Blood, Sweat, & Chocolate

New Year's resolution: Hosting?

Still not thought of a New Year’s resolution? Why not host a destitute asylum seeker with Birch.


The Birmingham Community Hosting Network

Many refugees become homeless, especially during the period when they have been refused permission to remain in the UK but not required to leave. In response to this situation, several cities have created networks of people willing and able to offer accommodation, which may be for a few nights or a few months. Such a network has been started in Birmingham, and a meeting has been arranged for Wednesday 25^th January, at 7.30 p.m. in the Marjorie Allen Room of the church.  Rachel and Liz from the  BIRCH network will explain their work. They already have three people active as hosts.  Would you like to find out more?

Rachel says ‘We recognise that this kind of hospitality is not something that many folk can offer, but we are not looking for many, just one or two more,  to get the network started’.

If you think this might be a calling to you, please come to the meeting. Members of the Social Justice Action Group will be hosting the meeting, which will be chaired by John Hull.

Birch website: http://www.birchnetwork.org/about

Tel.07933 565186
birchnetwork@gmail.com

Cocoa Coop visitor will answer your questions

Fairtrade Foundation UK are getting ready to give a warm welcome to cocoa farmer Kouame Alphonse Fasseri on his visit to the UK from 22 – 29 January 2012. Kouame is from the Ivory Coast and a proud member of the Fairtrade co-operative, Kavokiva, who supply cocoa for Nestle’s Fairtrade Kit Kat. Kouame will be taking a break from his busy week to answer your questions and we’ll put them and Kouame’s answers on our website, so check here at the end of January. 

Kavokiva have taken some great steps with Fairtrade, including investing in education and health care for the whole community, as well as making improvements to their cocoa farms. Kouame, also famous from his back-of-Kit Kat pack appearances, is keen to answer your questions.

Send him yours by emailing kouameanswers@fairtrade.org.uk by 21 January 2012.

Tell your friends – and make this one of your first steps for Fairtrade in 2012.

We are looking forward to reading your questions!

Fairtrade Foundation

Aston University Go Green Week

Aston University will be hosting our third annual Go Green Week from Monday 6^th – Friday 10^th February 2012.

The week is intended to raise awareness about sustainability (including issues of fairtrade) and is open to our staff, students and the general public. One of the main events we will be holding this year is an ‘eco-market’. The market will be held on Tuesday 7^th February, from 11.30am – 2.30pm in our Student Guild Hall. In previous years these events have been very popular and we would like to get as many local organisations and people involved as possible - there will be local stallholders, sustainable catering and information stands.

See more - http://www1.aston.ac.uk/about/environment/go-green-awards/

Victoria Johnsen
Environment and Sustainability Officer
Estates and Capital Development