Fair trade training coming to Salt Lake diocese

Intermountain Catholic

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SALT LAKE CITY — Chocolate, coffee and handicrafts combine with Catholic values when they are manufactured with fair trade principals: fair wages and safe working conditions for those who produce the products and environmentally sensitive production methods.

Millions of hard-working people throughout the world are living in poverty and, through no fault of their own, can't participate as equals in the global economy, said Carla Aguilar, advocacy program officer for Catholic Relief Services, the international agency of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Fair trade efforts help combat this.

For example, coffee farmers on conventional farms receive about two cents from the $3 average latte, while certified fair trade coffee farmers receive 10 cents on top of the per kilo price, according to information at www.fairtradefederation.org, the North American fair trade association.

CRS works with more than a dozen fair trade organizations to "help promote economic justice, reduce global poverty and protect the environment," according to www.crsfairtrade.org.

"CRS ? has become involved with this movement because we feel that it's directly tied to our faith, especially the principles outlined in Catholic social teaching," Aguilar said. "Fair trade offers people the opportunity to make choices to purchase fair trade that has the power to actually work for our brothers and sisters overseas. It's very hard sometimes to feel empowered to do something about something as abstract or as complicated poverty. This is definitely a way that U.S. Catholics can be very connected to the global church and to a movement that we feel is in line with our values."

Aguilar will be in Salt Lake City on Feb. 25 to present workshops on fair trade to those interested in becoming involved with the movement. "Everyone can be a part of it because we all shop," she said. "Fair trade is shopping with respect; it's an act with solidarity with our brothers and sisters."

Two trainings will be presented, one in English and one in Spanish. "The Hispanic/Latino population ? understands in a way that's very intrinsic that we're one global community," Aguilar said.

The training will include information for participants to set up a fair trade fair in their own parishes, Aguilar said.

The workshops are being presented in Utah because there's a growing interest in fair trade, said Jean Hill, director of the Diocese of Salt Lake City Peace and Justice Commission. Also, "Easter will be coming, and people will be buying chocolate. As we are celebrating this very important Catholic holiday, and talking about restoring God's justice on earth, it's important to think about whether how we are celebrating fits in with what we are celebrating, so that we're providing gifts for our family and friends that fit in with our beliefs."

The CRS Fair Trade Training in English will be Feb. 25 from 9 a.m. to noon at Saint Ann Parish, 450 East 2100 South, Salt Lake City. The Spanish-language session will follow from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Pastoral Center, 27 C St. in Salt Lake City.

For information, contact Jean Hill at 801-328-8641 ext. 336.