Have you ever though
t about the quality of your food? Probably most of students don't like spending a lot of money on food. They prefer to eat something cheap without wasting too much time on preparing it. It is the reason why most of us choose products from supermarkets or fast food. Nowadays ecological food is getting more and more popular and trendy. It is more like a fashion than a wisdom. Television is creating a trend for being a cool person, beautiful, fit and healthy who achieves fame and success... everything because of the fact that he/she eats only good, natural food. It is only next fashion. Eco life should be our own conscious choice. Our way of life shouldn't be dependent on some new fashion and also shouldn't be purely due to our health and good mood but mostly because of vision of the future, environment and people who are producing that food. Have you ever thought over the price of bananas? Why fruits from so far places are cheaper than apples from our country? We don't we pay more for such a long transport? Maybe an apple is better than some banana? There is the only one reason - remuneration for work to farmers. Can you imagine how low are their wages? Probably most of us can't. For that reason there appeared Fair Trade.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhQJrz-aDfI
Fair trade appeared in the 1940s and 1950s. The idea of FT was invented by religious groups and non-governmental organizations mainly from Britain and Holland. It is a social organization which is trying to help farmers in developing countries make better trading conditions and promote sustainability. They are negotiating the payment for work to producers and at the same time want to higher social and environmental standards. The idea was clear - development of the
poorest parts of the World.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ontjhRKU3JQ
Over the years, fair trade products were sold in small shops and were
quite difficult to find by consumers. However now, the situation has changed. You can buy them in large supermarkets. Fashion for products marked by the distinctive stamp is used by the heads of supermarket's chain as a great chance to earn more money. It turned out that the inclusion of these products to sale, renders a huge profit and increases the annual sales oby40%. Initially, the main products of FT were some handicrafts after that cocoa and coffee. Now it has developed from food products to cosmetics and clothing. Fair Trade movement can be proud of itself, because theoretically the more outlets there are, the better standards of living people in the poor regions of the world have
In some Polish markets you can find products marked by FT organization. All of the products are more expensive than normal food but it is time for your conscious decision. It can be a good way to fight against the exploitation and injustice in developing countries. You can say that it is a waste of time and money because a single man has no power, but in fact even one good choice is able to change really a lot. We just can't be inactive.
t about the quality of your food? Probably most of students don't like spending a lot of money on food. They prefer to eat something cheap without wasting too much time on preparing it. It is the reason why most of us choose products from supermarkets or fast food. Nowadays ecological food is getting more and more popular and trendy. It is more like a fashion than a wisdom. Television is creating a trend for being a cool person, beautiful, fit and healthy who achieves fame and success... everything because of the fact that he/she eats only good, natural food. It is only next fashion. Eco life should be our own conscious choice. Our way of life shouldn't be dependent on some new fashion and also shouldn't be purely due to our health and good mood but mostly because of vision of the future, environment and people who are producing that food. Have you ever thought over the price of bananas? Why fruits from so far places are cheaper than apples from our country? We don't we pay more for such a long transport? Maybe an apple is better than some banana? There is the only one reason - remuneration for work to farmers. Can you imagine how low are their wages? Probably most of us can't. For that reason there appeared Fair Trade.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhQJrz-aDfI
Fair trade appeared in the 1940s and 1950s. The idea of FT was invented by religious groups and non-governmental organizations mainly from Britain and Holland. It is a social organization which is trying to help farmers in developing countries make better trading conditions and promote sustainability. They are negotiating the payment for work to producers and at the same time want to higher social and environmental standards. The idea was clear - development of the
poorest parts of the World.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ontjhRKU3JQ
Over the years, fair trade products were sold in small shops and were
quite difficult to find by consumers. However now, the situation has changed. You can buy them in large supermarkets. Fashion for products marked by the distinctive stamp is used by the heads of supermarket's chain as a great chance to earn more money. It turned out that the inclusion of these products to sale, renders a huge profit and increases the annual sales oby40%. Initially, the main products of FT were some handicrafts after that cocoa and coffee. Now it has developed from food products to cosmetics and clothing. Fair Trade movement can be proud of itself, because theoretically the more outlets there are, the better standards of living people in the poor regions of the world have
In some Polish markets you can find products marked by FT organization. All of the products are more expensive than normal food but it is time for your conscious decision. It can be a good way to fight against the exploitation and injustice in developing countries. You can say that it is a waste of time and money because a single man has no power, but in fact even one good choice is able to change really a lot. We just can't be inactive.
Question:
Have you ever bought any product marked by FT?
Do you believe that FT may help in the development of the poorest parts of
the World?
Have you ever bought any product marked by FT?
Do you believe that FT may help in the development of the poorest parts of
the World?
I've looked into this topic and for me it looks like a scam
ReplyDeletehttp://www.thisismoney.co.uk/consumer/caring/article.html?in_article_id=517683&in_page_id=511
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/46cd2578-3f5a-11db-a37c-0000779e2340.html#axzz1IgE5V1d2
In my oppinion corporations have found just another way to make more money :) and "Fair Trade" is just another form of marketing and while people think they are helping third world countries most of this money goes to corporations, governments through taxes etc...
If you feel morally obliged to help people in third world countries then I’d suggest you buy cheaper food (and help farmers who produce it) and give the premium money you would’ve spend on these “Fair Trade” products to charity.
Yes it might be true. Recently I heard about some affair conected with Fair Trade. I am not sure if I remember properly but someone, member of the FT board have made money on importing a food to Europe and selling it at a profit. In fact the farmers haven't got more money for products. It is obvious that such a big organization make a great opportunity for cheaters but at the same time it can make really good job but of course it is only my opinion and you don't have to agree with that.
ReplyDeleteYes, I could be a fake. For me it’s simply the same like EcoFood – maybe that statement could harm some of you, but that’s my opinion.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, most of such companies is being created juts as a cover of something else. Earning money of people’s naivety.
Today we hear very often about similar cases. Take a look on the newest shocking news - Madonna foundation case. Madonna has opened a charity foundation to help Malavian girls and build the schools in the poor part of South-East Africa. Now case is taken by US judgment to proof an affair about financial frauds.
Where the money is there are also temptations.
In my humble opinion fair trade is a perfect method to help poor farmers deliver their cheaper products to the stores. It is very important to support any initiative that aims at helping poor people achieve their goals. If fair trade is not a scam and the money goes not to big corporations but to the poorest farmers than I am a great supporter of this idea.
ReplyDeleteI must say that I have never put attention in that whether the product was Fair Trade or not.
ReplyDeleteAnyway our world is led by big corporations that are only interested in multiplying they profits. They don’t care about poor humans from poor countries. What is more they use them to do work almost for free. Apple factories employ even very young children to work under unhealthy environment.
If you had bought any of FT product you would have noticed it for sure. They are much more expensive and in supermarkets they are not mixed with other products. All of them are located in one place. Furthermore they are clearly labelled by Fair Trade logo. Here you can see some of them.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.earthmatters.org.uk/Images%20and%20Photos/FairTradeBanner.jpg
http://technostories.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/fairtrade_products2.jpg
If you are a fan of chocolate as I am please try one of FT- it costs just like Lindt and it’s worth money.
Hubert I absolutely agree with you. Furthermore Fair Trade is not just a simle social organization. It is a huge international business and I don't believe that such a giant makes away with money. I am sure that they are observed and inspected all the time.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Michał Opoka, In my opinion FT it is fake, because "business is business" and it is true that in BIG Corporates nobody said "Yea, lets go help somebody" - without any profits...
ReplyDeleteBananas (mentioned in the example) are cheaper because they are cheap variety. So the cost of grow is less expensive than "normal" bananas.
ReplyDeleteSee: http://wolnemedia.net/wiadomosci-ze-swiata/bedziemy-jedli-tylko-banany-pastewne-i-dla-swin/
>Have you ever bought any product marked by FT?
Never. I prefer normal, cheaper food.
>Do you believe that FT may help in the development of the poorest parts of the World?
I don't. I think that if richer countries wanted to support poorest parts of the World they would do it already. I agree with everyone else - it's a scam.
We live in world where word "help" has often marketing sound. In television, Internet, radio and other medias we can see or hear that we can help third world, sick children, people who need help in Japan etc. Just send SMS, call or do a money transfer. We can't be sure what happened with sent by us money but I'm sure many of organisations has business aim and "helping" is only a marketing gimmick.
ReplyDeleteRegard to eco food in Warsaw are shops called "Organic farm" when we can buy all ecological. Two years ago I bought 0.5kg natural rise in this shops for 4PLN, now it costs 12PLN. It's 300% more. As I saw whole assortment has increased about 200-300%. Now the eco food is more and more popular and eco food shops can do a good business.