Fair Trade: Difference between revisions
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= | =Definition= | ||
"Fair Trade is an alternative system of international trade that is based on principles of economic justice and environmental sustainability. Fair Trade is about giving farmers market access and a chance to benefit from globalization and giving consumers a chance to use their purchasing power to advocate for social and economic transformation. | |||
According to the International Fair Trade Association (IFAT), "Fair Trade is a trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency and respect that seeks greater equity in international trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to and securing the rights of, marginalized workers and producers especially in the [Global] South. Fair Trade organizations, (backed by consumers) are engaged actively in supporting producers, awareness raising and in campaigning for changes in the rules and practice of conventional international trade." | |||
(http://fairtradenyc.org/why/index_why.php) | |||
=Description= | |||
"How Fair Trade Works: | |||
Fair Trade means that farmers and workers: | |||
• have long term relationships that guarantee a decent price for their harvest; | |||
• are organized into democratic cooperatives (coffee, some tea, cocoa, some fruit) or workers on larger farms who receive better wages and can bargain collectively (some tea, some fruit); | |||
• do not use abusive child labor; | |||
• incorporate environmentally sustainable farming methods; | |||
• coop members have access to affordable credit. | |||
Companies are allowed to use the Fair Trade Certified label on coffee, chocolate, tea, and fruit if they agree to be audited by TransFair USA (the only Fair Trade Certification organization in the United States) for compliance with international Fair Trade standards. TransFair USA tracks the products through the supply chain to ensure the farmer got a fair price and the plantation worker got a higher wage." | |||
(http://fairtradenyc.org/why/index_why.php) | |||
=Discussion= | |||
==Fair Trade and Peer to Peer Theory== | |||
Michel Bauwens: | |||
Fair trade is of particular interest because it subjects the market to 'peer arbitrage'. Instead of letting the market be subjected to pure power plays, it injects a negotiating between partners. Fair trade organizations ideally go to the producers to ask them about the requirements of dignified living, then go to Western consumers, asking them for a surplus to fund these requirements. | Fair trade is of particular interest because it subjects the market to 'peer arbitrage'. Instead of letting the market be subjected to pure power plays, it injects a negotiating between partners. Fair trade organizations ideally go to the producers to ask them about the requirements of dignified living, then go to Western consumers, asking them for a surplus to fund these requirements. | ||
Revision as of 03:08, 21 September 2008
Definition
"Fair Trade is an alternative system of international trade that is based on principles of economic justice and environmental sustainability. Fair Trade is about giving farmers market access and a chance to benefit from globalization and giving consumers a chance to use their purchasing power to advocate for social and economic transformation.
According to the International Fair Trade Association (IFAT), "Fair Trade is a trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency and respect that seeks greater equity in international trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to and securing the rights of, marginalized workers and producers especially in the [Global] South. Fair Trade organizations, (backed by consumers) are engaged actively in supporting producers, awareness raising and in campaigning for changes in the rules and practice of conventional international trade." (http://fairtradenyc.org/why/index_why.php)
Description
"How Fair Trade Works:
Fair Trade means that farmers and workers:
• have long term relationships that guarantee a decent price for their harvest; • are organized into democratic cooperatives (coffee, some tea, cocoa, some fruit) or workers on larger farms who receive better wages and can bargain collectively (some tea, some fruit); • do not use abusive child labor; • incorporate environmentally sustainable farming methods; • coop members have access to affordable credit.
Companies are allowed to use the Fair Trade Certified label on coffee, chocolate, tea, and fruit if they agree to be audited by TransFair USA (the only Fair Trade Certification organization in the United States) for compliance with international Fair Trade standards. TransFair USA tracks the products through the supply chain to ensure the farmer got a fair price and the plantation worker got a higher wage." (http://fairtradenyc.org/why/index_why.php)
Discussion
Fair Trade and Peer to Peer Theory
Michel Bauwens:
Fair trade is of particular interest because it subjects the market to 'peer arbitrage'. Instead of letting the market be subjected to pure power plays, it injects a negotiating between partners. Fair trade organizations ideally go to the producers to ask them about the requirements of dignified living, then go to Western consumers, asking them for a surplus to fund these requirements.
Here's a quote from the editor of Just Things, Steve Herrick,
"At its core, the fair-trade model isn't about commodities at all, but an equitable, egalitarian and empowering way of dealing with each other as people. Economic transactions are secondary - they deal with mere things. On the other hand, we need things to live, and we have trade them back and forth. The trick is to trade things justly."
(http://chlorophyll.us/, cited by Kevin Carson [1])
More Information
Journals
Just Things: The Fair Trade Journal of Applied Counter-Economics, at http://justthings.info/
Organizations
European Fair Trade Association
URL = http://www.eftafairtrade.org/
Fair Trade Online
Web Site of Transfair Canada. Ressources on Fair Trade. A presentation of the Fair Trade movement.
URL = http://www.transfair.ca/
Fair Trade Ressource Network
The Fair Trade Resource Network raises consumer awareness about improving people's lives through Fair Trade alternatives. USA based network.
URL = http://www.fairtraderesource.org/
Fair Trade Watch
Web site developped by the United Steelworkers of America to provide information on trade and the global economy from a worker prospective.
URL = http://www.fairtradewatch.org/
FLO
Web site of Fair Trade Labelling Organizations International
URL = http://www.fairtrade.net
IFAT - Internationial Federation of Alternative Trade
IFAT is the International Federation for Alternative Trade, a global network of 158 Fair Trade organisations in 50 countries, which works to improve the livelihoods and well-being of disadvantaged people in developing countries and to change the unfair structures of international trade.
URL = http://www.ifat.org/
NEWS! -Network of European World Shops
URL = http://www.worldshops.org/
Oxfam and Fair Trade
Fair Trade page and activities of the UK - based Oxfam organization.
URL = http://www.oxfam.org.uk/fair_trade.html
Tourism Concern
Tourism Concern is a membership organisation campaigning for ethical and fairly traded tourism.
URL = http://www.tourismconcern.org.uk/
Documentaries
One Cup, on fair trade and coffee