Fair Trade

There is nothing in the world more grievous than poverty - the most terrible of sufferings. Our teachers have said: if all the troubles of the world are assembled on one side and poverty is on the other, poverty would outweigh them all. (Midrash Exodus Rabbah 31:12)

What is Fair Trade?

The Fair Trade movement dates back to the 1940’s, when religious and relief organizations starting selling handcrafts made by WWII refugees in Europe. In comparison to conventional trading systems, alternative trading organizations (ATO’s) offer higher returns and greater control of labor conditions to producers in developing countries and challenged communities through direct trade and fair prices. Today, many ATO’s are members of the Fair Trade Federation, whose members are committed to providing fair wages and employment opportunities to disadvantaged artisans and farmers worldwide.

You’ll find additional information about the fair trade movement at the following links:

• Fair Trade Federation
• TransFair USA

 

Jewish advocacy in support of efforts to reduce global poverty

• Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
• Union of Reform Judaism Resolution on Coffee
• Union of Reform Judaism Resolution on Global Poverty
• Jewish Funds for Justice
• American Jewish World Service

Some sources for Fair Trade coffee and other products

• Larry’s Beans
• American Friends Service Committee
• Equal Exchange
• Green Action (Israel)
• Oxfam USA
• Peace Coffee

Some sources for Fair Trade gifts for Hannukah

• Global Exchange USA, which carries Fair Trade beeswax menorah candles and chocolate gelt, as well as coffee & tea and other items
• GreaterGoods.com - The Hunger Site: all manner of Fair Trade gift items for adults, children, home
• Equal Exchange
• Peace Please olivewood and mother of pearl jewelry from Bethlehem
• Folk Art Mavens
• PeaceWorks food products
• Fair World Gallery
• Interfaith Fair Trade (Lutheran World Relief)
• CrystalBay solar toy kits, USA (not fair trade, but otherwise an eco-friendly tikkun gift)

• Fair Trade giftwraps:
  • Fair Trade Media (UK)
  • One Village
  • Fish Lips Paper Designs - recycled wrapping papers (US)

Fair Trade Gifts that Grow: contributions to aid projects

• GreaterGood.com: “Gifts that Give More” - contributions to projects that dovetail URJ or AJWS commitments (to Hurricane Katrina relief, Rwandan malaria relief, cooking stoves for Darfur relief, and other education related relief projects)
• Heifer Project
• Oxfam UK: “Gifts that Grow” - small loans to women, the “School Scene” programs to support education projects for students, teachers, classrooms, materials
• Oxfam America “Unwrapped” program

Please let me know of other sources and projects.