Fair Trade!!! Do you buy fair trade products??
@ItTakesAllSorts (4096)
January 8, 2007 7:31pm CST
Do you believe it creates opportunities for producers who have been economically disadvantaged by the conventional trading system.
OR
Do you feel it is focusing too much on individual small producers, while stopping short of advocating immediate trade policy changes that would have a longer impact on disadvantaged producers lives???
What are your views?
In the UK, Fair Trade products are advertised and people are encouraged to support small producers over large corporate businesses.
Does this happen where you live?
If you are interested visit www.fairtrade.org.uk
1 person likes this
5 responses
@organicclothes (12)
• United States
12 Jan 07
I also try to buy fair trade when I can. I do have a few concerns that I try to think about at the same time. If that same fair trade item can be bought from a local artisan rather than one across the globe, I would prefer to support local trade. I also worry about retailers using the fair trade claim to boost their sales without good business practices to back that up. I think I have seen some retailers with some sort of fair trade certification, but that mostly seems to apply to the retailers who are specializing in fair trade. Generally, I guess I just look for businesses who seem to have sound, well-thought out social and environmental business practices. If everything that they do seems to fit that model then I feel better about the validity of their fair trade claims.
1 person likes this
@recycledgoth (9894)
•
20 Apr 07
My partner and I both tend to look for Fair Trade products when we can afford to do so. Unfortunately they are not always the most economic products and at the moment we have to consider living as cheaply as we can. We have often bought Fair Trade tea and coffee and other products like chocolate too.
Fair Trade at least gives people a chance to make a better life
@ItTakesAllSorts (4096)
•
21 Apr 07
I agree with you, sometimes it only seems to be marketed at those with money and not seen as something everyone should be able to afford as I am sure it does not cost that much to produce in these countries.
Thanks for responding.
@RAMONES (537)
• Belgium
13 Jan 07
I do buy fair trade products, because I think it is more honest to the small farmers and producers than products deliverd by multinationals. It gives them at least a (small) chance to earn an honest pay for their labour.
I'm just hoping that Oxfam and other fair traders never become that kind of multinational ...
@snowflake5 (1579)
• United States
9 Jan 07
I think fair trade really does help small holders to earn a decent living. However, some retailers take advantage of consumers willingness to pay for fair trade and mark the price up over and above the fair trade price, which goes straight into the retailer's pocket! It's a real pity they are abusing the system the way they are.
@ItTakesAllSorts (4096)
•
10 Jan 07
I totally agree with you and I think this does stop more people buying these products.
I always ensure though that I buy bananas from fair trade and not Latin America as the US have unfairly cornered the market!
Thanks for your response.
@ukchriss (2097)
•
13 Jan 07
Yes i do buy some Fair Trade products,
I dont think that there is a lot of differance in prices and I like to think that I am supporting the third world farmers.
I've found you can now buy some of the products in Oxfam shops.
