Comments on: Is Fair Trade really fair? http://www.eridu.org.uk/blog/2008/02/26/is-fair-trade-really-fair/ Liberalism and general burblings Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:53:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Tom http://www.eridu.org.uk/blog/2008/02/26/is-fair-trade-really-fair/#comment-26880 Tom Fri, 29 Feb 2008 22:23:58 +0000 http://www.eridu.org.uk/blog/2008/02/26/is-fair-trade-really-fair/#comment-26880 This seems to be not an issue of whether fairtrade is wrong/bad but whether forcing people into co-ops in wrong. the reality is that even the fairtrade produce is hardly a great deal for producers, but the idea that the 'free market' alternative is better is rubbish. Amazing how fairtrade is being accused of distorting the market, to distract attention from unsavoury explotation of people. This seems to be not an issue of whether fairtrade is wrong/bad but whether forcing people into co-ops in wrong.

the reality is that even the fairtrade produce is hardly a great deal for producers, but the idea that the ‘free market’ alternative is better is rubbish.

Amazing how fairtrade is being accused of distorting the market, to distract attention from unsavoury explotation of people.

]]> By: Bishop Hill http://www.eridu.org.uk/blog/2008/02/26/is-fair-trade-really-fair/#comment-26640 Bishop Hill Tue, 26 Feb 2008 21:07:50 +0000 http://www.eridu.org.uk/blog/2008/02/26/is-fair-trade-really-fair/#comment-26640 I think Alasdair, you need to go and read the original Adam Smith Institute report. Consumers of "fairtrade" coffee are probably very often drinking low quality ordinary coffee. And even when it's actually fairtrade it's not coming from the poorest (who can't afford fairtrade accreditation). I think Alasdair, you need to go and read the original Adam Smith Institute report. Consumers of “fairtrade” coffee are probably very often drinking low quality ordinary coffee. And even when it’s actually fairtrade it’s not coming from the poorest (who can’t afford fairtrade accreditation).

]]> By: Tinter http://www.eridu.org.uk/blog/2008/02/26/is-fair-trade-really-fair/#comment-26635 Tinter Tue, 26 Feb 2008 20:01:30 +0000 http://www.eridu.org.uk/blog/2008/02/26/is-fair-trade-really-fair/#comment-26635 Saying fair trade has a number of failings isn't the same as saying that the way ordinary coffee is produced is ok. Tristan listed other schemes that prevent things like slavery whilst being more friendly to economic growth than fair trade. I agree with him, while still thinking fair trade is probably better than ordinary coffee because of the risk of supporting just the kind of things you mentioned. Also, a line from a political parties constitution rarely a coherent ideology makes. Saying fair trade has a number of failings isn’t the same as saying that the way ordinary coffee is produced is ok. Tristan listed other schemes that prevent things like slavery whilst being more friendly to economic growth than fair trade. I agree with him, while still thinking fair trade is probably better than ordinary coffee because of the risk of supporting just the kind of things you mentioned.
Also, a line from a political parties constitution rarely a coherent ideology makes.

]]> By: Alasdair http://www.eridu.org.uk/blog/2008/02/26/is-fair-trade-really-fair/#comment-26619 Alasdair Tue, 26 Feb 2008 17:25:25 +0000 http://www.eridu.org.uk/blog/2008/02/26/is-fair-trade-really-fair/#comment-26619 What a load of rubbish. Don't you understnad the current system. Farmers for non-fairtrade are kept rich by our system. In the Ivory coast where half our chocolate comes from, thousands of slaves work on the cocoa farms. Around the world children go hungury and can't go to school, the corporal companies have a system of keeping the visous circle going their way, keeping the poor-poor and them rich. Fair-trade and consumer demand for ethical products is the way out of this. As Liberal Democrats we stand for fairness, "we seek to balance the fundamental values of liberty, equality and community and in which no-one shall be enslaved by poverty" (Preamble to the Federal Constitution). Thats what we believe, helping these people to get just living conditions. It is better for them and it is better for us in the long term. Don't think far a way situations can't get us back when we least suspect it. What a load of rubbish. Don’t you understnad the current system. Farmers for non-fairtrade are kept rich by our system. In the Ivory coast where half our chocolate comes from, thousands of slaves work on the cocoa farms. Around the world children go hungury and can’t go to school, the corporal companies have a system of keeping the visous circle going their way, keeping the poor-poor and them rich. Fair-trade and consumer demand for ethical products is the way out of this. As Liberal Democrats we stand for fairness, “we seek to balance the fundamental values of liberty, equality and community and in which no-one shall be enslaved by poverty” (Preamble to the Federal Constitution). Thats what we believe, helping these people to get just living conditions. It is better for them and it is better for us in the long term. Don’t think far a way situations can’t get us back when we least suspect it.

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