make trade fair

Today I bought a birthday present in the nearest Oxfam shop. It was a small purchase but the fact that I was buying something with a “fair trade” sticker on it made me feel good.

I find the limited degree to which I can contribute to real improvements to world trade fairness frustrating. However, I think that my support of Oxfam Australia (see http://www.oxfam.org.au/campaigns/mtf/) does add my voice to those of many others with similar views. In the absence of effective global democratic institutions, organisations such as Oxfam can play an important role in making trade fairer.

well there is this:http://www.transfair.ca/

and this:http://www.fairtradetoronto.com/

but of course there is this:
“In 2006, more than 450 tonnes of coffee sold in Canada with fair trade labels were not officially certified. That has fair trade advocates calling for tougher rules.”
http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/fair-trade/

and this:
“in general only a maximum of 20 percent of people would be willing to pay more for Fair Trade goods. A huge majority of people would rather pay a lower price despite the negative social and environmental consequences of doing so. Partly because of these limits many activists have dismissed Fair Trade as a product for a niche market that will not lead to real social change. ... Within the Fair Trade movement the push now is to insure the quality of Fair Trade products both as a means of justifying higher prices and enticing non-ethical consumers who want a tasty luxury.”

http://www.alternatives.ca/article1016.html

Sheesh!