Most Fair Trade producers live close to the land. They are either directly involved in farming fairtrade tea, coffee, bananas etc. or are subsistence farmers supplementing the family income with craft production. As such they are concerned about their environment and the land. Fair Trade actively encourages better environmental practices and the application of responsible methods of production. Revenue from Fair Trade cooperatives is used on a variety of community projects, including training of producers in organic and sustainable farming techniques (i.e. composting). Where possible fair trade premiums are invested in diversification. Cafe Direct and their project, Adaptation for Smallholders to Climate Change" (AdapCC), supports coffee and tea farmers in developing strategies to cope with the risks and impacts of climate change.
All Fairtrade certified producers are required to comply with the international Fairtrade environmental standard as part of the requirements of certification.8 The standard requires producers to ensure that they protect the natural environment and make environmental protection a part of farm management. Producers are also encouraged to minimize waste and the use of energy, especially energy from non-renewable sources.
There is the issue of transporting goods great distances so that well meaning consumers can make fair trade choices. Saving the planet is not solely about reducing carbon emissions. There are over one million people in Africa whose livelihoods depend on supplying fruit and vegetables to the world. Carbon Emissions from the Africa/British Isles trade route are a tiny portion of our worldwide total. Cutting off the income of this many people would cause devastation on a much greater scale than that caused by the emissions. Most Fair Trade goods are actually shipped and that would be the case with the majority of items we offer for sale Fair Trade stores.
We must focus on the basic facts; the poorest people in the world will be affected most by climate change and the poorest people in the world have done the least to cause climate change. They need a sustainable income if they are to make the investments necessary to help them overcome climate change.
Fair Trade creates a way to secure this income for the farmers. Unfortunately, the benefits of Fair Trade are not reaching all Fair Trade farmers because of insufficient demand for their crops. Producers sell an average of 20% of their crop at Fair Trade terms; the rest goes through the world market at much lower prices. The same story goes for artisans. Lower prices mean that farmers and their families, in poor countries, live in poverty with no prospect of investing for climate change.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
A-Z of Shopping Fair Trade - E is for Eco-Friendly
The Eco-Friendly Bag in classic messenger style makes a great Christmas gift for the stylish man or woman in your life. In natural materials in this Eco Friendly is perfect for the urban man with lots of stuff. The incredible story of how these bags are produced in Ghana is worth reading:
Double layer of recycled water sachets (4 layers of plastic) and handles anchored lower into bag to provide durability for reusable market tote. Zip pocket on front and inside.
One of the biggest problems in Ghana is trash and pollution. If there were a main product that wholly symbolizes this issue, it would be drink sachets. Drink sachets are the most popular item to buy on the street and highway, and due to this fact, they also account for the majority of litter on the ground. This plastic material is chosen because it is easily accessible and hygienic, but it is far from being bio-degradable, and therefore, takes quite a toll when it is not disposed of properly. However, Trashy Bags has decided to take advantage of this durable material by using these discarded sachets to create purses, wallets, briefcases, etc. Items such as these have a much longer and useful life span than their sachet counterparts with which they are made of.
The main goals of Trashy Bags are not just fulfilling its popular purpose of "cleaning up Ghana," but also to inform the public about the issue with drink sachets. Every customer, contributor, employee, and business partner of Trashy Bags is educated about this problem in Ghana, what the organization is doing to counteract it, and how a single purchase can greatly contribute to these objectives.
In association with Global Mamas, Trashy Bags is constantly growing and expanding. By employing Ghanaians from all over the country, the organization has developed not only a strong team of workers, but a very dedicated one as well.
This is more than just a bag; it’s a lifeline for a forgotten community.
Double layer of recycled water sachets (4 layers of plastic) and handles anchored lower into bag to provide durability for reusable market tote. Zip pocket on front and inside.
One of the biggest problems in Ghana is trash and pollution. If there were a main product that wholly symbolizes this issue, it would be drink sachets. Drink sachets are the most popular item to buy on the street and highway, and due to this fact, they also account for the majority of litter on the ground. This plastic material is chosen because it is easily accessible and hygienic, but it is far from being bio-degradable, and therefore, takes quite a toll when it is not disposed of properly. However, Trashy Bags has decided to take advantage of this durable material by using these discarded sachets to create purses, wallets, briefcases, etc. Items such as these have a much longer and useful life span than their sachet counterparts with which they are made of.
The main goals of Trashy Bags are not just fulfilling its popular purpose of "cleaning up Ghana," but also to inform the public about the issue with drink sachets. Every customer, contributor, employee, and business partner of Trashy Bags is educated about this problem in Ghana, what the organization is doing to counteract it, and how a single purchase can greatly contribute to these objectives.
In association with Global Mamas, Trashy Bags is constantly growing and expanding. By employing Ghanaians from all over the country, the organization has developed not only a strong team of workers, but a very dedicated one as well.
This is more than just a bag; it’s a lifeline for a forgotten community.
A-Z of Shopping Fair Trade - D is for Dinnertime
Dinnertime, seriously, one of Kevin's favorite words.
Christmas dinner is a very important part of the family’s celebrations and wouldn’t it be nice to serve it on a fair trade table cloth?
Our Batik and Block Printed Table Linen are hand-woven and gives you all the table linen you need for a seasonal spread. Our full-size cotton tablecloths comes in differing sizes.
Some of our table linens are made by The Tamilnadu Handloom Weavers Co-operative Society. Co-optex was established in 1935 and is a state government organisation which co-ordinates the work and sales of thousands of handloom weavers in Tamil Nadu. It ensures that the weavers receive a fair price for their work.
They might also make a nice hostess gift.
Christmas dinner is a very important part of the family’s celebrations and wouldn’t it be nice to serve it on a fair trade table cloth?
Our Batik and Block Printed Table Linen are hand-woven and gives you all the table linen you need for a seasonal spread. Our full-size cotton tablecloths comes in differing sizes.
Some of our table linens are made by The Tamilnadu Handloom Weavers Co-operative Society. Co-optex was established in 1935 and is a state government organisation which co-ordinates the work and sales of thousands of handloom weavers in Tamil Nadu. It ensures that the weavers receive a fair price for their work.
They might also make a nice hostess gift.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
A_Z of Shopping Fair Trade - C is for Children and Child Labor
C is for Children and Child Labour. Over 158 million children aged 5-14 years are engaged in child labour in developing countries. (Source UNICEF). According to the United Nations, 126 million of them are occupied in the worst forms of labor affecting their health or education, e.g. in mines, with chemicals and pesticides in agriculture, or with dangerous machinery. Of these, 50 million work in Sub-Saharan Africa alone. There is an important distinction to be made between a child being forced into labour and a child's willing participation in work. Helping with the housework or in the family business, or earning pocket money during school holidays are all positive steps in a child's development. These forms of work provide children with valuable skills and experience. The work done by a child is not considered labor if it doesn't harm their health, interrupt their education or hinder their personal development.
Most of us are consumers of some products tainted by child labor. It could be the cotton in your table linen or clothes, chocolate with origins in the Ivory Coast, jewelry, hand-knotted carpets from India, your iPod, footballs from Pakistan, that cup of coffee in your local cafe....
If we do not care whether or not the products we purchase are made by child labor, governments will continue to avert their eyes from the plight of these children. So how are we to avoid the trap of benefiting from the labor of children? One answer to this problem is to buy fair trade products this Christmas.
Organizations accredited by the World Fair Trade Organisation who buy Fair Trade products from producer groups either directly or through intermediaries ensure that no forced labor is used in production and the producer complies with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and national / local law on the employment of children.
Most of us are consumers of some products tainted by child labor. It could be the cotton in your table linen or clothes, chocolate with origins in the Ivory Coast, jewelry, hand-knotted carpets from India, your iPod, footballs from Pakistan, that cup of coffee in your local cafe....
If we do not care whether or not the products we purchase are made by child labor, governments will continue to avert their eyes from the plight of these children. So how are we to avoid the trap of benefiting from the labor of children? One answer to this problem is to buy fair trade products this Christmas.
Organizations accredited by the World Fair Trade Organisation who buy Fair Trade products from producer groups either directly or through intermediaries ensure that no forced labor is used in production and the producer complies with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and national / local law on the employment of children.
A-Z of Shopping Fair Trade - B for Books
B is for Books, in particular books for children, they make a great Christmas Gift and we have a lovely selection. Our books celebrate diversity . They introduce children to cultures and traditions from all over the world, encouraging them to see life from different perspectives.
My favourite is called Throw your Tooth on the Roof. From Kenya to Mexico to Tokyo children all around the world lose their baby teeth. This book explores what children in different parts of the world do with their teeth. This colorful, story is a great way to teach traditions and respect for other cultures while having fun learning. This book is suitable for children aged 3 to 7 years.
My favourite is called Throw your Tooth on the Roof. From Kenya to Mexico to Tokyo children all around the world lose their baby teeth. This book explores what children in different parts of the world do with their teeth. This colorful, story is a great way to teach traditions and respect for other cultures while having fun learning. This book is suitable for children aged 3 to 7 years.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
A-Z of Shopping Fair Trade - ASHA HANDICRAFTS
Today, we are going to begin our A – Z Guide to a Fair Trade Christmas and we are going to kick off with A for Asha.
Asha Handicrafts who are based in Mumbai in India are a wonderful example of Fair Trade Organisation and produce a wonderful selection of goods suitable for Christmas Gifts. You can choose fair trade gifts such as shopping bags for Mother or a carved spectacles holder for Dad.
Asha have been practicing Fair Trade since 1975, even before the concepts of Fair Trade became popular abroad. Asha in Sanskrit means 'hope' and Asha have brought hope by providing a marketing outlet to the individual craftsmen. Asha is an association of voluntary businessmen dedicated to helping craftsmen, financially, ecologically and spiritually though its welfare centre and interrelated programs. The team of Asha welfare workers are stationed at different producer groups and cooperatives and move closely with them and their family sharing skills, extending medical help and education. Technical training is also provided to increase efficiency and productivity to encourage the growth and development of cottage industries.
Asha Handicrafts who are based in Mumbai in India are a wonderful example of Fair Trade Organisation and produce a wonderful selection of goods suitable for Christmas Gifts. You can choose fair trade gifts such as shopping bags for Mother or a carved spectacles holder for Dad.
Asha have been practicing Fair Trade since 1975, even before the concepts of Fair Trade became popular abroad. Asha in Sanskrit means 'hope' and Asha have brought hope by providing a marketing outlet to the individual craftsmen. Asha is an association of voluntary businessmen dedicated to helping craftsmen, financially, ecologically and spiritually though its welfare centre and interrelated programs. The team of Asha welfare workers are stationed at different producer groups and cooperatives and move closely with them and their family sharing skills, extending medical help and education. Technical training is also provided to increase efficiency and productivity to encourage the growth and development of cottage industries.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Best of Times?
Not the best of times? No, Maybe IT IS.
Working here, at the Mission Marketplace, I frequently find myself speaking with customers about the current economic situation this country is facing. With sincerity and concern, they will lean across the counter and ask, “Are you doing OK?” Maybe that’s learned behavior; we frequently look for tragic stories in the newspaper and in television news reports. Perhaps we need to focus on things that are positive. Anyway, I digress, after the first few times of being asked that question I’ve developed some standard responses. Normally, I will respond that we are, in fact, doing OK. We have been very warmly welcomed and supported by the Chelsea community. Lately, after witnessing some other local businesses close their doors, I’ve taken to responding that we are doing OK, and although it may not be the best time to be selling items (discretionary purchases) that people don’t really need (although, some coffee and chocolate loving folks have told me they do, in fact, need that), we are tempering our optimism with a dose of realism.
Having said all that, and taking some time for reflection, I’m gonna change my view. Gail McCulloch, our current Board Chairperson has said,”I love the concept of being a world citizen by participating in a local effort. Customers who buy from the Mission Marketplace are actually helping drive economic parity around the world by helping artisans in other countries make a living wage”.
This country, having gone though a fairly hotly debated struggle to achieve affordable health care for all our citizens, can be perceived as a divided and partisan community. We certainly are not without faults, but the concept of Fair Trade and the Mission Marketplace show just how caring and remarkable this nation (and Michigan, in particular) is. America shows its true spirit in how it responds to need both here and abroad. No, I don’t think we are the world’s police, nor are we responsible to bail out everyone around the globe, yet when someone in the world is reaching out, asking for a hand up, we, as a nation, are often the first to offer ours.
We are all connected, and it is that sense of connection that the Mission Marketplace affords to the local and global community. Economically, it may not be the best of times, but in these trying times, we are demonstrating what is BEST in all of us, I truly believe that in showing our kind and generous character, this may be the BEST of times for us all.
Kevin Frahm
Executive Director
The Mission Marketplace
Working here, at the Mission Marketplace, I frequently find myself speaking with customers about the current economic situation this country is facing. With sincerity and concern, they will lean across the counter and ask, “Are you doing OK?” Maybe that’s learned behavior; we frequently look for tragic stories in the newspaper and in television news reports. Perhaps we need to focus on things that are positive. Anyway, I digress, after the first few times of being asked that question I’ve developed some standard responses. Normally, I will respond that we are, in fact, doing OK. We have been very warmly welcomed and supported by the Chelsea community. Lately, after witnessing some other local businesses close their doors, I’ve taken to responding that we are doing OK, and although it may not be the best time to be selling items (discretionary purchases) that people don’t really need (although, some coffee and chocolate loving folks have told me they do, in fact, need that), we are tempering our optimism with a dose of realism.
Having said all that, and taking some time for reflection, I’m gonna change my view. Gail McCulloch, our current Board Chairperson has said,”I love the concept of being a world citizen by participating in a local effort. Customers who buy from the Mission Marketplace are actually helping drive economic parity around the world by helping artisans in other countries make a living wage”.
This country, having gone though a fairly hotly debated struggle to achieve affordable health care for all our citizens, can be perceived as a divided and partisan community. We certainly are not without faults, but the concept of Fair Trade and the Mission Marketplace show just how caring and remarkable this nation (and Michigan, in particular) is. America shows its true spirit in how it responds to need both here and abroad. No, I don’t think we are the world’s police, nor are we responsible to bail out everyone around the globe, yet when someone in the world is reaching out, asking for a hand up, we, as a nation, are often the first to offer ours.
We are all connected, and it is that sense of connection that the Mission Marketplace affords to the local and global community. Economically, it may not be the best of times, but in these trying times, we are demonstrating what is BEST in all of us, I truly believe that in showing our kind and generous character, this may be the BEST of times for us all.
Kevin Frahm
Executive Director
The Mission Marketplace
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