In the case of sweatshops the workers may get some small benefit... i.e. they don't starve to death.  However in the case of most cocoa and coffee plantations that don't qualify for fair trade, the workers receive very little benefit, disgusting, dangerous work conditions, many are slaves, and most don't get any education and only enough food to keep them alive to work.

I think the concept of buying Australian made is great, keep us up to date on how that works out ; )

Yes i have to agree, local is the way to go but if you have to buy products from elsewhere like all of us do this is a great way to find out what you are paying for.

I also have thought like Arna, it's a hard call to know if you boycott the product are you doing a worker out of the only job they can get or are these people making your coffee, shoes and clothing doing it against their will.......

It's a tough call huh?  Best to put pressure on major companies to do the right thing by pushing them into competition against each other.  This can only be done by major consumer awareness, and only if consumers actually give a toss.

There seem to be a lot of people out there who are either apathetic or greedy.

A lot of ignorance too....who would dream children are exploited to make coffee and chocolate?  Who would dream that in some countries children are sold to these 'factories' , sold or stolen as sex slaves, but it goes on.  Who would dream that young girls that looked 12 would be pouring hot wax on their naked bodies in a Club in Thailand?  It happens , i've seen 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?

I have always considered that it is only a small step in the right direction... Using sustainable plantations is more what they are about than fairness for workers.  They aim to have good conditions and remuneration, however I don't really think they make any major effort to achieve it.  (If they do, they don't seem to be able to provide evidence of it).