INTERNATIONAL FAIR TRADE DAY

LAST SATURDAY I ATTENDED A PRESENTATION REGARDING THE INTERNATIONAL FAIR TRADE ACTIONS AND LEADERS WHO ARE HELPING TO HARVEST ECONOMIC POWER THROUGH THEIR CONSUMERS AND ARTISANS TO CREATE A JUST AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE.

ONE LADY FLEW IN FROM LIMA, PERU. SHE TOLD MUCH OF HER STORY ABOUT HOW SHE HAD WORKED AS A JEWELER IN A FACTORY IN CUZCO AND ALSO WAS TRAINING TO BE A DENTAL ASSISTANT AT THE SAME TIME. SHE GOT VERY LITTLE SLEEP AT NIGHT AND FOUND THAT SHE COULD NOT AFFORD TO STAY IN THAT FACTORY. SHE MET TWO OTHER LADY JEWELERS THERE AND THEY DECIDED TO FORM A COMPANY THAT PRODUCED SILVER JEWELRY. SILVER PRICES HAVE INCREASED THREE FOLD WITHIN THE LAST TWO YEARS. THEY HAPPENED TO HEAR OF FAIR TRADE PROGRAM AND APPROACHED THEM FOR FURTHER DIRECTION. FAIR TRADE TOLD THEM THAT THEY HAD TO HAVE FIVE PEOPLE IN THEIR COMPANY IN ORDER TO HAVE THEIR JEWELRY SOLD THROUGH THEM. SO THEY FOUND TWO OTHER LADIES TO HELP MAKE THEIR JEWELRY.

NOT ONLY IS FAIR TRADE INVOLVED IN FABRICS, JEWELRY, AND WOOLEN GOODS, THEY ALSO ARE MEETING FARMERS IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES TO PRODUCE SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND MARKET ORGANIC DRIED FRUITS. THEY WERE ESTABLISHED IN 2003 AND THEY ALSO ESTABLISH PUBLIC EDUCATORS TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO CHECK OUT FAIR TRADE PRODUCT. THEIR ONE GOAL IS TO PAY THE ARTISANS AND FARMERS A FAIR PRICE AND INSTEAD OF TRADITIONAL MARKETING USE A FAIR TRADE SUPPLY CHAIN. THIS MEANS THAT THE PRODUCTS COME FROM THE PRODUCER AND GO TO FAIR TRADE DISTRIBUTOR TO A STORE OR CAFE AND THEN TO YOU. WITH CONVENTIONAL FAIR TRADE THE PRODUCTS GO THROUGH SEVEN DIFFERENT HANDS INSTEAD OF TWO IN FAIR TRADE. THIS GIVES THE PRODUCERS A MUCH HIGH RATE OF PAY. AND PREMIUMS FROM FAIR TRADE PRODUCTION ARE INVESTED BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY. THEY ALSO FOCUS ON ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY.

THEY ENSURE THAT WORKERS RECEIVE A LIVING WAGE IN A HEALTHY WORK ENVIRONMENT. IT WAS A FUN EVENT AND THE PERUVIAN JEWELER SHOWED US HOW SHE MADE HER INTRICATE EARRINGS.