fair trade

[Kelster]

i haven't really followed this fair trade business but...

are you for or against it?

what do you suggest happens to all the people getting laid off closer to home?

do you keep your eye out and actually purchase fair trade products over other products?

do you think fair trade can really make a difference?

is this 'fair' trade stuff true and there's no corrupt bs that i'm not reading about?


i've got my homeowrk covered, but i feel that my opinion is a little bias so i'd like some other pov's pls :c-tard:

[Senior]

As far as I understand fair trade would actually benifit all involved. It would give people in less fortunate places around the world a decent income that they can support their families with and even the gap between domestic and foriegn production costs.

[SEAN!]

it will never be effective because no one gives a fuck about the 3rd world, and the people that do don't have any money or power...just look at the results of the last couple of WTO meetings, the lobbyist groups for farmers in European and North American countries exert a huge influence on the politicians who make these discisions and any politician supporting true free trade (which in its purest form is essentialy fair, anyone who understands basic economics would know this) are essentially commiting political suicide. This is because in the short term free trade costs jobs and its alot easier to fuck over someone in a country you didn't even know existed then to do it to people who might otherwise vote for you.


micheal cambell had a pretty good article regarding this published in the vancouver sun the other day.

[Senior]

Originally posted by SEAN!:
it will never be effective because no one gives a fuck about the 3rd world, and the people that do don't have any money or power...

Well that's not completely true. While these sort of things do take a long time to gain popularity it is happening. Look at the rising popularity of organic foods or for instance the fact that 25% of all waste material in North America is now recycled. These sort of changes take time but not everyone out there is a cold harted bastrd as Sean seems to imply. Also further more it is truely the consumer who determines what sort of corporate practices are acceptable by deciding where to spend their money. So regardless of what a corportae CEO thinks if the average Joe refuses to buy something than unfair trade practices will be scraped. Also by my understanding the some 600 Billion spent on farming subsidies globaly every year could be spent to create just as many jobs if invested in other ventures.

[SEAN!]

Originally posted by Senior


Also by my understanding the some 600 Billion spent on farming subsidies globaly every year could be spent to create just as many jobs if invested in other ventures.

not true..government expenditures are never as effective at expanding the economy as expenditures from the private sector. take any macro economics course and you will understand this.

the reason that recycled material has gained popularity is because its cheaper to produce, all companies care about is the bottom line.