Let Your Dollar Talk

It would seem that, even though I've volunteered at Ten Thousand Villages previously and now I sell fair trade products through Jolica, I am in an intensive time of learning about fair trade.  I've highlighted the book fair trade:  a human journey by Eric St-Pierre over the past few days (and once again I will say - go out and buy it!).  I also just finished reading Invisible Chains:  Canada's Underground World of Human Trafficking by Benjamin Perrin.  Human trafficking usually comes with the idea of the sex trade and prostitution, but child labor and forced labor are also a part of it.

I have Benjamin Perrin's list of 10 Things You Can Do to Combat Human Trafficking listed on the side of my blog (www.endmoderndayslavery.ca) and #6 is "Let Your Dollar Talk & Buy Fair Trade".  If you have been to one of my Jolica parties, you know that I've already talked about this.  One of the best things about buying fair trade is that is gives you a CHOICE and a VOICE.  As a consumer, your money speaks and if you decide to buy fair trade, companies will notice (both those that are not fair trade and are losing your money, and those that are fair trade and are gaining your money!).

"A 2009 report by the U.S. Department of Labor identified 122 common goods from 58 countries that ranked among the worst for forced labour or child labour." (p. 236, Invisible Chains)  I googled that list and urge you to consider the following purchases, especially at this time of year:
Coffee from Columbia, Cote d'Ivorie, Domincan Republic, Guatemala, Guinea, Honduras, Kenya, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Tanzania, Uganda.
Cotton from Burkina Faso, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Benin, Brazil, China, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Paraguay, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan.
Gold from Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Columbia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, Ghana, Guinea, Indonesia, Mali, Mongolia, Nicaragua, Niger, North Korea, Peru, Philippines, Senegal, Tanzania.
Rice from Brazil, Burma, Dominican Republic, India, Kenya, Mali, Philippines, Uganda.
Sugarcane from Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Burma, Columbia, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Kenya, Mexico, Pakistan, Panama, Philippines, Thailand, Uganda.
Other items on the list include Bananas, Cocoa, Diamonds, Flowers, Footwear, Garments, Tea and others.