Primary Resources
A Practitioner Viewpoint
Fair Trade: The Long Journey That Informs the Current Reality
This 2-page article from the Spring 2012 edition of Fair World Project offers a good framework and basis to understand the history, successes and challenges of Fair Trade - as a term for a social movement focused on sustainability and fairness. As much as it describes a return to society’s historic roots, it is also about trade relationships in the supply chain for food. Jonathan Rosenthal thoughtfully presents his assessment – “what we have ended up with is what I might call ‘less unfair trade’” – and challenges all to start conversations about power and systems of oppression in organizations and networks.
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Interview with Jonathan Rosenthal
In this 42-minute video published on February 26, 2014, Jonathan Rosenthal, co-founder of Equal Exchange, takes the viewer on a multi-faceted educational journey through the world of community and food. Rosenthal talks about healthy food and nutrition, the business of food (agriculture and trade relationships), the role and rights of consumers, and the contrary trends of food insecurity (think in terms of food deserts) and vibrant food movements (ex. urban farming and aquaculture). Underlying this, he helps to reframe our relationship to food using the language of a social entrepreneur and a builder of a values-based organization and sustainable movement.
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The State of Fair Trade
CRS University Director, Dr. Kim Lamberty, interviews industry thought leader Jonathan Rosenthal to discuss the state of fair trade and where it's headed in the future. 17 minutes 48 seconds.
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Catholic Relief Services Perspective
Fair Trade brings new perks to coffee’s homeland
Watch this new, 4-minute video produced by CRS. In partnership with Keurig Green Mountain, CRS is helping traditional coffee farms in Ethiopia, Kenya and Rwanda to improve their coffee quality so farmers can access more profitable international fair trade and specialty coffee markets. Without the know-how, farmers couldn’t get a good price for their coffee, which years ago used to pay their way almost entirely. But prices since plunged. Now farmers produce a high-quality niche product, and have diversified their farms so they have food and income all year round.
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The Human Thread
The Human Thread is a campaign to raise consciousness and empower Catholics to advocate for the plight of garment workers worldwide. Their cause is simple: “Things have a price and can be for sale. But people have a dignity that is priceless and worth far more than things." Follow the Way by taking the pledge and exploring other resources. Explore the issue through the lens of Catholic Social Teaching.
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The Power Behind Your Purchase
Have you ever considered who made your clothes, jewelry or food? There is a person behind each of these products. Learn about the importance of our purchasing decisions and hear about women whose lives have changed thanks to better business. Explore CRS's Ethical Trade website -- watch the video The Power Behind Your Purchase (El Poder Detras De Tu Compra) (either in English or Spanish, 2:26 minutes) and access A reflection and discussion guide and Prayer Card.
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A View From the Academy
A Debate: (Scholar and Practitioners)
Research finds Fairtrade fails the poorest workers in Ethiopia and Uganda
SOAS University of London is the only Higher Education institution in Europe specializing in the study of Asia, Africa and the Near and Middle East. Clicking on this link will allow viewers to read SOAS’s summary comments (published May 24, 2014) and access the full 143-page report (published in April 2014.)
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Fairtrade International’s Question & Answer
Response to the SOAS Report "Fairtrade, Employment and Poverty Reduction in Ethiopia and Uganda". This is a short-summary response from Fairtrade International (FTI) (dated May 20, 2014) to the SOAS report. Also accessible from this webpage is FTI’s official response (dated May 16, 2014), a perspective written by Fairtrade CEO Harriet Lamb on the challenging task of 'Unpeeling the Impacts of Poverty' on the Huffington Post (originally posted on May 28, 2014), and a 3-minute video interview of Harriet Lamb on Al Jazeera.
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Global Journalist
This edition of Global Journalist takes a look at the growth of the Fair Trade movement, and how well it’s achieving its goal. This 27-minute video, published on July 9, 2015, provides the perspectives of:
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Christopher Cramer, a professor of political economy at the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London
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Rob Everts, co-director of Equal Exchange, a co-operative fair trade company that sells coffee, cocoa and other fair trade products
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Poul Mark, founder of Transcend Coffee, a coffee roasting company and distributor in Canada
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