Alright, as promised, here's our blog on fair trade, social, and economic justice. This is your chance, those of you in Dr. Blau's Sociology 273 class, and distinguished guests, to make your thoughts seen and voices heard, so let's get started!
Hard-copy answers due June 10, along with your time log.
1. Describe what you did for the practicum and the fair trade outreach. What did you expect? What did you learn? What did you contribute? How did you grow? (3 paragraphs)
2. There are many good things about American liberalism, but it impairs Americans' understanding of human rights. In your own words, explain why (1 paragraph)
3. How would you define human rights (in your own words)? (1 paragraph)
4. Propose an additional article for the UDHR. (1 or 2 sentences)
5. What are some examples of collective goods that we did not discuss in class? (a short list - 3 or 4)
6. Any reason to suspect that collective goods will become more important in the future? (A sentence or two)
7. If you could propose one new amendment to the US Constitution, what would it be, and why is it important? (One paragraph)
8. The world is changing very quickly with globalism, and there are many global movements that aim to make the world a better place for all. This course is designed, in part, to encourage you to think about these movements. Are there any movements that you have read about that you especially like (think are important) or can you propose a new one? (1-2 paragraphs).
Please read the following statement and respond to the questions posed. Remember that you are always more than welcome to comment on the posts that your peers leave!
For farmers and farm workers throughout the developing world whose livelihoods depend on products that Americans enjoy every day—coffee, tea, cocoa, bananas and other fresh fruits, sugar, rice, vanilla and herbs—survival can be a struggle. Low prices, market volatility and isolation often keep farmers in a cycle of poverty, unable to recover their cost of production. Families, communities and the environment all suffer as a result. Fair Trade seeks to improve lives and empower individuals as well as communities. Based on your experience and knowledge of Fair Trade, would you agree with the above statement? If so, why? If not, what part do you disagree with and how would you change the statement? What have you learned through your involvement with the Fair Trade movement? Do you think you will continue to participate in Fair Trade movements after the semester concludes? What do you like most about Fair Trade? What do you like the least about the movement?
Based on my experience with Fair Trade, I would agree with the statement that Fair Trade seeks to improve lives and empower individuals as well as communities. This is because Fair Trade ensures that individuals are receiving living wages for their work. These wages could be used towards better housing and an adequate amount of food for their family. Through my involvement with the Fair Trade movement, I've learned that a lot of work still needs to be done in order to spread the word about what Fair Trade actually is, I think I will work with Fair Trade after the semester because I realize now how important it is to securing the well being of people in other nations. I like that Fair Trade exists to provide some sort of equity and fairness for people who are producing products for the United States, I don't like how there is a lack of awareness about the benefits of the Fair Trade movement it self.
Fair Trade seeks to improve lives and empower individuals as well as communities. Based on your experience and knowledge of Fair Trade, would you agree with the above statement? If so, why? If not, what part do you disagree with and how would you change the statement? What have you learned through your involvement with the Fair Trade movement? Do you think you will continue to participate in Fair Trade movements after the semester concludes? What do you like most about Fair Trade? What do you like the least about the movement? I agree that Fair Trade seeks to improve lives and empower individuals and communities. The perspective I've appreciated learning from this course is the emphasis of the importance of a thriving community and how that in turn increases the livelihood and often human rights of the individual. Tighter, more involved communities leads to a greater participatory democracy, which empowers individuals more than a democracy such as we have here in the US. Here, people think of each other abstractly and people lose faith in exercising their political rights when they become disenchanted with government. Fair Trade empowers individuals by promoting a living wage, access to food and housing, education and strengthening their communities. Through Fair Trade I have learned to think about my daily actions as connected with the larger world. I think about where my food comes from and my clothing, and I want to ensure my money goes to support people who are given the human rights we all, as people, deserve. I think about the importance of protecting the human rights of others. I appreciate the social consciousness which Fair Trade promotes and the awareness it fosters of the importance of treating others humanely and being cognizant of the fact that we live in a Western country which exerts unparalleled trade power. I will continue to participate in Fair Trade by being involved in events and purchasing Fair Trade items. I have learned that Fair Trade is not just a movement among the white elites, but is a movement for everyone. I wish there was more that could be done to strengthen the Fair Trade movement in rural communities as well as more urban ones. What I appreciate most is that it's a movement anyone can be involved in, through big and small actions, and it promotes a communitarian ideal that's lacking so much from many of our lives.
Through my involvement with Fair Trade, I have come to realize its benefits for individuals in developing countries and communities as a whole. Before, I thought that laborers should form unions to demand higher wages from the warehouses. As Krystal said, most American consumers are unaware of the situation and that Fair Trade even exists, and it didn't seem fair to me that the producers had to depend on blissfully ignorant consumers for a better lifestyle. However, through the Think Tank, I learned that the market prices change too frequently for unions to demand a set price, and farmers cannot wait to sell their produce to demand higher prices because it will all go bad. Therefore, the only solution is for Fair Trade to set minimum prices at a wage that allows a healthy lifestyle for the labor force. Not only will they better afford a nutritious diet with clean water, health care, and housing, but over generations this will better the entire community through increasing the likelihood that children can obtain a good education. Instead of being stuck in a cycle of poverty, since their children will be given more opportunities for education, progress will be made. The educated children will also become more aware of agriculture and industry's effect on the environment, possibly leading to more green friendly techniques. In addition, I think Fair Trade will give consumers the opportunity to support the well-being of the people that produce many things we depend on daily. Overall, Fair Trade is a great movement, and I definitely plan to continue purchasing Fair Trade items like coffee (and future Ben $ Jerry's!). I've also really enjoyed talking to people about it, so I will continue to promote its ideals. It can be aggravating how few people outside of the University community know about Fair Trade, but I hope that will change in the future.
I to do agree that Fair Trade seeks to improve lives and empower individuals as well as communities. Fair Trade helps to promote and serve as a form of reassurance for the equality or at least the "shot" at equality for workers. Better living wages and a sense of both support and empowerment are great possible outcomes of the Fair Trade movement for the workers and the families that they have to support.
Prior to enrolling in SOCI 273, I was completely unaware of the Fair Trade movement. Before I was introduced, I was a strong believer in work unions and strikes as a means of workers demanding wage increases from their employers. Like myself, I am certain that there are several individuals completely unaware that Fair Trade exists at all.
I like the idea that the Fair Trade movement does not operate by singling out one or two groups of people, but instead involves and requires the help of all willing and dedicated individuals. However, I am somewhat perturbed that there is not more support and awareness for the Fair Trade movement. This is where I will come in and continue to help move the movement to the future by continuing to volunteer and inform others about the movement. I truly support the cause!
I agree with the statement. Fair Trade seeks equality for all people. No matter their race, sex or age. Fair Trade supports equal rights for those who live in Third World countries; they support the Third World countries workers in earning fair wages, having a healthier lifestyle and better living conditions. Within the past four weeks I have learn that Fair Trade is about equal opportunity for everyone in the world. Fair Trade is not trying to monopolize other companies but make sure that the farmers and workers are getting paid fairly. I now know that Fair Trade products consist of more than just coffee, when shopping for coffee, tea, and fresh fruits I will look for the Fair Trade symbol. I will also think twice before purchasing items to see if they are a Fair Trade product. I will continue to spread the word about the goodness of buying Fair Trade products and will purchase them also; if time permits I would love to volunteer at events and tell others about Fair Trade. I love that Fair Trade helps all and fights for equal opportunities. What I like less about Fair Trade is, a lot of people are uneducated about it. It would be great if Fair Trade had more media attention and if more hard copy material, were available to the public.
I also agree that the fair trade movement is one that should continue to grow. Prior to enrolling in this class I was aware that workers in third world countries were recieving lower wages. because of prior first hand experience, but I was unaware of the severity of it. As a couple of my classmates have already mentioned the only thing that matters is that everyone is getting thier fair share of money for their work. Underpaying workers just so the companies can meet quarterly goals is unacceptable. Although I like what Fair Trade aims to do, I believe that the movement is not causing enough comotion about the changes it is trying to make. Before this class I had heard Fair Trade being mentioned here and there, but I never really understood what the goal of the movement was. In order for more people to join the cause, the movement must inform more people of what the movement is actually about.
This course opens my mind about the benefits that come with Fair Trade and how it will positively affect both the economy of the developing countries and the developed countries. From reading the above statement, I do agree with everything said. I do know in developing countries, such as Africa, Asia, and Latin America, many individuals and communities of producers depend on their agricultural goods and productions for survival, respect, and improved lives. The developed countries also depend on this supply chain and also by participating in Fair Trade, countries can build long-term relationships and you are guaranteed for high quality products. Through my involvement, by talking to my friends about what Fair Trade really is, I developed my appreciation for the benefits that fair trade will bring to both side of the participate countries. Those exchanged goods such as coffee, sugar, bananas, art, spices, and wines in return will help people in developing communities to access to health care, clean water, and, education. I hope to continue to participate in Fair Trade movement by educating my friends about the benefits of Fair Trade and why their participation matters. What I like the most about Fair Trade is that the Fair Trade certified products are not produced developed countries, such as the United States so they don’t represent any sort of competition with local farmers who grow different agricultural products. Therefore, none of the party is negatively affected by participating in Fair trade movement.
I definitely agree that Fair Trade improves lives by empowering individuals, and thereby fortifying communities. When people have real, direct control over their lives, they are more apt to assume a proactive stance, remain actively engaged, and maintain hope for a prosperous future. This is one example of liberalism at work in a positive way, as it tends to spawn a pluralism which is conducive to an egalitarian and cooperative society. A highly successful international economic model, Fair Trade principles can also be applied to local business and domestic markets. I found there to be much interest in this 'local' Trade perspective during my media outreach for the upcoming Fair Trade event. Fair Trade is a win-win proposition.
I would agree with the statement because the Fair Trade is an idea of bringing justice and fairness to the people and communities. Like most people said, I have never heard of Fair Trade before enrolling in this class. However, as soon as I knew more about it, I started to think about how this movement would affect people's lives. Based on what I've heard before, the social problems that the Fair Trade proposed have been drawn more attention. In some countries, workers are treated unlawfully and unfairly. Underpaying, social security, health insurance, and working conditions are major problems that are associated with these workers. Without a legally fair and competitive working environment, these people are unable to make a living, purchase health insurance, or pay for their children's education. I have not seen a great deal of progress in achieving fair trade and promoting human rights, but the Fair Trade movement is what we should expect and come together to make our ideals real. I will continue to participate in the Fair Trade because I believe it is the right thing for us to do.
I agree with the statement that Fair Trade improves lives and empower individuals as well as communities. The globalization of economics has caused companies and firms move their factories to developing countries. As a result, labor in such countries are being exploited and are receiving an unfair wage for the work they are doing. The vicious cycle of unfairness would keep circling unless some measures are taken to break it. And the Fair Trade Movement serves as a powerful tool that ensures a better trading condition for workers in developing countries. Through advertising and publication, the Fair Trade Movement has made people become more aware of the product they are purchasing. I believe that through our continuous effort, the demand for fair trade products would outweigh that of unfair trade. And the unfairness in trading would finally be eliminated. In conclusion, I think the Fair Trade Movement would effectively reduce poverty and improve life quality of developing country communities.
Through my involvement with the Fair Trade Movement, I have definitely learned a lot about the background of fair-trade, and how it could be eliminated. And the journal posting on Thinktank has made me think a lot about why it is important to ensure fair trade and also how we can get others to care about promoting fair trade. Also, I started to think about my own behavior while purchasing groceries.
I think I would definitely continue to participate in Fair Trade Movement after the semester concludes. And I would try to convince my peers to care about the issues of fair trade. What I like most about fair trade is that fair trade ensures human rights even under the globalization of economy. So, just as Jenna pointed out, none of the Party is negatively affected by Fair Trade movement.
I agree with the statement that Fair Trade seeks to alleviate the pain and suffering, lessen the grip of poverty, improve lives, and empower individuals as well as communities in the third world countries. It seeks to help better communities in these countries by providing individuals with fairer wages. And as many people have already pointed out, bettering these communities will lead to a more educated population, a more stable economy, and a higher quality of goods they may export. As communities in these less fortunate countries improve, it also positively affects communities right at home in the United States. It can improve trade relations, as exporters here in the United States will enjoy a growing demand for American goods in these overseas countries. It’s a win-win situation for both sides. Before I took this class, all I had heard or read about fair trade was from the advertisement at Star Bucks. Now, I have learned a lot about other fair trade issues in this class, as well as different cities that have already adopted a fair trade policy such as Carrboro. I would like to continue to participate in Fair Trade movements after the semester ends. I believe it to be a very worthwhile, meaningful, and enriching experience. What I like most is the humane aspect of Fair Trade. With so many developing countries needing aid, I believe that the best way to help the people of these countries is through Fair Trade policies. A majority of the aid given by the United States does not even reach the citizens of these countries, as food and supplies are usually intercepted by militant groups or by the government to be sold in black markets at high prices to line their own pockets. I believe that Fair Trade will be more effective on the whole in helping these less fortunate people to improve their lives. However, I think the Fair Trade Movement’s shortfall is the lack of push to educate more people about the fundamental meaning of this benevolent movement—a movement that actually benefits all. To achieve this, more teachers like Ms. Blau and more classes like this one should be made available in all developed countries.
I agree with the above comment. Throughout my work with Fair Trade, I always felt restricted to the struggle for Fair Trade in Chapel Hill when in fact I believe that this is a global movement. Recently, I was in NYC and went to a fastfood stand known as "Shake Shack" and I was blown away by amongst all its selection it had one fair trade certified item. Though this may not seem a lot, the fact that this movement has grown to the Heart of Manhattan is amazing. However, what I dislike about Fair Trade is that there is no straight defined definition. There are principles and objectives; however, I am still trying to understand the complete movement behind fair trade. I believe because there is no clear cut definition this makes it difficult for the general population to connect with its underlying themes.
Due to my involvement with Fair Trade, I agree with the statement that Fair Trade seeks to improve lives and empower individuals as well as communities. The Fair Trade movement is an amazing action that is going to make a difference in the equality of the world. Fair Trade is all about the equal rights and fair treatment of others that are producing goods that are used in our daily lives. Before taking Sociology 273, I was unaware of a lot of the topics covered in class as well as the Fair Trade movement. I will definitely continue to be a part of the movement after this semester concludes because I feel as though all people should be treated equally despite their place of living. What people fail realize is that people in other countries have families to support and other responsibilities that have to be taken care of and to me it is not fair for them to receive unfair living wages. The one thing that I greatly appreciate about the movement is all of the involvement and the support from the community. Most of my friends did not know what fair trade was; however, after explaining to them what it was they were intrigued and wanted to get involved as well. It is interesting how many people did not know anything about the movement but right when they are informed about it they want to jump on the bandwagon as well to help make a difference.
Yes, I believe Fair Trade truly seeks to improve lives and empower individuals. I have learned that due to trade agreements such as NAFTA, movements like Fair Trade are extremely critical to offset the damage to local farmers and communities in developing countries.
Before being involved with Fair Trade and this class, I had heard of Fair Trade coffee, but have only recently learned of Fair Trade art. I think art is a particularly interesting Fair Trade item because we don't usually think of boundaries concerning art the way we do with other products. I believe we are more conscious of where our products come from if it is food related, but with art, we know it comes from an individual and we already feel an individual connection to the product. Not all art, but paintings we often ask, who it came from, not where it came from. I think this allows us to get over some geo-political hurdles and simply support the producer of the product. In other cases we may specifically desire African art and no other type will do. For these reasons I believe Fair Trade art is particularly interesting and I would like to see it promoted further.
I will continue working for Fair Trade after the semester. I know I will look for Fair Trade products when I shop. I hope to convince others, if for no other reason, that Fair Trade gives consumers one more option and one more seller in the market.
I think Fair Trade certainly seeks to improve lives and empower individuals and communities. However, that’s only for people with a certain state of mind. We can’t deny that we, in America, live in a capitalistic society. Everyone is after the “American Dream.” Money. A big house. Nice cars. An authoritative reputation. Fair Trade is more of the opposite for people who persist at all costs to achieve their idea American Dream. That’s not to say that they wouldn’t be willing to buy fair trade products, or help others in some ways, but it’s not necessarily an improvement in their lives empowering them. Fair Trade really only applies to those who get the beneficial end product, not those who participate in the process, and it certainly isn’t helpful to every person in the world. I support Fair Trade. I think it’s a great idea, but it’s against my idea of a perfect world. It sounds rather insensitive, I know, but I think there should be less people in the world. That’s not to say I’m picking and choosing. I don’t think capitalist America or other developed countries should be the only thing to exist. I’m simply much more of an animal rights person. I’m not a vegan or a vegetarian. We’re all part of a food chain (human vs. tiger, who wins?). I look down on humans most of the time, even myself. I’m molded by my society, as we all are. We do what we can, and some give all that they can, to Fair Trade, to Human Rights, to Animal Rights. Fair Trade, while good and whole and certainly a good cause in my mind, is not conducive to my goals, as an activist or as a pursuit of my dreams.
I think the fair trade is a wonderful movement and I partially agree with the above statement. Until I took this class I had never heard of fair trade. Although the fair trade movement seeks to improve the quality of living for many individuals it is not the only way to help improve the quality of living for others. I, myself, am a very science/medical oriented person and a future goal of mine is to become apart of the medical field in someway, whether it be a nurse or a doctor. Now that I know about fair trade, I will do my all to buy fair trade products in order to support the movement. But to be honest my real focus is on helping people in the health care field as a health care professional and my plans are to continue that goal after the semester is concluded.
What I like most about this movement is the aura of this movement. Everyone who talked about seemed very passionate about it which made me want to know more about it. What I didn't like about the movement is how little people know about it.
I agree with the statement that says Fair Trade seeks to improve lives and empower individuals as well as communities. I mainly agree with the statement above because I have lived in a country that has been affected by the low prices of products. I believe this cycle will not allow farmers and farm workers throughout the developing world to succeed because they are always depending on somebody else. Due to the elasticity of prices for products such as coffee, sugar, vanilla, etc., farmers have to submit to the price levels that the big companies establish. Sadly, this economic problem presents social and political issues in the countries, posing several bumps on the road. Throughout my involvement with the Fair Trade Movement, I have learned that a slight change in price would mean a significant change in the lifestyles of farm workers and farmers. Before Sociology 273, I thought I would have to pay a lot more for the products that I enjoy now; however, the coin used in developing countries is much less than the dollar. I believe that I will continue with the Fair Trade movement because it’s for a good cause and the effort I have to put in is not as significant as the benefits of the people in other nations who ork hard to produce the products we love. Something I do not like about the Fair Trade movement is that it does not do an excellent job at informing people about what they can do to improve their lifestyles in a Fair trade friendly manner. Hopefully, more people will be aware of how to create a movement in their town towards a Fair Trade status.
Based on what I've learned these past weeks, I would definitely agree with this statement. Many people are affected by the low prices put on their products which affects many other things negatively. I am absolutely going to remain involved in the Fair Trade movement. It would be absolutely ignorant to know the facts that I do then turn my back. Although many people don't know about this campaign it has the potential to change so many things that are now unacceptable.
I agree that the purpose and goal of Fair Trade and its supporters and proponents is to increase the quality of life of producers in developing countries that send goods to more developed countries. Helping these farmers doesn’t just help the farmer and their families. It’s like a chain reaction—it helps the farmer, their families, their communities, and eventually the whole country reaps the benefits of fair trade. The positive effects can even get more intricate than that—it’s not just economically that people benefit. With fair compensation in exchange for goods, things like education, social equality between classes, technology, and other things improve as well. I’ve learned that it isn’t very difficult or too expensive for merchants in America to become a part of this movement, and that it’s easy for anyone to support it. I’ll definitely make an effort to buy fair trade goods and eat in restaurants that use fair trade products. What I like most about it is how something so simple can help thousands of people. What I like the least is that it hasn’t blown up yet—too many people are still unaware of what fair trade means.
Yes I totally I agree because Ive seen it with my own eyes, people in developing countries dont get paid that much money for their goods they produced and that's why there is so much inequality in these societies, there is a big gap between rich people and poor people. I've learned that this movement is not about rich people in America, it's about people in America trying to help other people around the world so that they are paid a fair amount for their goods and it really makes me happy to see people who care about this poor people in thrid world countries. I want to go to Law School and being involved int his kind of project that looks after other people has made me realized that I really want to do Law and I would love to keep being involved in this movement.The only thing that I dont like about the movement is that there is not a lot of people here in Chapel Hill intersted since it's a small town, I wish we were working in a big city where people are more willing to try new things like the fair trade
After reading the statement I do agree with it. I believe that the the nature of farming can be very unstable and with things in such a state, the community and the farmer's family will inevitably be just as unstable as these people are some of the primary breadwinners for the family and community. And my work with the fair trade I have learned that the any amount of help is helpful regardless of how little or how much. This issue is a global one and all help regardless of size helps us as a human race get closer to human rights internationally with fair trade successes. I think I will continue fair trade efforts if only through small improvements like purchasing fair trade products or supporting businesses that support fair trade. I like that anyone can help fair trade but I don't like that this is a well kept secret.
Just to add to what Chris said, I agree that fair trade is important, and especially as we become a more globalized society I believe it is important that we as citizens of Earth begin to assume a greater responsibility toward one another and promote each others well-being. I believe adopting and promoting such an ideology is to the benefit of everyone in the long run. I believe the fair trade movement is a very important part of putting forth a structure and a fair economic model toward supporting an ideology of global reciprocity, however that structure needs definition. I am still unsure of exactly how the mechanisms behind fair trade work. What organizations are promoting fair trade, how is the concept being shared and instituted in producing countries, how is it being introduced to employers, factory managers, and farmers who make goods. How are they being sold on it, what real incentives are guaranteed to workers in the producing class, what real incentives are available to domestic retailers and salespeople that sale fair trade goods. Why is there not more publicity about it. I had never heard of fair trade prior to taking this class. These are questions I fee need a more clear answer if fair trade is to gain more support and momentum as a movement. If there is a more clearly defined purpose behind fair trade, I believe more people will be accepting of it, and more towns and larger cities across the United States will adopt fair trade initiatives. I think fair trade is a great concept in theory and I would like to continue working toward promoting fair trade, but I would also like to know more about it myself.
According to my knowledge of fair trade I agree with the statement that fair trade improves the lives and communities of farmers. Most of the time farmers are forced to price their products at an unreasonably low price because of free trade. They are forced to compete with very large comanies from developed nations who can afford to produce vast quanities of the same product for cheaper than the farmers. As a result they are able to price their produce at very low prices. This is unfair to local farmers who have very limited resources and are unable to produce such a vast amount of crops. As a result they are not able to cover their overhead costs and are usually forced out of business. Fair trade helps even out the playing field.
I agree with the statement that Fair Trade not only improves the human condition involved with economic transactions, but also the environmental impact as well. It is far too common to investigate many of the "time-saving" farming/producing practices that larger corporations utilize, and discover that they are deleterious to the environment. Putting the power in the hands of the local economy and within the actual people themselves who toil day in and day out allows for them to set their own wage and control their natural resources (i.e. land, farming practices) in a more productive manner. I had heard of the fair trade movement prior to class, but really had no idea as far as how the organization works. From what I've seen and heard in class, I really appreciate the flexibility and ground-works up approach that the movement uses to spread its message. If a student can pick up the information and then cohesively distribute it amongst the community along with fellow students, the movement opens itself up to a wide range of possibilities as far as garnering more attention. The movement also branches out into other human rights issues, as it leads into the discussion of universal education, health care, and citizenship for all who prove they are willing to work for their rights.
I firmly believe that the Fair Trade initiative works to both improve people's lives as well as empower them to stand up and improve them themselves. The push by Fair Trade to secure living wages for the farmers and producers that have suffered due to the capitalism driven tendency to expediate production and maximize retail profits. The presence and oppression of big corporations has caused farmers and producers to suffer and Fair Trade offers them both a voice and an outlet to work towards alleviating such negative circumstances. Because of this I plan to continue to be involved and promote the Fair Trade Movement even after this class is over. I believe that the success and growth of Fair Trade correlates with the growth and success of human rights.
I feel that Fair Trade is a great measure to improve the lives of individuals in Third World countries no matter their race or gender. It offers some type of equality for workers, their family and community.
I have enjoyed the learning about Fair Trade in this course. Prior to the course I was clueless, as are most consumers, and neglected to think of where the products I use take place and its influence on the lives of those who make these products.
The only problem i have with Fair Trade is the lack of knowledge and support from many Americans. I'm glad that through this course I am able to share and outreach about Fair Trade. I now have a different outlook with my shopping experiences!
Paul Rice is the President and CEO of TransFair USA; he worked for 11 years as a rural development specialist in the coffee regions of Nicaragua. He worked directly in the field with cooperative farmers, creating and implementing training programs aimed at developing small farmers’ organizational and business capacity. When the opportunity arose in 1998 to launch TransFair USA and open the specialty coffee market to small family farmers, Paul found his current role to be a natural evolution of his years in the field. Paul is very enthusiastic about Fair Trade, because he believes that the market partnerships between third world workers and western societies allows the farmers to take control of their lives. Paul has posed a few very interesting questions, but one I believe is of central interest to our class in particular. The Fair Trade movement seeks to secure a living wage for workers in third world countries that are usually exploited by corporations in the “Global North.” While it is a very successful movement, Fair Trade has neglected to tackle the issue of workers in the United States that are not being paid a living wage. I would like you all to consider the undocumented workers in America that fall victim to wage theft. How would they benefit from a domestic Fair Trade campaign? Do undocumented immigrants have a right to earn a living wage in the United States? What are some of the potential problems in securing Fair Trade domestic products? How would domestic Fair Trade products and human rights be mutually reinforcing? Why do you believe the United States has not started a domestic Fair Trade certification campaign yet?
Please reflect on the above questions, and relate the concepts and theories of our class and your involvement in the various organizations this semester. Remember that there is no right or wrong answer.
I feel that this is a very great question. I wondering whether undocumented workers would be included when the someone had brought up the issue in the phone conference. Its hard to say how much undocumented workers would benefit from a a domestic fair trade, since it will probably be very difficult to keep track of how much each worker since is assume that many of the payments are off the record books. And even if domestic fairtrade was able to keep tack of undocumented workers' paychecks then how can they prevent immigration from obtaining and using that information to deport the workers. Another problem would be the cost of living in the US is much higher than in other countries so I assume that domestic fairtrade products would cost much more than international fairtrade products. domestic fairtrade and human rights are mutually reinforcing because it is a human right to have food, shelter, and clothing and since this and a fair wage helps people afford them. I am very unfamiliar with immigration law so sorry if some of my comments are incorrect.
The undocumented workers would benefit from the a domestic Fair Trade campaign because this movement is aimed at protecting the legal rights of those workers. However, the issue of justifying whether the undocumented immigrants have a right to earn a living wage in the United States is controversial. Based on my understanding, I don't think those workers should come to the US in the first place, with the knowledge that they would be undocumented and treated differently. But they still believe that their lives will be better and easier here in the US than in their original countries. I think once they make up their minds coming to the US, they should be well-prepared for any means of unfair treatment. Since this issue is still at odds, it provides an explanation that the US has not yet started a domestic Fair Trade campaign. I don't think there is right or wrong with whether those workers should have the right or not.
I think undocumented immigrants definitely have a right to earn a living wage in the United States. Because according to the theory introduced by Dr. Blau in class, earning a fair living wage is not about a legal issue, it is about basic human rights. And this human right should be shared by everyone in the world despite their race, ethnicity and social status. However, it is always easier said than done. While they do have this right, it is still hard to put this into practice. Suppose that the Fair Trade campaign is implemented throughout the country, and then companies would hire less illegal immigrants. Because the companies that hire illegal immigrants to make a profit wouldn’t be able to make profits any more, and so there’s no difference hiring an illegal immigrant and a documented worker. In my opinion, the Fair Trade movement would cause illegal immigrants to leave the country.
One of the potential problems in securing Fair Trade domestic products is that a lot of people are still unaware of the significance of purchasing fair trade products. A lot of publication and education still needs to be done before this concept become one of the core values in US culture. Domestic Fair Trade products and human rights would be mutually reinforcing when American definition of liberalism doesn’t conflict human rights, and when Americans all realize that accumulating wealth is only to the point that it doesn’t take make other people worse off. America is still at the initial stage of domestic Fair Trade certification campaign because the fair trade concept isn’t that spread out yet. I’m sure that it’s going to take a long time before we can all reach the point where there isn’t any unfair trade product, but I’m also sure that this point isn’t unreachable.
Fair Trade has not caught on in the United States because many people do not realize that there is a problem. In my opinion, issues outside of the United States are more openly discussed, so people are more aware of problems elsewhere. Wage theft is not commonly talked about, and the topic is rarely if ever on the news. First, the difference between wage theft happening and reported is tremendous, so people think it’s a much less pervasive problem. Obviously, the undocumented workers cannot voice a complaint without threatening their livelihoods in this country. Therefore, the only people who really know and understand that there is a problem are the people who have talked to undocumented workers about their situations or cared to find out. Nothing is likely to change if the majority of people remain ignorant that a problem exists; however, a solution is definitely needed. Undocumented workers in the United States would certainly benefit from a living wage because they could better afford a quality lifestyle, including healthy food and health care. Furthermore, immigrants would be allowed to report managers and contractors that shorted them without risk. Having a balance of power is necessary to ensure that the employers won’t take advantage of their position.
Although a domestic fair trade would benefit huge populations of undocumented workers, many people would be against awarding them the right to a fair wage because they’re here “illegally.” It would be a huge obstacle to convince people to treat them fairly when many don’t want to provide incentive for immigrants to come to the United States undocumented. If Fair Trade was established domestically though, this would support human rights because the immigrants could earn respect in the community to have their voices heard, and their rights to food and safe shelter would be granted.
Undocumented workers would definitely benefit from a Domestic Fair Trade Campaign. These workers would have a voice for them, that would more than likely present their feelings, concerns, and thoughts about how particular issues, especially, wage theft. The question of whether undocumented workers have the right to earn a living wage or not is a difficult one, but I strongly believe that all workers, whether documented or not, have the right, as human beings, to possess their human rights. Fair wages, proposed by the Fair Trade Products would help support workers and enforce these human rights that should be available to all individuals: food, clothing, shelter, etc. Even though these individuals do not have documentation, they are here in the US working, so as long as they are here "Let em work, let em live". It may difficult to keep track of or records for these undocumented workers which could potentially lead to complications of inconsistency with wages, but as always there are ways of getting around such difficulties. I'm sure there are many groups of people that will be against Fair Trade for immigrants and undocumented workers because some people are furious that these workers are even allowed to be here working. They feel as if the immigrants are taking their jobs and their places in society, so there may be much negativity and opposition. On the bright side, there are ways of altering the mindsets of the American people.
This would allow them to receive fair wages and it would also allow their products to be available in the local stores for the public purchase.
Yes, everyone has a right to a living wage no matter if they are documented or undocumented.
If they are secured their products may be not be sold around the world.
It would be reinforcing equal opportunity; domestic Fair Trade supports farmers receiving fair wages etc. and human rights supports equal opportunity for everyone.
Because it only effects a small number of people and those who it affects are consider undocumented and low income…not the wealthy.
Undocumented workers in the United States deserve to earn the same minimum wage as someone who is here legally. Why? Because they are still living here in the united states and just because they might not be documented doesn't mean that they get to pay less for things. In many cases the undocumented workers earn just enough to have food on the table and send money to their families that might be in other countries.
I do believe that undocumented workers would benefit from Fair Trade practices because it would require more strict laws governing the implementation of the minimum wage act. As it is now many employers do cheat undocumented workers out of their rightfully earned paycheck and it is a practice that has to stop. Even if the American consumers have to pay a little extra for their goods, it's a great reason for a price hike. Everyone has a family to support and everyone deserves to be treated equally despite their current legal status.
Relating to what we have learned about human rights, I believe that illegal immigrants have the right to earn a living wage in the United States. Many undocumented immigrants come to the United States to seek more job opportunities so that they will have higher standard of living. If they have equal knowledge and skills as those of American citizens, they should obtain equal wages as that of Americans. I don’t think securing Fair Trade domestic products will lead to major problems since often times those Fair Trade products don’t present themselves as competitors to local products. However, sometimes they do and it will become a problem for the local farmers whose products are competed against the Fair Trade products. This issue is enlarged when consumers prefer one versus the other. I think domestic Fair Trade products and human rights are mutually reinforcing each other in that fair trade promotes and protects human rights of those who are less fortunate and relay on their agricultural productions and crafts to exchange for currency or other things they lack. And human rights support the fair trade by educating the public on the importance of human rights to social stability and development.
Although the Fair Trade Movement is aimed to help farm workers and farmers in the developing world, I believe that all Immigrant workers in the United States deserve fair wages, whether they are undocumented or not. They deserve the same payment a citizen receives because they have the same expenses and live in the same nation. The fact that employers would discriminate based on documentation status is an act against human rights, therefore it should not be allowed. I do think that undocumented workers would benefit from a domestic Fair Trade campaign because they would be able to receive fair wages and live a comfortable lifestyle rather than having to struggle to provide food and shelter for their family. Securing fair trade domestic products would not cause any serious problem; all the positives would outweigh the negatives by a lot. I think that the United States has not started a domestic Fair Trade certification campaign yet because it would be more expensive than a Fair Trade movement in developing nations since the cost of life in the US is more costly than in other nations. A domestic Fair Trade campaign might be harder to accomplish for right now.
Based on the Fair Trade philosophy, it sets to establish equal opportunities and wager for all farmers; therefore, I believe that undocumented citizens still deserve an equal wage for their efforts. Farm workers would benefit from a domestic fair trade approach because this would allow them to receive equal compensation for their labor. Based on the Declaration of Human Rights, all humans deserve an equal right to pursuit of happiness; therefore, they deserve the right to earn a living wage. Some of the issues we may run into trying to secure domestic fair trade products is trying to find a compromise between pricing of domestic products and nondomestic products. Also, since markets, supplies and demands, in every country is different trying to find a set price and wage is going to be difficult.
If Fair Trade was enacted in America then workers would be paid a proper wage for their labor and goods. I believe that undocumented immigrants certainly have the right to earn a living wage in the United States. However, there is also the factor of overpopulation that must be taken into consideration. There are only so many jobs that are available to illegal immigrants, and with a huge influx of these people, many of them will be unable to find jobs. This will then increase the poverty rate in the United States. Overpopulation is the main reason, I believe, that has kept the United States from enacting a Fair Trade certification campaign. I also agree with the argument that increasing wages for the workers will cause the people who hire these illegal immigrants to look elsewhere for workers who are documented. The whole point of looking for illegal immigrants to work is for cheap labor. So why would they risk being caught hiring undocumented workers if these now are entitled to the same wages as a documented worker?
If you consider the right to a living wage be one of the inherent human rights that are laid forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights then whether an immigrant is documented or not isn't relevant. Article 14, Line 1 states, "Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution." If that's believed to be true then documentation bears no weight in determining whether one should be granted rights that are assumed to be promised to all humanity. Keeping that in mind I feel that the benefits of Fair Trade should absolutely be available to undocumented workers. Fair Trade works to secure natural human rights for everyone, no fine print at the bottom and no prerequisites required.
Some problems that could arise during attempts to secure Fair Trade domestic products. Because the average U.S. citizen has a far harder time distinguishing between living healthily and living excessively it would be difficult to introduce the idea of a "living wage" amongst a population that on average lived well above it. While a great deal of those in poverty being denied fair wages would benefit, a great deal of people will also deny that a need for Fair Trade's effort exist. Most Americans would set aside a much larger amount of money to fund their necessary living expenses than most South Americans, Central Americans, etc.... Negotiating a "fair wage" in a nation where it's very evaluation is comparatively higher than in other nations where Fair Trade is involved would be difficult. But there's is no doubt that the struggle would be worth the potential outcome.
The Fair Trade movement certainly needs to work more on behalf of workers in the US, but to say that Fair Trade has not yet tackled the issue of workers in the United States being paid a living wage is a bit of a misnomer. There are many non-profits and individuals in the US who advocate for the rights of workers, undocumented or not, to have access to a living wage; and many of these organization embrace Fair Trade as a facet of their action strategies. To say that Fair Trade has neglected to make substantial gains for workers in the US would be a factual statement. From what I have seen, the greater emphasis on Fair Trade movements have been workers in other locations, especially in the Third World and/or in the Global South. Many workers in the US fall victim to wage theft, many of them undocumented immigrants but some of them not. Undocumented workers certainly have a right to earn a living wage. These workers would benefit hugely from a Fair Trade campaign, first, by being given living wages for which they could use to support their families and communities as well as regain human dignity and livelihood that comes with better socioeconomic status. As we have learned, sustainable development is development of the individual, as well. Workers who fall into this category often suffer racial profiling and oppression. If they were respected more for their work and more people recognized that they are owed human rights like anyone else, everyone would be greatly benefited. Undocumented workers are owed respect and human rights, and with this, a greater feeling of communitarianism could be foster in the US. There are many hurdles to accomplishing this, though: one being that, in line with neoliberalism and corporate capitalism, companies seek out the cheapest labor they can find. The US is heavily hypocritical in terms of the immigration debate – we actively blame immigrants for economic distress, crime and other racial biases and yet we rely upon them hugely for their labor. The air now in particular is overwhelmed with xenophobia – see the Arizona laws and the domino effect its creating in other states, Tea Party bigotry and right wing extremism. People entertain many harmful stereotypes about undocumented workers based on racism, nationalist and assimilationist ideas and what's best for capitalism and the US's standing in the world. What we need to do is to start in local communities and to bring in undocumented workers to speak about their experiences, to make people more aware and to appeal to our local and federal governments to stop the hypocrisy. How often have we read about migrant farmers being exposed to harmful pesticides and having no legal recourse? Undocumented workers should be guaranteed all the rights under the United Nations Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families.
The topic of undocumented workers has been one of great controversy. I understand the problems such as poverty and overpopulation that occur, however i think that regardless workers should be treated fairly and paid fairly. Better policies and more attention needs to be made in regards to documented and undocumented workers that guarantee them the better life they seek in America.
I also feel that more needs to be done to get knowledge out about Fair Trade. Most people have a negative idea of immigration and lack knowledge about Fair Trade. Securing better polices and ensuring that people understand what it means for the lives of these workers could lead to more acceptance from citizens.
I believe a domestic Fair Trade campaign would be great for those undocumented workers in the United States. As stated 3rd world countries are not the only ones who experience unfair wages. The United States has its own set of problems, and although I do think it’s great that we help those less fortunate outside of our country, it is time that we look at the problems that are happening inside the United States. Even though the United States is considered a “super power” we are not exempt from having people who literally struggle to make a living every day. I guess a problem in securing domestic fair trade products is price. It is probably cheaper to get products made outside of the country than in the US (correct me if I’m wrong). One reason the United States hasn’t started a domestic Fair Trade campaign is because of the opinion of many people in the United States. Many people despise illegal immigrants and wish for them to go back to their native countries. In reality though, these illegal immigrants take jobs that Americans won’t even look at. Undocumented immigrants pull in large amounts of money for the United States. Unfortunately, I do not see the opinions of America (especially middle and upper class Americans) changing about this issue anytime soon.
Yes absolutely undocumented people have a right to the same wages as Americans. It isn't about papers or status -- if a business or individual hires someone, anyone, then they should have to pay a fair wage and anything short of that is wrong. Now, maybe we could say in a legal context, companies should not hire undocumented workers, but that is a different debate altogether. All people have a right to a fair wage and if we could forget about borders and pay a fair wage to people regardless of location or status, then maybe it wouldn't even matter what the product is, or whether it was produced in the U.S. or South America, it would simply be Fair Trade.
I believe the U.S hasn't begun a Fair Trade certification because overall we are too individualistic. We care about our bottom line first, like corporations care about their bottom lines. We are a nation of bargain hunters who go to Wal-Mart, buy cheaply priced Bangladeshi products made in a sweat shop, so we can afford to put gasoline in our SUVs. We argue about trade deficits with the Chinese, but won't buy the more expensive American made product if it costs $2 more. At the same time, we go to Harris Teeter instead of the Farmer's Market because Harris Teeter is closer and more convenient, and if it costs more then we say it is worth the convenience. The point is, it is all about us in the U.S. and we will have to give up some of our self-centered focus if we are going to treat others with equal respect, whether it be with human rights or Fair Trade. I believe the landscape is slowly changing, but it is going to take more education concerning Fair Trade and human rights.
In my oponion, the domestic Fair Trade would benefit undocumented immigrants because they would have the same right as any othe American to earn a decent wage in order to survive in this country. Everybody is a human being and therefore, they should all have the rigth at least to earn a minimum wage in order to survide and support their families. As a human being, we dont want to see anybody die of hunger. By securing the domestic Fair Trade products, the wages of other people might be lowered. The Fair trade proudcts and the human right are reinforcing because they look after the poor people who are usually the ones who are taken advantege of. The United States has not started this kind of campaign because it's a capitalist country and rich people dont want to promote such a campaign because they think right away of socialism and we all know that most people don't really like socialism because eveyrbody is equal under this system.
Domestic fair trade would ensure that undocumented workers in America get paid fairly for the type and amount of work they do. Although I don’t think it’s right that undocumented immigrants are working here and getting jobs that citizens could have, I feel like if the employers are hiring them and know that they are undocumented, then they need to get treated decently and humanely—a human rights issue. Potential problems with fair trade domestic products would be the cost of providing everyone with living wages, although I definitely do not think it’s an impossible or difficult problem to solve. I don’t think the US has started a domestic fair trade campaign yet because it’s an issue that people don’t know enough about yet and so people aren’t aware of benefits.
Migrant workers, like any other person in the world, definitely have the right to earn a living wage, undocumented or not, and would most certainly benefit from some kind of domestic Fair Trade campaign in the sense of monetary value. The idea behind human rights is so that people can be equal. The problems that occur are really rooted in the United States itself. As one of the least likely candidates to approve of human rights actions, fair trade might actually be more harmful than good to undocumented workers unless there was a way to do so without keeping track of the workers for the government to interfere with, which really just shows how bad our country can be. However, if there was a domestic Fair Trade campaign that didn’t lead to the government trying to ship off all undocumented workers, then it would be beneficial to the workers as well as to our economy overall. People with more money spend more money, perhaps to enhance other aspects of the world, and not just for themselves. After all, migrant workers aren’t the only people in need of shelter behind human rights laws in our country.
As direct decent of Cuban immigrants I know that work and getting work was hard for our older generations and immigrant workers in particular. My Abuela and Abuelo were both doctors in Cuba and when they arrived in America they had nothing, but because they were allowed to become US citizens they quickly sought re certification and though it took them awhile eventually they became an OBGYN and Psychiatrist respectively. This story may not seem relevant but it was because they were able to become citizens with ease that they could then assume their rights as American people and be granted the proper documentation to open up practice. I think that everyone deserves the equal right to do what they are going to be best at. If you are a Cuban Doctor so be it you should be allowed in the United States to join our ranks. However, if you are a Mexican in food prep, you are given less than a living wage and cast aside like a cardboard box. I think that if you are preparing my food, or fixing something, or painting my house I want you to be an American Citizen so that you don't have to be my slave you are my equal. My grandparents were treated equal and maximized their potential, I think workers would benefit from the better representation they would receive through the Fair Trade domestic campaign. A living wage should be the minimum any worker that is in the US is being paid, and while I disagree that a living wage is actually enough to be a living wage that is a different matter entirely but I think that if you are working hard you should be given extra hours and then earn an increased pay. Unlike the system we have now where instead of paying workers overtime they just hire illegals to fill in the spots and not only harm the documented workers that are working hard, but also the illegals by giving them an even further reduced rate. I think change is underway the US will realize eventually that the growing disparity between the rich and the poor is completely due to human rights not being equal and a need for representation in society, and soon hopefully change will come.
I have felt all along while working on the media outreach that the Fair Trade international model would work well on a domestic level. Certainly undocumented workers would benefit, but I think low-skilled nationals would as well. All workers need to be provided a safe work environment, and compensated justly. No distinction need be made between workers, period.
I definitely agree that it is important to promote fair trade domestically. In fact I think that it is somewhat hypocritical for people living in this country to promote fair trade and labor rights for foreign workers and farmers when workere living amongst us are suffering. Also, I beleive a domestic fair trade movement would be better received by most American retailers and if several towns passed such initiatives it would spread quickly, possibly leading to official domestic fair trade initiatives by the federal government. If Americans could then see the benefit of domestic fair trade than, I believe, more people in this country would promote fair trade on the international front, and that movement would be more effective in this country as well. Some barriers to this, however, is that undocumented workers, though frequently exploited by nationalized employers, are not citizens and thus not subject to the same fiscal responsibilites to government, infrastruture upkeep, and social services in this country, as are working citizens. In short, undocumented workers do not pay taxes and do not pay into government programs like social security like the rest of us do. However it is also means they are not protedcted by labor laws and minimum wage requirments, therefore most employers underpay them which makes them sought after workeres in many industries that exploit this advantage. Many working Americans see this as fair trade-off because the undocumented workers are not paying into the system in the same way as citizens. This attitude would need to change in order to effectively promote fair trade in the United States. These immigrant workers are contributing to our society in many ways, they are some of the most patriotic people in this country, they want to be here, to have the chance to make a better for themselves and their families, just like us, and they're willing to work incredibly hard for it and endure great hardships and adversity because they want to be us, they want have the same rights and responsibilities that we have as citizens. They remind us of who we used to be and we should reward their contributions to this country by ensuring that they are treated fairly in the workplace and paid an honest, livable wage. The fact that many industries benefit from cheap, undocumented labor and that these industries often have powerful lobbyists in Washington is, to me, the main reason why the government has not enacted and enforced fair trade initiatives here. So it starts with us, we need to promote the welfare and advocate fairness for ou immigrant neighbors. They just want the right to share in the same things we take for granted, they want the responsibilities that come with it, we need to do our apart to ensure that they are treated fairly through this process, we were all immigrants once
I feel that a national Fair Trade Movement would benefit undocumented workers and earn them a better wage. However, therein lies the problem that the current situation in society has a very negative outlook on undocumented workers accompanying a recession. A more local view of these issues allows for a better application of how a US fair trade movement can be beneficial. Whole towns becoming certified Fair Trade Towns allows for more publicity and a closer look into the movement, and the certified towns are also economically backing the movement as they support Fair Trade products. If more Farmer's Market-esque set-ups incorporate the Fair Trade movement into making sure that atleast 75% of the produce sold is Fair Trade and also have signs designating this certification then the movement will also benefit. As far as this becoming a reality, I agree with many of the aforementioned statements that this movement will be difficult and take time as they fight large corporations and massive farms. Listening to the phone call this Wednesday, though, leads me to believe that this is a growing movement that is not only spreading across the US but globally. This movement also closely ties into human rights as it secures a fair wage for a product or service. Basic human rights closely tie into the economy as inequalities can be balanced through fair practices within the economy,
I think the United States hasn't started a domestic fair trade certification campaign because it is probably viewed as a political liability by politicians in America. By starting this campaign, America will basically be saying they support illegal immigrants working in the United States. Also, by supporting fair trade products I think this would be another action that is viewed as supporting illegal immigrants and their undocumented work in the United Sates. I think this will cause a great deal of conflict within the United States itself. Immigrants would greatly benefit from the campaign because it would keep them from falling victim to wage theft and other detrimental job practices. The campaign would mutually enforce human rights because it would give immigrants the opportunity to truly live the American dream by giving them living wages that match the housing and economic market of the United States.
The issue of undocumented workers receiving the same treatment as citizens has been an ongoing issue for a while now. In my opinion, everyone regardless of their citizenship should be entitled to their basic human rights. It is not fair to treat someone like theyare inferior and dont deserve as much just because they are from a different country. Everyine should recieve the same pay if they are doing the same work. So, I believe a Fair Trade movement in America would be wonderful. There are waay too many undcumentedd workers not receiving the pay they deserve but they continue to be manipulated because they must work to survive. Fair Trade would ensure equal treatment to everyone in the work force which is how it should have been to begin with. Large companies cannot continue to be allowed to take advantage of others.
Hard-copy answers due June 10, along with your time log.
ReplyDelete1. Describe what you did for the practicum and the fair trade outreach. What did you expect? What did you learn? What did you contribute? How did you grow? (3 paragraphs)
2. There are many good things about American liberalism, but it impairs Americans' understanding of human rights. In your own words, explain why (1 paragraph)
3. How would you define human rights (in your own words)? (1 paragraph)
4. Propose an additional article for the UDHR. (1 or 2 sentences)
5. What are some examples of collective goods that we did not discuss in class? (a short list - 3 or 4)
6. Any reason to suspect that collective goods will become more important in the future? (A sentence or two)
7. If you could propose one new amendment to the US Constitution, what would it be, and why is it important? (One paragraph)
8. The world is changing very quickly with globalism, and there are many global movements that aim to make the world a better place for all. This course is designed, in part, to encourage you to think about these movements. Are there any movements that you have read about that you especially like (think are important) or can you propose a new one? (1-2 paragraphs).
Journal #4
ReplyDeletePlease read the following statement and respond to the questions posed. Remember that you are always more than welcome to comment on the posts that your peers leave!
For farmers and farm workers throughout the developing world whose livelihoods depend on products that Americans enjoy every day—coffee, tea, cocoa, bananas and other fresh fruits, sugar, rice, vanilla and herbs—survival can be a struggle. Low prices, market volatility and isolation often keep farmers in a cycle of poverty, unable to recover their cost of production. Families, communities and the environment all suffer as a result. Fair Trade seeks to improve lives and empower individuals as well as communities. Based on your experience and knowledge of Fair Trade, would you agree with the above statement? If so, why? If not, what part do you disagree with and how would you change the statement? What have you learned through your involvement with the Fair Trade movement? Do you think you will continue to participate in Fair Trade movements after the semester concludes? What do you like most about Fair Trade? What do you like the least about the movement?
Based on my experience with Fair Trade, I would agree with the statement that Fair Trade seeks to improve lives and empower individuals as well as communities. This is because Fair Trade ensures that individuals are receiving living wages for their work. These wages could be used towards better housing and an adequate amount of food for their family. Through my involvement with the Fair Trade movement, I've learned that a lot of work still needs to be done in order to spread the word about what Fair Trade actually is, I think I will work with Fair Trade after the semester because I realize now how important it is to securing the well being of people in other nations. I like that Fair Trade exists to provide some sort of equity and fairness for people who are producing products for the United States, I don't like how there is a lack of awareness about the benefits of the Fair Trade movement it self.
ReplyDeleteFair Trade seeks to improve lives and empower individuals as well as communities. Based on your experience and knowledge of Fair Trade, would you agree with the above statement? If so, why? If not, what part do you disagree with and how would you change the statement? What have you learned through your involvement with the Fair Trade movement? Do you think you will continue to participate in Fair Trade movements after the semester concludes? What do you like most about Fair Trade? What do you like the least about the movement?
ReplyDeleteI agree that Fair Trade seeks to improve lives and empower individuals and communities. The perspective I've appreciated learning from this course is the emphasis of the importance of a thriving community and how that in turn increases the livelihood and often human rights of the individual. Tighter, more involved communities leads to a greater participatory democracy, which empowers individuals more than a democracy such as we have here in the US. Here, people think of each other abstractly and people lose faith in exercising their political rights when they become disenchanted with government. Fair Trade empowers individuals by promoting a living wage, access to food and housing, education and strengthening their communities.
Through Fair Trade I have learned to think about my daily actions as connected with the larger world. I think about where my food comes from and my clothing, and I want to ensure my money goes to support people who are given the human rights we all, as people, deserve. I think about the importance of protecting the human rights of others. I appreciate the social consciousness which Fair Trade promotes and the awareness it fosters of the importance of treating others humanely and being cognizant of the fact that we live in a Western country which exerts unparalleled trade power.
I will continue to participate in Fair Trade by being involved in events and purchasing Fair Trade items. I have learned that Fair Trade is not just a movement among the white elites, but is a movement for everyone. I wish there was more that could be done to strengthen the Fair Trade movement in rural communities as well as more urban ones.
What I appreciate most is that it's a movement anyone can be involved in, through big and small actions, and it promotes a communitarian ideal that's lacking so much from many of our lives.
Through my involvement with Fair Trade, I have come to realize its benefits for individuals in developing countries and communities as a whole. Before, I thought that laborers should form unions to demand higher wages from the warehouses. As Krystal said, most American consumers are unaware of the situation and that Fair Trade even exists, and it didn't seem fair to me that the producers had to depend on blissfully ignorant consumers for a better lifestyle. However, through the Think Tank, I learned that the market prices change too frequently for unions to demand a set price, and farmers cannot wait to sell their produce to demand higher prices because it will all go bad. Therefore, the only solution is for Fair Trade to set minimum prices at a wage that allows a healthy lifestyle for the labor force. Not only will they better afford a nutritious diet with clean water, health care, and housing, but over generations this will better the entire community through increasing the likelihood that children can obtain a good education. Instead of being stuck in a cycle of poverty, since their children will be given more opportunities for education, progress will be made. The educated children will also become more aware of agriculture and industry's effect on the environment, possibly leading to more green friendly techniques. In addition, I think Fair Trade will give consumers the opportunity to support the well-being of the people that produce many things we depend on daily. Overall, Fair Trade is a great movement, and I definitely plan to continue purchasing Fair Trade items like coffee (and future Ben $ Jerry's!). I've also really enjoyed talking to people about it, so I will continue to promote its ideals. It can be aggravating how few people outside of the University community know about Fair Trade, but I hope that will change in the future.
ReplyDeleteI to do agree that Fair Trade seeks to improve lives and empower individuals as well as communities. Fair Trade helps to promote and serve as a form of reassurance for the equality or at least the "shot" at equality for workers. Better living wages and a sense of both support and empowerment are great possible outcomes of the Fair Trade movement for the workers and the families that they have to support.
ReplyDeletePrior to enrolling in SOCI 273, I was completely unaware of the Fair Trade movement. Before I was introduced, I was a strong believer in work unions and strikes as a means of workers demanding wage increases from their employers. Like myself, I am certain that there are several individuals completely unaware that Fair Trade exists at all.
I like the idea that the Fair Trade movement does not operate by singling out one or two groups of people, but instead involves and requires the help of all willing and dedicated individuals. However, I am somewhat perturbed that there is not more support and awareness for the Fair Trade movement. This is where I will come in and continue to help move the movement to the future by continuing to volunteer and inform others about the movement. I truly support the cause!
I agree with the statement. Fair Trade seeks equality for all people. No matter their race, sex or age. Fair Trade supports equal rights for those who live in Third World countries; they support the Third World countries workers in earning fair wages, having a healthier lifestyle and better living conditions.
ReplyDeleteWithin the past four weeks I have learn that Fair Trade is about equal opportunity for everyone in the world. Fair Trade is not trying to monopolize other companies but make sure that the farmers and workers are getting paid fairly. I now know that Fair Trade products consist of more than just coffee, when shopping for coffee, tea, and fresh fruits I will look for the Fair Trade symbol. I will also think twice before purchasing items to see if they are a Fair Trade product.
I will continue to spread the word about the goodness of buying Fair Trade products and will purchase them also; if time permits I would love to volunteer at events and tell others about Fair Trade.
I love that Fair Trade helps all and fights for equal opportunities.
What I like less about Fair Trade is, a lot of people are uneducated about it. It would be great if Fair Trade had more media attention and if more hard copy material, were available to the public.
I also agree that the fair trade movement is one that should continue to grow. Prior to enrolling in this class I was aware that workers in third world countries were recieving lower wages. because of prior first hand experience, but I was unaware of the severity of it. As a couple of my classmates have already mentioned the only thing that matters is that everyone is getting thier fair share of money for their work. Underpaying workers just so the companies can meet quarterly goals is unacceptable. Although I like what Fair Trade aims to do, I believe that the movement is not causing enough comotion about the changes it is trying to make. Before this class I had heard Fair Trade being mentioned here and there, but I never really understood what the goal of the movement was. In order for more people to join the cause, the movement must inform more people of what the movement is actually about.
ReplyDeleteThis course opens my mind about the benefits that come with Fair Trade and how it will positively affect both the economy of the developing countries and the developed countries. From reading the above statement, I do agree with everything said. I do know in developing countries, such as Africa, Asia, and Latin America, many individuals and communities of producers depend on their agricultural goods and productions for survival, respect, and improved lives.
ReplyDeleteThe developed countries also depend on this supply chain and also by participating in Fair Trade, countries can build long-term relationships and you are guaranteed for high quality products. Through my involvement, by talking to my friends about what Fair Trade really is, I developed my appreciation for the benefits that fair trade will bring to both side of the participate countries. Those exchanged goods such as coffee, sugar, bananas, art, spices, and wines in return will help people in developing communities to access to health care, clean water, and, education. I hope to continue to participate in Fair Trade movement by educating my friends about the benefits of Fair Trade and why their participation matters.
What I like the most about Fair Trade is that the Fair Trade certified products are not produced developed countries, such as the United States so they don’t represent any sort of competition with local farmers who grow different agricultural products. Therefore, none of the party is negatively affected by participating in Fair trade movement.
I definitely agree that Fair Trade improves lives by empowering individuals, and thereby fortifying communities. When people have real, direct control over their lives, they are more apt to assume a proactive stance, remain actively engaged, and maintain hope for a prosperous future. This is one example of liberalism at work in a positive way, as it tends to spawn a pluralism which is conducive to an egalitarian and cooperative society. A highly successful international economic model, Fair Trade principles can also be applied to local business and domestic markets. I found there to be much interest in this 'local' Trade perspective during my media outreach for the upcoming Fair Trade event. Fair Trade is a win-win proposition.
ReplyDeleteI would agree with the statement because the Fair Trade is an idea of bringing justice and fairness to the people and communities. Like most people said, I have never heard of Fair Trade before enrolling in this class. However, as soon as I knew more about it, I started to think about how this movement would affect people's lives. Based on what I've heard before, the social problems that the Fair Trade proposed have been drawn more attention. In some countries, workers are treated unlawfully and unfairly. Underpaying, social security, health insurance, and working conditions are major problems that are associated with these workers. Without a legally fair and competitive working environment, these people are unable to make a living, purchase health insurance, or pay for their children's education. I have not seen a great deal of progress in achieving fair trade and promoting human rights, but the Fair Trade movement is what we should expect and come together to make our ideals real. I will continue to participate in the Fair Trade because I believe it is the right thing for us to do.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the statement that Fair Trade improves lives and empower individuals as well as communities. The globalization of economics has caused companies and firms move their factories to developing countries. As a result, labor in such countries are being exploited and are receiving an unfair wage for the work they are doing. The vicious cycle of unfairness would keep circling unless some measures are taken to break it. And the Fair Trade Movement serves as a powerful tool that ensures a better trading condition for workers in developing countries. Through advertising and publication, the Fair Trade Movement has made people become more aware of the product they are purchasing. I believe that through our continuous effort, the demand for fair trade products would outweigh that of unfair trade. And the unfairness in trading would finally be eliminated. In conclusion, I think the Fair Trade Movement would effectively reduce poverty and improve life quality of developing country communities.
ReplyDeleteThrough my involvement with the Fair Trade Movement, I have definitely learned a lot about the background of fair-trade, and how it could be eliminated. And the journal posting on Thinktank has made me think a lot about why it is important to ensure fair trade and also how we can get others to care about promoting fair trade. Also, I started to think about my own behavior while purchasing groceries.
I think I would definitely continue to participate in Fair Trade Movement after the semester concludes. And I would try to convince my peers to care about the issues of fair trade. What I like most about fair trade is that fair trade ensures human rights even under the globalization of economy. So, just as Jenna pointed out, none of the Party is negatively affected by Fair Trade movement.
--Sangyun Chen
I agree with the statement that Fair Trade seeks to alleviate the pain and suffering, lessen the grip of poverty, improve lives, and empower individuals as well as communities in the third world countries. It seeks to help better communities in these countries by providing individuals with fairer wages. And as many people have already pointed out, bettering these communities will lead to a more educated population, a more stable economy, and a higher quality of goods they may export. As communities in these less fortunate countries improve, it also positively affects communities right at home in the United States. It can improve trade relations, as exporters here in the United States will enjoy a growing demand for American goods in these overseas countries. It’s a win-win situation for both sides.
ReplyDeleteBefore I took this class, all I had heard or read about fair trade was from the advertisement at Star Bucks. Now, I have learned a lot about other fair trade issues in this class, as well as different cities that have already adopted a fair trade policy such as Carrboro.
I would like to continue to participate in Fair Trade movements after the semester ends. I believe it to be a very worthwhile, meaningful, and enriching experience.
What I like most is the humane aspect of Fair Trade. With so many developing countries needing aid, I believe that the best way to help the people of these countries is through Fair Trade policies. A majority of the aid given by the United States does not even reach the citizens of these countries, as food and supplies are usually intercepted by militant groups or by the government to be sold in black markets at high prices to line their own pockets. I believe that Fair Trade will be more effective on the whole in helping these less fortunate people to improve their lives.
However, I think the Fair Trade Movement’s shortfall is the lack of push to educate more people about the fundamental meaning of this benevolent movement—a movement that actually benefits all. To achieve this, more teachers like Ms. Blau and more classes like this one should be made available in all developed countries.
I agree with the above comment. Throughout my work with Fair Trade, I always felt restricted to the struggle for Fair Trade in Chapel Hill when in fact I believe that this is a global movement. Recently, I was in NYC and went to a fastfood stand known as "Shake Shack" and I was blown away by amongst all its selection it had one fair trade certified item. Though this may not seem a lot, the fact that this movement has grown to the Heart of Manhattan is amazing. However, what I dislike about Fair Trade is that there is no straight defined definition. There are principles and objectives; however, I am still trying to understand the complete movement behind fair trade. I believe because there is no clear cut definition this makes it difficult for the general population to connect with its underlying themes.
ReplyDeleteDue to my involvement with Fair Trade, I agree with the statement that Fair Trade seeks to improve lives and empower individuals as well as communities. The Fair Trade movement is an amazing action that is going to make a difference in the equality of the world. Fair Trade is all about the equal rights and fair treatment of others that are producing goods that are used in our daily lives. Before taking Sociology 273, I was unaware of a lot of the topics covered in class as well as the Fair Trade movement. I will definitely continue to be a part of the movement after this semester concludes because I feel as though all people should be treated equally despite their place of living. What people fail realize is that people in other countries have families to support and other responsibilities that have to be taken care of and to me it is not fair for them to receive unfair living wages. The one thing that I greatly appreciate about the movement is all of the involvement and the support from the community. Most of my friends did not know what fair trade was; however, after explaining to them what it was they were intrigued and wanted to get involved as well. It is interesting how many people did not know anything about the movement but right when they are informed about it they want to jump on the bandwagon as well to help make a difference.
ReplyDeleteYes, I believe Fair Trade truly seeks to improve lives and empower individuals. I have learned that due to trade agreements such as NAFTA, movements like Fair Trade are extremely critical to offset the damage to local farmers and communities in developing countries.
ReplyDeleteBefore being involved with Fair Trade and this class, I had heard of Fair Trade coffee, but have only recently learned of Fair Trade art. I think art is a particularly interesting Fair Trade item because we don't usually think of boundaries concerning art the way we do with other products. I believe we are more conscious of where our products come from if it is food related, but with art, we know it comes from an individual and we already feel an individual connection to the product. Not all art, but paintings we often ask, who it came from, not where it came from. I think this allows us to get over some geo-political hurdles and simply support the producer of the product. In other cases we may specifically desire African art and no other type will do. For these reasons I believe Fair Trade art is particularly interesting and I would like to see it promoted further.
I will continue working for Fair Trade after the semester. I know I will look for Fair Trade products when I shop. I hope to convince others, if for no other reason, that Fair Trade gives consumers one more option and one more seller in the market.
I think Fair Trade certainly seeks to improve lives and empower individuals and communities. However, that’s only for people with a certain state of mind. We can’t deny that we, in America, live in a capitalistic society. Everyone is after the “American Dream.” Money. A big house. Nice cars. An authoritative reputation. Fair Trade is more of the opposite for people who persist at all costs to achieve their idea American Dream. That’s not to say that they wouldn’t be willing to buy fair trade products, or help others in some ways, but it’s not necessarily an improvement in their lives empowering them. Fair Trade really only applies to those who get the beneficial end product, not those who participate in the process, and it certainly isn’t helpful to every person in the world. I support Fair Trade. I think it’s a great idea, but it’s against my idea of a perfect world. It sounds rather insensitive, I know, but I think there should be less people in the world. That’s not to say I’m picking and choosing. I don’t think capitalist America or other developed countries should be the only thing to exist. I’m simply much more of an animal rights person. I’m not a vegan or a vegetarian. We’re all part of a food chain (human vs. tiger, who wins?). I look down on humans most of the time, even myself. I’m molded by my society, as we all are. We do what we can, and some give all that they can, to Fair Trade, to Human Rights, to Animal Rights. Fair Trade, while good and whole and certainly a good cause in my mind, is not conducive to my goals, as an activist or as a pursuit of my dreams.
ReplyDeleteI think the fair trade is a wonderful movement and I partially agree with the above statement. Until I took this class I had never heard of fair trade. Although the fair trade movement seeks to improve the quality of living for many individuals it is not the only way to help improve the quality of living for others. I, myself, am a very science/medical oriented person and a future goal of mine is to become apart of the medical field in someway, whether it be a nurse or a doctor. Now that I know about fair trade, I will do my all to buy fair trade products in order to support the movement. But to be honest my real focus is on helping people in the health care field as a health care professional and my plans are to continue that goal after the semester is concluded.
ReplyDeleteWhat I like most about this movement is the aura of this movement. Everyone who talked about seemed very passionate about it which made me want to know more about it. What I didn't like about the movement is how little people know about it.
I agree with the statement that says Fair Trade seeks to improve lives and
ReplyDeleteempower individuals as well as communities. I mainly agree with the
statement above because I have lived in a country that has been affected by
the low prices of products. I believe this cycle will not allow farmers
and farm workers throughout the developing world to succeed because they
are always depending on somebody else. Due to the elasticity of prices for
products such as coffee, sugar, vanilla, etc., farmers have to submit to
the price levels that the big companies establish. Sadly, this economic
problem presents social and political issues in the countries, posing
several bumps on the road. Throughout my involvement with the Fair Trade
Movement, I have learned that a slight change in price would mean a
significant change in the lifestyles of farm workers and farmers. Before
Sociology 273, I thought I would have to pay a lot more for the products
that I enjoy now; however, the coin used in developing countries is much
less than the dollar. I believe that I will continue with the Fair Trade
movement because it’s for a good cause and the effort I have to put in is
not as significant as the benefits of the people in other nations who ork
hard to produce the products we love. Something I do not like about the
Fair Trade movement is that it does not do an excellent job at informing
people about what they can do to improve their lifestyles in a Fair trade
friendly manner. Hopefully, more people will be aware of how to create a
movement in their town towards a Fair Trade status.
Based on what I've learned these past weeks, I would definitely agree with this statement. Many people are affected by the low prices put on their products which affects many other things negatively. I am absolutely going to remain involved in the Fair Trade movement. It would be absolutely ignorant to know the facts that I do then turn my back. Although many people don't know about this campaign it has the potential to change so many things that are now unacceptable.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the purpose and goal of Fair Trade and its supporters and proponents is to increase the quality of life of producers in developing countries that send goods to more developed countries. Helping these farmers doesn’t just help the farmer and their families. It’s like a chain reaction—it helps the farmer, their families, their communities, and eventually the whole country reaps the benefits of fair trade. The positive effects can even get more intricate than that—it’s not just economically that people benefit. With fair compensation in exchange for goods, things like education, social equality between classes, technology, and other things improve as well. I’ve learned that it isn’t very difficult or too expensive for merchants in America to become a part of this movement, and that it’s easy for anyone to support it. I’ll definitely make an effort to buy fair trade goods and eat in restaurants that use fair trade products. What I like most about it is how something so simple can help thousands of people. What I like the least is that it hasn’t blown up yet—too many people are still unaware of what fair trade means.
ReplyDeleteYes I totally I agree because Ive seen it with my own eyes, people in developing countries dont get paid that much money for their goods they produced and that's why there is so much inequality in these societies, there is a big gap between rich people and poor people. I've learned that this movement is not about rich people in America, it's about people in America trying to help other people around the world so that they are paid a fair amount for their goods and it really makes me happy to see people who care about this poor people in thrid world countries. I want to go to Law School and being involved int his kind of project that looks after other people has made me realized that I really want to do Law and I would love to keep being involved in this movement.The only thing that I dont like about the movement is that there is not a lot of people here in Chapel Hill intersted since it's a small town, I wish we were working in a big city where people are more willing to try new things like the fair trade
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the statement I do agree with it. I believe that the the nature of farming can be very unstable and with things in such a state, the community and the farmer's family will inevitably be just as unstable as these people are some of the primary breadwinners for the family and community. And my work with the fair trade I have learned that the any amount of help is helpful regardless of how little or how much. This issue is a global one and all help regardless of size helps us as a human race get closer to human rights internationally with fair trade successes. I think I will continue fair trade efforts if only through small improvements like purchasing fair trade products or supporting businesses that support fair trade. I like that anyone can help fair trade but I don't like that this is a well kept secret.
ReplyDeleteJust to add to what Chris said, I agree that fair trade is important, and especially as we become a more globalized society I believe it is important that we as citizens of Earth begin to assume a greater responsibility toward one another and promote each others well-being. I believe adopting and promoting such an ideology is to the benefit of everyone in the long run. I believe the fair trade movement is a very important part of putting forth a structure and a fair economic model toward supporting an ideology of global reciprocity, however that structure needs definition. I am still unsure of exactly how the mechanisms behind fair trade work. What organizations are promoting fair trade, how is the concept being shared and instituted in producing countries, how is it being introduced to employers, factory managers, and farmers who make goods. How are they being sold on it, what real incentives are guaranteed to workers in the producing class, what real incentives are available to domestic retailers and salespeople that sale fair trade goods. Why is there not more publicity about it. I had never heard of fair trade prior to taking this class. These are questions I fee need a more clear answer if fair trade is to gain more support and momentum as a movement. If there is a more clearly defined purpose behind fair trade, I believe more people will be accepting of it, and more towns and larger cities across the United States will adopt fair trade initiatives. I think fair trade is a great concept in theory and I would like to continue working toward promoting fair trade, but I would also like to know more about it myself.
ReplyDeleteAccording to my knowledge of fair trade I agree with the statement that fair trade improves the lives and communities of farmers. Most of the time farmers are forced to price their products at an unreasonably low price because of free trade. They are forced to compete with very large comanies from developed nations who can afford to produce vast quanities of the same product for cheaper than the farmers. As a result they are able to price their produce at very low prices. This is unfair to local farmers who have very limited resources and are unable to produce such a vast amount of crops. As a result they are not able to cover their overhead costs and are usually forced out of business. Fair trade helps even out the playing field.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the statement that Fair Trade not only improves the human condition involved with economic transactions, but also the environmental impact as well. It is far too common to investigate many of the "time-saving" farming/producing practices that larger corporations utilize, and discover that they are deleterious to the environment. Putting the power in the hands of the local economy and within the actual people themselves who toil day in and day out allows for them to set their own wage and control their natural resources (i.e. land, farming practices) in a more productive manner. I had heard of the fair trade movement prior to class, but really had no idea as far as how the organization works. From what I've seen and heard in class, I really appreciate the flexibility and ground-works up approach that the movement uses to spread its message. If a student can pick up the information and then cohesively distribute it amongst the community along with fellow students, the movement opens itself up to a wide range of possibilities as far as garnering more attention. The movement also branches out into other human rights issues, as it leads into the discussion of universal education, health care, and citizenship for all who prove they are willing to work for their rights.
ReplyDeleteI firmly believe that the Fair Trade initiative works to both improve people's lives as well as empower them to stand up and improve them themselves. The push by Fair Trade to secure living wages for the farmers and producers that have suffered due to the capitalism driven tendency to expediate production and maximize retail profits. The presence and oppression of big corporations has caused farmers and producers to suffer and Fair Trade offers them both a voice and an outlet to work towards alleviating such negative circumstances. Because of this I plan to continue to be involved and promote the Fair Trade Movement even after this class is over. I believe that the success and growth of Fair Trade correlates with the growth and success of human rights.
ReplyDeleteI feel that Fair Trade is a great measure to improve the lives of individuals in Third World countries no matter their race or gender. It offers some type of equality for workers, their family and community.
ReplyDeleteI have enjoyed the learning about Fair Trade in this course. Prior to the course I was clueless, as are most consumers, and neglected to think of where the products I use take place and its influence on the lives of those who make these products.
The only problem i have with Fair Trade is the lack of knowledge and support from many Americans. I'm glad that through this course I am able to share and outreach about Fair Trade. I now have a different outlook with my shopping experiences!
Journal #5
ReplyDeletePaul Rice is the President and CEO of TransFair USA; he worked for 11 years as a rural development specialist in the coffee regions of Nicaragua. He worked directly in the field with cooperative farmers, creating and implementing training programs aimed at developing small farmers’ organizational and business capacity. When the opportunity arose in 1998 to launch TransFair USA and open the specialty coffee market to small family farmers, Paul found his current role to be a natural evolution of his years in the field. Paul is very enthusiastic about Fair Trade, because he believes that the market partnerships between third world workers and western societies allows the farmers to take control of their lives. Paul has posed a few very interesting questions, but one I believe is of central interest to our class in particular. The Fair Trade movement seeks to secure a living wage for workers in third world countries that are usually exploited by corporations in the “Global North.” While it is a very successful movement, Fair Trade has neglected to tackle the issue of workers in the United States that are not being paid a living wage. I would like you all to consider the undocumented workers in America that fall victim to wage theft. How would they benefit from a domestic Fair Trade campaign? Do undocumented immigrants have a right to earn a living wage in the United States? What are some of the potential problems in securing Fair Trade domestic products? How would domestic Fair Trade products and human rights be mutually reinforcing? Why do you believe the United States has not started a domestic Fair Trade certification campaign yet?
Please reflect on the above questions, and relate the concepts and theories of our class and your involvement in the various organizations this semester. Remember that there is no right or wrong answer.
I feel that this is a very great question. I wondering whether undocumented workers would be included when the someone had brought up the issue in the phone conference. Its hard to say how much undocumented workers would benefit from a a domestic fair trade, since it will probably be very difficult to keep track of how much each worker since is assume that many of the payments are off the record books. And even if domestic fairtrade was able to keep tack of undocumented workers' paychecks then how can they prevent immigration from obtaining and using that information to deport the workers. Another problem would be the cost of living in the US is much higher than in other countries so I assume that domestic fairtrade products would cost much more than international fairtrade products. domestic fairtrade and human rights are mutually reinforcing because it is a human right to have food, shelter, and clothing and since this and a fair wage helps people afford them. I am very unfamiliar with immigration law so sorry if some of my comments are incorrect.
ReplyDeleteThe undocumented workers would benefit from the a domestic Fair Trade campaign because this movement is aimed at protecting the legal rights of those workers. However, the issue of justifying whether the undocumented immigrants have a right to earn a living wage in the United States is controversial. Based on my understanding, I don't think those workers should come to the US in the first place, with the knowledge that they would be undocumented and treated differently. But they still believe that their lives will be better and easier here in the US than in their original countries. I think once they make up their minds coming to the US, they should be well-prepared for any means of unfair treatment. Since this issue is still at odds, it provides an explanation that the US has not yet started a domestic Fair Trade campaign. I don't think there is right or wrong with whether those workers should have the right or not.
ReplyDeleteI think undocumented immigrants definitely have a right to earn a living wage in the United States. Because according to the theory introduced by Dr. Blau in class, earning a fair living wage is not about a legal issue, it is about basic human rights. And this human right should be shared by everyone in the world despite their race, ethnicity and social status. However, it is always easier said than done. While they do have this right, it is still hard to put this into practice. Suppose that the Fair Trade campaign is implemented throughout the country, and then companies would hire less illegal immigrants. Because the companies that hire illegal immigrants to make a profit wouldn’t be able to make profits any more, and so there’s no difference hiring an illegal immigrant and a documented worker. In my opinion, the Fair Trade movement would cause illegal immigrants to leave the country.
ReplyDeleteOne of the potential problems in securing Fair Trade domestic products is that a lot of people are still unaware of the significance of purchasing fair trade products. A lot of publication and education still needs to be done before this concept become one of the core values in US culture. Domestic Fair Trade products and human rights would be mutually reinforcing when American definition of liberalism doesn’t conflict human rights, and when Americans all realize that accumulating wealth is only to the point that it doesn’t take make other people worse off. America is still at the initial stage of domestic Fair Trade certification campaign because the fair trade concept isn’t that spread out yet. I’m sure that it’s going to take a long time before we can all reach the point where there isn’t any unfair trade product, but I’m also sure that this point isn’t unreachable.
Fair Trade has not caught on in the United States because many people do not realize that there is a problem. In my opinion, issues outside of the United States are more openly discussed, so people are more aware of problems elsewhere. Wage theft is not commonly talked about, and the topic is rarely if ever on the news. First, the difference between wage theft happening and reported is tremendous, so people think it’s a much less pervasive problem. Obviously, the undocumented workers cannot voice a complaint without threatening their livelihoods in this country. Therefore, the only people who really know and understand that there is a problem are the people who have talked to undocumented workers about their situations or cared to find out. Nothing is likely to change if the majority of people remain ignorant that a problem exists; however, a solution is definitely needed. Undocumented workers in the United States would certainly benefit from a living wage because they could better afford a quality lifestyle, including healthy food and health care. Furthermore, immigrants would be allowed to report managers and contractors that shorted them without risk. Having a balance of power is necessary to ensure that the employers won’t take advantage of their position.
ReplyDeleteAlthough a domestic fair trade would benefit huge populations of undocumented workers, many people would be against awarding them the right to a fair wage because they’re here “illegally.” It would be a huge obstacle to convince people to treat them fairly when many don’t want to provide incentive for immigrants to come to the United States undocumented. If Fair Trade was established domestically though, this would support human rights because the immigrants could earn respect in the community to have their voices heard, and their rights to food and safe shelter would be granted.
Undocumented workers would definitely benefit from a Domestic Fair Trade Campaign. These workers would have a voice for them, that would more than likely present their feelings, concerns, and thoughts about how particular issues, especially, wage theft. The question of whether undocumented workers have the right to earn a living wage or not is a difficult one, but I strongly believe that all workers, whether documented or not, have the right, as human beings, to possess their human rights. Fair wages, proposed by the Fair Trade Products would help support workers and enforce these human rights that should be available to all individuals: food, clothing, shelter, etc. Even though these individuals do not have documentation, they are here in the US working, so as long as they are here "Let em work, let em live". It may difficult to keep track of or records for these undocumented workers which could potentially lead to complications of inconsistency with wages, but as always there are ways of getting around such difficulties.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure there are many groups of people that will be against Fair Trade for immigrants and undocumented workers because some people are furious that these workers are even allowed to be here working. They feel as if the immigrants are taking their jobs and their places in society, so there may be much negativity and opposition. On the bright side, there are ways of altering the mindsets of the American people.
This would allow them to receive fair wages and it would also allow their products to be available in the local stores for the public purchase.
ReplyDeleteYes, everyone has a right to a living wage no matter if they are documented or undocumented.
If they are secured their products may be not be sold around the world.
It would be reinforcing equal opportunity; domestic Fair Trade supports farmers receiving fair wages etc. and human rights supports equal opportunity for everyone.
Because it only effects a small number of people and those who it affects are consider undocumented and low income…not the wealthy.
Undocumented workers in the United States deserve to earn the same minimum wage as someone who is here legally. Why? Because they are still living here in the united states and just because they might not be documented doesn't mean that they get to pay less for things. In many cases the undocumented workers earn just enough to have food on the table and send money to their families that might be in other countries.
ReplyDeleteI do believe that undocumented workers would benefit from Fair Trade practices because it would require more strict laws governing the implementation of the minimum wage act. As it is now many employers do cheat undocumented workers out of their rightfully earned paycheck and it is a practice that has to stop. Even if the American consumers have to pay a little extra for their goods, it's a great reason for a price hike. Everyone has a family to support and everyone deserves to be treated equally despite their current legal status.
Relating to what we have learned about human rights, I believe that illegal immigrants have the right to earn a living wage in the United States. Many undocumented immigrants come to the United States to seek more job opportunities so that they will have higher standard of living. If they have equal knowledge and skills as those of American citizens, they should obtain equal wages as that of Americans.
ReplyDeleteI don’t think securing Fair Trade domestic products will lead to major problems since often times those Fair Trade products don’t present themselves as competitors to local products. However, sometimes they do and it will become a problem for the local farmers whose products are competed against the Fair Trade products. This issue is enlarged when consumers prefer one versus the other. I think domestic Fair Trade products and human rights are mutually reinforcing each other in that fair trade promotes and protects human rights of those who are less fortunate and relay on their agricultural productions and crafts to exchange for currency or other things they lack. And human rights support the fair trade by educating the public on the importance of human rights to social stability and development.
Although the Fair Trade Movement is aimed to help farm workers and farmers in the developing world, I believe that all Immigrant workers in the United States deserve fair wages, whether they are undocumented or not. They deserve the same payment a citizen receives because they have the same expenses and live in the same nation. The fact that employers would discriminate based on documentation status is an act against human rights, therefore it should not be allowed. I do think that undocumented workers would benefit from a domestic Fair Trade campaign because they would be able to receive fair wages and live a comfortable lifestyle rather than having to struggle to provide food and shelter for their family. Securing fair trade domestic products would not cause any serious problem; all the positives would outweigh the negatives by a lot. I think that the United States has not started a domestic Fair Trade certification campaign yet because it would be more expensive than a Fair Trade movement in developing nations since the cost of life in the US is more costly than in other nations. A domestic Fair Trade campaign might be harder to accomplish for right now.
ReplyDeleteBased on the Fair Trade philosophy, it sets to establish equal opportunities and wager for all farmers; therefore, I believe that undocumented citizens still deserve an equal wage for their efforts. Farm workers would benefit from a domestic fair trade approach because this would allow them to receive equal compensation for their labor. Based on the Declaration of Human Rights, all humans deserve an equal right to pursuit of happiness; therefore, they deserve the right to earn a living wage. Some of the issues we may run into trying to secure domestic fair trade products is trying to find a compromise between pricing of domestic products and nondomestic products. Also, since markets, supplies and demands, in every country is different trying to find a set price and wage is going to be difficult.
ReplyDeleteIf Fair Trade was enacted in America then workers would be paid a proper wage for their labor and goods. I believe that undocumented immigrants certainly have the right to earn a living wage in the United States. However, there is also the factor of overpopulation that must be taken into consideration. There are only so many jobs that are available to illegal immigrants, and with a huge influx of these people, many of them will be unable to find jobs. This will then increase the poverty rate in the United States. Overpopulation is the main reason, I believe, that has kept the United States from enacting a Fair Trade certification campaign.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with the argument that increasing wages for the workers will cause the people who hire these illegal immigrants to look elsewhere for workers who are documented. The whole point of looking for illegal immigrants to work is for cheap labor. So why would they risk being caught hiring undocumented workers if these now are entitled to the same wages as a documented worker?
If you consider the right to a living wage be one of the inherent human rights that are laid forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights then whether an immigrant is documented or not isn't relevant. Article 14, Line 1 states, "Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution." If that's believed to be true then documentation bears no weight in determining whether one should be granted rights that are assumed to be promised to all humanity. Keeping that in mind I feel that the benefits of Fair Trade should absolutely be available to undocumented workers. Fair Trade works to secure natural human rights for everyone, no fine print at the bottom and no prerequisites required.
ReplyDeleteSome problems that could arise during attempts to secure Fair Trade domestic products. Because the average U.S. citizen has a far harder time distinguishing between living healthily and living excessively it would be difficult to introduce the idea of a "living wage" amongst a population that on average lived well above it. While a great deal of those in poverty being denied fair wages would benefit, a great deal of people will also deny that a need for Fair Trade's effort exist. Most Americans would set aside a much larger amount of money to fund their necessary living expenses than most South Americans, Central Americans, etc.... Negotiating a "fair wage" in a nation where it's very evaluation is comparatively higher than in other nations where Fair Trade is involved would be difficult. But there's is no doubt that the struggle would be worth the potential outcome.
The Fair Trade movement certainly needs to work more on behalf of workers in the US, but to say that Fair Trade has not yet tackled the issue of workers in the United States being paid a living wage is a bit of a misnomer. There are many non-profits and individuals in the US who advocate for the rights of workers, undocumented or not, to have access to a living wage; and many of these organization embrace Fair Trade as a facet of their action strategies. To say that Fair Trade has neglected to make substantial gains for workers in the US would be a factual statement. From what I have seen, the greater emphasis on Fair Trade movements have been workers in other locations, especially in the Third World and/or in the Global South.
ReplyDeleteMany workers in the US fall victim to wage theft, many of them undocumented immigrants but some of them not. Undocumented workers certainly have a right to earn a living wage. These workers would benefit hugely from a Fair Trade campaign, first, by being given living wages for which they could use to support their families and communities as well as regain human dignity and livelihood that comes with better socioeconomic status. As we have learned, sustainable development is development of the individual, as well. Workers who fall into this category often suffer racial profiling and oppression. If they were respected more for their work and more people recognized that they are owed human rights like anyone else, everyone would be greatly benefited. Undocumented workers are owed respect and human rights, and with this, a greater feeling of communitarianism could be foster in the US.
There are many hurdles to accomplishing this, though: one being that, in line with neoliberalism and corporate capitalism, companies seek out the cheapest labor they can find. The US is heavily hypocritical in terms of the immigration debate – we actively blame immigrants for economic distress, crime and other racial biases and yet we rely upon them hugely for their labor. The air now in particular is overwhelmed with xenophobia – see the Arizona laws and the domino effect its creating in other states, Tea Party bigotry and right wing extremism. People entertain many harmful stereotypes about undocumented workers based on racism, nationalist and assimilationist ideas and what's best for capitalism and the US's standing in the world.
What we need to do is to start in local communities and to bring in undocumented workers to speak about their experiences, to make people more aware and to appeal to our local and federal governments to stop the hypocrisy. How often have we read about migrant farmers being exposed to harmful pesticides and having no legal recourse? Undocumented workers should be guaranteed all the rights under the United Nations Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families.
The topic of undocumented workers has been one of great controversy. I understand the problems such as poverty and overpopulation that occur, however i think that regardless workers should be treated fairly and paid fairly. Better policies and more attention needs to be made in regards to documented and undocumented workers that guarantee them the better life they seek in America.
ReplyDeleteI also feel that more needs to be done to get knowledge out about Fair Trade. Most people have a negative idea of immigration and lack knowledge about Fair Trade. Securing better polices and ensuring that people understand what it means for the lives of these workers could lead to more acceptance from citizens.
I believe a domestic Fair Trade campaign would be great for those undocumented workers in the United States. As stated 3rd world countries are not the only ones who experience unfair wages. The United States has its own set of problems, and although I do think it’s great that we help those less fortunate outside of our country, it is time that we look at the problems that are happening inside the United States. Even though the United States is considered a “super power” we are not exempt from having people who literally struggle to make a living every day. I guess a problem in securing domestic fair trade products is price. It is probably cheaper to get products made outside of the country than in the US (correct me if I’m wrong). One reason the United States hasn’t started a domestic Fair Trade campaign is because of the opinion of many people in the United States. Many people despise illegal immigrants and wish for them to go back to their native countries. In reality though, these illegal immigrants take jobs that Americans won’t even look at. Undocumented immigrants pull in large amounts of money for the United States. Unfortunately, I do not see the opinions of America (especially middle and upper class Americans) changing about this issue anytime soon.
ReplyDeleteYes absolutely undocumented people have a right to the same wages as Americans. It isn't about papers or status -- if a business or individual hires someone, anyone, then they should have to pay a fair wage and anything short of that is wrong. Now, maybe we could say in a legal context, companies should not hire undocumented workers, but that is a different debate altogether. All people have a right to a fair wage and if we could forget about borders and pay a fair wage to people regardless of location or status, then maybe it wouldn't even matter what the product is, or whether it was produced in the U.S. or South America, it would simply be Fair Trade.
ReplyDeleteI believe the U.S hasn't begun a Fair Trade certification because overall we are too individualistic. We care about our bottom line first, like corporations care about their bottom lines. We are a nation of bargain hunters who go to Wal-Mart, buy cheaply priced Bangladeshi products made in a sweat shop, so we can afford to put gasoline in our SUVs. We argue about trade deficits with the Chinese, but won't buy the more expensive American made product if it costs $2 more. At the same time, we go to Harris Teeter instead of the Farmer's Market because Harris Teeter is closer and more convenient, and if it costs more then we say it is worth the convenience. The point is, it is all about us in the U.S. and we will have to give up some of our self-centered focus if we are going to treat others with equal respect, whether it be with human rights or Fair Trade. I believe the landscape is slowly changing, but it is going to take more education concerning Fair Trade and human rights.
In my oponion, the domestic Fair Trade would benefit undocumented immigrants because they would have the same right as any othe American to earn a decent wage in order to survive in this country. Everybody is a human being and therefore, they should all have the rigth at least to earn a minimum wage in order to survide and support their families. As a human being, we dont want to see anybody die of hunger. By securing the domestic Fair Trade products, the wages of other people might be lowered. The Fair trade proudcts and the human right are reinforcing because they look after the poor people who are usually the ones who are taken advantege of. The United States has not started this kind of campaign because it's a capitalist country and rich people dont want to promote such a campaign because they think right away of socialism and we all know that most people don't really like socialism because eveyrbody is equal under this system.
ReplyDeleteDomestic fair trade would ensure that undocumented workers in America get paid fairly for the type and amount of work they do. Although I don’t think it’s right that undocumented immigrants are working here and getting jobs that citizens could have, I feel like if the employers are hiring them and know that they are undocumented, then they need to get treated decently and humanely—a human rights issue. Potential problems with fair trade domestic products would be the cost of providing everyone with living wages, although I definitely do not think it’s an impossible or difficult problem to solve. I don’t think the US has started a domestic fair trade campaign yet because it’s an issue that people don’t know enough about yet and so people aren’t aware of benefits.
ReplyDeleteMigrant workers, like any other person in the world, definitely have the right to earn a living wage, undocumented or not, and would most certainly benefit from some kind of domestic Fair Trade campaign in the sense of monetary value. The idea behind human rights is so that people can be equal. The problems that occur are really rooted in the United States itself. As one of the least likely candidates to approve of human rights actions, fair trade might actually be more harmful than good to undocumented workers unless there was a way to do so without keeping track of the workers for the government to interfere with, which really just shows how bad our country can be. However, if there was a domestic Fair Trade campaign that didn’t lead to the government trying to ship off all undocumented workers, then it would be beneficial to the workers as well as to our economy overall. People with more money spend more money, perhaps to enhance other aspects of the world, and not just for themselves. After all, migrant workers aren’t the only people in need of shelter behind human rights laws in our country.
ReplyDeleteAs direct decent of Cuban immigrants I know that work and getting work was hard for our older generations and immigrant workers in particular. My Abuela and Abuelo were both doctors in Cuba and when they arrived in America they had nothing, but because they were allowed to become US citizens they quickly sought re certification and though it took them awhile eventually they became an OBGYN and Psychiatrist respectively. This story may not seem relevant but it was because they were able to become citizens with ease that they could then assume their rights as American people and be granted the proper documentation to open up practice. I think that everyone deserves the equal right to do what they are going to be best at. If you are a Cuban Doctor so be it you should be allowed in the United States to join our ranks. However, if you are a Mexican in food prep, you are given less than a living wage and cast aside like a cardboard box. I think that if you are preparing my food, or fixing something, or painting my house I want you to be an American Citizen so that you don't have to be my slave you are my equal. My grandparents were treated equal and maximized their potential, I think workers would benefit from the better representation they would receive through the Fair Trade domestic campaign. A living wage should be the minimum any worker that is in the US is being paid, and while I disagree that a living wage is actually enough to be a living wage that is a different matter entirely but I think that if you are working hard you should be given extra hours and then earn an increased pay. Unlike the system we have now where instead of paying workers overtime they just hire illegals to fill in the spots and not only harm the documented workers that are working hard, but also the illegals by giving them an even further reduced rate. I think change is underway the US will realize eventually that the growing disparity between the rich and the poor is completely due to human rights not being equal and a need for representation in society, and soon hopefully change will come.
ReplyDeleteI have felt all along while working on the media outreach that the Fair Trade international model would work well on a domestic level. Certainly undocumented workers would benefit, but I think low-skilled nationals would as well. All workers need to be provided a safe work environment, and compensated justly. No distinction need be made between workers, period.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree that it is important to promote fair trade domestically. In fact I think that it is somewhat hypocritical for people living in this country to promote fair trade and labor rights for foreign workers and farmers when workere living amongst us are suffering. Also, I beleive a domestic fair trade movement would be better received by most American retailers and if several towns passed such initiatives it would spread quickly, possibly leading to official domestic fair trade initiatives by the federal government. If Americans could then see the benefit of domestic fair trade than, I believe, more people in this country would promote fair trade on the international front, and that movement would be more effective in this country as well. Some barriers to this, however, is that undocumented workers, though frequently exploited by nationalized employers, are not citizens and thus not subject to the same fiscal responsibilites to government, infrastruture upkeep, and social services in this country, as are working citizens. In short, undocumented workers do not pay taxes and do not pay into government programs like social security like the rest of us do. However it is also means they are not protedcted by labor laws and minimum wage requirments, therefore most employers underpay them which makes them sought after workeres in many industries that exploit this advantage. Many working Americans see this as fair trade-off because the undocumented workers are not paying into the system in the same way as citizens. This attitude would need to change in order to effectively promote fair trade in the United States. These immigrant workers are contributing to our society in many ways, they are some of the most patriotic people in this country, they want to be here, to have the chance to make a better for themselves and their families, just like us, and they're willing to work incredibly hard for it and endure great hardships and adversity because they want to be us, they want have the same rights and responsibilities that we have as citizens. They remind us of who we used to be and we should reward their contributions to this country by ensuring that they are treated fairly in the workplace and paid an honest, livable wage. The fact that many industries benefit from cheap, undocumented labor and that these industries often have powerful lobbyists in Washington is, to me, the main reason why the government has not enacted and enforced fair trade initiatives here. So it starts with us, we need to promote the welfare and advocate fairness for ou immigrant neighbors. They just want the right to share in the same things we take for granted, they want the responsibilities that come with it, we need to do our apart to ensure that they are treated fairly through this process, we were all immigrants once
ReplyDeleteI feel that a national Fair Trade Movement would benefit undocumented workers and earn them a better wage. However, therein lies the problem that the current situation in society has a very negative outlook on undocumented workers accompanying a recession. A more local view of these issues allows for a better application of how a US fair trade movement can be beneficial. Whole towns becoming certified Fair Trade Towns allows for more publicity and a closer look into the movement, and the certified towns are also economically backing the movement as they support Fair Trade products. If more Farmer's Market-esque set-ups incorporate the Fair Trade movement into making sure that atleast 75% of the produce sold is Fair Trade and also have signs designating this certification then the movement will also benefit. As far as this becoming a reality, I agree with many of the aforementioned statements that this movement will be difficult and take time as they fight large corporations and massive farms. Listening to the phone call this Wednesday, though, leads me to believe that this is a growing movement that is not only spreading across the US but globally. This movement also closely ties into human rights as it secures a fair wage for a product or service. Basic human rights closely tie into the economy as inequalities can be balanced through fair practices within the economy,
ReplyDeleteI think the United States hasn't started a domestic fair trade certification campaign because it is probably viewed as a political liability by politicians in America. By starting this campaign, America will basically be saying they support illegal immigrants working in the United States. Also, by supporting fair trade products I think this would be another action that is viewed as supporting illegal immigrants and their undocumented work in the United Sates. I think this will cause a great deal of conflict within the United States itself. Immigrants would greatly benefit from the campaign because it would keep them from falling victim to wage theft and other detrimental job practices. The campaign would mutually enforce human rights because it would give immigrants the opportunity to truly live the American dream by giving them living wages that match the housing and economic market of the United States.
ReplyDeleteThe issue of undocumented workers receiving the same treatment as citizens has been an ongoing issue for a while now. In my opinion, everyone regardless of their citizenship should be entitled to their basic human rights. It is not fair to treat someone like theyare inferior and dont deserve as much just because they are from a different country. Everyine should recieve the same pay if they are doing the same work. So, I believe a Fair Trade movement in America would be wonderful. There are waay too many undcumentedd workers not receiving the pay they deserve but they continue to be manipulated because they must work to survive. Fair Trade would ensure equal treatment to everyone in the work force which is how it should have been to begin with. Large companies cannot continue to be allowed to take advantage of others.
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