Fair Trade Websites

A while back I posted an entry on the topic of ‘child labour’. I spoke about how so much of what we eat and wear in Western Culture is the product of the sweat and tears of child workers. It is a tough area and very easy to ‘guilt’ people into doing something about it. I don’t believe this should be the approach taken. However, at the same time I believe people, and especially Christians, should be an advocate for organisations that are aiming to make a difference in this area. So, in this spirit I list the following websites that list various Fair Trade information websites as well as a few fair trade manufacturers and product stockists. It is by no means an expansive list, with countless companies thankfully joining the fair trade bandwagon, however I have had some form of positive contact with the following groups and so wish to publically applaud them for their work!

http://www.fairtrade.com.au/ – the offical Australia and New Zealand fair trade site. Great info on fair trade in Australia and how to spot fair trade products at your local supermarket or shopping centre.

 

http://www.oxfam.org.au/campaigns/fair-trade/ – Oxfam, an organisation that strongly encourages and supports fair trade goods.

 

http://www.fairtrade.net/ – International Fair Trade Labelling organisation

 

http://www.nosweatstuff.com.au/ – 100% non-sweatshop shoes and clothing

 

http://www.etiko.com.au/ – Fair Trade clothes and sporting gear manufacturer

 

http://stylewithsoul.com.au/shop/ – Another fair trade clothing manufacturer

 

http://www.wildbeancafe.com/  – All Wild Bean café’s (connected to BP service stations) now serve 100% Fair Trade Coffee!

 

http://www.greenandblacks.com – Fair Trade chocolate brand available in WA (I believe IN coles stores and other selected stockists)

 

ALSO, Coles, Woolworths and IGA supermarkets ALL STOCK fair trade coffees and chocolate brands. Check labelling for details!

 

For more info, check the first website listed or simply google ‘fair trade’…there is a LOT of information about this topic on the internet!

Child Labour

The Issue

Where do our soccer balls come from?

As part of my job I get the chance to go into classrooms and make children aware of some of the things that are going on around our world. One such topic that I have been focussing on lately is the issue of child labour. The general response from kids has been ‘how can this happen?’ It is really hard for the children to comprehend HOW children their age can be forced to work for 10-12 hours a day (or more), for very little pay, instead of going to school. They are universally outraged. 

Some Stats and definitions (from World Visions ‘Get Connected’ magazine.)
“Child labour is any work done by a child that is dangerous, keeps them from getting an education, or is harmful to their health or development.”
The International Labour Organisation estimates 218 million children in the world today are involved in child labour. That is one in every six children in the world.
The most common industries employing child labourers are farms, mines, factories (in particular textile and sports equipment), homes and shops.
The greatest number of child labourers is found in Asia, with 122 million children involved right on Australia’s doorstep!
Child soldiers also fall under the ‘child labour’ category.
Every year 22,000 children around the world die in work-related accidents.

A Christian Response?
The question I have been asking myself is, what is a Christian response to Child Labour? When talking about justice, mercy and peace, what role can we take in helping eradicate child labour? Most child labour occurs in countries living in extreme poverty, so obviously the work people are doing in fixing this is making a big difference, but a key area that we can all make a difference in is our shopping habits. Now, this is a ‘touchy’ area, so I’m not about to state ‘this is what we must do’, because it wouldn’t achieve anything and wouldn’t be the right thing to do. What I do want to talk a bit about though is the topic ofFair Trade.

What is Fair Trade and how does it help?
According to the Fair Trade Association of Aus and NZ,

“Fair Trade is a trading partnership, based on dialogue, transperancy and respect, that seeks greater equity in international trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of, marginalised producers and workers – especially in the South. Fair Trade organisations (backed by consumers) are engaged actively in supporting producers, awareness raising and in campaigning for changes in the rules and practice of conventional, international trade.”

Fair trade helps by spreading the money earnt by selling an item evenly across all people involved. Take a soccer ball for example. When you purchase a soccer ball, the money you pay gets spready across an importor, factory, contractor, maker(usually a child), exporter and a retailer. That’s a lot of steps! Fair trade ensures that each person along that chain gets ‘fair’ compensation for their work.

Clothes are another major item we use in the western world where the maker (once again often children) receives as little as 1% (or less) of the final price paid.

Recently a friend of mine returned from a trip overseas, boasting to me how they were able to purchase 4 Soccer jumpers for $10! They look exactly like the ones you buy in Australia for $80. Rather than be impressed, I was sad, because there is only one way somebody could sell a shirt for $2.50 and still make a profit.

I will close this post here, with more to say at a later date. But I will leave it with a question. What are you wearing? Are you wearing the sweat and tears of a child (and before you ask, sadly I have to say I probably am, given 90% of what I am wearing I bought from Target). What role do you think Christians should play in advocating for Fair Trade?

Boycott or Not – Part 2

A few days ago I posted about my current dilemma, whether I boycott to Olympics to stand against human rights abuse. The post can be found here.

I have thought very seriously about this and have made a decision. I have decided that rather than make a quiet, personal stand that in my opinion doesn’t actually achieve much…I have made a substantial donation to amnesty international.

Amnesty International

Amnesty International are an organisation that makes human rights abuse their target. They do a lot of work around the world standing up for the less fortunate.

Though they are not specifically Christian, they are supported by many Christian organisations and have many Christian members. I also totally believe that much of the work they do is exactly what God would have us be doing, so I am happy to throw some finances there way and I trust them to use it wisely.

The reason I chose them mainly is because they are really focussing on these olympic games. When considering a boycott, I really wanted to think about what would actually ‘help’ those put out by this event. This is not to say that I don’t think a boycott helps, enough people standing together makes a difference. I guess I just felt that these games are happening, and I also am very patriotic when it comes to sport and want to be able to support the Australian athletes. I hope (and believe) many athletes will be speaking up while at the games, so I feel ok watching this event.

Having said this, on my conscience is also ‘so what will happen when the games end’. When the world spotlight goes…I fear China will just slip back into its old ways. It is for this reason i chose donating over boycotting. Boycotting makes a stand during the games…but some of the main issues I believe will occur when they are all over, and it is my understanding that Amnesty won’t be stopping just because the games stop.

I have no issue with people who have made the decision to boycott. In many ways it is easier for me to ‘donate’ and still watch the games rather than boycott, so all the power to you all! I hope that, together, with the many different ways people are maiing a stand, we can help those that have been and will be put out so the world can watch this sporting spectacle.

Compassion Day ’08

From the Compassion Website

“1 Day. 1500 children. 42 Radio Stations.

Get ready for COMPASSION DAY 08!

Thursday 15 May 2008 (6 am to 10pm), tune into your local Christian radio station and help bring a new day for 1500 children in Haiti and neighbouring Dominican Republic.

COMPASSION DAY is an annual event supported by 42 Christian radio stations across Australia aimed at encouraging child sponsorship by focusing on the needs of children in poverty.

Despite the idyllic Caribbean setting, Haiti is the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere where years of political, social, economic and spiritual turmoil have left a destitute people, struggling to survive under the burden of poverty.

Children make up 48 per cent of Haiti’s population, and their greatest challenge is survival. On Compassion Day 2008, we will declare a new day for the children of Haiti!”