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What Is Fair Trade?
We all have a place in our mind’s eye where we can see Gepetto whistling away while he carves wooden puppets in his toyshop. What a delight it would be if that kind of daydream could be closer to the reality of the way our children’s toys are made.
It’s a far-reaching concept, but here is what Fair Trade means to us:
People make great toys out of natural and renewable materials, and, through a Fair Trade network, sell them at a fair price.
Who can argue with that?
So many of our toys are mass-produced by individuals who are paid a wage that is barely livable. The conditions in which they work are often uncomfortable, even health-threatening. These toys are then sold through a commercial distribution network, marked up in price at every step along the way.
Rest assured that our Fair Trade artisans are receiving good payment for their beautiful toys. They can make a living from the crafts at which they are so talented, and we can have one-of-a kind treasures made by a friend somewhere else on the Earth.
We hope that you’ll stop and think, like we do, about the purchases that you make every day. When there is a choice, perhaps you will choose products made by people who can support themselves decently by manufacturing them. Market shifts, like all movements, start small. If enough of us continue to turn away from the sweatshops, in time, the market for Fair Trade and other ethically produced items will increase. Evidence of this: the worldwide commerce of Fair Trade items amounted to about 2.2 billion US dollars in 2006, up about 40 percent from the year before. And it continues to grow. People are getting the message, and making the choice.
Next time you pick up one of the toys your child plays with, think of the hands that made it. We think you’ll join us in feeling proud and having peace of mind when you give your kids a toy that was made with pride, pleasure, and satisfaction.
For much, much more information, start by following these links:
www.fairtradefederation.org
www.coopamerica.org/programs/fairtrade/whattoknow/index.cfm Back to Articles |
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