Fair trade

Just out of curiosity what do the Nerdfighters think would make an effective campaign towards raising awareness of fair trade produce such as coffee and chocolate to businesses and the general public?

what it's all about for those who don't know what it is/ would like to find out more :)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_trade

equality for everyone is such an important issue in todays society - i'd love to know your opinions on the matter

:) DFTBA

<3

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Permalink Reply by sabelmouse on July 14, 2010 at 3:49am

Fairtrade towns to top 500

Fair trade is growing fast with ever more Fairtrade towns that promote ethical shopping and even twin with their producer communities
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/jul/13/fairtrade-towns-ethic...

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Permalink Reply by Eystein, on July 14, 2010 at 5:10am

I think the problem is that the farmers don't own their crops, they are not slaves on our plantations anymore, but they are still working those plantations. They are stuck on them, grossly underpaid and they get paid by the pound they collect, barely enough to get by. So they have to work extra hard to get what they can for the day, with no time for exploring their rights. They work until their bodies brake, and with no prospect for a better future for themself or their children... You can even argue that slaves were often much better off than these people are today.

And the reason this can happen, is because the owners sell vast quantities. Even though the price of cocao, coffie, bananas or whatever is extremily low per the pound, they will still get extremily rich. Even in countries where there's supposed to be minimum wages, which in themselves are often too small, the owners will cheat, streal and manipulate. Even fair-trade organizations may be fooled on their inspections.

But fair-trade orgaizations do at least genuinily care for the workers, and will do whatever they can to ensure that the workers and their communities gain some form of positive developement, by making sure more money come their way.
What I don't understand though, is why fair-trade goods usually are a little bit more expensive than ordinary goods... I thought one of the ways fair-trade worked was reducing the chain between field and market, and thus reducing the leak of cash. But they themselves don't pay the workers that much, so why does it end up more expensive? Btw, I don't think they are too expensive, usually less expensive than brand names. So then again, this may only prove how disgustingly cheap those ordinary goods are...

Anyways I hate how so much of what we import and comsume here doesn't reflect it's true value and cost! And it's really appaling that it's almost entirely up to the consumer to figure out what's fair and what's not. And fair-trade items can be a real hassle to get a hold off, and sometimes it's plain impossible.

It needs to be world coordinated efforts on this, because this will take forever to get fixed by itself.