Our Common Home Project News - September 2024
“The destruction of the environment is an offence against God.
I make this heartfelt appeal:
Let us choose life! Let us choose the future! ”
Pope Francis,
in a letter addressed to world leaders at COP28
WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO TO TO CARE FOR THE EARTH?
As well as choosing Fairtrade products, you can also try to shop more sustainably to reduce your impact on the environment.
Many brands claim to be sustainable but many people believe that much of this marketing is greenwashing - promoting false solutions to the climate crisis that distract from and delay concrete and credible action.
There is a useful and interesting guide to shopping sustainably produced by Which? - it’s free, you don’t need to subscribe.
The guide covers:
second hand shopping online - reusing goods instead of throwing them out can be sustainable
green brands - just how sustainable are they?
how to buy more sustainable chocolate
how to buy sustainable palm oil, fish, flowers, and furniture
car clubs - could help you save money and the environment
Please take the time to look at these articles. We can all do more to care for the Earth and its people.
WHAT DO YOU BUY THAT IS FAIRTRADE?
Our parish is a Fairtrade Parish. Wherever possible, we use FAIRTRADE goods for the food and drinks we provide.
FAIRTRADE is a system of certification that aims to ensure a set of standards are met in the production and supply of a product or ingredient. For farmers and workers, Fairtrade means workers' rights, safer working conditions and fairer pay. For shoppers it means high quality, ethically produced products.
Choosing FAIRTRADE means standing with farmers for fairness and equality, against some of the biggest challenges the world faces. It means farmers creating change, from investing in climate-friendly farming techniques to developing women in leadership.
With FAIRTRADE you change the world a little bit every day. Through simple shopping choices you are showing businesses and governments that you believe in fair and just trade.
It’s not just coffee, chocolate and bananas; you can buy FAIRTRADE wine, flowers, sugar, rice, tea, fruit/juices, textiles, gold, sports balls and much more.
COME AND JOIN US!
New members of the Our Common Home Team are always welcome. Please come to our next meeting with your ideas or to find out how you can help. Our next meetings are:
13th October, 10th November, and 15th December
We meet once a month, in the parish library at 10am for one hour before 11am Mass.
The Earth was here before us and was given to us - Our Common Home. It is God's dominion, but entrusted to us, and it is our shared responsibility to be good stewards of everything we have received – nature, one another, resources, gifts and talents.
