Comments on: New challenges in the fair trade movement http://greenlagirl.com/2006/01/25/new-challenges-in-the-fair-trade-movement/ Urban environmental lifestyle blog in Los Angeles Tue, 06 Jan 2009 04:52:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Siel http://greenlagirl.com/2006/01/25/new-challenges-in-the-fair-trade-movement/#comment-1487 Siel Sun, 05 Feb 2006 21:22:44 +0000 http://greenlagirl.com/2006/01/25/new-challenges-in-the-fair-trade-movement/#comment-1487 Hey Diane -- Thanks for stopping by, and for the kind words :) Would love to send you some info -- including Rodney's letter -- but am not sure how to contact you! Perhaps you could send me your eaddress? Mine's greenlagirl at gmail dot com. Hey Diane — Thanks for stopping by, and for the kind words :) Would love to send you some info — including Rodney’s letter — but am not sure how to contact you! Perhaps you could send me your eaddress? Mine’s greenlagirl at gmail dot com.

]]> By: Diane Rhoades URI Henderson County http://greenlagirl.com/2006/01/25/new-challenges-in-the-fair-trade-movement/#comment-1477 Diane Rhoades URI Henderson County Sun, 05 Feb 2006 13:30:48 +0000 http://greenlagirl.com/2006/01/25/new-challenges-in-the-fair-trade-movement/#comment-1477 I am writing an article for a local magazine, BOLD LIFE, about Fair Trade/Equal Exchange. Kelly Fain is a friend of mine and she visited Mexico in January, '06, as a representative of the Hendersonville Community Co-op, with 7 other Co-op people and it changed her life. I am writing about their journey. If you have anything that you would like to include, I can see what I can do. I am profoundly moved by the work you are doing. Thanks so much. DIane I am writing an article for a local magazine, BOLD LIFE, about Fair Trade/Equal Exchange. Kelly Fain is a friend of mine and she visited Mexico in January, ‘06, as a representative of the Hendersonville Community Co-op, with 7 other Co-op people and it changed her life. I am writing about their journey. If you have anything that you would like to include, I can see what I can do. I am profoundly moved by the work you are doing. Thanks so much. DIane

]]> By: Siel http://greenlagirl.com/2006/01/25/new-challenges-in-the-fair-trade-movement/#comment-1449 Siel Fri, 03 Feb 2006 04:35:51 +0000 http://greenlagirl.com/2006/01/25/new-challenges-in-the-fair-trade-movement/#comment-1449 I think part of the problem with getting the message out about fair trade has to do with the fact that many people have been inculcated to think that the way coffee's traded in the world right now is via "free trade" -- and anything messing with that, i.e. fair trade -- will do more harm than good. It takes a lot of work, then, to convince people that "free trade" isn't free.... A tougher and more complicated sell than organic (no pesticides!) and dolphin-free tuna (save the cute animals!)... I think part of the problem with getting the message out about fair trade has to do with the fact that many people have been inculcated to think that the way coffee’s traded in the world right now is via “free trade” — and anything messing with that, i.e. fair trade — will do more harm than good.

It takes a lot of work, then, to convince people that “free trade” isn’t free…. A tougher and more complicated sell than organic (no pesticides!) and dolphin-free tuna (save the cute animals!)…

]]> By: mateotemprano http://greenlagirl.com/2006/01/25/new-challenges-in-the-fair-trade-movement/#comment-1404 mateotemprano Mon, 30 Jan 2006 20:55:06 +0000 http://greenlagirl.com/2006/01/25/new-challenges-in-the-fair-trade-movement/#comment-1404 Hey Again: "get it straight please" pointed out that Nestle is not licensed by TFUSA. Fine. Then let's talk about Proctor and Gamble, SBUX, or Sara Lee. Plug one or all of those names into the spots that say "Nestle" and the argument remains. The point to me is that it is easy for big corporations to greenwash under the current system. As far as what we can all work on, I would say that putting pressure on TFUSA to put mechanisms in place to get companies to ratchet up their commitment would be a good step. Also, to ask them to hold companies that use the FTC logo in misleading ways accountable would be nice. And finally, educating consumers that FTC does not speak about the company's overall biz practices is another excellent campaign. Finally, and this may be a leap, but if "get it straight please" is a TFUSA employee, maybe we could ask he/she to comment on the overall points Siel was making and questions that folks have brought up in the comments here. You know, now that the whole Nestle US vs. UK thing has been resolved. Bye now... -Matt Hey Again:

“get it straight please” pointed out that Nestle is not licensed by TFUSA. Fine. Then let’s talk about Proctor and Gamble, SBUX, or Sara Lee. Plug one or all of those names into the spots that say “Nestle” and the argument remains. The point to me is that it is easy for big corporations to greenwash under the current system.

As far as what we can all work on, I would say that putting pressure on TFUSA to put mechanisms in place to get companies to ratchet up their commitment would be a good step. Also, to ask them to hold companies that use the FTC logo in misleading ways accountable would be nice. And finally, educating consumers that FTC does not speak about the company’s overall biz practices is another excellent campaign.

Finally, and this may be a leap, but if “get it straight please” is a TFUSA employee, maybe we could ask he/she to comment on the overall points Siel was making and questions that folks have brought up in the comments here. You know, now that the whole Nestle US vs. UK thing has been resolved.

Bye now…

-Matt

]]> By: Maya http://greenlagirl.com/2006/01/25/new-challenges-in-the-fair-trade-movement/#comment-1376 Maya Fri, 27 Jan 2006 15:35:10 +0000 http://greenlagirl.com/2006/01/25/new-challenges-in-the-fair-trade-movement/#comment-1376 Yeah, the 'nicer' logo is also for FT products in France through maxhavelaarfrance.org :-) Yeah, the ‘nicer’ logo is also for FT products in France through maxhavelaarfrance.org :-)

]]> By: Gernot http://greenlagirl.com/2006/01/25/new-challenges-in-the-fair-trade-movement/#comment-1374 Gernot Fri, 27 Jan 2006 10:46:44 +0000 http://greenlagirl.com/2006/01/25/new-challenges-in-the-fair-trade-movement/#comment-1374 Don't know how it is in the USA, but here in Europe (Austria) we are used to different labels on products (e.g: organic, cruelty free...) certifying the product and not the company. On the other hand companies are launching product-lines that are "almost" or "as good as" FT (e.g: Lavazza with its new Tierra-coffee-line -> Rainforest Alliance certified). The good thing is, that this shows an increasing awareness of the companies (I admit from a very low level). The bad thing is, that it additionally confuses customers. To get the message of FT across proves likewise as difficult as conveying the real meaning of "organic". But there are no shortcuts, you have to tell people over and over again! Additionally there are some problems within FT-regulations that prohibit some producers from getting a FT-certification. But this is gonna be a different story... Don’t know how it is in the USA, but here in Europe (Austria) we are used to different labels on products (e.g: organic, cruelty free…) certifying the product and not the company. On the other hand companies are launching product-lines that are “almost” or “as good as” FT (e.g: Lavazza with its new Tierra-coffee-line -> Rainforest Alliance certified).
The good thing is, that this shows an increasing awareness of the companies (I admit from a very low level). The bad thing is, that it additionally confuses customers.
To get the message of FT across proves likewise as difficult as conveying the real meaning of “organic”. But there are no shortcuts, you have to tell people over and over again!

Additionally there are some problems within FT-regulations that prohibit some producers from getting a FT-certification.
But this is gonna be a different story…

]]> By: Siel http://greenlagirl.com/2006/01/25/new-challenges-in-the-fair-trade-movement/#comment-1372 Siel Fri, 27 Jan 2006 02:51:14 +0000 http://greenlagirl.com/2006/01/25/new-challenges-in-the-fair-trade-movement/#comment-1372 Apology accepted! But you should know <a href="http://greenlagirl.com/2006/01/26/the-logic-of-logos/" rel="nofollow">I already wrote a rather frustrated post</a> about this today. I guess Nestle's a sore point with me too... Apology accepted! But you should know I already wrote a rather frustrated post about this today. I guess Nestle’s a sore point with me too…

]]> By: get it straight please! http://greenlagirl.com/2006/01/25/new-challenges-in-the-fair-trade-movement/#comment-1369 get it straight please! Fri, 27 Jan 2006 02:28:21 +0000 http://greenlagirl.com/2006/01/25/new-challenges-in-the-fair-trade-movement/#comment-1369 sorry. Nestle is a sore point with me. i hope you accept my apology. and yes! those darn brits & europeans get all the fancy desins... sorry. Nestle is a sore point with me. i hope you accept my apology. and yes! those darn brits & europeans get all the fancy desins…

]]> By: Siel http://greenlagirl.com/2006/01/25/new-challenges-in-the-fair-trade-movement/#comment-1368 Siel Fri, 27 Jan 2006 00:40:23 +0000 http://greenlagirl.com/2006/01/25/new-challenges-in-the-fair-trade-movement/#comment-1368 Good point, get it straight please!, though your tone's rather mean. I'll write a post clarifying it in a bit. But neither the TransFair USA nor the FTF marks will ever make it into my banner, cuz they're drab and ugly, IMNSHO. How come the Brits get the cool, pretty logo? Good point, get it straight please!, though your tone’s rather mean.

I’ll write a post clarifying it in a bit. But neither the TransFair USA nor the FTF marks will ever make it into my banner, cuz they’re drab and ugly, IMNSHO. How come the Brits get the cool, pretty logo?

]]> By: get it straight please! http://greenlagirl.com/2006/01/25/new-challenges-in-the-fair-trade-movement/#comment-1367 get it straight please! Thu, 26 Jan 2006 23:32:27 +0000 http://greenlagirl.com/2006/01/25/new-challenges-in-the-fair-trade-movement/#comment-1367 but thanks for making the disctinction between Fair Trade Certified Products and the myth of "certified companies" but thanks for making the disctinction between Fair Trade Certified Products and the myth of “certified companies”

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