Fair Trade and Middle Class values Articles / All Topics Posted by Anonymous on Apr 23, 2006 - 09:22 AM |
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Although I think Fair Trade is a good idea I am convinced it often does little more than making middle class people feel good about being rich! Can you afford to buy Fair Trade? I can and often try to. It makes me feel good as if I am making the world a better place! The problem, as I see it , is that I can do this because I have a middle class job that is paid a good middle class wage. Have you ever thought about how 'fair' some Fair Trade products are? Have a look at one of the Fair Trade museli bars, often there is less than 30% that is actually Fair Trade. Having gained the logo the product can then be sold at a much higher price attracting those who have money to buy and feel good about themselves. I often wonder as I pay the cashier at the supermarket for my ethically sound products, how ethically sound it is that she or he is getting paid so poorly? I believe in Fair Trade, in one sense, but as long as some have wealth and others don't we will continue to pretend we are making a difference. What we really need is a stronger political will to make equality a reality. That would mean I have less and others more. It doesn't mean I have more to make the choice to pretend I am making poverty history. Oh and by the way before everyone starts going on about some commune in India benefitting from Fair Trade. Think about what you are saying. Do you think they are being helped enough to have an equal standard of living as ourselves or that they can eat a decent meal or send their kids to school. We fool ourselves! |
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