Social Justice through Fair Trade: World Fair Trade Day May 9, 2009
May 6, 2009
hmuller370
Fair trade empowers small farmers in developing countries by getting them organized and developing their business skills, which allows them access to the world market. Selling directly from small producers to global markets through Fair Trade increases their revenues by 2-4 times. The desperately needed revenues enable these farmers to develop their communities through modernizing infrastructure, adding water wells and lighting, making education available for students of all ages, and can even be made into scholarships, among many other developments. Fair trade has high labor and income standards with strict environmental guidelines. It promises fair prices for farmers, fair wages for workers, safe working conditions, direct market access, sustainable farming methods, community development, environmental protection, and democratic decision making. Taking care of the farming land and environment leaves them sustainable for future generations.
Around five million farmers, workers, family and community members from fifty countries benefit from Fair Trade. Fair Trade provides equality in the process of globalization, where as through free trade the inequalities between large businesses and small farmers are allowed to continually increase. With Fair Trade, businesses on both ends benefit, but especially the small farmers and communities of developing countries.
Fair Trade has made a difference in the lives of Nicaraguans. For example, an extremely poor coffee farmer in Nicaragua with two acres of farmland sells his coffee to the local coyotes for a pitiful 60 cents per pound. Due to the extremely low price he receives for his coffee, his children are unable to attend school at all. This is an example of a typical Nicaraguan “free trade” coffee farmer and is greatly in contrast with a farmer who sells his coffee through Fair Trade. For example, Fair Trade coops that are set up in Nicaragua have farmers who experience a much better quality of life, can afford to pay for their children to attend and graduate high school, can create scholarship funds, and have children in the community attend college through these funds, as well as many other community benefits. The small farmers who are Fair Trade certified have obvious advantages compared to those small farmers that use coyotes and free trade.
If you don’t believe the great benefits of Fair Trade I have told you, listen to a few other informed people who also support Fair Trade in these personal interviews.
Please view these photos of marginalized and disadvantaged people around the world and choose to support Fair Trade, because they deserve to be lifted out of poverty through their hard work with fair wages. As a consumer, you have the power and obligation to consume products so that everyone benefits equally and supporting Fair Trade products is the best option for doing this.
World Fair Trade Day is May 9th, 2009 and I encourage all of those who support Fair Trade to engage in a fair trade event, spread the word about Fair Trade, and/or purchase Fair Trade products. A few events I found for celebration of World Fair Trade Day are listed:
- SPOKANE: WHEN: Saturday May 9, 2009 at 10AM-5PM WHERE: The Community Building, 35 West Main st. Spokane, WA WHAT: World Fair Trade event – We’ll have 2 Fair Trade Coffee Breaks, A fair trade drumming circle and 10 local Fair Trade vendors selling beautiful goods from around the world. The kids can enjoy a traditional Chilean carnival game. We’ll have a Mayan weaver demonstrating her weaving, lots of Fair Trade artisan stories and even some door prizes. Join us for a great event! Let’s make Spokane’s World Fair Trade Day a huge celebration! For more information contact Denise at Ganesh Himal Trading 509-448-6561. Thanks!
- TACOMA: WHEN: Saturday May 9, 2009 at 11:00AM WHERE: 208 Garfield St., Suite 101 Tacoma, WA 98444 United States WHAT: World Fair Trade Day Celebration & Sale - Contact: valdezka@gbc.plu.edu. Event sponsored by Pacific Lutheran University.
- SEATTLE: WHEN: Saturday May 9, 2009 at 7:00 PM WHERE: 12729 Lake City Way NE Seattle, WA 98125 WHAT: Saturday Night Live Fair Trade Jam – We will honor ‘first hands’ with our hands, drums, hearts and spirit. Jamtown is the only exclusively fair trade music instrument dealer in the world. (I think!) Rock it with instruments, voice, spirit, and crazy ideas to keep it fun, deep, and refreshing. Contact: John Hayden jamtown@hotmail.com Organization: Jamtown World Music
BIG BANG STOMP!! HERE COMES WORLD FAIR TRADE DAY 9th MAY, 2009
For more information on World Fair Trade Day, read the article BIG BANG!! DAWN RISES ON A SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY by Paul Myers, the President of the World Fair Trade Organization.
Thanks for your support against slavery, poverty, and unfair wages: Thanks for your support in Fair Trade.
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