Envirowiki is now multi lingual! Check out Envirowiki Meta for the full list of languages!
Fair Trade
From Envirowiki
Fair Trade Certification empowers farmers and farm workers to lift themselves out of poverty by investing in their farms and communities, protecting the environment, and developing the business skills necessary to compete in the global marketplace.
Fair Trade is much more than a fair price! Fair Trade principles include:
- Fair price: Democratically organized farmer groups receive a guaranteed minimum floor price and an additional premium for certified organic products. Farmer organizations are also eligible for pre-harvest credit.
- Fair labor conditions: Workers on Fair Trade farms enjoy freedom of association, safe working conditions, and living wages. Forced child labor is strictly prohibited.
- Direct trade: With Fair Trade, importers purchase from Fair Trade producer groups as directly as possible, eliminating unnecessary middlemen and empowering farmers to develop the business capacity necessary to compete in the global marketplace.
- Democratic and transparent organizations: Fair Trade farmers and farm workers decide democratically how to invest Fair Trade revenues.
- Community development: Fair Trade farmers and farm workers invest Fair Trade premiums in social and business development projects like scholarship programs, quality improvement trainings, and organic certification.
- Environmental sustainability: Harmful agrochemicals and GMOs are strictly prohibited in favor of environmentally sustainable farming methods that protect farmers’ health and preserve valuable ecosystems for future generations.
[edit] About the FairWear campaign
The FairWear campaign is a coalition of churches, community organizations and unions. The FairWear Campaign addresses the gross exploitation of workers who make clothing at home in our Australian community. It is an effective way for consumers to respond to this injustice in our own country[reference needed]. FairWear was launched in Melbourne in December 1996. Already, thousands of letters have been written to retailers and politicians, and consumer awareness and protest actions have been held.
The impact of this is being felt by retailers, but more is needed. We are moving into a new phase for FairWear, stepping up the campaign as more people participate. This site aims to assist groups and individuals to become involved in a range of actions that will draw attention and apply pressure upon government, retailers and manufacturers to make a difference to the working situation of outworkers.
