The basic idea behind Fair Trade is considered a “trading partnership” which provides the artisans and farmers with a fair price for their work. This ensures that whatever product that the farmer or artisan sells, he or she will be paid a reasonable price. Additionally, Fair Trade cuts out the middleman; thus, a more direct trade between worker and consumer is instituted to help to facilitate a better payment to the farmer and artisan. Fair Trade also guarantees that working conditions are high-quality. All employees are treated well and do not perform their job in harsh conditions, such as sweatshops. Also, it aids in boosting the confidence of the workers and empowers them to work more efficiently because they know that they will be rewarded for their hard work.
This is a photo of a woman named Bertha Fanueli Matowo, a Fair Trade farmer in Tanzania.
Coffee is one of the major products that over 20 Fair Trade groups market to consumers around the globe. Here’s a look at just how it works:
Coffee is considered a common and popular crop, but doesn’t seem to be very profitable. In 2001 there was a very large coffee crisis going on around the globe because of overproduction. Thus, the price that farmers were getting for their coffee bean production was around $.45 per pound. From this disaster, many farmers and their families suffered from starvation, lack of health care, and inability to receive an education. Since this crisis, Fair Trade has helped make sure that coffee farmers in Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and other countries receive adequate payment for the manufacturing of this product. The minimum payment that farmers are guaranteed to receive is now $1.25.
To view a graph of guaranteed coffee prices, visit fairtrade.net.
This is a photo of Dankan as a child.
To further express the great benefits of Fair Trade on a more personal level, here is one particularly moving story of a man named Dankan, from Kenya. As a young boy he learned artisan skills and carving from his father. As he grew older, he used these skills to obtain his income and support himself. Despite all of the grueling work, he made very little money: 500 Kenyan shillings per month, which is equal to about $6. However, by 2003, he was introduced to the idea of Fair Trade, and his reaction was priceless: “‘Just tell me again, so that I understand. We carve items for you at a fair price that we agree beforehand and you pay us before you take the carvings away?’ ‘Yes.’” Because of being introduced to Fair Trade and being paid a reasonable wage, Dankan greatly benefited financially. Additionally, Fair Trade encouraged him to continue being an independent artisan and kept him away from working for other large corporations where his wage would be significantly lower, and he would be treated unfairly.
Photo courtesy of GlobalNet21.
Fair Trade is truly a wonderful way for trade to still be done, but in a just way where the workers are paid fair wages, are able to work in decent conditions, and are encouraged and willing to work hard to be successful. It also helps in promoting farmers and artisans to treat the environment well with the use of organic materials and practices as well as limited use of pesticides and other toxins.
Fair Trade was introduced in the early 1940s. Since about 1989, it has increasingly grown in popularity as more and more people are becoming familiar with this type of equal trade agreement and the fair treatment of workers this movement assures. Now, Fair Trade products can be found in many popular stores such as Starbucks, Fred Meyer, Costco, Target, and Safeway.
Click HERE to open the feedback tool.
No comments:
Post a Comment