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| Fair Trade – Making Your Dollar Count |
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Fair Trade – Making Your Dollar Count
About Fair Trade When you wake up in the morning and grab your first cup of coffee, do you stop to think about the people who grew the coffee beans, picked them and transported them to this country? Well the sad truth is that more than likely the coffee came from a place where disadvantaged women and children are working in terrible conditions for appallingly low wages. “around 7.5 million individuals benefited directly from Fair Trade Certified production in 2008”(Source: Fair Trade Federation) Why Fair Trade?The other sad reality is that your coffee was probably grown in the equatorial regions where a rainforest was destroyed to grow cash crops, such as chocolate. These rainforests are critical for maintaining the diversity of life on earth and managing climate change. But you don’t have to give up your coffee. Enter fair trade, a global concept creating sustainable farming opportunities for farmers to produce local goods to sell in the global market place at a just and fair price. According to the Fair Trade Federation, who strengthen and promote North American organizations fully committed to fair trade, “around 7.5 million individuals benefited directly from Fair Trade Certified production in 2008”. And there are now plenty of places to choose coffee from that has not helped in destroying a rainforest. You Are What You Buy [Fair Trade Video]
The Rainforest Alliance, based in New York, works to conserve rainforest biodiversity and ensure sustainable agriculture by transforming land-use practices, business practices and consumer behavior. They have developed a Rainforest Alliance Certified seal which means in buying their products you can be assured that the local community has benefited directly. The Rainforest Alliance says that “current practices will only continue to accelerate the cycle of poverty experienced by most farmers, especially in and around our planet's most sensitive and unique ecosystems”.
“current practices will only continue to accelerate the cycle of poverty experienced by most farmers, especially in and around our planet's most sensitive and unique ecosystems”(Source: Rainforest Alliance)
Fair Trade
Fair Trade
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“In the next 24 hours, deforestation will release as much CO2 into the atmosphere as 8 million people flying from London to New York. Stopping the loggers is the fastest and cheapest solution to climate change.” Daniel Howden, writing in "The Independent"
There are plenty of ways you can play your part and still enjoy your coffee and chocolate.
Keep America Beautiful! 
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Support one of the many organizations that are working in the fair trade area.
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Fair Trade Federation Org:
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Rainforest Alliance Org:
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Transfair USA:
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One Planet Living :
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| Labeled photographs courtesy of photographer Sharon H. |
| PhotoBucket.com |
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