Support the relief work in Myanmar (Burma)


Posted on 16th May 2008
   
  Support the relief work in Myanmar/Burma 
  If you can, please make a cash donation to the Disasters Emergency Committee today. 
 On 2 May 2008 Cyclone Nargis ripped across the coast of Myanmar (Burma), bringing misery and devastation to more than a million people. These people need help today. If you can, please make a cash donation to the Disasters Emergency Committee today.

A little bit of cash will go a long way when helping the victims of this tragedy.		 Donate now or call 0870 60 60 900 
 For every £10 spent on Fairtrade products between now and Sunday 18th May at midnight, Ethical Superstore will donate £1 to the DEC Myanmar (Burma) Cyclone Appeal.

If you would like to make an additional donation yourself, please visit the Disasters Emergency Committee website »		 
    
 
Fairtrade is on the frontline of helping people work their way out of poverty
Once the camera crews and journalists have returned home, the battle to build a new future will go on for thousands of people in places devastated by disaster or war. Rebuilding a livelihood destroyed by natural disaster is hard enough in Britain or the USA, but in poor countries the task is even harder. Fairtrade organisations are on the front line of creating sustainable livelihoods often out of the ruins of natural catastrophes or wars. Fairtrade Logo
 
 
Gujarat Earthquake 2001
AgrocelIn 2001 Bhuj, the ancient capital of Kutch area of North Western India was devastated by an earthquake that killed over 20,000 people. Agrocel, a fairtrade producer, was badly affected by the disaster but became instrumental in rebuilding the devastated area and offering sustainable incomes for many cotton farmers. The benefit of their trade has meant that farmers have collectively invested in water-harvesting infrastructure, school improvements and other forms of social development. You’ll find Agrocel cotton in products from Traidcraft, Gossypium and People Tree.
 
 
Hurricane Stan October 2005
Many coffee growers in Central America and Mexico were left close to ruin as Hurricane Stan wrecked crops and homes. In the Chiapas region of southern Mexico many of Cafedirect’s Palenque coffee growers were cut off by severe flooding, which destroyed roads and bridges as well as crops. Cafédirect has been working to support growers’ efforts to re-build their communities ever since. During 2006 it made a donation of 50p from every sale of its Palenque Roast and Ground that originates in the region. That money was used to help Cafedirect’s key local producer organisation, CESMACH, rebuild the lives of those badly affected. Fidel de Leon Perez, President of CESMACH said “We felt deflated as farmers after the Hurricane. We have worked hard to improve our quality over the years and much was destroyed. Thanks to the assistance of Cafédirect, we have been able to buy the equipment that we need to produce quality coffee once more. With Cafédirect’s support we are keen to re-plant and continue to work in coffee. It will take around four years to recover volumes but we are determined to work even more on pruning and caring for our coffee plants and improving quality.”

See Cafédirect products on Ethical Superstore »		 Cafedirect
 
 
Boxing Day 2004 Tsunami
Within hours of the tsunami striking Sri Lanka, fairtrade producer Gospel House had sent the first of numerous truckloads of emergency supplies to the worst hit areas. As the need for aid declined, the need for long-term development accelerated and Gospel House undertook several development projects in the Tangalle district. They worked with the local people encouraging them to form co-ops, and provided the seed money for numerous income generation programmes. Money was also provided for the purchase of land and home construction.

Learn more about Gospel House on Ethical Superstore »
 
 
 
 Help bring aid and rebuilding to the people of China 
 Just after lunch on Monday a devastating earthquake struck the Sichuan Province of China. Schools, workplaces and other buildings were full of people and the number dead already stands at 12,000 with 60,000 still missing. British Red Cross 
 The Chinese Red Cross has already mobilised aid and is working alongside the Chinese official state response to bring help to the more than 20,000 people injured.

Read more about the Red Cross response »
Make a donation to support the Red Cross disaster fund »		 
 
For every £10 spent on Fairtrade foods, crafts and clothing, between not and Sunday 18th May at midnight, we'll donate £1 to the DEC Myanmar (Burma) Cyclone Appeal.

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