NEWS FROM
LUTHERAN WORLD RELIEF
July 1, 2005
For more information contact Emily Sollie at esollie@lwr.org or 410-230-2802.
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LUTHERAN WORLD RELIEF DEBUTS NEW FAIR-TRADE PRODUCTS:
Organic Sisters' Blend Coffee and New Handcrafts Available at Women of the ELCA Triennial Gathering
Baltimore, June 30, 2005 — Lutheran World Relief, along with our longtime partner in Fair Trade, Equal Exchange, is pleased to announce a brand-new fair-trade coffee blend honoring women around the world. Organic Sisters' Blend, produced by farming cooperatives in Latin America, honors women coffee farmers for their hard work in producing this high-quality coffee, and Lutheran women in the United States for their leadership in advocating for Fair Trade.
Sisters' Blend was inspired by the enthusiasm and leadership of Women of the ELCA in supporting the 90-Ton Challenge, a year-long campaign led by LWR, Women of the ELCA and Equal Exchange to double the amount of fair-trade coffee purchased by Lutherans through the LWR Coffee Project.
"Women of the ELCA have long been key partners for Lutheran World Relief," said Brenda Meier, coordinator of the LWR Coffee Project. "They helped launch the LWR Coffee Project in 1997, and they again made a huge contribution by helping raise LWR's fair trade work to a new level through the success of the 90-Ton Challenge. Their endless energy and commitment inspired the creation of Organic Sisters' Blend coffee."
The 90-Ton Challenge ended last fall and exceeded the 90-ton goal: Lutheran congregations and individuals bought more than 99 tons of fair-trade coffee. Congregations of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod are eager participants as well. At the recent Lutheran Women's Missionary League Biennial Convention in Tampa , notes Meier, many women told her their parishes were participating in the LWR Coffee Project, and others, just learning about Fair Trade, were excited to take information home to help their parishes get involved.
Through Fair Trade, farmers earn a fair price for their products, have access to affordable credit and gain a long-term trading partner they can trust-all elements missing in the conventional coffee market. Fair Trade helps farming families invest in education, health care, and environmentally sustainable farming techniques.
Women are an important part of the two farmer cooperatives, one in Nicaragua and one in Peru , that produce Organic Sisters' Blend. In the Nicaraguan cooperative, more than 320 women participate in a solidarity savings and loan program, many of them saving money for the first time in their lives. They are able to get small loans to support income-generating projects that diversify their income and help them meet some of their families' essential needs.
"I was very excited to hear that Organic Sisters' Blend is a reality," said Nancy Goldberger, former editor of Lutheran Woman Today , the magazine of Women of the ELCA. A trip to meet coffee farmers in El Salvador inspired Goldberger to use the magazine as a way to promote Fair Trade. From her idea the concept for the 90-Ton Challenge was created. "It is a wonderful tribute, and it serves to lift up and continue the connection between women in farming communities in South America and women in the U.S. , sisters across geographic boundaries who can reunite over each cup of fairly traded coffee. The 90-Ton Challenge effort between Women of the ELCA, LWR and Equal Exchange is one of the most rewarding collaborative events I've ever been involved in."
Organic Sisters' Blend will be unveiled by Kathryn Wolford, LWR president, during her address at the Triennial Gathering on Thursday, July 7. The one-pound bags of Organic Sisters' Blend will be available for sale at the Triennial in San Antonio next week, as part of the LWR Fair Trade Fair in The Dwelling Place, the Gathering's exhibit hall. The coffee is $6.30 per bag or $31.50 for a case of five bags. After July 15, Organic Sisters' Blend will be available for purchase through the LWR Coffee Project by calling Equal Exchange at 774-776-7340 or visiting our web site at www.lwr.org/coffee .
New Handcrafts Honor Women of the ELCA
Another aspect of LWR's Fair Trade work is our Handcraft Project, which features handmade items from artisans around the world and provides a source of income for many women in developing countries-income that enables them to feed their families, educate their children and acquire medical care.
It is especially difficult for women to find work that enables them to care for their families. Making handcrafts is something that women can do in their homes, while they care for children, tend to livestock, or cook for their families. Some also work in small workshops that offer child care, companionship with other artisans, and shared equipment.
Five signature handcrafted items made exclusively for Women of the ELCA will make their debut at the Triennial. Produced for Women of the ELCA in cooperation with the LWR Handcraft Project and our partner A Greater Gift, the crafts include vibrant Guatemalan prayer cloths; beautiful lotus-shaped candle holders; breadbaskets with a terra-cotta bread-warmer; luxurious silk scarves; and stylish etched-glass vases. The bread-warmer, scarf, and vase all feature the Women of the ELCA water-lily logo as an added special touch. Photos of these exclusive items are at http://www.welca.org/news/events/tg05/identity.html .
At the Triennial Gathering, the Women of the ELCA signature items will be available through Augsburg Fortress in The Dwelling Place. The items will be available after the Triennial Gathering through Augsburg Fortress at http://www.augsburgfortress.org/store/ . Visit http://www.lwr.org/handcraft for more beautiful fairly traded handcrafts from around the world available through the LWR Handcraft Project, or call 1-888-294-9660 to request a free catalog.
"As a result of the dynamic partnership between Women of the ELCA and LWR, Women of the ELCA has a new line of products that promote their organization, and enable global sisters and brothers around the world the ability to receive a just and fair wage for their lovely handcrafted items," said Women of the ELCA president Mary Ellen Kiesner. "And with Organic Sisters' Blend Coffee, we celebrate that justice and equity is a gift we can share with coffee farmers around the world."
HOUSE DEBATES COLOMBIA POLICY, RAISES HUMANITARIAN ISSUES
Baltimore , July 1, 2005 — The House of Representatives debated U.S. policy toward Colombia this week as a part of the Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill. After a lively debate centered around how best to meet U.S. objectives in Colombia , the House voted to maintain current policy, but key points on humanitarian and development aid, the protection of vulnerable communities, and the importance of human rights were raised during the debate. Thanks to the tireless work of Lutheran World Relief's committed group of advocates, and others of faith and conscience who are spreading the message that Plan Colombia has not worked, we have gained several key allies in our campaign for peace in Colombia . Indeed, Colombia was the most fiercely debated issue in the bill, which includes all U.S. foreign aid and largely determines U.S. foreign policy around the world.
Plan Colombia , the highly militarized U.S. policy, is set to expire this year, but the administration hopes to get Congressional approval to extend it for another year. The proposed budget includes $735 million to fund Plan Colombia in 2006.
Representative Betty McCollum (D-MN), co-sponsor of an amendment to cut military aid to Colombia , which was defeated, raised the important issue of internal displacement in Colombia . "Plan Colombia has not made the Colombian people any safer," she said. "Colombians have been forced to flee their homes, 90% of violent crimes . . . go unpunished, and human rights abuses among Colombia 's military are all too common."
Representative Gregory Meeks (D-NY) gave an impassioned speech on the failures of Plan Colombia , speaking particularly eloquently about the plight of Afro-Colombians and indigenous populations, which are disproportionately affected by Colombia 's ongoing internal violence.
Representative Jim Leach (R-Iowa) submitted a written statement of his support for a more humane policy to the Congressional Record. "Would it not be better to limit our military involvement in this struggling, divided country," he asked, "and focus our efforts instead on alternative crop production, democracy building programs and the effective prosecution of human rights abuses?"
"These comments represent the kind of policy that LWR and our Colombian partners hope to see from the U.S. Congress in the future," said LWR president Kathryn Wolford . "We need a policy that prioritizes addressing the humanitarian crisis and providing social and economic assistance; one that will provide resources for humanitarian aid and economic development, and allow all Colombians the opportunity to live their lives in peace and dignity," she said. "We hope that as debate continues in future years we will see more progress toward a balanced policy that truly addresses the needs of the Colombian people."
The Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill will go to the Senate later this summer. LWR and our committed advocates will continue our work to stand up for our brothers and sisters in Colombia by promoting a U.S. policy that gives peace a place.
WHO IS LWR? Lutheran World Relief, an international nonprofit organization, works to end poverty and injustice by empowering some of the world's most impoverished communities to help themselves. With partners in 35 countries, LWR seeks to promote sustainable development with justice and dignity by helping communities bring about change for healthy, safe and secure lives; engage in Fair Trade; promote peace and reconciliation; and respond to emergencies. LWR is headquartered in Baltimore, Md. and has worked in international development and relief since 1945.
Lutheran World Relief is a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), individuals and parish groups in international relief, development, advocacy and social responsibility.
