The Green Pavilion with green buzz

Welcome to The Green Pavilion with green buzz.

The Green Pavilion is an online store selling earth friendly bags ; purses, handbags, totes. They are ethically made, recycled, colourful and quirky. See www.thegreenpavilion.com.au  Don’t you just adore blatant plugs?

The green buzz is (hopefully) an up to date resource for anyone interested in eco tidbits, news and information. It also let’s me vent when I cannot find like minded people and indulge in my passions for research, ethical trade, the environment and animal welfare. There is much to read here with links to sources and resources. Feedback and topic suggestions are welcome. Feel free to share anything you find worthwhile. Even if you don’t read anything else please read below. Thank you, Carol.

Fair and ethical trade:  what is it and why bother?

I believe most people value the same things. Women all over our planet want food, shelter, employment and education for their children. Everybody wants and needs to be validated. Paid employment with good working conditions, a fair wage and perhaps even some health care is being valued. Having a job and a wage solves myriad problems.

Currently millions of people around the world endure inadequate, sometimes shocking, conditions at work. Children as well. Yes. Think about this and envision a world where all workers are free from exploitation. It’s the beginning of a wonderful peace plan………….

I truly believe that ethical commerce can help people and the planet. By caring about the people who make our food, clothe our bodies and decorate our homes we can build meaningful connections around the world. Shifting our consumer spending to support ethical and fair trade will make a difference to producers all over the world and influence the marketplace. Every business and government is listening to what consumers say and we (yes, you and me!) are shoppers………… and whether you know it or not, you are voting with your dollars. Every purchasing decision you make has repercussions…….large or small, good or bad. Sorry. No free rides on this planet.

“Ethical trade” is an umbrella term for all types of business practices that promote more socially and/or environmentally responsible trade. Ethical trade means that retailers, brands and their suppliers take responsibility for improving the working conditions of the people who make the products they sell. Many workers in varying fields are employed by global companies and many of them are based in developing countries where laws designed to protect workers’ rights are inadequate or not enforced. Companies with a commitment to ethical trade adopt a code of labour practice that they expect all their suppliers to work towards. Such codes address issues like wages, hours of work, health and safety and the right to join free trade unions. ‘Doing’ ethical trade is much harder than it sounds. Modern supply chains are vast, complex and span the globe.

“Fair trade” is an organized social movement and market based approach that aims to help producers in developing countries obtain better trading conditions and promote sustainability. The movement advocates the payment of a higher price to producers as well as social and environmental standards. It focuses in particular on exports from developing countries to developed countries, most notably handicrafts, coffee, cocoa, tea, sugar and chocolate.  The variety of fair trade products is increasing along with increased awareness of fair trade principles.

The Fair Trade movement provides market access to otherwise marginalized producers, connecting them to customers and allowing access with fewer middlemen. (That sounds good to me!). It aims to provide higher wages than typically paid to producers as well as helping producers develop knowledge, skills and resources to improve their lives. Fair trade advocates also seek to raise awareness of the movement’s philosophies among consumers in developed nations. That’s exactly what I am endeavouring to do here! Fair trade products are traded and marketed by “product certification” whereby products complying with specifications are produced, traded, processed and packaged in accordance with the standards.

What I want you to do: I don’t want you to buy more products or spent more money BUT at the very least you should be sourcing and puchasing ethical or fair trade tea, coffee and sugar. It’s easy. Even your local supermarkets have these products on their shelves now. Ok so they’re not in prime positions but they are there! Many supermarkets also have fairtrade chocolate. God, even cadbury’s is on the bandwagon now. Just try a little brand substitution when you are doing your regular trolley push. If you are not into reading labels ( I am ) look out for the Fairtrade certification marks below.

What else? Inform yourself. Spread the word. Seek out fair and ethically traded goods when you want/need something. Spread the word. It’s a good idea.It’s the beginning of a wonderful peace plan………….

	International Fairtrade certification mark
	WFTO Fair Trade organization mark