Despite our university running its own Fairtrade events, none of the 4 members of my group, myself included, knew about it so we decided to find out why young people aren't targeted more heavily for Fairtrade awareness, because we do care. Myself and my group are a prime example of this.
Although we're only half way through our package, I've found that this project has been genuinely really interesting and has inspired me to share the importance of Fairtrade.
First of all we had to find out about Fairtrade. We all see the symbol and know the basics but here's a better description from the foundation itself.
"Fairtrade is about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world"
Here are some bananas that were on top of my fridge and bare the Faitrade sticker. Bananas are one of the main culprits for unfair trade in the developing world.
Fairtrade are currently running a campaign called 'Stick with Foncho' which is urging people to sign a petition for MPs to investigate unsustainable supermarket pricing practises. The only people who suffer from cheap banana pricing is the producers which is wholly unjust. The supermarket price wars are threatening the livelihood and futures of banana farmers who cannot cope with such bad prices for their produce.
Click Here to sign the petition. It will barely take a minute but will hopefully help Foncho and people like him.
Chocolate and coffee are two other major products that we in the western world purchase from developing countries. It was a surprise to me to find out that leading brands such as Cadburys aren't always Fairtrade products. A Fairtrade representative we interviewed informed us that as soon as Cadbury products introduce another element other than chocolate, for example fruit and nut, the chocolate is sourced from non Fairtrade producers.
The point I'm making is that if there is a Fairtrade label, we are always going to notice and appreciate it, but it's not something that we explicitly look for. I know I don't, but it's something I'm going to change.
Fairtrade is becoming a more present element of food and produce, but will only become a household factor when people are more aware of it.
In my honest opinion, supermarkets should have to source their products fairly. The Fairtrade Foundation is not for profit. It is not a trademark or a company, it is a certification of justice. The pictures included in this post are all items I have bought in my university over the past few days. However Fairtrade is not the sole provider of fairly sourced produce. There are many produce- specific foundations such as the ethical tea partnership. Fairtrade is just the example I'm using to promote the importance of a balanced trading system in the world.
In a way I'm proud to attend a university that embodies Fairtrade, but actually this should be the norm. I shouldn't even have to think about it, and I don't think you should either. (Ps. I totally didn't eat a flapjack and and brownies whilst writing this. I promise...). In the short time we've been working on this project, I've had my eyes completely opened, and I'm hoping I can do the same for other people. Please sign the petition. It could change someone's life.
