Comments on: Fair Trade for Beginners http://matadorchange.com/fair-trade-for-beginners Thu, 18 Mar 2010 13:52:29 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Kate http://matadorchange.com/fair-trade-for-beginners/comment-page-1#comment-2447 Kate Thu, 26 Mar 2009 02:47:37 +0000 http://matadorchange.com/?p=102#comment-2447 Good read about a lot of complex and important issues. I hope you write another to inform us further! Good read about a lot of complex and important issues. I hope you write another to inform us further!

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]]> By: Christine http://matadorchange.com/fair-trade-for-beginners/comment-page-1#comment-2445 Christine Wed, 25 Mar 2009 21:55:30 +0000 http://matadorchange.com/?p=102#comment-2445 I appreciate finally being able to hear what some of the possible criticisms of Fair Trade are. Don't get me wrong--I'm a proponent of fair trade, and have followed it since Global Exchange launched their store. But alas, as most things that become corporate or big business, there is usually at least something a little shady going on behind the curtain. And many of us Westerners like to lull ourselves into believing we are doing our part by buying things labeled organic, fair trade, etc. With the organic label in America, there have been farmers who have pulled out, saying the USDA system has watered down the rules to make it essentially worthless--and yet charge them an exorbitant amount money to be a part of the system. We definitely have to dig a bit beyond what is spoon-fed to us by the PR leaders of these groups. I appreciate finally being able to hear what some of the possible criticisms of Fair Trade are. Don’t get me wrong–I’m a proponent of fair trade, and have followed it since Global Exchange launched their store. But alas, as most things that become corporate or big business, there is usually at least something a little shady going on behind the curtain. And many of us Westerners like to lull ourselves into believing we are doing our part by buying things labeled organic, fair trade, etc.

With the organic label in America, there have been farmers who have pulled out, saying the USDA system has watered down the rules to make it essentially worthless–and yet charge them an exorbitant amount money to be a part of the system. We definitely have to dig a bit beyond what is spoon-fed to us by the PR leaders of these groups.

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]]> By: Juliane http://matadorchange.com/fair-trade-for-beginners/comment-page-1#comment-2444 Juliane Wed, 25 Mar 2009 18:12:20 +0000 http://matadorchange.com/?p=102#comment-2444 Thanks for writing this-- makes the whole fair-trade thing very easy to understand! :) I feel like we need a piece that boils down the "organic" label as well. Thanks for writing this– makes the whole fair-trade thing very easy to understand! :) I feel like we need a piece that boils down the “organic” label as well.

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