Fair Trade

The weather remains ambiguous. The morning dawns cool and cloudy. Perhaps a light shower, then clearing towards late afternoon. May, so far, has proven quite convincingly why we don't plant out until after the full mon in June. It's just too damn cold and wet.

The weather is not all that is ambiguous. I'm referring to far too much of the discussion that centres around the Free Trade of the Americas FTAA. I am most concerned by what those who support this alleged free trade agreement say to put down the opposition. I am one of those who support fair trade but do not support that free trade agreements that have been forced upon us, nor the one that is currently being proposed. I am not an isolationst, a protectionist or against trade. Trade is about relationships and how the trading partners treat one another, when one side uses its muscle to exploit and oppress the other into accepting unequal trade relationships then something is fundamentally wrong.

I have written about fair trade previously but in light of all the misinformation the supporters of the FTAA are spreading I think it is time to revisit it . The following sites will give you a good grounding about fair trade and how it operates:

fair Trade watch

Oxfam

International Economy

Food Security

In addition, there is an excellent guide published by the New Internationalist, The No Nonsense Guide to Fair Trade, written by David Ransom, that is well worth reading. Next week I'll be reviewing a book published by Second Story Press, "Women Working the NAFTA Food Chain."

After you have read this book you will give pause before purchasing an out of season tomato or hopefully even one that you have not grown yourself or at least know who and where it was grown. It will also shed light on the truth behind these so-called free trade agreements and who really benefits from them.

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