Orkney Fair Trade Group have been really fortunate to be offered a week in The Blue Door during the week commencing Monday May 24th and they plan to donate any funds raised to the Traidcraft Regenerator’s Appeal.
Regenerators are people who tackle the climate crisis face on and help build a better, greener world for everyone, despite all the obstacles.
By investing in climate smart technology, like solar panels and irrigation systems, alongside planting trees and new crops, those on the frontline of the climate crisis can protect their homes and incomes.
Donations made to The Regenerators Appeal before 7th June 2021 will be matched by the UK government. This will double the value of the donation and help the most vulnerable stand strong in the face of climate change.
The Regenerators Appeal helps people like Issa:
In Issa’s village they don’t ask ‘is climate change real?’. They ask ‘how will I feed my family now that the floods have destroyed my farm?’
As he explains, it wasn’t always like this. “In my time when I was growing up, these changes had not happened. Back then the seasons went through without any problem. People here knew exactly what to do because the weather was stable.”
But the certainty of his childhood is long gone. Climate change means that the coastal region’s once predictable weather is now erratic, and harvests have suffered. A cycle of floods and droughts mean farming in his community barely turns a profit.
“The last rainy season, there was a lot of water and the river flooded. Some of the villagers lost their animals and their houses were destroyed – we had to find a boat to rescue them.”
But Issa is part of the Regenerators project – a group of people in some of the world’s most
vulnerable communities who have plans to tackle the climate crisis face on and help build a better, greener world where everyone, no matter where they were born, can earn a decent living from their hard work.
By investing in climate smart technology, like solar panels and irrigation systems, alongside planting trees to restore soils and biodiversity, and growing new, resilient crops, those on the frontline of the climate crisis like Issa can protect their homes and incomes.
“For my kids, when they reach an age when they can understand, I will advise them to be able to use things like irrigation and solar. This could be their rescue as in this place we all depend on agriculture, so if they do this it will bring them more income and development.”
Protecting forests and planting new trees will regenerate soils and stop erosion, mitigating the worst impacts of flooding. Growing new varieties of crops, better suited to surviving erratic weather, will help communities to earn a decent income and grow enough to eat and sell whatever the climate throws at them.
(Information taken from https://traidcraftexchange.org/regenerators)
Climate change is happening right now, and it’s hitting the most vulnerable the hardest. If you can help with Orkney Fairtrade Group’s appeal, please do.
They would be very grateful for offers of goods to be sold in the Blue Door and, if possible, these should be taken to their shed on Friday May 21st. Alternatively, they will have a collection point in Kirkwall and one in the West Mainland where goods can be dropped off (details to follow). If collection is needed please contact them and they will try to arrange for this.
Raffle prizes would also be very welcome.