| In Defence of Fair Trade | |||||
| Chiswick Churches for Justice and Peace discussion on 'coffee bean wars'
Great play has been made in recent years in the media about the difference of philosophy between the Fairtrade Foundation and the Rainforest Alliance. The difference between the two organisations has been dressed up as 'spats', 'rivalry' and 'coffee bean wars'. The truth is that the approach of each organisation is different, but the objectives and aims are fundamentally the same. The Fairtrade Foundation model focusses on a guaranteed minimum price for the producer, plus a social premium to be invested in community projects. The Rainforest Alliance has established a system of certification based on sustainable agriculture principles, environmental protection and workers' conditions. Both agree with the emphasis of the 2005 MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY Campaign on Trade Justice as an effective engine for development and change in the developing South, and as an effective direct action for justice, available to us inhabitants of the developed North every time that we go shopping. |