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A powerful hand-made tapestry highlighting corporate and human rights abuses around the world has been unveiled by Trócaire in the Ulster University in Belfast.
Jeannie McCann, Trócaire's campaigns officer in NI, with volunteers Teresa Hill, Eileen Treacy and Anita McNabb who all contributed to the 'Threads for Corporate Justice' tapestry at the launch in Ulster University, Belfast. Photo: Justin Kernoghan
Created by 12 Trócaire volunteers from all over Ireland, the powerful piece of solidarity art will support the overseas aid agency’s Business and Human Rights campaign which calls for stronger regulation for companies responsible for human rights violations and environmental harms.
The “Threads for Corporate Justice” tapestry was developed by Trócaire under the guidance of textile artists Deborah Stockdale and Roberta Bacic from Conflict Textiles, which holds a large collection of international textiles reflecting conflict and human rights abuses.
Conflict Textiles facilitated four online workshops to guide the volunteers as they created their individual tapestry panels with themes including fast fashion, violent evictions, the impact of tobacco farming, pollution of rivers, and brave activists who struggle for justice despite facing grave danger. The panels, created from scrap and sustainable materials, were then brought together into one large textile.
Teresa Hill from Belfast, who has been a Trócaire volunteer for ten years, used the theme of fast fashion in her tapestry panel.
“Fast fashion is impacting on the world and the environment in so many negative ways. It isn’t just about the terrible conditions and low wages for people working in fast fashion factories, it goes beyond that. There is the pollution caused by the factories, the impact of shipping fast fashion around the world, and then the dumping of clothing in landfill.”
“This is an issue I feel passionately about and I really enjoyed the challenge of being creative and putting together my panel using scrap material and ribbons I had at home.”
Jeannie McCann, Trócaire’s Advocacy and Campaigns Officer in Northern Ireland, said: “Art can be a powerful tool to help create positive social change. It can shine a light on injustice or help us imagine a better world. This exciting project aims to do just that. Through their handy work the volunteers are standing in solidarity with impacted communities around the world.”
Trócaire is part of a global campaign which calls for stronger corporate regulation. This includes urging Ireland and the UK to introduce a new law to hold Irish/UK companies to account for harming people and the planet, a vital step in ending corporate abuse.
The textile is on exhibition until Monday the 17th of October 2022 in the Birley Building in Ulster University as part of the ‘One World Festival’ organised by the Coalition of Aid and Development Agencies (CADA) NI.
It will be brought to various locations around Ireland to encourage action to help ensure people and the planet are prioritised over profit.
The themes of the 12 panels that make up the Tapestry
Go Green, Stop the Fracking Machine. Locally and globally, communities are coming together to oppose the actions of the extractive industry while championing a sustainable and just future. By Eileen Treacy
Burning Dreams. Tobacco farming is a huge industry which can rely on child labour. It is also a leading cause of deforestation, water pollution and air pollution in countries like Malawi. By Thea Lawlor
Earth activist. Ruth Alipaz, an indigenous Bolivian activist, opposes powerful mining companies who are causing environmental destruction to the Amazon rainforest. By Jacqueline Michaux
Technology Connects. Common technological devices in our homes, schools and offices could be linked to human rights abuses in other parts of the world. By Patricia Devlin
Stop Land Grabs. Brave indigenous communities peacefully resist the actions of some big businesses who violently evict them from their land, destroying homes, lives and livelihoods. By Marie-Anne Michel
Riches of the Earth Benefit a Few. Too often big business in the Global North benefits from the profits while communities in the Global South have to deal with the devastating consequences. By Siobhan Lehane
The Price of Palm Oil. Palm oil is produced at the cost of the environment, species and indigenous peoples’ land, livelihood, and culture. By Patricia Devlin
Global Solidarity. Together we can build a culture of global solidarity to hold companies and governments to account for harming people and the planet. By Jeannie McCann
People Over Profit. Local needs and community interests are often ignored by faceless entities who prioritise profit above all else, including in the fishing industry. By Eiméar Savage
Fast Fashion. Our demand for fast fashion has devastating impacts in other parts of the world, including unfair working conditions, low wages, and environmental destruction. By Teresa Hill
What Price Profit? Gross inequality exists in supply chains when companies focus on profit over people. Human rights abuses can occur, including workers being paid buttons. By Anita MacNabb
Fair Trade Chocolate. When workers are not paid fairly and farmers do not get a fair price for their produce, too often children drop out of school. By Niamh Darcy
