The St Timothy Social Justice Group in Vermont/Forest Hill has a along history of working at bringing awareness of social justice issues to the people and families of the parish and school. The group meets on a regular basis to discuss various issues of local and international importance to see how best to bring awareness and/or plan actions such as letter writing, petition signing....or even knitting! We are particularly committed to Aboriginal Reconciliation, Refugees, FairTrade and Eco Justice but often other significant and topical issues are also worked on. Meetings are held after the 10.30am mass on Sundays between 8 and 10 times a year.
New members are always most welcome as are comments and suggestions.
Contact: Pia 9887 3096 / mpagotto@optusnet.com.au

FAIRTRADE

Easter in Australia always seems to be accompanied by plenty of chocolate. Unfortunately much chocolate is made using cocoa beans picked by children. These children, hundreds and thousands of them, many younger than 12 years old, have been sold as slaves, or have been trafficked from poor African countries to cocoa farms in Cote d'Ivoire in West Africa, where 40% of the world's cocoa crops are grown. The children are forced to work instead of going to school and are made to work in dangerous conditions harvesting cocoa.

A way of ensuring that this practice stops is to switch from buying the regular and popular chocolate to buying FairTrade chocolate. FairTrade chocolate is clearly marked with the FairTrade logo and (together with other FairTrade products) can be found in places like the Good Shepherds Trading Circle in Abbotdford. http://www.thetradingcircle.com.au

Making a switch should not be too much to contemplate - some Easter egg chocolate could come from the FairTrade range. Chocolate is a luxury, even if some may beg to differ, and as such even more consideration needs to be given to the ethics behind the product.

Contact Pia at the Parish Office on 9878 8858 or email: st_tims_foresthill@hotmail.com