It's time for fair trade

By YURI FRIMAN

Published on May 02, 2008

Land and water conservation, environmental education and the common good of our community are values shared by residents of Amherst. We might add to that list social justice and economic well-being. These are topics that are spoken of in this newspaper, in Amherst's Town Meeting, and not infrequently in the coffee shops and restaurants. Amherst residents care for the quality of life here, and Amherst is seen as a progressive community.

These same values of caring for the land and environment, for the common good and for each other, are shared in communities worldwide. Families and farmers living in developing countries, who provide us with some of our daily consumed items, share these ideals as well. However, because of social and economic injustice, many can't send their children to school, have to work in dangerous and unhealthy conditions, and are not fairly compensated for their work.

When confronted with the enormity of this problem, making a difference as one person may seem overwhelming, but can be quite simple. Lots of groups of people in Europe, the U.S., and elsewhere are working every day to improve the lives of farmers, artisans and craftspeople in developing countries - while also protecting their local air, soil and water quality, and the health of their community structure.

One such group of people is my organization, the Amherst Fair Trade Partnership. The purpose of this group is to educate citizens and business owners on the benefit that purchasing fair trade products brings to farmers who provide us with bananas, sugar, coffee, tea, grains, chocolate and other commonly consumed products. The partnership also seeks to show how easy it is for anyone to begin promoting social and economic justice by making a few simple changes in their buying practices. The aim is to raise awareness that every dollar we spend on fair trade items does more than purchase something for our use: It also supports a social value, strengthens economic institutions and patterns of development, and impacts the environment in a proactively positive way.

And when you buy fair trade products, you have the confidence that more of the money you spend is making its way back to the farmers, craftspeople and their families.

For the last 15 months, Amherst Fair Trade Partnership, headed by me and a dedicated group of local citizens and college students, has sought to raise awareness of how fair trade is a social justice movement and leads to improvement in the lives of millions of families. It was the efforts of the partnership that saw Amherst through the process of becoming the first fair trade community in Massachusetts, and the fourth in the entire country.

I'm proud to be involved with this beneficial organization. We know that throwing money at problems won't solve them. We are not asking you to spend more, but to spend more consciously. Please support and join us in our efforts to bring social and economic justice to the struggling peoples of the developing nations.

We are now making preparations for Fair Trade Fortnight, working with Fair Trade Towns USA and Fair Trade Resource Network on a national education campaign from May 3 to May 18. World Fair Trade Day is coming up on May 10. Local events will take place between the 3rd and 10th. Amherst residents will enjoy free fair trade coffee, chocolate, ice cream and flowers at some local establishments, see an upbeat documentary at Amherst Cinema about a Dominican Republic cocoa cooperative, participate in the attempt to set a Guinness Record for the World's Biggest Coffee Break, meet a coffee farmer from Peru, plus lots more.

The partnership will have volunteers at tables to answer questions and give out maps of where in town Fair Trade products can be purchased.

Northampton, the sixth fair trade town in the country, will also have events.

Look for more information in coming days, or contact the partnership at amherstfairtrade@earthlink.net or 687-1434.

Yuri Friman is a Town Meeting member and works with the Amherst Fair Trade Partnership.