Comments on: How does Fair Trade Help People and the Planet?

By: lucumadesigns

lucumadesigns — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 19:44:36 +0000

Good luck with your homework! Fair Trade can improve a place by supplying work and/or better wages to small communities or disenfranchised people groups. For example, some FT companies specifically help poor widows or people who’ve been victims of human trafficking or political oppression. As a structure Fair trade operates under several principles & guidelines: http://www.fairtradefederation.org/ht/d/sp/i/8447/pid/8447. Environment: many crafters use reclaimed, recycled, or renewable materials to create a craft or organic farming methods for food. And since most work is done by hand, there is limited (electric, gas, etc) energy being used to make a product.

By: suzie

suzie — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 17:57:29 +0000

hi my geography homework is about fair trade , and i would just like to know in what ways can fair trade improve or help a place / the environment.

By: amber carrot

amber carrot — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 11:38:30 +0000

i think fairtrade is a good idea because it helps people who are not as lucky as us

By: lucumadesigns

lucumadesigns — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 13:03:40 +0000

Hi Daniel, I'm glad to hear you are checking out fair trade! What in particular are you wondering? Some great resources are www.ftrn.org and www.fairtradefederation.com. Cheers! Liz

By: lucumadesigns

lucumadesigns — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 16:27:42 +0000

Hi Mariah,
Great questions! There are companies empowering people all over the world, including Latin America! Fair Trade is hard to explain quickly, but it generally is practiced in 3rd world countries with established cooperatives or family workshops. It revolves around fair wages, safe working conditions, retaining cultural identity, environmental stewardship, and building long term artist and community relationships. You can make a difference by learning more about fair trade, educating others, and buying fair trade foods & crafts. Right now, Fair trade constitutes just a small bit of the $$$ wheel for gifts and commodities. But as each person chooses to make a difference, the difference starts to be made! You can learn even more at the Fair Trade Resource Network and at the Fair Trade Federation. At the FTF site, there’s even an option to search for stores in your area. Hopefully, you can get some great things from them, or request fair trade in your other favorite local stores. Cheers! ~Liz

ps. – oh yeah, and some products you might find are sugar, tea, coffee, bananas, baskets, toys, clothing, finger puppets, home decor, garden decor, tabletop accessories… all kinds of things!