One of the ways that people in the UK can help people in developing countries is through supporting appeals such as COMIC RELIEF. The appeal for 2003 is already being planned, and fund raising magazines are already appearing in schools. There is also the Comic Relief chocolate bar: DUBBLE. At the DUBBLE website, there are resources suitable for citizenship and Geography. This is a RECOMMENDED visit. You can order a copy of some lesson resources. Try also DIVINE CHOCOLATE.
Fairtrade links are explored at the site, and you can download resource packs for Key Stage 2 and 3.
A resource I was alerted to by a colleague is a short video which has been made by Anthony Minghella, and available on the beginning of the video release to the film 'Notting Hill'. It's a 5 minute video which is related to aid, and repayments to the first world. The film is called 'We don't want it', and was produced for the Comic Relief 'Debtwish' campaign. Details about the film, and other resources are available at the COMIC RELIEF site. TRAIDCRAFT are a similar organisation.
The CO-OP offers a wide range of Fairtrade products. They have also produced a booklet which can be picked up by the checkout in the stores: 'Fair Trade, Ethical Trading and the Co-op'. It looks at Fair Trade products and 'Sound sourcing'. They offer coffees including Cafedirect, Clipper Tea, chocolate and bananas. They also offer Fair Trade Chilean Carmenere Wine from the Los Robles co-operative. There is also the story of Jose Rodriguez, who live on a small farm in the Bonao district of the Dominican Republic.
The Co-op has recently (November 2002) switched over completely to Fairtrade chocolate, a switch which was featured on the news.
I've now (December 2002) received my copy of the COMIC RELIEF booklet for March 2003, and the 'Big Hair Do'. This includes a range of resources which look quite 'old fashioned' in design, and focus on 4 people who need to be 'INCLUDED'.
Bear in mind that the millions raised by events like Comic Relief are then instantly 'handed back' in foreign debt repayments. This needs to be addressed first.