May 14th is World Fair Trade Day, and events will be held around the globe on that day in celebration.
May 14th is World Fair Trade Day, and events will be held around the globe on that day in celebration. The International Fair Trade Association (IFAT), the generally recognized global authority on Fair Trade, endorses the event.
Fair trade principles include creating opportunity for economically disadvantaged producers, transparency and accountability, capacity building, paying a fair price, gender equality, and safe working conditions, and environmental protection.
The environmental benefit from fair trade comes from patronizing small businesses, which are less likely to clear-cut forests or engage in wholesale practices that damage the environment. Fair trade coffee, in particular, has a specific environmental component: Farmers that grow fair trade coffee beans use the organic shade-grown method, which is the most beneficial method for the environment. More than 100 companies purchase and sell fair trade coffee.
The Fair Trade Federation maintains a list of companies that participate in and support fair trade principles. The organization's website, www.fairtradefederation.org, lists retailers, wholesalers, and online sellers of goods made and sold using fair trade principles.
You can find out what events are taking place for World Fair Trade Day by checking this website: www.wftday.org. The site contains a comprehensive list of happenings worldwide. Also, the International Fair Trade Association (IFAT) has a very comprehensive website where you can learn about fair trade issues and challenges: www.ifat.org.
Source: The International Fair Trade Association, The Fair Trade Federation, Global Village
