1. Fair Trade: Going Beyond the Symbol

2. Aims To explore the meaning behind the Fair Trade symbols
To use Fair Trade as a ‘foot hold’ issue from which to explore other development topics
To provide practical examples of development education methodologies that can be used in your classrooms
To provide practical examples of how development education links to your curriculum
Kwl, go over the ‘w’ to make sure covered by workshop

3. Today’s Plan… Background: What is Fair Trade?
Our Campaign: Looking Behind the Symbol
Fair Trade, Development Education and Your Teaching Practice
KWL

4. Activity: Interdependence
"Before you finish eating your breakfast this morning you've depended on half the world. We aren't going to have peace on earth until we recognize this basic fact.“ – Martin Luther King, Jr.
List ireland v. rest of world and if we can get them fairtrade/buy local if you can, buy fairtrade

5. Tea
Asia all over
Yes, readily available
Coffee
Africa, South America
Orange Juice
Tropical (FT Brazil)
Yes, Tesco & Lidl, small shops
Sugar
Temperate (Brazil, EU)
Porridge/Grains
Ireland
Eggs
Milk
Rasher/Sausage
Banana
India, Uganda, China
Chocolate
Across Africa and South America
Tomato
Probably Spain No
Strawberries
Baked Beans (Navy)
China
Almonds
California, Spain, Mediterranean
Tough but there are some

6. What is Fair Trade or is it Fairtrade?
Fair Trade refers to the overall global trading system and calls for trade rules and regulations that do not favour large corporations or governments
Fairtrade, and other labels, refer to a specific set of requirements for products and thus is a subset of Fair Trade
Activity: Building the Definition.
With just title up, ask if people know difference between fair trade and fairtrade
In groups,
A trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency, and respect, that seeks greater equity in international trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of, disadvantaged producers and workers—especially in the South.(FINE, 1998)

7. What role does Free Trade play?
Fair Trade
Main Goal
To increase a nations economic growth
To empower people to better their own lives
Focus On
Trade policies between countries
Commerce between individuals and small businesses
Benefits
MNC’s, governments
Farmers, artisans, etc in developing countries
Critics Say
Marginalises small producers and environment
Interferes with free trade, inefficient, small scale
Compensation Determined By
Market and government policies
Living wage and community improvement costs
Key Advocate Organisations
WTO, World Bank, IMF
Fairtrade International, World Fair Trade Organisation, Fairtrade Ireland
Adapted from Fair Trade Resources Organisation

8. Arguments Against Fair Trade
Fair Trade artificially sets minimum wages and prices
Recent study found that Fair Trade didn’t have an appreciable positive impact on local economy or wages
Fairtrade (the brand) crowds out other ethically sources products
Fair Trade perpetuates charity model of aid vs. justice model
‘The Masking Problem’

9. Activity: Prioritise the Principles
What a Fair Trade certification generally means…
Activity: Prioritise the Principles
Do pyramid with FT principles – go through these and then say we are going to look at FT principles in detail, and make pyramid shape based on priority– have groups be prepared to report back on what they put on the top and why

10. What’s the difference and does it matter?

11. Activity: Moving Debate: Let’s Explore Fair Trade…
Statement 1: Reducing food miles is more important than buying Fair Trade
Statement 2: Trade rules and regulations should be left to the market to figure out.
Statement 3: Fair Trade is an instrument of justice.
Statement 4: In Ireland today, people are too worried about their own money to care about producers in far away countries.
Statement 5: Dubble only?

12. Fair Trade and the Waterford One World Centre
2012 Kimmage Development Studies Centre Study: Majority of Irish people support Fair Trade/Fairtrade without understanding the reasons why
80% of people surveyed in Waterford said they would like to know more about Fair Trade
Waterford One World Centre uses this support for FT to approach a wider range of development issues such as environmental sustainability, gender equity, child labour, forced labour, poverty, fair wages, solidarity, etc.
Our goal is for people to understand why they support Fair Trade and when they buy a Fair Trade product to understand that they are taking an action that impacts global justice rather than that they are giving charity
We believe that teaching Fair Trade across the curriculum supports both students’ learning in the subject area and deepens the connection to global justice

13. Links to Curricula Fair Trade
Art, Craft, Design: Have students design a Fair Trade poster
CSPE/TY: Promote active citizenship through a campaign during Fairtrade Fortnight
Business: Look at FT Cooperatives as a Model for Small Business
Geography: Explore the interdependent nature of trade
Fair Trade
Interdisciplinary
English: Write a persuasive letter to a politician about importance of Fair Trade
Science: Examine sustainable farming methods used by FT coops
Religion: Explore Fair Trade as a global justice issue
Maths: Use graphs to represent Fair Trade sales over time

14. PE: Promote the Use of Fair Trade Footballs
Home Economics: Hold a Fair Trade Fashion Show or Fair Trade Bake Sale
Action Ideas
Across the
Curriculum
Business Studies: Open a Fair Trade Tuck Shop or Campaign to Make Existing Shop Fair Trade

15. Please answer the following questions on the back of KWL:
Do you think you will use any of the activities with your classes? Which one? Why?
Do you think you will use the Fair Trade learning with your students? How about with people that are not your students?
What is one thing that could be added to this workshop to make it better?