2.1 Fairtrade: a way to make difference
Not all trade is fair! Workers don’ t always get their fair share of the benefits of trade. Fairtrade is an alternative approach to trading partnerships between producers and consumers. Fairtrade gives producers a considerably better deal with improved, fair terms of trade. This allows them opportunities to improve their lives and their future.
When a product carries the FAIRTRADE Mark it means the producers and traders have met Fairtrade Certification standards.
Look for this certification mark to be sure that your product is Fairtrade Certified.
Consumers can make a significant impact on world slavery just by stopping for a moment and asking themselves how that particular item got to be so cheap. You see a lot of cheap items made in China, for example, and there are serious questions about what happens in Chinese factories. The bottom line is: oftentimes things are cheap because slaves or poorly paid workers helped produce them.
Most people, if they can identify slave-produced goods, would avoid them despite their lower price. By always looking for the best deal, we may be choosing slave-made products without knowing what we are buying. We have reason for hope, though, based on how well most people respond to the challenge of slavery— when they know about it.
Fortunately, there are people who have taken on the task of informing people about the grim reality, and providing them with empowering alternatives.
To learn more about Fairtrade, go to www. fairtrade. net 14