Jersey One World Group
Newsletter no. 11 April 2010
AGM report
About 40 people attended the AGM in the upper room at St Ouen’s Parish Hall. Jim Hopley, chief executive of the Co-op delivered an excellent talk about the ethics of the company, which extends to all aspects of their business. We were delighted that they were winners of Environmental award at the recent Jersey Enterprise Award.
Lucy Layton spoke of her work in primary schools. JOWG are part of the sustainable schools framework launched recently.
All the officers were re-elected for a further year, i.e.
President: Jean Le Maistre Chairman: Elizabeth Donoghue
Secretary: Ed Le Quesne Treasurer: Julie Larkin
Committee members: Karen Kempster, Roger Jones, Jean Felton, Frances Black.
Fairtrade Fortnight
The highlight was a visit by 4 members of Divine Chocolate Company. Comfort and Kojo from Ghana spoke in schools and at an excellent wine and chocolate evening at St Paul’s Centre. They also visited the main importers in Jersey and we hope Divine chocolate will be much more available in our shops and supermarkets. DVD’s about cocoa growing are now in the JOWC library.
Comfort left us with this excellent tag line “ To love chocolate is human; to love justice is Divine.”
Many people signed appeals to the big 5 tea companies to embrace Fairtrade and over 100 people made their own pledge to swap their brand of tea, coffee, chocolate, wine etc to a Fairtrade brand.
Summer events
In the run-up to the World Cup, Lucy will be promoting ‘1 Goal’, a campaign to try to ensure that all children have at least a primary education by 2015.
On the weekend July 10th/11th we will have a stand in the Co-op marquee featuring some of our member groups such as Oxfam, Fairtrade, CAFOD and Amnesty. Volunteers for a few hours to man our stand are welcome. We would also like to borrow or buy some display stands, which would be available to any of our member groups. Any suggestions would be welcome.
August Bank Holiday weekend events, August 28th/29th.
This is a celebration of 40 years of Overseas Aid work parties A possible overall theme suggested is “Jersey reaching out’. Over 300 people who have been on a work party have already shown interest in attending some or all of the planned events.
The Celebrations will commence with a reception (by invitation) at 3 p.m. on Saturday at Government House. It will be stewarded by Rotary, with a marquee + small tent provided by the Co-op. The search is on for a Brass Band or similar music group to provide appropriate entertainment.
The Picnic in the (Howard Davis) Park will run from 6.30 to 9.30. Ashike, previously known as The Gambia Beat band will be playing and another band is being sought. This event will be free with a bucket collection for a range of overseas charities. It is hoped lots of church groups including the 26 churches linked with TEAR FUND will swell the crowd to 1000+
On Sunday morning there will be a church service at St. Marks at 10.00.
On Sunday afternoon a ‘Walk for Water’, town to St Aubin and back, will be organised by the Lions Club. Sponsor forms will probably be available from a number of churches and possibly from TEAR FUND. Details of the project to be supported in Malawi will soon be available
On Sunday evening ‘Eating round the world’ will be held at the RJA and HS. The Potteries will be the caterers and running the bar. Charities will be asked to showcase their activities. A price of £25 is suggested for the tickets.
More details on all events soon but any enquiries to Jean le Maistre on 484004.
Office in action
Our office at the Town Hall is starting to be used by more groups for their meetings. We don’t have regular opening hours but our phone number is 498936, with an ansaphone active. Our e-mail is info@jerseyoneworldgroup.org, though an e-mail direct to me will be picked up more quickly
Donations please
Schools often do projects on another country such as India or in Africa. We help with books and other media but teachers would also value a box of artefacts from the country. We would value donations of items typical of the country you have visited to build up these boxes. Contact Lucy on 873515 or lucylayton @jerseymail.co.uk
Advance notice
The visit of Harriet Lamb, chief executive of the Fairtrade Foundation , much postponed, will now be on September 21st/22nd, with an evening event at the Town Hall on Tues 21st. More details will be on the website www.fairtradejersey.org nearer the time.
The subs remain the same. £5 for individual members and £10 for corporate membership.
I hope this brings you up to date and look forward to seeing you at future events.
Ed Le Quesne, Secretary, J.O.W.G.