of my school's Community Service Group. We were organising usual Christmas activities - a party for pensioners, the school disco and 2 nights of carol singing for charity. Naturally, we joined in fundraising for Ethiopia. We had great fun, raising huge amounts - even when told "I've already bought the record!"

The tragedy is Band Aid 20 is still needed. Some of us were naïve to think the original Band Aid would change things, forever. Yet 20 years on, there are still famines in Ethiopia. Still unspeakable levels of poverty, especially in Africa.

We may be more realistic now.

We may understand better that it's by promoting fair trade between poor nations and the rich world that we can best help.

That's why it's vital we reform world trade in agriculture, especially the Common Agricultural Policy.

It's why the "Fairtrade" movement is so important: if you buy a Fairtrade product like coffee or chocolate, more of your money goes to the farmer and their community.

To hear more about Fairtrade, write to me at the Commons, or visit www.fairtrade.org.uk

And, remembering the Christmas message, why not buy Fairtrade products this year? Oh, and the record, of course.