What
is Fair Trade?
Most of our world trade is run
by large corporations whose main objective is to maximize their profits.
Their practices are often harmful to the Earth and often fail to respect
the needs of the workers who manufacture the very products that make these
companies wealthy. Most world trade benefits only a very few -- at the
expense of many. But there is another way!
"Fair" or "alternative" trade
believes that the economy can be a way of meeting everyone’s needs without
harming the Earth and exploiting people. Fair trade takes many forms, but
all have some basic values and beliefs in common. Three of the most important
are that:
-
The workers who make or grow the
product should be treated with dignity and fairness.
-
The large corporations who bring
us the products we buy must put people’s needs ahead of their profits,
and be accountable for their practices to people beyond their shareholders.
-
The "consumer" or buyer, should
become aware of the conditions under which the product is made and put
people’s needs and dignity ahead of low prices.
As you go through this list, think
of some of the products that are brought to you through trade. Does any
part of the checklist below match the system that brought that product
to your home, school, or workplace?
In general, "fair trade" means:
-
FAIR PRICES: Trade should empower
rather than exploit. In particular, prices paid to producers and workers
should guarantee a fair return for their labour.
-
RESPECT FOR WORKERS’ RIGHTS: Workers
should have the right to organise themselves into unions and to bargain
with their employers. Employers should respect the national minimum wage
and health and safety laws, and should not use bonded, forced, prison or
exploitative child labour. There should be reasonable social welfare provisions
and no discrimination.
-
CARE FOR THE EARTH: Suppliers
and buyers should promote environmentally sustainable development and conservation
of natural resources.
-
QUALITY, NOT CHARITY: Products
should be of high quality. Marketing should stress quality -- not charity.
-
CONSUMER RESPONSIBILITY: Customers
should be encouraged to understand trading relations and to be aware of
the impact of their purchases.
How Do We Fit In?
Fair trade has one final principle
-- it won’t work unless we make a decision to buy fair trade products.
Every dollar we spend goes to support someone -- why not give that money
to small producers or corporations who respect people and the environment?
While we’re at it, we can also learn more about the people who work to
feed and clothe us. Fair trade asks us to meet our needs with more than
money in mind. Fair trade products don’t necessarily cost more, since they
often avoid layers of "middlemen" and expensive advertising. Where products
do cost more, fair trade asks those who can afford it to accept the need
to pay a fair wage to everyone. And our dollar isn’t our only vote. We
can write to companies or visit local stores, asking them to provide fair
trade alternatives; we can encourage them when they do start to provide
union-made clothing or fairly traded food. Get informed -- make a choice!
See the next page for information on groups who can help you.