FAIR TRADE
What is Fair Trade?
Fair Trade is an alternative to the established system of trade in the world today, called Free Trade.
Despite the positive connotations attached to the word Free Trade, in reality this is an economic system that justifies all means of production for the sake of increasing profits. The free trade system does very little to protect workers rights, and creates a system where workers are forced to settle for wages below minimum wage standards, employees are forbidden to create unions, unsafe working conditions impede on the health of employees, and where workers are forced to work unreasonably long hours to maintain their jobs. These unfair conditions are justified by companies and corporations who put a higher price on increased profits then on the well being of their employees.
Alternatively, the fair trade system protects workers rights and local environments, while encouraging direct trade between producers and consumers.
This Product Has a History!
Fair Trade reminds us that products are not born in supermarket shelves and in stores, but rather are produced and manufactured by human beings living on and affecting this planet. The Fair Trade system places special emphasis on workers rights and environmental protection, while reminding consumers to support a trade system that is beneficial for humans and for the environment.
The Fair Trade Principles Include:
 |
Creating opportunities for low income producers |
|
Transparent management and commercial relations |
|
Fair pay |
|
Creating worker independence |
|
Fitting work conditions |
|
Gender equality |
|
Protection of the environment |
How Do Fair Trade Distributors Differ from Commercial Distributors?
Fair Trade distributors differ from conventional distributors, in that they place higher emphasis on marketing goods produced under fair conditions, rather then on goods that will simply increase their profits. The fair trade system bridges the retail gaps between producer and consumer, thus returning 40% of the product's retail price to the producer. Fair trade returns between a quarter to a third of the profits back to the producers. One of the fair trade standard requirements is that manufacturing of goods should be a cooperative process, while guaranteeing fair working conditions and the participation of all the producers in decisions regarding manufacturing process. Fair Trade distribution and labeling organizations encourage producers' cooperatives to supply all their members with health benefits, child care and options for loans. Furthermore, the producers are encouraged to invest a part of their profits back in their communities.
Fair Trade in Israel -- The General Picture:
Until today, Fair Trade goods have not been marketed in an organized fashion by companies or retailers inside Israel. In 2002 Green Action began to promote Fair Trade in Israel through a public campaign and by marketing Fair Trade products on their website.
The purpose of this project is to raise public awareness to the global trade power balance and its repercussions on human rights, worker rights and the environment, while encouraging consumers to support Fair Trade.
The campaign is meant to accompany the marketing of Fair Trade goods, some of which are imported and some local.
In the beginning stages of the project, Green Action will offer Fair Trade Columbian coffee and olive oil produced in the Palestinian villages of Mas'ha, Yasuf and Assawiya.
By offering local and imported Fair Trade products, Green Action emphasizes the universal aspect of Fair Trade. Fair Trade creates social and environmental justice to disadvantaged communities, for whom the gates of trade are locked, and who are prevented from sustaining themselves respectfully.
Why Coffee?
|
|
Coffee is the most traded commodity between the developed world, and less developed counties, with about 25 million coffee producers, supplying some 100 million people. These producers are economically dependent on their coffee supply and are facing debt and hunger as they are forced to sell their coffee beans for unreasonably low prices.
The price of coffee today is the lowest it has been in the last 40 years, and is insufficient to cover the costs of production for most farmers; all the while, four international corporations controlling coffee trade (Nestle, Craft, Sarah Lee, Procter and Gamble) report a constant rise in their profits. Coffee is also the first Fair Trade good to be traded internationally, and has therefore become the symbol of Fair Trade.
For further information on the coffee industry and fair trade:
http://www.maketradefair.com/en/index.php?file=coffee_home.htm&cat=2&subcat=3&select=1
http://www.fairtrade.net/sites/products/coffee/why.html
|
|
Green Action imports coffee from a Columbian cooperative of Native Americans called Association de Indigenas Arhuacos de la Sierra Nevada. The cooperative consists of more than 1200 people in communities whose main commercial commodity traded outside the community is coffee. By selling coffee, the communities fund a basic local health system.
Israel imports the coffee from a Spanish marketing company called Alternativa3. This company, created in 1992, only markets goods certified as Fair Trade by IFAT. |
 |
| A member of " Asociacion de productores Indigenas Arhuacos de la Sierra Nevada " Cooperative, who sell their coffee to Green Action. |
|
|
|
|
Why Olive Oil?
|
Most Fair Trade occurs between developed countries in Europe and North America, and less developed countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Due to the complexities within Israel's social and geographical systems, it is necessary to implement the fair trade principles locally, and not only by import.
In June 2002 the government of Israel decided to erect the separation barrier, with the stated purpose of preventing uncontrolled entrance of Palestinians from the West Bank into Israel. The barrier passes mostly within Palestinian territory, and is made up an electronic fence, paved curbs, barb wire fences and dug ditches. The average width of the barrier is 60 meters. In some areas the security administration opted to build a wall 6-8 meters high to replace the fence. Where building has been completed, the wide breach of Palestinian human rights is evident: over 100 Palestinian villages have been separated from their agricultural lands, inhabitants in 71 Palestinian villages have divided by the fence, and hundreds if not thousands of olive trees have been destroyed.
As the contruction of the barrier continues it will cause further injury against hundreds of thousands of inhabitants. The Palestinians living near the fence suffer from limitations on their freedom of movement; and as a result thousands of Palestinian farmers now experience difficulties maintaining the agricultural areas which they own. The Palestinian lands in which the fence is constructed are amongst the most fertile in the West Bank, and agricultural work is one of the main income sources for local villagers. The disruption of agriculture has significantly contributed to the poor economic situation in the Palestinian Territories. This disruption compounded with further difficulties the Palestinians face has caused many families to face a life of poverty.
Further information on the breach of human rights in the territories: http://www.btselem.org
Green Action has decided to market the olive oil of three farmers from the Palestinian villages of Mask'ha, Yasuf and Assawiya. These three villages suffer from the repercussions of the separation barrier, along with land theft, and the constant harassment of nearby settlers. Green Action supports the farmers by offering counseling and by paying them according to the PFTA (Palestinian Fair Trade Association) regulations; Green Action is committed to continuing transparent and long-term trade connections with the farmers.
|
|
 |
| Green Action Volunteers harvesting olives in Masha village. |
|
 |
| An olive tree being uprooted for the expansion of the Zufin settlement. From "BETZELEM" Website |
|
Green Action's Fair Trade Vision in Israel:
- Raising public awareness to the power balance of conventional trade and its repercussions on human rights, worker rights and the environment.
- Raising awareness to Fair Trade as an alternative.
- Marketing local and imported fair trade products in Israel.
- Enlarging the variety of local and imported Fair Trade products, with local emphasis.
- Supporting cooperatives, initiatives, and organizations involved in promoting Fair Trade.
What Can Be Done?
|
Join Green Action's fair trade team. Contact us: Nurit 0545.614529, the Green Action office: 03.6390508 or by email:
fairtrade@greenaction.org.il |
|
Buy fair trade products through Green Action, and if you live outside of Tel Aviv -- make your home a Fair Trade products sale point! |
|
Next time you sit at a coffee shop, order fair trade coffee, and if there isn't any - demand that it be brought. |
|
Demand the supermarket chains and organic stores you frequent to offer t fair trade products on their shelves. |
|
Tell your friends about Fair Trade - perhaps they'll demand Fair Trade goods as well. |
Fair Trade Products in Israel:
 |
Instant Coffee Organic Instant Coffee , grown in Tanzania
28 NIS |
 |
Esspresso Cofee 100% Arabica Espresso cofee. Neturaly grow up by the "Asociacion de productores Indigenas Arhuacos de la Sierra Nevada" Cooperative, Colombia.
32 NIS |
 |
Olive Oil Extra virgin, 0.8 % acidity, cold press olive oil. Grown by farmers from the villages of Mas'ha, Palestine.
35 MIS |
 |
Cocoa powderNon GMO Cocoa powder used for making Cocoa drink. The cocoa and the Sugar are grow in small villages in Ghana and Costa Rica.
29 NIS |
 |
Za'atarZa'atar mix. Made by Eomen Cooperative from Gennin, Palestine.
5 NIS |
Fair Trade products sale point
Tel Aviv, Jaffa
Green Action - Matalon 65 St. Tel Aviv. 03.6390508
Orna and Ella - Sheinkin 33 St. Tel Aviv. 03.6204753
Blend - Masarik 19 Av. Tel Aviv. 03.5238152
Joz and Loz - Ye'hoda Ha'makabi 51 St. Tel Aviv. 03.5606385
Akram Hummus - - Sheinkin 59 St. Tel Aviv. 03.6853043
Bassem Hummus - Ye'hoda Ha'levy st. in the corner of Nahamani St.
"Sheva" Center - Lo'ye Paster 7 St. Jaffa. 03.6836279
Neroly - Shavazi 23 St. Neve Zedek Tel Aviv. 03.5107869
Salon Mazal - Simta Almonit 3 St. Tel Aviv. 03.6297734
Yaffa Coffee - Ye'hoda Margoza 33 St. Jaffa. 03.6815746
Comme Il Faut- Hangar 26, Tel Aviv Port.
Shorashim - Ben Ye'hoda 35 St. Tel Aviv. 03.5161517
No Logo - Bograshov 68 Tel Aviv. 03-6202752
Jerusalem
Bat Shalom office - King Gorge 14 St. 02.6245201
Dai'La - Slomzion Ha'malka 4.
Haifa
The Organic Store -Ha'Oren 25 St. 04.8256592
Fatosh - Ben Gurion 38 Av. 04.8524930
Zichron Ya'akov
The Organic Store - Hashmora St. 04-6292924
Arad
Teva Arad- commercial Center 08.9950793
Kfar Bialik
The Organic Store - Micha'el 24 St. 04.8726149
Kiryat Tivon
Karon Ha'sfarim - Ha'Migdal 2 St. (Merkaz Hanzacha building) 04.9533461
Pardes Hanna
Meshek Tzof - At Talia Shnaider 04.6379416
Links
|
