Comments on: New challenges in the fair trade movement http://greenlagirl.com/new-challenges-in-the-fair-trade-movement/ Urban environmental lifestyle blog in Los Angeles Sat, 26 May 2012 08:36:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Siel http://greenlagirl.com/new-challenges-in-the-fair-trade-movement/comment-page-1/#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/new-challenges-in-the-fair-trade-movement/comment-page-1/#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/new-challenges-in-the-fair-trade-movement/comment-page-1/#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/new-challenges-in-the-fair-trade-movement/comment-page-1/#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/new-challenges-in-the-fair-trade-movement/comment-page-1/#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 :-)

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