More conferencing for me this morning. Whereas I found yesterday's many back-to-back sessions a bit overwhelming, today I got more out of attending just three events.
Most inspiring to me was a short, simple presentation by Bruce Crowther, founder of the whole Fair Trade Towns movement. His home-town of Garstang in Lancashire, UK, declared itself the world's first FT Town in 2000. Bruce, his wife and their babysitter had formed a campaign and persuaded all the main players in their small community (retailers, cafes, schools, churches, local authority) to make a commitment to buy, sell or use fair trade products. Bruce, formerly an OXFAM worker, explained that what inspired him was the knowledge that every three seconds in the developing world a child dies, preventably, from poverty; and that people in poor nations lose more money each year through trade than they receive in aid. With OXFAM he had witnessed how fair trade can make a positive difference, and he felt it was something he should promote...and thus a movement was born. To date there are more than 1,000 FT Towns around the world.
Bruce Crowther is a gently-spoken, twinkly-eyed man with an absolute passion for his cause. He offered us lots of encouragement, urging us not to give up our efforts even when progress seems slow, and reminding us that we are important partners in a great and growing international movement. Hearing him speak was the highlight of the conference for me, and well worth the journey to Philly.
The morning's proceedings had, of course, begun with a minute's silence in commemoration of 9/11. A moment to remember the victims on this day ten years ago, and all the victims of the conflicts that have followed that atrocity - and also a chance for each of us present to renew our commitment to building peace through global justice.
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