How would a Fair Trade Toronto look?
Fair Trade is all about improving conditions of exchange so that producers get paid a just wage. Standard setting, certifying and monitoring organizations work hard to ensure that the money paid by consumers gets back to producers. Fair trade substitutes are not available for every product so don't throw out all of your possessions. However, there will be some changes...
More fair trade options at lower prices
If Toronto banned or taxed non-fair trade products, such as coffee and chocolate, then the volumes of fair trade products sold would go up and the prices for these products would likely fall and would reflect realistic-humane-just wages. New products could also enter the market knowing that there was shelf space available for fair trade [Full disclosure, this author works with Interrupcion Fair Trade, a fair trade food company]. Expect to see fair trade olive oil, olive spreads, pasta and chimichurri vegetable and steak sauce at a store near you soon...end of plug.
Less Guilt
Parents, families, companies, churches, mosques, NGOs, unions, friends, and you will be able to buy products knowing that they are made in healthy work environments by free labour (not child or slave labour). Let's face it, you were going to have that snack or give a gift, why not make the fair trade choice?
Better Labour and Socio-Economic Conditions "Over there" and "Here"
The companies that make our food and other consumer goods will follow the money. Whether responding to consumer pressure or government incentives through taxes, if fair trade products are demanded, existing and new companies will provide fair trade.
For a more in depth analysis and some inspiration on "Fair Trade Towns" see this article by Alicia Erickson:
Fair Trade Towns USA is "a campaign organized by local and national Fair Trade advocates whose aim is to encourage and support the Fair Trade Movement
in the U.S. Following the example of the Fair Trade movement in Europe, the campaign strives to support local, grassroots groups by offering tools and resources to become a Fair Trade town or city through successful local campaigns."
This campaign makes it even easier for your town to become a Fair Trade town, following in the footsteps of Media, PA and Brattleboro, VT. This campaign has developed guidelines on how to achieve the five goals required to become one:
1. The formation of a steering committee that meets regularly.
2. Availability in local stores, cafes, and other venues of a range of Fair Trade products that are either certified by TransFair USA or sold by retailers that are members of Fair Trade Federation.
3. The use of Fair Trade products by a number of local organizations, such as places of worship, schools, hospitals and offices.
4. Attraction of media attention and visible public support of the local campaign.
5. Passage of a resolution supporting Fair Trade by the town or city council/governing body and a commitment to serve Fair
Trade products at meetings.
And just for web etiquette here is the trackback link
