The central tenant of Druidry is about building genuine,
respectful sacred relationship with the worlds around us. I'm sure you
can only agree. Fair Trade is an important step towards that.
Fair Trade is a trading partnership based on transparency
and respect. It creates greater equality in international trade.
It protects the environment by contributing to sustainable development.
It respects workers in less developed countries and offers better trading
conditions and protects the human rights of producers and workers in the
South.
Fair Trade in Europe started about 40 years ago as a
grassroots movement. The aim was to alleviate poverty in the ‘South’
– Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean - by building direct,
sustainable relationships with disadvantaged producers and providing fair
access to markets in the ‘North’. Fair Trade has developed
into a powerful force, symbolised by a high level of European co-operation.
Fair Trade is strictly monitored and has to:
- pay fair prices to producers which reflect the true cost of production
(world market prices often do not cover even the costs of the raw materials).
- support producer organisations in their social and environmental projects,
such as developing health facilities and tree planting.
- promote gender equality in pay and working conditions to change the
traditional low position of women in society.
- commit to long term trade relationships to provide secure jobs for
workers.
Fair Trade is not just about trade – it’s a physical mechanism
which we can all be part of.
It successfully changes the unfair
structure of world trade and builds a fairer society for all.
