Cheap stuff VS. fair trade

[*PRC*Kensei]

I've got this question.

maby some of you know OXFAM ? they are an organisation who predict "fair trade" , kind of "other-globalist" organisation. they buy stuff for a "fair price" in thirth world country's, and sell it here. mostly agricultural products and food. they are fairly populair here in belgium, a store in evry bigger city.

This makes that those products are 15 to 20 % more expencive then the products of the big players (kellogs, nestle, danone, coca cola...) who are expencive themselves. BUT, you know your food does not come from a capitalist company and you help fight poverty.

Now, beeing a "studyroom socialist" ( i dont really "go out on the streets to activate" and i'm not a "real" worker and probably will never be one, since i'm on univercity atm) , i got a weak spot for poverty (i ALWAYS give money to FRIENDLY beggars if they ask me, just cant walk by like they dont exist) so i was attrackted by this oxfam stuff.

untill i saw there slogan: consume for a better world.

this made me think. actually they simply promote capitalism & globalisation in the thirth world ? there is nothing socialist about this "fair trade" stuff..

so, what do you think is morraly better ? buy cheap products (like drinking only water (or beer) but never soda's, something i'm doing for years now, out of statement ) the DIY way, or "fair trade", fight poverty but promote capitalism ?


a deep question for me. discuss !

[ack]

Another concern is their definition of "fair trade".

[commiecrusader]

I think if you already buy expensive products, then it's better to buy fairtrade, because at least the poor people who actually produce the raw materials to make the products get a fairer amount of money for their goods, even if they do probably still get ripped off. However if, like me, you simply can't afford to pay loads for fair trade produce, then just stick to buying the cheaper stuff. Pretty much all the products I buy are the 'value' or 'basic' own-brand stuff in supermarkets, I pretty much never buy brand names, and hence I probably do contribute to the raping of third world countries that goes on. But hey, when I'm getting raped myself by the system and can't afford to do something about it, then there's nothing I can do.

[Coggeh]

I think that you should try and buy fair trade as much as u can but it would be better to get active about it and creating awareness for others in your position . Also a point ..... a study room socialist even tho opposes the system does nothing to stop it =\


-Cogz

[Whitten]

"fair trade" is just the first world outcompeting the more needy third world for the goods which their peasents produce in a global market.

[silentprotest]

Your best option is probably just subsiding off the really dirt cheap supermarket own brand stuff. The companies take a loss each time you buy it, its only there so when you go and buy it you see other things which are not in that range and buy that aswell. Plus, from my experience it tastes exactly the same.

[*PRC*Kensei]

Originally posted by [email protected] 13, 2007 08:03 pm
Also a point ..... a study room socialist even tho opposes the system does nothing to stop it =\



i was more ment sarcastic.

anyway.. marx was a study room socialist:p

[apathy maybe]

Basically, the idea of fair trade is not a socialist one. It is promoting better conditions and pay for producers and workers within the capitalist framework. The decision to buy fair trade as opposed to the cheapest possible alternative is a lifestylist one, as individual consumers we can not (despite capitalist claims to the contrary) change much with out actions.

That said, I actually support fair trade. I support the idea that producers and workers should have better pay and conditions.


However, fair trade does tend to line the pockets of the corporations that participate in it. They put a large mark up on the product, and like with organic, find consumers who are willing to pay significantly extra. Coffee for example (I don't have actual evidence or links to back up my claim, so take it as you will, but anyway), could be sold less then $1 per kilogram for fair trade stuff (if the aim is to compensate the producers and workers) more then for "free trade" stuff. Yet it is sold something like $20 more!


Personally I don't drink coffee, I don't like it. I also don't drink tea often, or cocoa or buy chocolate. I eat simply and try and get local vegetables and fruit. But I'm a lifestylist, so don't take my actions as something to emulate.

[fashbash]

Coffeetable Communists, Armchair Anarchists... they may be middle class, inactive and doomed to eventually sell out, but they are still our comrades. Those who can afford it, buy it, those who can't, don't.

Ghandi once vistited a Lancashire textiles mill on one of his tours of England. He asked the workers there- hard-up, poverty stricken proletariat as they were- to stop producing goods made from the raw materials plundered from his country. And though they lost a lot of pay, and may have lost their jobs or starved, they went on strike for a week in protest and support of Ghandi's plight.

If you care that much, and support the (dubious) good that Fairtrade does, buy it. Even if you can't afford it.

[OkaCrisis]

If you are looking to do something positive for both your own local farmers, as well as the environment, you should consider going on the "100 mile diet", which basically means only eating goods that have been produced within 100 miles of your house/appartment.

Not only will you be supporting local farms, but you're also ensuring that your dollars are not supporting cash-crop farms in 3rd world countries. Also, you will be vastly reducing emissions assosiated with shipping, flying, or trucking food from half-way around the world.

It will be more expensive, but there are a lot of benefits.

http://www.100milediet.org/

[Y Chwyldro Comiwnyddol Cymraeg]

Its hard to live outside of capitalism in this day and age, but whenever you can, support co-operatives and stuff. I always buy fair-trade when i can, but they do support capitalism. They pay the workers more, but charge more themselves so it costs us more so bosses get rich, worker are better off than with cadburys etc. and you feel better, it for cappies with a bit of moral belifes

[*PRC*Kensei]

started living on more "cheap" food myself now for certain producs,

first of all,
soda (F*ck you CC company)
All kinds of semi-prepared food (pizza's, canned fish, pasta's)
crisps.
all kinds of snacks.

however, For some producs, like serials, i'm trapped in the big company's nets & i just like them better so much then their alternative versions. ( kellog's just has the very best serials, i'm srry :( )

[JKP]

Originally posted by *PRC*[email protected] 13, 2007 03:11 am
BUT, you know your food does not come from a capitalist company and you help fight poverty.


It does come from a capitalist company, except that you're paying for your money to go
to the local bourgeoisie, rather than being sent to a first world corporation.

EDIT: Unless of course you happen to purchase products from a worker owned factory like Zanon ceramics:

http://www.obrerosdezanon.org/

History on the movement here:
http://www.zmag.org/sustainers/content/2004-03/18trigona.cfm

[*PRC*Kensei]

It comes from no company. it comes from self producing farmers.

it's not united fruit company i'm talking about....

and i'm sorry i dont need caramic atm :P but looks like very nice project, to bad their products are of no use to me :-(

[piet11111]

its hard enough buying the "cheapest" foodstuffs i cant afford to do any of the fair trade stuff.

[Chicano Shamrock]

Originally posted by [email protected] 19, 2007 01:15 am
If you are looking to do something positive for both your own local farmers, as well as the environment, you should consider going on the "100 mile diet", which basically means only eating goods that have been produced within 100 miles of your house/appartment.

Not only will you be supporting local farms, but you're also ensuring that your dollars are not supporting cash-crop farms in 3rd world countries. Also, you will be vastly reducing emissions assosiated with shipping, flying, or trucking food from half-way around the world.

It will be more expensive, but there are a lot of benefits.

http://www.100milediet.org/
I will look into that thanks for the link and info. It is funny because I live close to the ocean so my 100 miles is about 60% water.

[*PRC*Kensei]

fish dude, fish :D :P

na.. no need to support my local farmers. would be more a nationalistic act then a anti-capitalistic.