Fair Trade Families
This group was started in honour of Fair Trade Fortnight 2007, as some Minti families wanted to meet other families who believe in fair trade ideals so we can swap stories, links and suggestions so as to improve what we are doing for our world.
Fair trade seeks firstly and foremostly to give a fair go to workers and farmers around the world. It stands against lower price pressures from the West that get passed directly onto the bottom of the production chain, the labourers and small scale farmers.
The benefits of fair trade are:
- Producers receive a fair price for their goods.
- Advances are paid on all orders to at least cover the cost of materials.
- Purchasing and marketing of producers’ goods are conducted according to high ethical standards; continuity of orders is important for producers.
- Sources, production and workplaces do not exploit either their staff or the environment.
Your guarantee of Fair Trade is the Fair Trade logo (see left).
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Well, there you go hey! I'm glad there's a Fair Trade group on here. |
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Here in Oz, McDonalds are advertising that they are now using Rainforest Alliance coffee and thanks to a comment here, I thought I'd find out a bit more about it...
I quote from the Rainforest Alliance Website:
"As a leader in the development of best management practices for sustainable land use, we offer third-party certification under the Rainforest Alliance Certified seal to forests and farms managed in ways that reduce environmental impacts and increase social benefits. Our SmartWood program certifies well-managed forestry businesses to the strict standards of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Our Sustainable Agriculture program certifies farms that meet the exacting standards of the Sustainable Agriculture Network."
As I understand it this means that at least 35% of McDonalds coffee is certified as having been farmed sustainably. This is a great step and is a responsible step for the earth's future. One thing concerns me though, that there is no mention of a fair deal for workers, unlike Fair Trade - thoughts anyone? |
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a non product related form of unfair trade is happening in india right now. this is the oxfam mid year appeal. donations can be made online, over the phone or in your nearest oxfam store. |
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Fair Trade Fortnight 3-18 May 2008 is approaching, and this year everyone in Australia can get involved by participating in the national Fairtrade Coffee Break, or by going along to local events promoting Fair Trade.
The Fair Trade Fortnight website is now online at www.fairtrade.com.au and has information on the Fairtrade Coffee Break; an events listing for local events including the Fair Trade Fiestas; resources; information and more.
If your church or community group would like to book a coffee break, you can go online and they will send you some samples to use to promote fair trade.
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feature producer this week as i cant decide on the product from them, LOL!! (most Oxfam shops should stock some of their stuff)
Maroma is run by a French man and an American woman who live in Auroville, India. They export their fairly traded goods to over 25 countries around the globe with their promary products being of the good smelling variety! hehe (delicious smelling incence wands and cones, beautiful candles, fragrence sachets, bath salts and aromatherapy oils) they are sitting right next to the counter here so it is hard not to smell them ::)'s
The mostly female workforce of Maroma come from surounding villages and are provided with health care, education, free loans, production bonuses and work insurance. Maroma pays some of the highest wages in the region. They have also recently put some of their profits back into a lab to fund environmentally sustainable production of their goods. in addition to this they put 45% of their net profit into other local projects.
www.maroma.com
is the website check it out, there is no online shop as far as i can tell but their range is viewable. tis wicked smelling coolies! ::)'s from becca!
i have also emailed Clay if we can do a fair trade auction using some of the new features of minti as part of FTF coming up in may. profits will go to Pekerti a handycrafts and folk art producer in Indonesia. stay tuned for a yay or ney from the minti gods! heheeeee! |
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I have just listed on ebay some fair trade handcrafts from my market stall - so if you would like to have a look - mostly bags and jewellery, look here. |
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