fair trade.

My definition of fair trade?
Ideal: that the intermediary companies would buy goods from the sellers at a price that is equivalent to the value of the raw goods that they are producing.
- enough to sustain their livelihood
- provide dignity
- profitable/beneficial to all involved
- not taking advantage of others for personal gain
- working together to maximize profit and still provide goods to the consumer at a reasonable price

It is SO important to stay on top of the issues - don't just form opinions then be unwilling to change. For example, right now Starbucks is mixing about 12-13% actual fair-trade coffee into the coffee that they market as "fair trade" ...meaning that 87-88% of the beans in the little "fair trade" coffee bag that you buy are actually not fairly traded. BUT, what if Starbucks really does start importing 100% fair trade coffee? Then, I need to be willing to change my opinion.
Companies want us to be mindless consumers and eat up all the "warm fuzzies" that they use for advertising. Be a smart consumer!! Do your homework!! KNOW what is behind the product that you are buying!

In the global economy, there are 3 major players: (these are largely wikipedia definitions)
1) The world bank - in an international financial institution that provides leveraged loans to poorer countries for capital programs, tied to neoliberal market restructurings. Stated goal - to reduce world poverty. However, it represents 184 nations and is controlled by US mostly, and a few other rich countries. The only people who can vote are the ones with over 84% of the shares - aka only the very rich. It's political, so it has accountability to the government, but also is supposed to be social (aka social activism) but those two almost never agree.

2) International monetary fund - is an international organization that oversees the global financial system by following the macroeconomic policies of its member countries, in particular those with an impact on exchange rates and the balance of payments. It is an organization formed with a stated objective of stabilizing international exchange rates and facilitating development in cohorts with the world bank. USA has 17% of the vote, and then 30 other have another majority, remaining 165 countries have only 29% of the vote.

3) World trade organization - is an international organization designed by its founders to supervise and liberalize international capital trade. WTO deals with regulation of trade between participating countries; it provides a framework for negotiating and formalising trade agreements, and a dispute resolution process aimed at enforcing participants' adherence to WTO agreements which are signed by representatives of member governments and ratified by their parliaments.
The problem is that the free-trade system isn't really working. A totally free trade system would mean that government would be completely hands-off, and open it all up for the smaller farmers. Sounds good? NO - big business would still take advantage of the smaller businesses/farmers. For example, this would be like letting someone who has never seen the show Survivor, and doesn't know the intricacies and back-stabbing of the game, play against people who have been watching the strategy for 15 seasons.

The unfair trading rules are costing developing nations about 700 billion/yr, then the US gives aid to them totaling about 50 billion. Not so cool, eh? It would be WAY better for us to be fairly trading with them. Trade, NOT aid!!

In the west, we have created such a consumer-driven society, that we are actually supporting this "big business" mentality, because of our consumer preferences. We need to stand up to this! Educate yourself in this stuff, so that you know what you are supporting with your purchases. Right now, we are just exploiting developing countries!
What, you say? What about that face that we are creating jobs, right? ....but they are not good jobs! what happens when China is able to enforce good labor laws and minimum wage? Then we will just move out outsourcing to another poor country, and take advantage of them We are NOT doing it right - we are exploiting these countries for our interests.
What does it look like to be a Jesus-following businessman?? It would mean ethical practices, caring for your employees, making a product that has excellent quality. It's not necessarily about the bottom dollar.
There are lots of Christians who don't give a damn. ...Not very Christ-like, eh?

Commodities to check: cocoa, coffee, cotton, pulp (wood pulp), sugar (domestic), sugar (world), orange juice concentrate - all these industries tend to exploit the producers. Cocoa has an unusually high detriment because it is often produced by slave-like conditions, and many times those slaves are children.

Why is it that society does not put value on all people? We just tend to think me, me, me. What about them? They are just as valuable in the eyes of God!!
A company to check out: The People Tree - the articles of clothing produced are actually more labor-intensive so that you can buy beautiful clothing and support more people. Cool, yeah? www.thepeopletree.co.uk (i think).

There ARE ways to do good business! Is it possible, now, to get international agencies that DO actually stand up for the smaller farmer, and the developing nation? ...so that fair trade is possible on a larger scale?

So, how does this all relate to Jesus, to Justice, to worldview?
Psalm 62:10 - don't put your hopes into wealth. How many people have committed suicide because of the financial downturn in the world lately? God calls us to a life where we don't depend on money - we depend on God.
Proverbs 31:8-9 - speak up for those who can't speak for themselves. We need to have a VOICE -- speak out!! We need to be extremely counter-cultural in order to speak against this.
Ezekiel 45:9 - dishonest scales...we have these still, in a way - just look at the coffee traders, the stock market, etc.
Job 24:2-10 - the poor. Job 29:14 - righteousness as my clothing, justice is my turban. God HATES the oppression of the poor.
Amos 5:11-24 - hate evil, love good, do justice... our culture tells us to live a life that pleases ourselves, at the cost of the poor. Don't succumb to culture!!