As mentioned before, this blog entry looks at the issues and social issues that arose during my little field trip at Ten Thousand Villages. I hope that after you read this blog you will have something to think about, even for a bit.
So as I was saying, Fair Trade. You might ask what is fair trade and here's the answer. Fair trade is a trade movement that wants to better improve the lives of producers from a developing country. Now, free trade is a trade agreement between two parties without the interference from the government. As you can see there is, I would call a social or human difference between the two trade ideologies. The one is wholly governed by the system of profit, while the other isn't so much. It would be ignorant of me if I didn't recognize the importance of money in helping others. I know that everyone supports the idea of fair trade but to many it remains an idea. I don't want to sound pessimistic but we have to be realistic. One fact that is most certain is that Fair Trade products cost more than ordinary goods but help those who produce them. During "normal times" and especially in economic downturns, people have always developed a thrifty nature (well, to the 95% of the world anyways, Damn You, rich people and your yachts!!!!) and would rather spend the money they saved into spending it on themselves. I know this because I do it everytime. I feel guilty and I am. To share the blame, I think everyone who can afford to buy Fair Trade products is guilty.
It's not all doom and gloom, we could do something! We could start by supporting Fair Trade products even by just buying one product. We can't give up in our pursuit to end poverty and injustices. We just can't. We have to realize that we can't end poverty tomorrow but it starts in small steps. I also believe that fair trade products should be given special tax incentives and breaks to help the distributor/producers bring down the cost. I know that it doesn't sound fair (to other products/companies/etc.) but as I have said before, fair trade products allow producers to have a better quality of life. Shouldn't we reward that? I mean we reward oil companies to pollute our air and water and destroy local ecosystems. We allow food and water corporations to monopolize and buy out our river, fruits, animals, etc. Can we not reward companies that actually wants to good and redeem ourselves? In the end, it is up to the us (the consumer) to decide our future. We have to change ourselves, our perspectives and our ways if we really are serious in eradicating injustices in the world.
DARE Update:
It has been my second week of staying off Facebook and everything is going well. Well, except the fact that every weekends I log on. It has been due to personal and educational reasons that I have logged on. My family and close friends have been a constant support (along with some teasing and tempting) for me during this whole ordeal. I really would like to thank them for such enthusiasm they have shown. The donations doesn't hurt either. I hope that you are also wishing me success for such a good cause, which is the Stephen Lewis Foundation. If you want to donate or just want to know more about the Foundation please visit the Stephen Lewis Foundation website.
(The stats from the experiment was heart-warming)
Ohhh before I forget,
Politically correct term: Happy Holidays!!!!!
My term: Have a Merry Christmas!!!!
MDGProject................
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