The Great African Scandal
What you can do
Robert Beckford’s epic and emotional journey convinces him that, while Africa may have its political independence, the economic strings are still pulled by foreign masters. But he believes that, as consumers and citizens, we can change this. He makes a rallying cry for us to demand from the powers that be that they ensure trade justice for Africa.
Find out more
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There are many organisations that are campaigning for corporate responsibility, trade justice and fair trade. Here are some websites where you can find out about what you can do to change things, and how and where to buy products that do not use child labour, exploit workers or damage the lands and livelihoods of ordinary people.
Christian Aid
www.christian-aid.org.uk
Christian Aid, which helped make this programme, is an in international development agency working with local partner organisations in more than 60 countries around the world. It works where the need is greatest, regardless of race or religion, and it seeks to challenge the structures that keep people in poverty. Its two key campaigns are Trade Justice and Climate Change and, on trade, they are currently campaigning for an end to damaging IMF and World Bank conditions such as Ghana has faced and is facing. Click here to find out more about Christian Aid’s World Bank campaign
Update: Flooding has wreaked havoc in northern Ghana – more than a quarter of a million people have been affected, most having lost their homes and harvest. Christian Aid is working with partners to identify possible opportunities to respond where needed. Find out more.
Cafod
www.cafod.org.uk
The Catholic Agency for Overseas Development believes that all human beings have a right to dignity and respect, and that the world's resources are a gift to be shared equally by all men and women, whatever their race, nationality or religion. Fair Trade and Trade Justice are two of its many campaigns
Fairtrade Foundation
www.fairtrade.org.uk
Fairtrade is about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world. The Fairtrade Foundation is a coalition of organisations which awards the Fairtrade Mark to UK products as a guarantee that they have given their producers a better deal.
Oxfam
www.oxfam.org.uk
Oxfam is a development, relief, and campaigning organisation that works with others to overcome poverty and suffering around the world. Its Make Trade Fair campaign presses decision-makers and governments for new trade rules – fair rules to make a real and positive difference in the fight against poverty.
Traidcraft
www.traidcraft.co.uk
Traidcraft fights poverty through trade, by practising and promoting approaches to trade that help poor people in developing countries transform their lives. Established in 1979 as a Christian response to poverty, it is both a trading company and a development charity, which builds lasting relationships with producers, supports people to trade out of poverty and works to bring about trade justice.
War on Want
www.waronwant.org
War on Want fights poverty in developing countries in partnership and solidarity with people affected by globalisation. It campaigns for workers' rights and against the root causes of global poverty, inequality and injustice. It is at the forefront of the global movement campaigning for trade rules that put people and the environment before the interests of big business. A recent report highlights the appalling conditions and stark injustices within the high street fashion industry.
World Development Movement
www.wdm.org.uk
The World Development Movement tackles the underlying causes of poverty. It calls for Trade Justice, not free trade, and argues that the UK government must stop pushing poor countries to open up their economies, and respect their right to decide on trade policies that would help end poverty and protect the environment.
Credits
Produced to accompany The Great African Scandal (a Wildcard production), first shown on Channel 4 in September 2007.
