Fairtrade – What does it really mean?
FairtradeTM, fair trade, trading fairly, etc
What is a fair trade?
When we buy FairtradeTM, are we choosing products because we actually like them more than the unfairtrade alternative, or because we’re feel better about helping someone out by doing so?
Is that really a fair trade?
If I bought a cup of coffee that was made with FairtradeTM beans, but was shit, is that a fair trade…?
Meeting FairtradeTM stipulations imposed by the FLO (FairTrade licensing organization), can compromise the quality of the product.
There are stiff criteria that farmers must meet in order to belong to the FLO. e.g., they must belong to a co-op (as opposed to a family-owned estate for example); yearly fees are substantial.
There are coffee growers that cannot afford to belong to the FLO, and therefore do not, who enjoy far greater prices for their coffee. Why? Because they grow beautiful quality coffee, and are paid accordingly.
The COE (Cup Of Excellence) is an international online coffee trading scheme that rewards quality, and as a result, pays far more to the farmer that FLO min price. And it cuts out the middleman – the bureaucrats with well-stocked stationary cupboards and new iPads.
So – what really is a fair trade…???
What can I do here, today, in NZ?
Do I pay what I owe?
Do I owe someone something?
Have I kept my word?
Have I kept up my end of an agreement?
Do I trade fairly?
If I cross the street to buy FairtradeTM, in order to help someone I will probably never meet, and miss an opportunity to connect with my neighbor, what really is the point?
Is that a clanging gong I hear in the distance…?
How does FairtradeTM/fair trade/fairness fit into this ‘upside-down’ Kingdom of ours?
Is fairtrade wrong?
Hell no!
Is it all we can do?
Of course not.
right on!
To be ‘fair’ – if it wasn’t for FairtradeTM, most of us (I speak mainly for myself here) would have never thought about the ethics of where our food and other products come from. And it’s all very well to say that they have middle men etc, but I want to know that when I buy something that someone claims is benefiting the farmers etc, that there are some checks in place (and therefore people in place) to make sure that this is indeed so – excuse me if I don’t simply trust the manufacturers word for it when they tell me it is so! Are they perfect? Of course not, it’s an organisation full of people. But they were a well overdue voice calling attention to a crime against humanity! You are right that we shouldn’t jump on the FairtradeTM bandwagon and neglect our responsibilities with our neighbours here…nor should we be hard out about FairtradeTM and buy cheap tshirts made by slave children. But in response to your statement “If I bought a cup of coffee that was made with FairtradeTM beans, but was shit, is that a fair trade…?” I would say absolutely that is fair trade – you trading a little quality to value the humanity of someone else sounds decidedly like the values of the kingdom which we are a part of as Christians to me…but there are plenty of fair trade products out there that are as good as non fair trade products…and that will only improve as more people get a conscience and force manufacturers to get one too!
Do I buy everything FairtradeTM…no – as you say there are others out there doing a great ethical job too, but I’m thankful to the organisation that first made me ask questions about the ethics of my consumerism – and for that they deserve high praise!
thanks for this great post wow… it’s very
wonderful