SCHOOLS-LED ACTIVITIES FOR OR BEFORE FAIRTRADE FORTNIGHT

Speak, Sing and Write Out to let governments know that
the citizens of tomorrow care about fairness now

At
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMVVumQhMNA
you can see  the 29-second video of all the
66 pupils at St Joseph Catholic Primary
in the village of Hurst Green Lancashire
facing south to sing a message their local MP
at Westminster on 14 June 2012

NB If you get the message
"This content cannot be displayed in a frame"
just click on the message below which says
"Open this content in a new window"
(which it does, but don't ask me why)
 

You go for it any time during Fairtrade Fortnight.  But first thing on the first or second Monday seems good.

Though they may be too young to have a vote, school pupils of all ages can have a say in the UK - by ensuring that politicians are aware of the good news that tens of thousands of good citizens of tomorrow care about fairness in the world today. And when they do come to vote...

That's the thinking behind The Big Sing Out.

Aptly, it uses the tune of the chimes of big Ben - which is copied from those at Great St Mary's Church in Cambridge. So it's well known to people of all ages, who can rehearse with the 6pm Radio4 News every night.

So you've a simple, fun way for all ages to take part - in assembly or class.

First, face towards Westminster (good lesson in geography.) 

Then say Good Morning or Good Afternoon to your MP.

We have a Good News message for you: the UK citizens of tomorrow really do care about a fairer world today. 

To the tune of Big Ben, you sing...

Bing Bong Bing Bong/ Bing Bong Bing Bong
Bing Bong Bing Bong/ Bing Bong Bing Bong

We're for Fairtrade/We're for Fairtrade
We're for Fairtrade/We're for Fairtrade

And then you can sing Year by Year
We are Year1
We're for Fairtrade etc etc

or any variation you might think up!

    
NB No 10 has Fairtrade status. 

Fairtrade fresh coffee is standard throughout
the House of Commons.

In the House of Lords,
"the Catering and Retail Services use a number of
Fairtrade branded products including the standard tea bags
used in all outlets (excluding the fruit or speciality teas),
drinking chocolate, sugar sachets, some chocolate confectionery products and bananas
(when available from the market.)"

It might be part of a press release you send to local papers - and include in your newsletters.

Pupils and staff at Winkfield St Mary’s CofE Primary in Berkshire pioneered the happy idea created by Hugh Gibbons – one that schools and churches can adapt to all sorts of situations.

To conclude a Fairtrade assembly, St Mary's pupils and staff aimed towards Westminster (due east, so they turned to their right instead of facing forwards as usual). They said Good Morning Prime Minister, we have good news for you: the UK citizens of tomorrow really do care about a fairer world today. 

They then sang We’re/For/Fair/Trade to the tune of the chimes of Big Ben - one that everyone knows! Reception sang Bing/Bong/Bing/Bong, while the others went through We/Are/Year/1/We're/For/Fair/Trade etc.

All these voices made for an unusual good news letter that Hugh sent on 2 April 2012 to the Prime Minister - starting with:

"If your ears have been burning over the past month, it’s because of events showing that this country has many good citizens who care about others – news that I thought you and colleagues would welcome and want to share."

It went onto say what had been done at St Mary's and St Francis for Fairtrade - and by St Margaret Clitherow Primary and St Francis Church for CAFOD's Thirst for Change Campaign (below).

This reply came from the Direct Communications Unit of No10, dated 10 May 2012 (from an unknown Correspondence Officer whose signature is illegible.)

"I am writing on behalf of the Prime Minister to thank you for your letter of 2 April.  Mr Cameron very much appreciates your taking the time and trouble to let him know how local schools and groups recognised Fairtrade Fortnight."

Hugh teaches St Mary's The Fairtrade Arm. The symbol on the logo can be variously interpreted as a parrot, water and earth, a road leading to hope - or a person raising their right arm in recognition.

  In late March 2012, 500+ churchgoers at St Francis of Assisi in Ascot echoed the schoolchildren of St Margaret Clitherow Catholic Primary in Bracknell singing We/Thirst/For/Change to reinforce CAFOD’s campaign for G8 leaders to end water poverty.

The Prime Minister was told the news in a letter from Hugh Gibbons (see above)
Click on the right for a write-up in The Catholic Herald in April 2012.

SCHOOLS-LED ACTIVITIES FOR OR BEFORE FAIRTRADE FORTNIGHT