God is

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JUST HOLY HARDWARE The name in the trade
- items to celebrate the Christian faith
Before the fall, Genesis states that The LORD
God took the man and put him in the Garden of
Eden to work it and take care of it (Gen 215)
Expulsion from Eden by St. Isaac of Syria Skete
(Boscobel, Wisconsin)
God is against those who oppress the hired
workers in their wages, the widow and the
orphan (Malachi 35)
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The golden rule and work
I never wanted work to be useful to me while
causing loss to my brother, for I have this hope
that what helps my brother will bring fruit to
me (From a collection of sayings of early
Christians known as the Desert Fathers and
Mothers) (Recorded 300AD)
http//www.coptic.net/pictures/Icon.StMosesTheBlac
k.gif
Eight Desert Mothers http//www.journeywithjesus.
net/Essays/Desert_Mothers.jpg
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Christian leaders and work in history
I absolutely deny all slave-holding to be
consistent with any degree of natural
justice (John Wesley, Thoughts Upon Slavery -
1774) How many are there in this Christian
country, that toil, and labour, and sweat, and
have it not at last, but struggle with weariness
and hunger together?(Wesley, Heaviness Through
Manifold Temptations)
If through necessity or fear of a worse evil the
workman accept harder conditions because an
employer or contractor will afford him no better,
he is made the victim of force and injustice
(Pope Leo XIII, 1891)
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JUST HOLY HARDWARE AND BEYOND

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INSPIRATION MATTHEW 2531-46
"When I was hungry you gave me something to eat,
and when I was thirsty, you gave me something to
drink. When I was a stranger you welcomed and
when I was naked you gave me clothes to wear.
When I was sick, you took care of me, and when I
was in jail, you visited me.
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INSPIRATION THE DIVINE LITURGY OF ST JAMES
Remember, O Lord, those who bear fruit, and
labour honourably in the holy service of Thy
Church and those who forget not the poor, the
widows, the orphans, the strangers, and the
needy and all who have desired us to remember
them in our prayers.
St. James the Just
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HOW ARE THEY FARING TODAY?

• Those who make clothes (and are not just in need
  of them)
• Those who labour in the service of the church

Together for Adoption
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STARTING CLOSE TO HOME
THOSE WHO MAKE CLOTHES Cotton workers
Children as young as six are working 10-hour
shifts in 40 degree heat for about 42 cents a day
picking cotton for luxury cotton products.
Photograph Robin Hammond, Guardian Newspaper
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STARTING CLOSE TO HOME
THOSE WHO MAKE CLOTHES Home Sweatshops

• There are sweatshops, here and overseas
  people work for long hours with low pay
  (Indonesian apparel workers can earn 10 cents an
  hour) - in dangerous conditions.
• Homeworkers in Australia - estimates range from
  25,000 to 330,000.
• Homeworkers paid 2.50 for a shirt.
• Some are paid between 2 and 3 an hour work
  very long hours.

Clothing workers in Australia Photo credit
FairWear
Sweatshop Workers Photo credit Ethical Wears
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THOSE WHO LABOUR IN THE SERVICE OF THE CHURCH
What do these items have in common
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THEY ARE ITEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CHRISTIAN
FAITH
SOMEONE MADE THEM
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WHO IS THAT SOMEONE? CROSSES MADE IN CHINA
TODAY
JESUS have mercy on me, Im dying of exhaustion
- a Chinese teenager who had just finished yet
another 19-hour shift producing the crucifixes
below (in production phase) for sale in
churches (US National Labour Committee (NLC),
Today Workers Bear the Cross)
Accommodation for the workers making the
crosses (NLC)
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WHAT CAN WE DO? MAKING A START.. FAIR TRADE
CHRISTIAN GOODS
If Christian communities are to be true to the
spirit of the Gospel, they are obliged to engage
in commercial dealings in a manner consistent
with a Christian understanding of the human
person and creation (A Fair Trade in Christian
Goods)
Artisans working for Holy Land Handicrafts
(World Fair Trade Organisation movement)
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WHAT CAN WE DO? MAKING A START.. FAIR TRADE
CHRISTIAN GOODS

• responsible corporate conduct
• no child labour
• no discrimination
• care for creation (the environment), health and
  safety
• no forced, compulsory labour and unjust contracts
• freedom of association
• appropriate hours of work
• fair wages
• respect for working people.

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CHRISTIAN SHOPPERS CAN SUPPORT ITEMS FAIRLY MADE
A CALLING CARD IN USE IN VICTORIA
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Fairtrade cotton Ethical Clothing Australia

Qualitops workers, Deputy PM Gillard, TCFUA
Secretary Michele ONeil
Australian home and sweat shop workers can be
paid under 5 per hour!
If a garment is made with Fairtrade cotton in
Australia it has to be made through the Ethical
Clothing Australia scheme e.g. Stop the Traffik
shirts
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St Leonard's Ethical Clothing Australia

St Leonards began sourcing some of their uniform
garments from the No Sweat Shop label in 2007.
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Become a Fairtrade school or Faith Community

1. Use Fairtrade Certified products tea and coffee
2. Promote fair trade!

Fair Trade Communities Two Simple Goals

Fair Trade Association www.fairtrade.org.au

• REGISTER AT www.fairtrade.org.au

Fairtrade football counters child labour in
Pakistan http//www.etiko.com.au/
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CONCLUDING PRAYER
God our Saviour shows the strength of his arm He
scatters the proud in the thoughts of their
hearts He brings down the powerful from their
thrones, lifts up the lowly, fills the hungry
with good things, while sending the rich away.
Let our souls magnify you, oh Lord Let our
spirits rejoice in God our Saviour Look with
favour on us, lowly servants, so that we may
receive your blessing Do great things for us so
we can speak your holy name With fear, we ask for
your mercy. Let us find your new and everlasting
Covenant written in our hearts. May almighty God
bless us, Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit Amen
Icon of Madonna with prayer (Dormition Church
at Kondopoga) Photo credit Wikimedia