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What is Fair Trade?
Fair trade is an alternative approach to conventional international trade. It is a trading partnership between producers, traders or buyers, and consumers which provides a more equitable and sustainable form of exchange. It does this by providing better trading conditions and by raising awareness of conditions endured by workers in many countries.
Under the current system of coffee trade, very little of what consumers pay for coffee, often less than 10%, reaches the farmer who grows the beans.
Of the 25 million coffee producers, approximately 15 million are small farmers. Unable to export directly they must sell their crops to mid-level traders, or as they are commonly called in Central America, coyotes.’ These traders often use their monopoly position to force the farmer to sell low. As lenders, these coyotes demand extremely high interest payments. This type of exploitation results in a spiralling debt cycle that leaves farmers and families further impoverished.
However, there is an alternative. Fairly traded coffee is bought directly from farming cooperatives, which eliminates the role of the midlevel trader and allows farmers to earn a fair living.
How Fair Trade Differs from Conventional Trade?
Under conventional trade the exchange between producers and buyers is rarely fair. In most cases, the person or company buying a product or service is looking for the lowest possible price in order to make the greatest profit.
Fair trade is a trading partnership between producers, traders or buyers, and consumers which provides a more equitable and sustainable form of exchange.
Goals of Fair Trade
Many fair trade retailers, wholesalers and producers are members of
the International Federation of Alternative Trade (IFAT). IFAT is a
global network of fair trade organizations that works to improve the
livelihoods and well-being of marginalized people through trade.
Members of IFAT agree to follow the goals of fair trade as outlined
below:
• To improve the livelihoods and well-being of producers by improving
market access, strengthening producer organizations, paying a
better price and providing continuity in the trading relationship
• To promote development opportunities for disadvantaged producers,
especially women and indigenous people, and to protect children
from exploitation in the production process
• To raise awareness among consumers of the negative impact of
traditional trade on small producers, so consumers can exercise
their purchasing power in a more positive way
• To set an example of partnership in trade through dialogue, transparency
and respect
• To campaign for changes in the rules and practices of conventional
international trade
• To protect human rights by promoting social justice, sound environmental
practices and economic security
All of this information is from Oxfam Canada found at: http://www.oxfam.ca/campaigns/...
Our petition is as follows:
PETITION TO THE UNIVERSITY OF WINDSOR
We, the undersigned students, faculty and staff of Canada, the University of Windsor the attention of the
University:
Whereas: Certified Fair Trade coffee is understood to be coffee, sold by coffee retailers and roasters, which meets
the standards set by TransFair Canada, a non-profit monitoring organization that is a member of the Fairtrade
Labelling Associations (FLO) headquartered in Europe;
And the Fair trade means that farmers, workers, and artisans, receive a sufficient price under direct long-term
contracts, are small-scale producers in democratic co-ops (coffee, cocoa, bananas, fruits, crafts) or workers on
larger farms who receive a living wage and can bargain collectively (tea, bananas, fruits), don't use abusive child
labour or forced labour, and use ecologically sustainable methods;
And that the University of Windsor claims to be in the forefront of Social Justice issues;
And that for profit corporations such as Starbucks and McDonalds offer Fair Trade Coffee as an option;
And that McMaster University serves only Fairtrade Coffee.
THEREFORE, we call upon the University of Windsor to offer Certified Fair Trade coffee, at least, as an option at all its food outlets. |
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Our petition is sponsored by the Social Justice group at The Ontario Public Interest Research Group-Windsor found at opirg.uwindsor.ca/ and Journalists for Human Rights (Windsor Law Chapter) found at www.jhr.ca/ |
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