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Hope Cambridge - an initiative of churches working together, sharing resources and information. Click here to go to their website and learn more about what they do and how they can help you. There is also a link to the very useful monthly publication 'Across the City' which details events in the Cambridge area.

Events in the East Anglian region or bordering the Diocese of Ely

Freetrade versus Fair Trade Debate

Wednesday 4th November at 5 for 5.15pm in the David Lecture Theatre, Anglia Ruskin University, East Road Campus.

All Welcome

Speakers:

Toby Quantrill, Head of Public Policy at the Fairtrade Foundation

Sir Teddy Taylor, Free Trade League, former MP for Southend-on-Sea

Tom Taylor, a staff member of Anglia Ruskin University, will give a short account of his year spent with a Fairtrade project in Guatemala in 2007.

The meeting will address questions such as:
Does Fairtrade benefit the developing communities to a degree consistent with its price premium?
Would eliminating British, or EU, trade barriers, agricultural subsidies and such like effectively help developing countries?
And are these two schemes in any way comparable in benefits, ease of introduction, or potential competition as methods?
Should there be competition among Fairtrade certification schemes?

Notes:

Toby Quantrill joined the Fairtrade Foundation in June 2009 as Head of Public Policy to influence wider macroeconomic policies and structures for the benefit of disadvantaged producers in developing countries. Toby has previously worked as a policy advisor at WWF-UK and before that has worked for a number of UK NGOs, covering work areas including environment, health, disability and asylum.

Toby writes, “I am new to the complex and technical issues of global trade policy. However, my experience with Fairtrade has convinced me that getting trade rules right is of great importance for poor farmers and workers in developing countries and it is critical that this perspective is brought into discussions and decisions are not simply left to global trade and economic 'experts'.”

Sir Teddy Taylor began his political career in Glasgow and served for a while in the Heath government and was M.P. for Southend for 25 years. His main interests being opposition to Britain’s European involvement, which Teddy regarded as being the undermining of democracy, and the promotion of understanding in the Arab world.

Anticipating the debate he writes, “I always try to get across to the young people that we are really damaging the young people of the third world by our repulsive agricultural policy in Europe which forces up prices and imposes massive taxes on third world countries sending food across the Euro borders. We should face up to what we are doing rather than try to remove our feeling of guilt by costly nonsenses like the so called Fair Trade.”

The Fairhaven Singers of Cambridge Concert in the chapel of Queens' College

Sunday 8th November at 8pm

Fresh from the release of their highly-praised recording of Will Todd's Requiem and a series of appearances on Radio 4's PM programme, Cambridge's very own Fairhaven Singers present the first concert of their 2009/10 season.

The performance takes place on Sunday, November 8th at 8pm, in the beautiful chapel of Queens' College, Cambridge, and features a typically eclectic mix of music. From haunting works by Holst, Randall Thompson and Vaughan Williams and the UK premiere of the Sanctus by Graham Lack, to Bach's stunning motet, Jesu, meine Freude, there should be something for everyone. The Fairhavens are joined for this concert by 'Allegro', the chamber choir from St Mary's School.

Tickets cost £12/10 and are available from the Cambridge Corn Exchange Box Office, tel.no. 01223 357851

The Fairhaven Singers' CDs, The Blue Skies that Sparkle and Will Todd's Requiem, are available from their website, www.fairhavensingers.org.uk

After The Fire in Foxton Village Hall

Saturday 28th November at 8pm

Download poster

www.afterthefire.co.uk for more info

C.S. Lewis’ "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" at the ADC Theatre

17th – 20th December 2009

The Hope Players* present a spectacular production of C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Whether you are young, old or in between, enjoy the magic and spectacle of C.S. Lewis' story, adapted for the stage by Glyn Robbins, and take its message home with you for the Christmas season.

Thu eve & Sat and Sun matinées £8/£6, Fri & Sat eve £9/£7. Under 16s £5 for each performance. Matinées 2.30pm, evening performances 7.45pm.

Free online booking: www.adctheatre.com

Or call (01223 300085) or visit (ADC Theatre, Park Street, Cambridge) the box office, Tue & Fri 12.30pm-7.00pm and Wed, Thu & Sat 3.00pm - 7.00pm. (A 50p card charge is added to the price of each telephone transaction and each booking made in person by card or cheque).

Don’t leave it too late to book – tickets are selling fast!

*Hope Players are an amateur drama group sponsored by Hope Cambridge – formerly Hope ‘08’ – which is an initiative of churches working together in Cambridge (see www.hopecambridge.com). Previous productions by Hope Players include: ‘The Cambridge Passion’ for Easter 2008.

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