Harvest Article written for the Parish mag

Whenever I think of Harvest, I think back to my primary school, where we each brought in a tin of baked beans or a loaf of bread, to the tune of ‘We Plough the Fields’. This still remains the tradition. We don’t seem to look at Harvest elsewhere in the world, where the occasion is a little less joyous.

In Bangladesh, 85% of the population depend on the land for their survival. A good harvest can mean the difference between life and death; a concept lost on us Westerners. However, we are largely involved. We are the cause for this dependency, thanks to trade rules that work in favour of the rich and powerful.

Half of the world’s population lives on less then US$2 a day, thanks to us. Third World governments are banned from supporting their own farmers and industries. Instead, they are forced to open their markets to foreign imports, all done in the name of ‘liberalisation’ or the ‘free market’.

There are many organisations, which campaign in favour of trade justice; on is Christian Aid. ‘Reap Change’ is their Harvest appeal, using the story of a peasant farmer in Bangladesh whose livelihood is threatened by unfair trade rules. By supporting their appeal, you are making a difference to someone’s life. I like to think of it this way: if we were in their position, struggling to survive, wouldn’t we want someone to support us?