Baby Oil from Palestine
heather on April 30th, 2007Press Release:
Baby Oil from Palestine
Babies in the Salisbury Diocese could be baptised with fairtrade olive oil from Palestine in the coming year, it has emerged.
Clergy from across Dorset and Wiltshire stocked up on the oil – which will also be used to anoint the sick and dying – at the traditional Maundy Thursday service in Salisbury Cathedral recently. Head of Visitor Services Alun Williams said the Dean of Salisbury, The Very Reverend June Osborne, had commissioned Head Verger Chris Simpson to find some fairtrade oil. He had discovered a source in Dorset and it was distributed at the annual Maundy Thursday Eucharist in the Cathedral. Mr Williams said: “The Cathedral’s vision includes a commitment to championing social justice and promoting reconciliation. The suffering of Palestinians of the West Bank is a concern to all Christian people.”
British co-operative Zaytoun supplied the oil which is imported from the occupied West Bank. Zaytoun spokesperson Heather Gardner said her producers, who sold their oil via Christian Aid partner PARC (Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committee), would be delighted. “I think it’s fantastic way of showing solidarity with Palestinians,” she said. “This is something else our producers can do to promote the Holy Land and they will definitely be pleased.”
Ms Gardner added that the Catholic dioceses of Brighton and Arundel, Birmingham and Northampton had also used Zaytoun oil at their Maundy Thursday services.
Ends
(Issued by Sharen Green: Zaytoun distributor Tel: 01202 693837, 07816 962345)
Alun Williams is available on 01722 555121
Heather Gardner can be contacted on 07814 477188
