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No, I’m not talking about that, I’m talking about fair trade.
It’s been bothering me for a long time just how unfair the world really is. I’m talking about the divide in wealth between western and 3rd world countries, you know, those places we occasionally donate a pound or two to at Christmas, then pretend we’ve done out bit and go off to eat roast chicken.
Without going into a rant about attitudes towards those countries, I’d like to say two words: Fair trade.
You all know what that is.
Paying a fair wage. As most of you know, products such as coffee, bananas, sugar cane etc. tend to be grown on large plantations in southern countries such as Brazil, Argentina and South Africa. Workers on such a plantations are generally underpaid and work in miserable conditions for long hours.
Smaller plantations, locally run also exist, but these are also exploited by the middleman, who buys stocks for low prices only to sell them at a much higher price in the West.
In both cases, the producer has virtually no choice in the price as, face it. If you’re a poor farmer, trying to keep your family alive, you’ll want to work for as much money as you can. Arguing may result in the lack of a job, because there are plenty of other poor farmers to trade with. Many just take the pitiful amount of money for stock and work, knowing they have no choice and that trying to negotiate a higher price would result in the purchasers finding another producer to trade with for cheaper.
Fair wage, is at least a wage which is the minimum wage of that country (If they have one, or if that wage is considered decent) Or a living wage, which covers the cost of shelter, food, education, medicine and basic living costs.
Another thing about fair trade, but possibly slightly off topic. Is working conditions. I think it was Goatboy who mentioned the gap working conditions were terrible. Basically, fair trade organisation try to ensure that the producers are not working in sweatshop conditions.
That isn’t all there is to fair trade, maintaining co-operation between the producer and consumer, giving employees equal opportunities.
Fair trade does make a huge difference and currently only 0.01% of World trade is fair trade. If you go into a supermarket, they’ll be a few fair trade items around, but not many. Fair trade is a method of helping to improve the standard of life in 3rd world countries in a way that works and doesn’t leave huge debts hanging over their heads.
The point of this post? I don’t actually know. To inform I guess, and maybe to get people to think about where the products they buy are coming from and who is really benefiting from them. The producers, or the middleman?
I managed to get through a post with rambling or ranting too much. I’m quite impressed with myself. I wonder if anyone actually read this..
It’s been bothering me for a long time just how unfair the world really is. I’m talking about the divide in wealth between western and 3rd world countries, you know, those places we occasionally donate a pound or two to at Christmas, then pretend we’ve done out bit and go off to eat roast chicken.
Without going into a rant about attitudes towards those countries, I’d like to say two words: Fair trade.
You all know what that is.
Paying a fair wage. As most of you know, products such as coffee, bananas, sugar cane etc. tend to be grown on large plantations in southern countries such as Brazil, Argentina and South Africa. Workers on such a plantations are generally underpaid and work in miserable conditions for long hours.
Smaller plantations, locally run also exist, but these are also exploited by the middleman, who buys stocks for low prices only to sell them at a much higher price in the West.
In both cases, the producer has virtually no choice in the price as, face it. If you’re a poor farmer, trying to keep your family alive, you’ll want to work for as much money as you can. Arguing may result in the lack of a job, because there are plenty of other poor farmers to trade with. Many just take the pitiful amount of money for stock and work, knowing they have no choice and that trying to negotiate a higher price would result in the purchasers finding another producer to trade with for cheaper.
Fair wage, is at least a wage which is the minimum wage of that country (If they have one, or if that wage is considered decent) Or a living wage, which covers the cost of shelter, food, education, medicine and basic living costs.
Another thing about fair trade, but possibly slightly off topic. Is working conditions. I think it was Goatboy who mentioned the gap working conditions were terrible. Basically, fair trade organisation try to ensure that the producers are not working in sweatshop conditions.
That isn’t all there is to fair trade, maintaining co-operation between the producer and consumer, giving employees equal opportunities.
Fair trade does make a huge difference and currently only 0.01% of World trade is fair trade. If you go into a supermarket, they’ll be a few fair trade items around, but not many. Fair trade is a method of helping to improve the standard of life in 3rd world countries in a way that works and doesn’t leave huge debts hanging over their heads.
The point of this post? I don’t actually know. To inform I guess, and maybe to get people to think about where the products they buy are coming from and who is really benefiting from them. The producers, or the middleman?
I managed to get through a post with rambling or ranting too much. I’m quite impressed with myself. I wonder if anyone actually read this..
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I'd prefer the plaque on Nelson's Column. I think we should drop Third world dept too.
A majority of third world debt is cause by us in the first place. We (as the richest nations in the world) could just discount all debt... but we never will.
What would u prefer? A wopping great dome? OR a plaque on Nelson's Column saying "AS of 1/1/2000 the United Kindom is no longer owed any from the third world countries" Or something to that effect.
What would u prefer? A wopping great dome? OR a plaque on Nelson's Column saying "AS of 1/1/2000 the United Kindom is no longer owed any from the third world countries" Or something to that effect.
Mewtwo:
The point is, that the national countries too need to have fairer trades.
Not ignoring the fact people still live in poverty here, but that doesn't mean things can't be done about does overbroad. I'm not asking for the 3rd world- far from it. I'm just saying the standards of living need to be improved there, and one way of doing it is fair trade. Of course this won't slow all the problems, but it is a start. Miricles don't happen, but that's not what I'm asking for. I'm asking for the world to be fairer- as much as possible and to have these countries less exploited.
The world's not perfect, by fair and things won't and don't happen overnight. But the point I'm making is that, the 3rd world gets exploited, fair trade is something that makes the trade between them and the western world fairer.
The point is, that the national countries too need to have fairer trades.
Not ignoring the fact people still live in poverty here, but that doesn't mean things can't be done about does overbroad. I'm not asking for the 3rd world- far from it. I'm just saying the standards of living need to be improved there, and one way of doing it is fair trade. Of course this won't slow all the problems, but it is a start. Miricles don't happen, but that's not what I'm asking for. I'm asking for the world to be fairer- as much as possible and to have these countries less exploited.
The world's not perfect, by fair and things won't and don't happen overnight. But the point I'm making is that, the 3rd world gets exploited, fair trade is something that makes the trade between them and the western world fairer.
I don't want to sound horrible here, but can I just point out that Fair Trade chocolate is absolutely rank.
Well done Jess. I would agree, as is my nature, but I'm too busy packing for D of E. But very well done. FAD-worthy.
Two things to remember.
1. Charity is supposed to start at home, so why not Fair Trade? The agricultural crises that Briton has suffered over the pas few years has either been caused (BSE) or hindered by intensive farming. So why do we have intensive farming? So that the farmers can meet the supermarkets demands of high quality, low price fresh food (meat,milk vegetables etc). So if the next time you buy an shiny round apple from the supermarket, just think how natural is it? How many chemicals have been used to produce it? and If you are worried about "Fair Trade" how little the farmer got paid for it?
2. How can a 3rd world country get out of being 3rd world without the help of big national companies? I am not condoning for one minute child slavery or sweat shops but what would those people do with out their job? probably live in even more deprivation than they currently do.
It is unto the governments of each respective country to govern what constitutes Fair Trade and even working conditions. A government could levy large export duties on produce or products leaving there country or introduce legislation on a minimum wage or working conditions.
However if the former was introduced then do you think the company's would stay in a country with such conditions? No they wouldn't. They would simply pack up and move to another country without such legislation. Why do you think these company's are based in these country's and not the UK?
Cheep labour and no working regulations.
My final point is that miracles don't happen. The 3rd world cannot suddenly become westernised. Just look back in our history and even at the present. It wasn't that long when all medical care had to be paid for, when children went to war at 15. It was even less time when adults worked for £1 an hour and still today English children can earn as little as 50p an hour until there 18. Also shall we not forget the millions of children in England, Scotland and Wales who are born into and live in poverty, in 2001?
1. Charity is supposed to start at home, so why not Fair Trade? The agricultural crises that Briton has suffered over the pas few years has either been caused (BSE) or hindered by intensive farming. So why do we have intensive farming? So that the farmers can meet the supermarkets demands of high quality, low price fresh food (meat,milk vegetables etc). So if the next time you buy an shiny round apple from the supermarket, just think how natural is it? How many chemicals have been used to produce it? and If you are worried about "Fair Trade" how little the farmer got paid for it?
2. How can a 3rd world country get out of being 3rd world without the help of big national companies? I am not condoning for one minute child slavery or sweat shops but what would those people do with out their job? probably live in even more deprivation than they currently do.
It is unto the governments of each respective country to govern what constitutes Fair Trade and even working conditions. A government could levy large export duties on produce or products leaving there country or introduce legislation on a minimum wage or working conditions.
However if the former was introduced then do you think the company's would stay in a country with such conditions? No they wouldn't. They would simply pack up and move to another country without such legislation. Why do you think these company's are based in these country's and not the UK?
Cheep labour and no working regulations.
My final point is that miracles don't happen. The 3rd world cannot suddenly become westernised. Just look back in our history and even at the present. It wasn't that long when all medical care had to be paid for, when children went to war at 15. It was even less time when adults worked for £1 an hour and still today English children can earn as little as 50p an hour until there 18. Also shall we not forget the millions of children in England, Scotland and Wales who are born into and live in poverty, in 2001?
I read it all. Very good post.
I'm not really sure how to reply to it though. I was thinking the other day on how people who do more work get paid less than people who do sod all work. It's just the way of the world, I suppose.
To be fair though, a lot of people with high pay jobs have worked to get there.
But these people out making our trainers and so on... if they work harder, they don't get rewarded. They still have to remain at the bottom end of the line. Slave labour.
I know little about it, which is embaressing in itself, so I will say no more.
I'm not really sure how to reply to it though. I was thinking the other day on how people who do more work get paid less than people who do sod all work. It's just the way of the world, I suppose.
To be fair though, a lot of people with high pay jobs have worked to get there.
But these people out making our trainers and so on... if they work harder, they don't get rewarded. They still have to remain at the bottom end of the line. Slave labour.
I know little about it, which is embaressing in itself, so I will say no more.
No, I’m not talking about that, I’m talking about fair trade.
It’s been bothering me for a long time just how unfair the world really is. I’m talking about the divide in wealth between western and 3rd world countries, you know, those places we occasionally donate a pound or two to at Christmas, then pretend we’ve done out bit and go off to eat roast chicken.
Without going into a rant about attitudes towards those countries, I’d like to say two words: Fair trade.
You all know what that is.
Paying a fair wage. As most of you know, products such as coffee, bananas, sugar cane etc. tend to be grown on large plantations in southern countries such as Brazil, Argentina and South Africa. Workers on such a plantations are generally underpaid and work in miserable conditions for long hours.
Smaller plantations, locally run also exist, but these are also exploited by the middleman, who buys stocks for low prices only to sell them at a much higher price in the West.
In both cases, the producer has virtually no choice in the price as, face it. If you’re a poor farmer, trying to keep your family alive, you’ll want to work for as much money as you can. Arguing may result in the lack of a job, because there are plenty of other poor farmers to trade with. Many just take the pitiful amount of money for stock and work, knowing they have no choice and that trying to negotiate a higher price would result in the purchasers finding another producer to trade with for cheaper.
Fair wage, is at least a wage which is the minimum wage of that country (If they have one, or if that wage is considered decent) Or a living wage, which covers the cost of shelter, food, education, medicine and basic living costs.
Another thing about fair trade, but possibly slightly off topic. Is working conditions. I think it was Goatboy who mentioned the gap working conditions were terrible. Basically, fair trade organisation try to ensure that the producers are not working in sweatshop conditions.
That isn’t all there is to fair trade, maintaining co-operation between the producer and consumer, giving employees equal opportunities.
Fair trade does make a huge difference and currently only 0.01% of World trade is fair trade. If you go into a supermarket, they’ll be a few fair trade items around, but not many. Fair trade is a method of helping to improve the standard of life in 3rd world countries in a way that works and doesn’t leave huge debts hanging over their heads.
The point of this post? I don’t actually know. To inform I guess, and maybe to get people to think about where the products they buy are coming from and who is really benefiting from them. The producers, or the middleman?
I managed to get through a post with rambling or ranting too much. I’m quite impressed with myself. I wonder if anyone actually read this..
It’s been bothering me for a long time just how unfair the world really is. I’m talking about the divide in wealth between western and 3rd world countries, you know, those places we occasionally donate a pound or two to at Christmas, then pretend we’ve done out bit and go off to eat roast chicken.
Without going into a rant about attitudes towards those countries, I’d like to say two words: Fair trade.
You all know what that is.
Paying a fair wage. As most of you know, products such as coffee, bananas, sugar cane etc. tend to be grown on large plantations in southern countries such as Brazil, Argentina and South Africa. Workers on such a plantations are generally underpaid and work in miserable conditions for long hours.
Smaller plantations, locally run also exist, but these are also exploited by the middleman, who buys stocks for low prices only to sell them at a much higher price in the West.
In both cases, the producer has virtually no choice in the price as, face it. If you’re a poor farmer, trying to keep your family alive, you’ll want to work for as much money as you can. Arguing may result in the lack of a job, because there are plenty of other poor farmers to trade with. Many just take the pitiful amount of money for stock and work, knowing they have no choice and that trying to negotiate a higher price would result in the purchasers finding another producer to trade with for cheaper.
Fair wage, is at least a wage which is the minimum wage of that country (If they have one, or if that wage is considered decent) Or a living wage, which covers the cost of shelter, food, education, medicine and basic living costs.
Another thing about fair trade, but possibly slightly off topic. Is working conditions. I think it was Goatboy who mentioned the gap working conditions were terrible. Basically, fair trade organisation try to ensure that the producers are not working in sweatshop conditions.
That isn’t all there is to fair trade, maintaining co-operation between the producer and consumer, giving employees equal opportunities.
Fair trade does make a huge difference and currently only 0.01% of World trade is fair trade. If you go into a supermarket, they’ll be a few fair trade items around, but not many. Fair trade is a method of helping to improve the standard of life in 3rd world countries in a way that works and doesn’t leave huge debts hanging over their heads.
The point of this post? I don’t actually know. To inform I guess, and maybe to get people to think about where the products they buy are coming from and who is really benefiting from them. The producers, or the middleman?
I managed to get through a post with rambling or ranting too much. I’m quite impressed with myself. I wonder if anyone actually read this..
Page: