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Buy Local vs Fair Trade – An Ethical Shopper’s Dilemma
Another gift giving season is upon us and it is time to decide on a shopping strategy. In one ear you are encouraged to shop locally, in the other ear you hear about the benefits of choosing Fair Trade gifts. So which strategy is best, and is one better than the other? To answer a question with a question, who says you have to choose? The Buy Local and Fair Trade movements both have their benefits.
One way to honor the bumper sticker mantra Think Globally Act Locally is to support your local businesses. Why buy cheese from Europe when there’s a dairy farm down the road producing double creamy Gouda that will knock your socks off? Buying local refers to choosing locally made products and soliciting locally owned businesses, which have environmental and social benefits. Products made locally have a smaller carbon footprint than products shipped from overseas, and thus are less of a strain on the environment. Shoppers who buy locally travel less distances to shop, which also reduces the carbon footprint. Local businesses produce more income and jobs for local communities than large retail chains do, and are more likely to utilize local services, such as advertising and banking. Supporting local businesses preserves the economic diversity of our communities and the unique character of our neighborhoods.
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All Is Fair in Fair Trade, and Coffee Beans!
Eleanor Roosevelt once said, ” It is not fair to ask others, what you are unwilling to do yourself”. If you agree with this statement, then when did it ever become ok to pay two cents an hour to some factory worker in countries like China, Shri Lanka or India? You would be up in arms if your employer tried to make you work all day for a mere two cents an hour. Even if you worked a twelve hour day, you would only receive 24 cents(providing no taxes were taken off that). In North America, many of us make that in one minute of work. If your employer tried to pull this on you, you would be calling the Ministry of labour citing a long list of complaints against this unfair practice. You might even call your lawyer to report this injustice.
As unfair as this sounds, why does it continue to happen across the globe, and do these unfair employment practices have an effect in other areas?
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Knowing Fair Trade and Certified Organic chocolate companies
Today, there are more fair trade chocolate companies and brands specializing in organic chocolate ingredients than ever. Whether you’re looking for chocolate gifts for a special occasion or a quick snack for the road, your eco-shopping trip will be much less hassle today that it would have been even five years ago.
So breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that you no longer have to struggle over where to buy earth friendly chocolate products. We’ve collected a long list of the highest quality, most ethically-sound, and most popular chocolate companies and organic chocolate brands. Give them a gander, share them with your friends, and above all, celebrate your choice to live a greener, more socially-aware life!
Tags: fair trade