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Trade
Week of Action
Join
with others all over the world to call for justice in global
trade!
Trade
justice is about recognizing the right that farmers have
to feed their families and send their children to school.
It is about ensuring that producers and consumers are not
victims of market speculation, dumping, foreign subsidies
and large corporate profits. It is about allowing domestic
industries to develop. It is about access to essential services
like water and healthcare. And it is about the right to
fair wages and dignified work. Trade justice is about people
and their basic human rights.
 This
is the third Trade
Week of Action, and it is a time when people can
join together to raise awareness and work with others to
promote change.
The
week of 12-19 October is a key time for action and the Presbyterian
Hunger Program has helped to produce the Trade
Week of Action: Right to Food Guide to use this week
and anytime during the year:
The
Trade Week of Action is a chance to tell the world that
enforced free trade is inflicting misery on millions of
poor people, and that there are alternatives!
What can you do?
Join
in a 40-hour fast initiated by PC(USA) churches
on the global food crisis--and to pray, repent and discern
what God would have us do to address the underlying causes.
The
Right to Food!
Join
with church partners around the world in actions calling
for just trading relations—from fasts and agape meals,
church services and hunger tribunals to petitions, street
theater, marches, exhibitions and displays and many other
creative and colorful ways of getting our messages heard
and seen.
Download the brand new Trade
Week of Action-Right to Food booklet and find worship and
educational materials.
Click
the badge if you want Water for All?
Thirst:
Private Water or Water for All?
Borrow
or order the award-winning film, Thirst. [Learn
more about water and thirst]
U.S.
Genetically Modified Corn Is Assailed
A
scientific panel of international experts, convened under
NAFTA, reports that the spread of GMO corn in Mexico poses
a threat that should be limited or stopped. [Read
the article]
Make
sure the flowers you give spread love and justice!
Learn
more about "fair trade" flowers
Presbyterian
Global Eco-Justice Listserv
Sign
up now
and receive a water-proof
Thirst for Justice sticker for your
reusable mug or water bottle
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More
News & Analysis
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What's
New?
 Trade
Week of Action
 Trade
Week of Action: Right to Food Booklet
Just
published in August 2008, this revised Trade Week booklet introduces
the Trade Week of Action on the Right to Food at a time when food
prices are pushing millions more into poverty. The guide explores
the interactions between trade, agriculture, food and human rights.
It considers what the Bible has to say about trade and food, and
tells the stories of real people affected by free trade policies.
The guide offers action ideas, liturgy and other worship resources.
Download
the booklet now - 1.14MB 
Everything
you need can be found on the Trade Week of Action Web site, developed
by the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance, a partner organization of the
PC(USA):
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-
campaign
tools
(such as posters, banners, T-shirt designs, bulletin covers and
logos)
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The 2008 Farm Bill and the World Trade Organization
Doha Agenda
By Sophia Murphy and Steve Suppan
The U.S. Congress finally voted a new Farm Bill into law on May 22,
2008. The Farm Bill legislation does nothing to help advance the long-delayed
negotiations on agriculture in Geneva. The Bush administration failed
to demonstrate U.S. readiness to complete the Doha Round as it was unable
to reform the Farm Bill. The timing for WTO Doha negotiations will only
get worse with U.S. Congressional and Presidential elections coming
in November. Read
the analysis
Giant
agrifood companies get fat on food crisis
How do we as Christians
respond to the growing food crisis, particularly while companies led
by fellow humans are reaping record profits. National Public Radio's
Marketplace covers this story that parallels the profiteering of oil
companies. "In
our continuing series, "Food Fight," we look at the profitable
side of the global food crisis. Sarah Gardner reports on the big agribusiness
firms that are breaking earnings records as everything from grains to
soybeans skyrockets." Click
here to listen to the story or read the transcript
Learn
about the Global Food Price and Distribution Crisis on the Presbyterian
Hunger Program Web site
World Alliance of Reformed Churches "ACCRA CONFESSION: Covenant
for Justice in the Economy and the Earth"
From the 24th General Assembly of WARC
in Accra, Ghana
Joining
Hands Against Hunger, Globalization and Fair Trade
From La Oroya, Peru comes a wonderful article from
the National Catholic Reporter. "Looking Ahead: Church groups
seek new models of solidarity" Read
the article
Globalization Glossary Read/print
the glossary...
Thanks to the Tennessee Industrial Renewal Network (TIRN)
and the Development Group for Alternative Policies.
The
"Just Trade Consultation"
held in Stony Point was the recent foundation for much of our ecumenical
work on issues of trade justice. |
MESA
came out of this meeting and is a common table where Canadian,
US and Mexican churches can network to amplify the churches' witness
regarding trade justice in the Americas.
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Rev.
Dr. M. Douglas Meeks, Chancellor Professor of Theology and Wesleyan
Studies at Vanderbilt University, presents paper on 'The Economy
of Grace'.
Photo: Victoria Richardson |
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WHY
JUST TRADE?
Revenge
of the Acronyms: WTO, NAFTA, CAFTA and FTAA
Can
Acronyms Cause Hunger and Poverty?
Yes,
they can.
International
trade is an important way that the United States engages with the world.
However, even ardent supporters of international trade have begun to
admit that trade can produce both "winners" and "losers."
Recent
international trade policies, designed and enforced by unelected bankers,
CEOs and consultants, have caused tremendous damage to the environment
and to people--especially in poorer communities and countries. Not surprisingly,
those affected most by international trade are women and children. More
free trade as currently practiced will only increase the damage. Accordingly,
faith groups and organizations in the U.S. and around the world are
intent on stopping or dramatically modifying these agreements and practices.
Given
the many negative impacts of the North American Free Trade Agreement
(NAFTA), the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has taken a strong stance
against free trade agreements. See the Free Trade
Area of the Americas (FTAA) and Central
America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) pages for full coverage.
Please
use this Web site as a way to further educate yourselves and your congregations
about these critical issues. Together we can act with faith in God's
order to create positive alternatives and stop policies that harm people.
Feel free to peruse
the resources available: RESOURCES
And explore how
to get engaged: ACTION
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The
PC(USA)'s Stand on Just Trade
The
PC(USA) supports efforts to strive toward international
cooperation based on fair trade, respect for diversity,
and common concerns for a peaceful, just, and sustainable
world.
The
PC(USA) opposes multinational actions and trade agreements
that elevate rights of corporations over the right of governments
and indigenous peoples to pass and enforce laws that preserve
the public good and protect their citizens, economies, and
environments.
[Excerpt;
215th General Assembly (2003); See FTAA
page for more]
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