Third World Gets Help to Help Itself (Fair Trade)

[chlamor]

My Comment: I have problems with the term 'Third World' and the Fair Trade items are still, for the most part transported great distances to serve Western elites. But it is an attempt at some minor form and degree of equity.

Third world gets help to help itself


By Doreen Carvajal International Herald Tribune

SATURDAY, MAY 7, 2005
<snip>
The sun-dried couscous, pressed by hand from wheat flour and salty water, is part of a so-called fair trade food chain linking the village of Taybeh, on the West Bank near Ramallah, with Alter Eco, a Parisian import company.
 
When the Palestinian uprising blocked markets for the village cooperative's couscous, olive oil and other products, Alter Eco stepped in to offer the cooperatives a chance to trade - at a decent price.
 
<snip>

Two years later, Taybeh is one outpost in a vast Fairtrade network, a system aimed at providing a better life for about 800,000 third world growers by paying them above-market prices for their goods - and passing the cost on to affluent Western consumers.
 
The idealistic movement started nearly two decades ago with coffee beans, and has grown into an estimated $500 million industry covering an ever-growing range of products from African cotton to Peruvian coffee.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/05/06/business/wblabel.php

[silverweb]

1. A very good article.

I liked how shoppers were described as being "schizophrenic." It's so true! We want to follow our conscience and be "good people," but then we also look for the best bargains we can find. Human nature, I guess... and in even more cases, the reality of being on a budget.

Despite this, the Fair Trade movement is obviously alive and well and growing, which is a wonderful thing.

[whatelseisnew]

2. Here's an example of efforts in the US

www.qcsinfo.org/socialjustice/

QCS is conducting a pilot project to test social justice standards intended for use domestically. The objective of this project is to run through a social justice certification process in order to get.... The information gathered during the pilot project will be used to mold the social justce certification program including the standards. You can view the standards at www.rafiusa.org/pubs/SocialJustice final.pdf

[silverweb]

4. Excellent!

Thanks for the link.

Something good has actually come out of Jebbieland, huh? }(

[applegrove]

3. I think the term "third world" is politically incorrect. I was taught to

say 'less developed nations' 20 years ago. Perhaps that is now a slur too.

Please tell me to shut up!

Also - I think that if we add 'fair trade' co-ops to the sites where we rate corporations that would be good. You know, to give people free advertising and all.

[silverweb]

5. Don't shut up!

I like the idea of adding Fair Trade companies to rating sites!

Maybe if a bunch of us send in their names to the sites, someone there will take the hint?