| How do you feel about the Fair Trade movement? | | | | rules under which international trade is carried out, to |
| The present economic crisis has surely illustrated | | | | provide fairness for producers and their employees, |
| how, in these days of the world economy, there is | | | | and make exploitation in these relationships a thing of |
| an economic interdependence between all people, all | | | | the past. Thus, a shop selling fair trade goods in your |
| over the globe. Furthermore, the international issues | | | | high street will be paying a price to their suppliers |
| raised by global warming illustrate a similar trans-global | | | | that reflects accurately the costs of production, and |
| interdependence in safeguarding the long term | | | | which allows the suppliers to amply reward their |
| well-being of people. | | | | workers, thereby raising the living standards of |
| There seems no doubt that the buying choices that | | | | ordinary people in developing nations. |
| we make in our local shops can have a very real | | | | By now you may be thinking that buying goods in a |
| impact on the livelihoods and living conditions of | | | | fair trade shop is purely an act of charity on your |
| people in places that are many thousands of miles | | | | part. Not so. |
| away, and it is this interdependence that has led to | | | | Take a look at the range of goods in a fair trade |
| the fair trade movement. | | | | shop selling goods such as homeware and fashion |
| Basically, fair trade is all about creating an equitable | | | | accessories, and you will see attractive products |
| international trade system. UK businesses that trade | | | | made in distinctive designs, utilising high quality raw |
| on a fair trade basis enter into partnership with their | | | | materials. The partnership with producers that fair |
| overseas suppliers, who in turn employ equitable | | | | trade businesses enjoy enables them to work closely |
| methods in their dealings with their employees. This | | | | with craftsmen and suppliers to produce a fantastic |
| approach encompasses issues such as the level of | | | | range of uniquely styled products at reasonable |
| wages, working conditions and the preservation of | | | | prices. The goods available range from jewelry to |
| local and traditional skills such as embroidery, knitting, | | | | soft furnishings and clothes. What's more, some |
| weaving and silversmithing. Production of fair trade | | | | companies make these goods available to buy from a |
| goods also entails the use of sound methods of | | | | fair trade online shop, so that you can avail yourself |
| production which aim to minimise environmental | | | | of a great range of reasonably priced fair trade |
| impact. | | | | products without leaving your room! |
| Typically, fair traders in the UK may belong to | | | | What could be better? |
| organisations that campaign for improvements in the | | | | |