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Cut Christmas Waste Urges Christian Aid Head

 Photo by Chris Flexen

THE Head of Christian Aid Scotland has issued a plea for people to buy only what they need at Christmas.

Speaking as new research from the charity was launched showing that Scots are among the thriftiest when it comes to the annual seasonal  shop, Sally Foster-Fulton, Head of Christian Aid Scotland said: “If we all pay a bit more attention to buying only what we need, cut back a little on the excess that will probably end its days in the bottom of the bin, then we can all save a little, waste less and make a small, but important change. 

“Hunger is not inevitable. There is enough food in the world to feed everyone – yet thousands of people around the world, including South Sudan, still go to bed hungry.  The crisis in the African nation has reached unprecedented levels, with an estimated six million people facing food insecurity. If left untreated, acute malnutrition – the most extreme form of food crisis – can lead to death.”

The research reveals that less than half of Scots (47%) admitted to overspending on the Christmas shop, according to a new poll by ComRes conducted on behalf of the charity and looking at festive charitable giving and food waste habits.

The charity has issued a new stop-motion film, ‘Oh What a Waste’, which uses real food from the traditional Christmas dinner, combined with the carol of the Twelve Days to Christmas, to highlight the vast amount of food thrown away every year.

The film is part of the charity’s annual Christmas Appeal and encourages people to save their money this Christmas and spend it on food that really matters with a message aimed at wasting less, saving money and saving lives.

Donations made to the Christmas Appeal between November 6 2017 and February 5 2018 will be matched up to £2.7 million. The UK Government’s match will fund the work of Christian Aid in South Sudan.

To watch ‘Oh What A Waste’ visit https://youtu.be/CIdodXcAz0k, and to donate to the Christmas Appeal, visit www.christianaid.org.uk/christmas-appeal


Comments

Rev Dr John Cameron - Friday, December 15th, 2017

“Christian Aid is on thin ice when criticising people throwing money around at Christmas considering the money thrown at their officials in terms of high salaries.”


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