For years we've all heard about the wonders of free trade. No tariffs, no taxes, just good old fashioned capitalism. Nothing fair about it, just competition and may the best man, er, country, win.
According to good ol' Wikipedia, with free trade "both parties must expect a benefit." This is the part that gets me.
When I hear this I am reminded of a particular fact. In Ghana it is cheaper to buy imported US rice than it is to buy local Ghanaian rice. What? This seems nonsensical to me. When you factor in shipping costs and materials and labour and everything why on earth is the rice that comes from thousands of miles away cheaper than the rice that comes from a few kilometers away?
The answer: subsidies.
A subsidy is when a government will pay farmers to grow a product. They can therefore afford to sell their product at a lower cost. If a company in a developing country wants to compete with companies in developing countries they will have to sell (and export) their product at very, very low costs. Sometimes there isn't enough income incurred to cover basic expenses. So here's where fair trade comes in...
According to the transfair website:
Fair Trade is an international system of doing business based on dialogue, transparency and respect. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions for producers and workers in developing countries. Behind the principles and goals of Fair Trade is a rigorous international system of monitoring, auditing and certification.
The international Fair Trade system is structured to produce the following outcomes for farmers and workers in developing countries:
- Fair compensation for their products and labour
- Sustainable environmental practices
- Improved social services
- Investment in local economic infrastructure
Small-scale Farmers & Workers
Fair Trade Certified products have helped build economic independence and empowerment for certified farmer cooperatives and their members, bringing them economic stability and a higher standard of living. Beyond being paid a fair price for their produce, the Fair Trade Certified premiums help farmers build necessary social infrastructure of which the following are but some of the examples:
- Improved access to low or no-interest loans
- Technical assistance for building infrastructure to improve production
- Communications systems, and collectively-owned transport and processing equipment
- Better health care and education
- Technical training and skill diversification for cooperative members and their families
What's not to love about fair trade?
Well, for one thing, some people would say the price. Fair trade products cost more. However, the difference is so minimal it is not a big deal to the consumer.
As I run to the kitchen to check the price tag on the bottom of my fair trade green tea packaging I note the price is $3.50 for 25 tea bags a box. Not bad. I believe a regular package of non fair trade tea is about three dollars. Is it worth the extra fifty cents? Definitely. That extra fifty cents means that a farmer can now afford to send his daughter to school and that warms me more than the tea.
With something like fair trade it is a totally tangible action for Canadians. If you're thinking to yourself "but I don't know where to get fair trade on my campus and in my community" fret not! I am happy to say that at the University of Windsor, all non-branded coffee outlets (basically everywhere but Timmy's) is fair trade! It's only a few pennies more, you'll be making a difference, and you probably wont have to wait in line as long.
There is also a store called Ten Thousand Villages that sells exclusively fair trade goods. You can get fair trade coffee, tea, chocolate and jewellery, among other things. Some fair trade products are even available at major retailers like Zhers. Fair trade is becoming more accessible to average consumers.
So next time you're in the student centre at U of Windsor stop by the Marketplace and grab some fair trade coffee or tea. It tastes just as good, maybe even better. And you'll feel better knowing you made a purchase that is having positive impact. Ask for fair trade.
One thing that I think of when I think about fair trade is a scene from the movie Black Gold. In the film a coffee grower from Ethiopia is searching for fair trade deals for his products. I'll never forget an interview with some farmers where they talk about how they are now growing chat, a drug, instead of coffee because it brings in more money. The man asks the farmers, 'what would you do if you had more money?' And the answer is almost unanimously 'we would send our children to school.'
The money is in our hands and so is the power. Be an ethical consumer. Create change. Have a positive impact.
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
- Margaret Mead
1 comment:
I love Ten Thousand Villages! A lot of the birthday and Christmas presents I give come from that shop. They have some really unique and interesting items, and I love being able to tell the recepient that their gift is going to help someone get medical care, an education, etc. It's a fantastic little place.
On a completely unrelated note, I have Ya Yas in Bloom and I could lend it to you if you are interested in reading it!
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