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It is such a treat to browse our local markets this time of year and
choose from the great variety of fresh produce.
Not only does it feel good to indulge in the fresh fruits and
vegetables, but it also feels great to know that we are supporting
our local farmers and showing our appreciation for their hard work.
It is easy to see and feel our interdependence.
Our interdependence is evident not only in small communities, but
also in our larger global community. On the eve of the new
millennium our world leaders established development goals in hopes
of moving hundreds of millions of our world's citizens from
desperate poverty to a state of self-sufficiency and hope. The
Millennium Development Goals encourage the building of global
partnerships so that assistance can be extended to those who are
living in less prosperous countries and are lost in the depths of
poverty. Of course, the success of this recommendation relies on the
willingness of the citizens of developed countries, such as Canada,
to recognize the need for change and make choices that acknowledge
our interconnectedness.
Buying "fair trade" products is just one opportunity to support
global partnerships. Fair trade is a strategy to alleviate poverty
in the Third World and is based on the principles of support and
respect for trade partners in underdeveloped countries.
Products are purchased from Third World farmers and artisans at a
fair price that provides the sellers with a source of income and
enables them to pay for food, education, health care and housing for
themselves and their families. Most participants would otherwise be
unemployed or, at the very least, underemployed. Being a fair trade
partner not only impacts participants financially, but also allows
them to regain their sense of dignity and hope for the future. (next column)
08/08/2009 07:27 PM
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As consumers, by choosing to buy fair trade products, we can be key
players in this hopeful form of global partnership. It is encouraging to
see that merchants in our area are offering us the opportunity to
support fair trade. Fairly-traded products such as tea, coffee,
chocolate, sugar, spices and wine are for sale locally, and on November
21st, the "Ten Thousand Villages" Fair Trade Sale will be back in
Kincardine.
There are also Internet sites, such as "The Hunger Site," that offer a
wide selection of fair trade products.
While it sometimes seems that dreams of achieving the Millennium
Development Goals have been set aside or even forgotten, there is still
hope if we all work together. Our purchases can make a difference.
Something as simple as choosing to buy fair trade coffee seems like a
small contribution, but if other people the world over are making
similar choices, there will be change. It is everyone choosing together
that will create the shift that makes the difference.
As Helen Keller once wrote, "I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot
do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do
everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do."
Buying fairly-traded products is something that we can do.
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