|
 
World Crafts
Books & Magazines
World Music
Fair Trade Foods
Household Goods
What is Fairtrade
What is Ethical
Consumerism
top
|
| Ethical
consumerism
Today's average 17 year old will spend £1 million in their
lifetime - mortgage repayments, pension contributions, holidays, cars, £90,000
in supermarkets... ! Many people want a slice of this action. By changing
our patterns of consumption we can help to change the unsustainable system
of world trade which increases inequality, destroys the environment and
threatens our future.
Fair Trade ensures that producers in the Developing World receive a better
deal. Organisations that deal in Fair Trade buy from community groups or
co-operatives which provide a living wage for workers, implement health
and safety standards, do not use child labour, and observe good environmental
practice.
Although Fair Trade crafts and food (eg tea, sugar and chocolate) account
for a small part of the market, they are part of a process of informing
consumers so they use their purchasing power to pressurise supermarkets
and High Street stores to adopt and enforce Fair Trade policies.
Consumer power can bring about change.
For example, following the Clothes Code Campaign, C&A, Next
and the Sears Group are talking with Oxfam about independent monitoring
of their Codes of Conduct on workers' rights and environmental standards
for their suppliers in the Developing World.
To do your bit, always:
- Buy Fair Trade
- ask your supermarket to stock foods with the Fair Trade Mark and ask
how they ensure that producers in the Developing World get a fair price.
- Introduce Fair
Trade tea and coffee to your school, workplace or favourite café.
- Buy Fair Trade
crafts through Traidcraft or Oxfam Trading.
- Write to the High
Street stores where you buy your clothes and shoes. Ask how they ensure
that their suppliers in the Developing World observe environmental standards
and workers' rights in return for fair prices.
- Banks, building
societies and pension funds may invest in companies regardless of their
record on workers' rights, the arms trade or the environment. Your money
may be supporting oppressive regimes or depriving indigenous peoples
of their land. High Street banks are making millions from Third World
debt. Give your custom to institutions which have an ethical standard
and explain to your old bank why you are changing.
- Join one of the
many campaigns demanding change to the structures which perpetuate poverty.
(Act for Change).
|
