The Fairness Of Hallowe'en

Eight days from now, many will stock up on goodies to hand out to the kids as they walk up and down the streets tirck-or-treating. Some people will accompany the kids as they do this. But what if the candy you buy was made in factories that exploit kids and their parents?

If those issues concern you and your buying patterns reflect those concerns, you don't have to boycott the holiday at all. You can buy treats from companies that pay their workers fairly and treat them with respect. In addition, these products are also certified organic and do not have genetically modified organisms. Global Exchange is an American company that does work in this area and has assembled packages that people can buy. Here in Brandon, fair trade items are available at the Marquis Project (which also has an online store). You can aslo tell Nestle to stop sourcing their products from suppliers who exploit their workers.

I like these types of campaigns, because it shows that activists are for something positive and that they have goals beyond protesting the next big conference. As people become more aware of how the choices we make affect economic policies which in turn affect the people who produce these items, the Fair Trade movement will grow. It's a continuation of a current trend, as sales in Fair Trade products grew 53% in 2003 and 20% in 2004. The movement has also been supported by former American President Jimmy Carter, who has spent much of his post-presidency working towards the promotion of human rights. Earlier this month, the Fair Trade Futures Conference drew 750 people from across North America to Chicago, ans was a success. The goal was for those in the Fair Trade community to network and to encourage further growth of the Fair Trade movement. I hope that this replaces the current system which exploits workers, the environment, and consumers for the benefit of the shareholders.

Should we be made to serve the economic order, or should the economic order be made to serve us?