Why buy fair?
International
trade does not benefit everyone in the world. Many people live in poverty, are not
treated with dignity and do not receive a fair income for their labor. This has
led to the emergence of the concept of Fair Trade, which aims to guarantee that
producers in less developed countries receive a fair price that not only
reflects the true costs of their production and work, but also makes socially
just and environmentally sound production possible. An increasing number of
Fair Trade products such as coffee, tea, fruit and fruit juices, snacks and handicrafts
are available on Worldwide. Since 2000 the market for Fair Trade products has
been growing at 20% per year.
What does
Fair Trade mean?
Working
with powerless producers and workers in order to help them move from a position
of vulnerability to security and economic self-sufficiency. By empowering
producers and workers as stakeholders in their own organizations to actively play
a wider role in the global arena to achieve greater equity in international
trade.
- Equal partnership and respect
between producers and consumers
- A fair price for socially
just and environmentally sound work
- Healthy working conditions
- Fair market access for
poverty alleviation and sustainable development Stable, transparent and
long-term partnership
- Guaranteed minimum wages and
prompt payment
- Financial assistance, when
needed (pre-harvest or pre-production financing)
- Premiums on Fair Trade
products used to develop community projects
- Encouraging better
environmental practices
On the
other hand, some believe Fair Trade is connected to other global issues. While
doing my research I read two different points of view on Fair Trade. Above is
the positive part of Fair Trade and the link below states the opposite. Please
read the link below and comment.
