Today is Giving Tuesday when we're encouraged to take some of the money we usually spend on Christmas gifts and festivities and donate to charities. It was originally conceived as a way to counter the hyper consumerism of Black Friday, the implication being that it's fine if you choose to spend too much on things you don't need so long as you give some of it to charities which will spend it on people who really do need it. It's that charitable impulse that leads to the music charts at this time of year being full of tracks being sold to raise money for charity
Along with other ideas like Colour Friday and Buy Nothing Friday, Giving Tuesday is part of a movement away from thinking of ourselves as consumers and towards thinking of ourselves as citizens, in particular from a fair trade perspective citizens of the world.
There's a lot of talk about the true story of Christmas, but Christmas has many stories and the tale of Ebenezer Scrooge and his Damascene conversion on Christmas morning to embrace his love for the rest of humanity has almost overtaken the story of the baby born in a stable who goes on to save the world. We love the idea of a greedy and bitter man who realises he can choose to spread joy, cheer and most importantly use his money to do good, instead of hoarding it.
Choosing and buying presents for people is fun. Getting together with loved ones to enjoy good food and entertainment, especially in the cold winter months nourishes the soul. Even if it only means a couple of days off work, Christmas is a great time to be thankful for those around us.
And Christmas music has always been part of the mix. High street shops are filled with festive tunes from Slade to Mariah Carey to help us as we choose our gifts, decorations and treats. But this year one of the perennial Christmas favourites has come under greater scrutiny than usual - Do They Know It's Christmas?
It has never been the case that in Africa "nothing ever grows", if it were, there would be no Christmas chocolate since 70% of all the world's cocoa is grown in just two West African countries - Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire.
And the line stating that "no rain or river flows" takes on an almost laughable status when we consider that the rainy season in 2023 lasted twice as long as it should have, bringing in cocoa yields which were 25% down on the usual. Rivers flow as well, whether flooding and bursting dams in the Volta region or contaminated by the minerals from galamsay gold mining. Ghanaians are constantly reminded that rivers can and do flow.
So we felt that the song needed a little updating, taking into account the real story of people living and working in Africa, for whom it's not natural disasters but the consequence of global trade injustice that makes it hard to escape entrenched poverty and inequality.
But choosing Fairtrade chocolate and treats and fair trade gifts at Christmas is one of the best ways to change the world, shifting the focus onto the real story of the people without whom our sweet festivities would not be possible.
And yes, they do know it's Christmas - in fact Christmas is one of the most popular times to visit Ghana as they do know how to throw a party!
So we've rewritten the song for 2024 - sing along!
It’s Christmas time
There’s so much chocolate and it tastes so great
At Christmas time we give with love and we share our plate
But in our world of plenty we should share all that we have
Take a look around the world at Christmastime
And say a prayer
Of thanks for the farmers
At Christmas time who grow the treats that make it fun
There’s a world outside the window
And we can choose to make it fair
Where farmers toil and labour, and they don’t get their share
When the Christmas bells are ringingÂ
Well it’s down to you and me
So today let’s choose Fairtrade and share the love
Let’s ring the change around the world at Christmas time
The farmers work so hard to grow our food
Because of our greed
Too many don’t have all they need
Do we know its Christmas time at all?
(here’s to you) raise a glass for everyone
(here’s to them) for the work that they have done
Do we know its Christmastime at all?
Change the world
Change the world
Change the world
Lets wake up this Christmastime
Change the world
Lets wake up this Christmastime
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