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Fair Trade is a buzz word for a movement that helps you bring justice to third world countries. The cheap prices you pay at WalMart (I don't go into that store!) are subsidized on the backs of exploited workers around the world.  Below are several Web sites that help you participate in this movement. 

ÚGlobal Exchange  

"In today's world economy, where profits rule and small-scale producers are left out of the bargaining process, farmers, craft producers, and other workers are often left without resources or hope for their future. Fair Trade helps exploited producers escape from this cycle and gives them a way to maintain their traditional lifestyles with dignity. Fair Trade encompasses a range of goods, from agricultural commodities like coffee, chocolate, and tea, to handcrafts like clothing, household items, and decorative arts. Our Fair Trade campaigns and stores offer a variety of ways for you to support this growing movement for social justice!

"Fair Trade involves the following principles: 

  • Producers receive a fair price - a living wage. For commodities, farmers receive a stable, minimum price. 

  • Forced labor and exploitative child labor are not allowed 

  • Buyers and producers trade under direct long-term relationships 

  • Producers have access to financial and technical assistance

  • Sustainable production techniques are encouraged 

  • Working conditions are healthy and safe 

  • Equal employment opportunities are provided for all 

  • All aspects of trade and production are open to public accountability."

ÚIFAT: The International Fair Trade Association 

  - the global association of Fair Trade Organizations

IFAT members are committed to being open, transparent and accountable to their stakeholders. Learn more.

ÚF L O - Fair Trade Labeling Organizations, Intl  
 FLO is the worldwide Fairtrade Standard setting and Certification organisation. It permits more than 800,000 producers and their dependants in more than 40 countries to benefit from labelled Fairtrade. FLO guarantees that products sold anywhere in the world with a Fairtrade label marketed by a National Initiative conforms to Fairtrade Standards and contributes to the development of disadvantaged producers.

ÚTransFair USA - Fair Trade Certifier
"Fair Trade is:
 A living wage for farmers. During an unprecedented slump in world coffee prices, Fair Trade has become more important than ever.

"A new model for business based on the "triple bottom line"—a fair deal for farmers and workers, environmental sustainability, and profitability for all parties in the chain of production.

"An international movement with roots going back 50 years. TransFair USA is one of 17 national Fair Trade certification initiatives in Europe, North America and Japan. Together, these initiatives make up the Fair Trade Labeling Organizations International, www.fairtrade.net."

ÚThe Fair Trade Resource Network  "raises consumer awareness about improving people's lives through Fair Trade alternatives. Explore our site to learn how you can improve lives as a conscious consumer."

Ú The Fair Trade Federation (FTF) is an association of fair trade wholesalers, retailers, and producers whose members are committed to providing fair wages and good employment opportunities to economically disadvantaged artisans and farmers worldwide.

FTF directly links low-income producers with consumer markets and educates consumers about the importance of purchasing fairly traded products which support living wages and safe and healthy conditions for workers in the developing world.

Ú World Centric is a volunteer run cooperative project, formed in March 2004 to:
  •  Raise public awareness about the unbalanced state of our world - specifically environmental destruction and the growing social & economic disparities. 
  • To raise awareness of ourselves as "global citizens" and the impact of our choices and actions on the well-being and health of all the world’s peoples and environments.
  •  To actively participate in the creation of local cooperative community networks which can provide for the needs of the local community equitably and sustainably.

http://www.worldcentric.org/index.htm


ÚSources of Fair-Traded goods from third-world countries:

Equal Exchange - http://www.equalexchange.com/

Fair Trade Friends - Click on the Fairtrade Friends button at Equal Exchange.

Fair Trade Federation - http://www.fairtradefederation.com/

Global Exchange - http://store.globalexchange.org/ 
See also http://www.globalexchange.org/

 

Tea - This site is a little gypsy wild, but if you like tea, there's lots here, organic and fair traded
http://www.gypsytea.com/index.cfm

 

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Alternatives to spending money on "STUFF" -

Simple Living  
Simply Living links to over 205 of the best organizations and web sites on peace, the environment, sustainability and more.

See Homesteading

Live on Less & Love It! from Mother Earth News  

Alternatives for Simple Living
http://www.simpleliving.org/

FixingThePlanet.com
http://www.fixingtheplanet.com/ 
"Live simply so others can simply live"

SaveOurSkills.com http://www.saveourskills.com/ 

New American Dream helps Americans consume responsibly to protect the environment, enhance quality of life, and promote social justice www.NewDream.org 

ConsciousChoice - lots of info on alternative medicine/food
http://www.consciouschoice.com/index.html

A Yahoo group discussing simple living, sustainable agriculture, etc
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FoodWaterShelter/ 

An alternative to spending money on "stuff" that you and I don't need is to support programs that help poor people build their own economies that don't rely on foreign trade. Here are some examples:

Heifer International - http://www.heifer.org/end_hunger/index.htm
      "Ending Hunger, Caring for the Earth"
"Heifer animals (and training in their care) offer hungry families around the world a way to feed themselves and become self-reliant. Children receive nutritious milk or eggs; families earn income for school, health care and better housing; communities go beyond meeting immediate needs to fulfilling dreams. Farmers learn sustainable, environmentally sound agricultural techniques."

Lutheran World Relief  http://www.lwr.org/index.html
       To others, through others
"Lutheran World Relief works with partners in 50 countries, to help people grow food, improve health, strengthen communities, end conflict, build livelihoods and recover from disasters." Example of a LWR project - the Hekima Project in Dodoma, Tanzania.

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Food Security - Justice for our Farmers - Fair Trade on the Home Front

Just as it is not just to pay third world farmers and artisans lest than a fair price for their goods, it is unjust to take advantage of  our farmers and farm workers who are paid poverty wages or less than their costs of production. It is also unwise to depend on imports for so much of our food. The Food Security movement seeks to redress this issue by supporting farmer-consumer contact through farmers' markets, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) (see also http://www.sare.org/csa/), co-ops, and locally owned health food stores and also through lobbying for better legislation.

A Social Statement on Economic Life 
Sufficient, Sustainable Livelihood for All   

Community Food Security Coalition is dedicated to building strong, sustainable, local and regional food systems that ensure access to affordable, nutritious, and culturally appropriate food for all people at all times. Their Resource List has valuable links

http://www.foodroutes.org/  Where does your food come from?
FoodRoutes Network is dedicated to reintroducing Americans to their food – the seeds it grows from, the farmers who produce it, and the routes that carry it from the fields to their tables. Their Buy Fresh Buy Local chapters are popping up in every community across the USA!

The National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture, Inc. is dedicated to educating the public on the importance of a sustainable food and agriculture system that is economically viable, environmentally sound, socially just, and humane.

Bioneers Food & Farming Networks - Visionary and Practical Solutions for Restoring the Earth

Slow Food USA  Live Slow!
"Recognizing that the enjoyment of wholesome food is essential to the pursuit of happiness, Slow Food U.S.A. is an educational organization dedicated to stewardship of the land and ecologically sound food production; to the revival of the kitchen and the table as centers of pleasure, culture, and community; to the invigoration and proliferation of regional, seasonal culinary traditions; and to living a slower and more harmonious rhythm of life."

Chefs Collaborative  is a national network of more than 1,000 members of the food community who promote sustainable cuisine by celebrating the joys of local, seasonal, and artisanal cooking.

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Sources of local food and "green" products - What to Look For

Evaluating Eco-labels 
  "Earth Friendly, Farm Friendly" is an example of an deceptive industry originated label certifying methods which are neither humane nor ecological. Beware of such labels, especially if you are looking for pastured raised meat and dairy. Unfortunately the USDA Organic seal is not as meaningful as hoped, as proper pasturing of animals is not required. Big food corporations are taking advantage of that fact, so beware.

* Northwest Ohio Food Sources

Good Earth Guide to Organic and Ecological Farms and Gardens in Ohio  
Delicious wholesome food produced locally by people who are acting on their concern for the Earth's resources and for the ability of our increasingly fragile planet to support future generations

Local Harvest "Do you want fresh, locally grown, organic food, but don't know where to find it? The Local Harvest map makes it easy to find family farms, farmers markets and other sources of sustainably grown food in your area."

The Eat Well Guide  is a free, national guide to sustainably-raised meat, fish, dairy and poultry. It provides convenient, searchable listings of producers, along with grocery stores, restaurants, and mail-order outlets that offer sustainable meat.

For those with more money than time - online shop for grass fed meat, 
now U.S. Wellness Meats: http://www.grasslandbeef.com/index.html

I Want More Say In My Food Choices!
A resource guide from the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture in Iowa http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/pubs/other/foodguide.htm 

All things Organic

AllOrganicLinks.com  The Global Resource for Organic Information.

Organic Food is Better  

Organic Agriculture Issues  

Organic Gardening  

Sources of Real Milk 

The GreenGuide  has lots in information on wise, ecologically sensitive shopping, and lots of other links and info. Be aware that they do not understand the dangers of soy products. 

EcoMall - "Earth's Largest Environmental Living Center"
Your First Stop to Shop for Green Products
That are Good for People and the Environment.
 - another site with lots of links. Again, be aware that there are vegetarian and soybean links that I cannot recommend.

Green People http://www.greenpeople.org/index.htm

Sustainable Table - The Issues

Ecobags - http://www.ecobags.com/

Organic Flowers 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Updated 05/28/2011

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