Here in the United States, the concept of Fair Trade is still relatively new. In 1998, the very first Fair Trade certified product, coffee, was put on the market. In the years to follow several agricultural items have been added such as cocoa, tea and rice. Although there are 19 certifying agents for fair trade here in America, we mostly hear of the organization TransFair USA, providing much of what we see is certified. You will know a product is certified Fair Trade if you see the black and white label with the person carrying a bowl in each hand. All of these products however, are agricultural products because these, as well as some fruits, are the only items that TransFair USA will ensure are produced according to fair trade guidelines. So, even if Bono wanted his clothing line to be "certified" as Fair Trade under this logo, he had no ability to do so. This is the misconception. Nonetheless, there are those antagonists against Fair Trade who will find anything to latch onto in order to sway the public opinion.
Being in this business I have learned a lot. I have learned about the politics of trade. I have learned about the type of people who support causes such as Fair Trade and organically produced products. I have learned about the people who do not. I have learned about the importance of educating myself on these issues in order to understand what is really going on.
I can honestly say that I feel there are too few who step outside of the box to really know what is going on around them and they are contributing to some of the major causes of our countries debt and moral destruction. Too many people rely on articles such as those written to criticize Bono and his unfortunately failed attempt to expose Fair Trade principles and not enough on their own findings of how this game works.
The sad part is, the only reason it is a game is because of how little effort our American public puts into understanding the rules. Our purchases drive this economy and this economy drives the value of our work and our dollar. If we could truly come together and apply practical life lessons to the way we respond to our pocketbooks such as, "what goes around comes around," or "do unto others as you would have them do unto you," we would in time see the true power of freedom in this country. We need to create our own destiny, for our children and their children and not let it lie in the hands of politicians who have no clue who we are as individuals or corporations that are driven by growing profits. We have to come together to be the system that we want...not fight the one that is already in place. Let the folks who are driven by fear and power learn their own lessons as we come together as a community with consiousness about our land, our bodies and all people being created equally.
I make a proposal to anyone who reads this. It is so simple. Take five minutes to sign yourself up for Google News Alerts or Yahoo News Alerts for the terms Fair Trade and Organic. Dedicate yourself to at least one article in each category once a week and broaden your knowledge of these issues. Form your own opinion and then weigh it against others who are educated. Be your own conscious voice, whether you hear it from your heart or your head at least it belongs to you.
By the way, there are many people out there that are participating in supporting Fair Trade products and the producers that cannot yet get certification. They can and are able to become a part of the Fair Trade Federation which is an organization that accepts members, after a long and detailed inspection on standards of the working relationships between producers and importers. Basically you fill out an application and provide all of the required paperwork, you are thoroughly checked out and then are accepted or not if you fulfill their standards. This process can take up to two years. You will know a a Fair Trade Federation member by the tag on the product, here in the US it is a pair of hands on an eye-shaped oval.
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