Fair Trade
Introduction
Fair Trade is about working with people in the poorest nations to enable them to live in dignity and with hope for the future. Fair Trade works by paying reasonable wages for the work that is performed, by respecting the needs of individuals, by committing to long term relationships, and by providing credit where it is needed most.
The Fair Trade movement is the result of thousands of men and women who see the consequences of the imbalance of power between the poorest nations and the richest nations, and feel moved in their hearts to take action to redress this situation.
Fair Trade makes a real difference to the lives of the poorest producers.
Structures
Because trading relationships are so complex and extend into all aspects of life, then there are many facets to Fair Trade. In Europe, and relating to the activity of One World Hull, the following organisations are significant:
The International Federation for Alternative Trade (IFAT).
The Network of European World Shops (NEWS).
The Fair Trade Labelling Organisations (FLO).
The European Federation for Alternative Trade (EFTA).
FINE (FLO, IFAT, NEWS, EFTA)
British Association of Fair Trade Shops (BAFTS).
BAFTS is a member of NEWS.
The One World Shop, Hull, is a member of BAFTS.
FINE has agreed simple criteria for what constitutes Fair Trade, and BAFTS subscribes to these criteria. BAFTS then assesses Fair Trade importers against the criteria. Once approved by BAFTS, a shop in UK can then purchase product as Fair Trade products from these importers.
Sources of Fair Trade products in UK
Hand Crafted items
The largest importer of handicrafts is Traidcraft plc. Traidcraft sells via Mail Order,
by Voluntary Representatives, and via Shops.
Retail outlets registered with BAFTS import from a diverse range of small groups,
family businesses and co-operatives as per the BAFTS Importers Directory.
Beverages
The Fair Trade labelling organisations (owners of the Fairtrade mark) will, on request,
validate the working conditions and other aspects of a product source, and if compliant with Fair Trade Criteria they will empower the company to place the Fairtrade Mark to the product. Examples of beverages falling into this category are CafeDirect Coffee, Clipper Tea, Green and Blacks Drinking Chocolate.
Fairtrade Marked products can be obtained from most supermarket chains, and from many of the BAFTS registered retailers including One World Shop, Hull.
Foodstuffs
As with beverages, Fairtrade labelling applies, and many food products carry the label, including Green and Blacks chocolate, Traidcraft Geo Bars, Dubble chocolate bars, etc.
Fairtrade labelled Foodstuffs are again available in most supermarket chains, and from many of the BAFTS registered retailers including One World Shop, Hull.
Countries which provide our goods for sale
| Craft Products |
| Argentina | Siwok | Wooden figures of birds and other animals |
| Bangladesh | Traidcraft | Fibre mats |
| Bangladesh | One Village | String |
| Ecuador | Just Trade | Woollen clothing |
| Ghana | Fiema | Glass beads, bangles |
| Guatemala | Just Trade | Embroidered bags |
| India | Shared Earth | Wooden boxes, puzzles, desk tidies |
| India | Bishopston | Bags, toys, dolls, purses, brooches |
| India | Edinburgh | Leather purses, wallets |
| Indonesia | Shared Earth | Cats |
| Kenya | Traidcraft | Bombolulu Crafts |
| Mexico | Just Trade | Earrings, bangles, bracelets, Taxco pottery |
| Nepal | Black Yak | Clothing: Hats, Scarves, Mittens, Wrist warmers, Tops, Jackets, Coats |
| Nepal | Shukrya | Hand made paper |
| Nepal | Hatti Trading | Hatti Bags (Suede, Embroidered) |
| Nigeria | Naji's Heritage | Thorn bush carvings |
| Pakistan | Fair Deal | Footballs |
| Palestine | Hadeel | Olive wood carvings |
| Peru | Just Trade | Shawls, Jumpers, gloves |
| Philippines | Salay | Cards and Paper crafts items |
| Sri Lanka | Lanka Kade | Toys, Jigsaws |
| Tanzania | Equal Exchange | Soap |
| Thailand | Shared Earth | Cards |
| Thailand | Traidcraft | Poinsetta Pottery |
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| Food Products |
| Belize | G&B | Chocolate |
| Bolivia | Suma/Granovita | Quinoa |
| Bolivia | Suma | Brazil Nuts |
| Bolivia | Traidcraft | Cocoa in Chocolate |
| Brazil | Equal Exchange | Oil |
| Brazil | Suma | Black Beans, soya |
| Burkina Faso | Tropical Wholefoods | Mango |
| Chile | Traidcraft | Honey |
| Chile | Suma | Aduki Beans |
| Costa Rica | Traidcraft | Sugar in Chocolate Hazelnut spread, and in chocolate |
| Cuba | Fruit Passion | Orange juice, oranges |
| Dominican Republic | Traidcraft | Cocoa in Praline and Cappucino Chocolate |
| El Salvador | Equal Exchange | Cashew Nut Butter |
| India | Clipper | Green Tea |
| India | Traidcraft | Cashew Nuts |
| Malawi | Traidcraft | Sugar (in Chutney, Fair Break Bars) |
| Mauritius | Craft Aid | Sugar |
| Mexico | Traidcraft | Honey |
| Mexico | Cafe Direct | Palenque Gourmet Ground Coffee |
| Nicaragua | Percol | Coffee |
| Pakistan | Traidcraft | Dried Apricots, Walnuts |
| Paraguay | Traidcraft | Sugar in Jam |
| Peru | Cafe Direct | Macchu Picchu Ground Coffee |
| Philippines | Traidcraft | Plantain chips |
| South Africa | Fruit Passion | Fruit Juice |
| South Africa | Equal Exchange | Rooibos Tea |
| Swaziland | Swazi Kitchen | Chutneys, Pickles, Jams, Marmalades |
| Tanzania | Cafe Direct | Tea in Teadirect, Instant coffee, Kilimanjaro ground coffee |
| Tunisia | Suma | Dried Dates |
| Uganda | Tropical Wholefoods | Papapya, Pineapple, Bogoya Bananas |
| Uganda | Equal Exchange | Gumutindo - Coffee |
| Uganda | Cafe direct | Kagera, coffee |
| Wales | One | One Water |
| Zambia | Tropical Forest | Honey |
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Click
Download Countries and Products
at One World Hull: for a list of what we sell and where it comes from.
FINE criteria
The Fair Trade Criteria as defined by FINE are:
1. An alternative approach to conventional international trade. By this is meant working in an alternative way to normal commercial practice, focusing on the relief of poverty of excluded and disadvantaged producers.
2. A real partnership. A close relationship with producers themselves and direct involvement. Regular visits and good communication.
3. Aiming at sustainable development. Long term relationships which give empowerment to the producers and long term viability.
4. Improving livelihoods of disadvantaged producers. Giving preferential treatment to producers that result in actual benefits.
5. Providing better trading conditions. Fair prices, better than average conditions in the workplace and the trading relationship, working towards gender equality.
6. Awareness raising and campaigning. Working at changing attitudes and policies of poor trading practice, highlighting the needs of disadvantaged producers.
A little bit of history
Our knowledge does not go back into pre-history, but we are aware of two developments:
During the 1970s in India and Bangladesh the aid agencies such as Christian Aid, Tearfund, etc recognised that providing aid acted as a temporary measure to alleviate poverty but not as a permanent measure, what was needed was employment. Tearfund then started to import woven jute products to sell in UK via a Christmas catalogue.
Traidcraft started as an offshoot from Tearcraft but with fewer restrictions on the sources of goods (but still Fair Trade). This was in the dim and distant days of 1979.
In Latin America the small coffee bean farmers have been subject to the vicissitudes of the international market, and the operation of large companies. Mark Prendergrast's excellent book: "Uncommon Grounds" notes that in 1985 Paul Katzeff went out to Nicaragua "hanging out with the Sandinistas" and came back to America a changed man. His Coffee company changed to the slogan; "not just a cup but a just cup", and continued to import coffee even when the Reagan administration banned Nicaraguan imports.
Labels
Fair Trade Mark Label
The Fair Trade Foundation is the UK body that has responsibility for the Fair Trade Mark. The mark looks like this:
and you will find this label on food products (but not yet on craft items). The label can only be used once the sources of products have been validated by the foundation as fair trade. You can get to their website from our links page.
The Fairtrade Label only applies to consumables (with the exception of footballs and roses, both of which may bear the label)
Fair Trade Organisation Label
Fair Trade is a global movement covering a great diversity of cultures and capabilities. As Fair Trade grows it is becoming increasingly important for the movement to speak for itself with a common voice, reflecting a common purpose. Equally it is important to preserve the purity of Fairtrade where possible.
Recognising the issues in here, IFAT has launched the Fair Trade organisation mark.
Does Fair Trade make any difference?
When I was first married with small children there was often some month left at the end of the money. But we worked hard and gradually we got to where there was some money left at the end of the month.
This is the fair trade difference - the ability to make a difference over time.
Not instant wealth and luxuries like a lottery winner, but raised hopes, the chance to build a community building or a protected spring water outlet. A chance to get out of debt.
The self esteem to believe there is a better future.
And over time better health, education for your children, maybe medicine when it's needed.
Yes. Fair Trade works.
Yes. Everyone can take part.
Everyone who supports fair trade lights a candle in the darkness.
Still not sure?
Read the
Grameen Bank story, how one person in Bangladesh started a bank with $27, and is now lending $500,000,000 per year to poor people with a 98% pay back record.
HELPING FAIR TRADE PARTNERS
WEFT and the Hull One World Shop have a couple of schemes in operation by which you can help Fair Trade to grow.
Please click
WEFT Finance
for details. Thank you.
PHOTOGRAPHS OF SHOPS
Austria
Vienna
England
Bolton, Justicia
Reading
York, Fairer World
York, Spuriergate Centre
France
Lille
Italy
Bolzano
Scotland
Edinburgh, Hadeel
Edinburgh, One World
Sweden
Lund
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