Read Globally, Buy Locally in Washington DC and Baltimore

With the holiday shopping season upon us, I am getting some inquiries about where to find Fair Trade: A Beginner's Guide. I've also been delighted recently to learn of two sellers of the book in my home and work neighborhoods. If you live in Washington, DC, please consider visiting Potter's House Books, in Mount Pleasant, which also sells Fair Trade craft items. If you live in Baltimore, the quirky Hamden area is home to Salamander Books, which specializes in used, rare, and out-of-print books. Also in Maryland, is the operation center of SERRV, which has a gift store filled with the wonderful products you know from their catalog.

Thanks for considering my writing as a potential gift, and don't forget that it is perfectly okay to read your own copy of the book and then play it forward. In these times when our economy and our planet are in peril, your recipient may appreciate even more that you are recycling!

Chapter Four Update: Understanding the Rainforest Alliance and Fair for Life labels

Last weekend I was on retreat with a bunch of Quakers and as it was a potluck (which really seems to be the only way Quakers do social events!) the question of what kind of coffee to bring came up. One of my friends asked if it was okay to bring Rainforest Alliance (RA) certified coffee. She bought her coffee from a local company that used the green frog seal and thought that it meant that “the farmers were treated alright.”

In chapter four of my book, I ask “Should We Look for the Label?” and if so which one. Since publication I have noticed the RA label has been popping up on more store shelves, especially since it has been embraced by Caribou Coffee and other retailers. As my day job is near a Caribou location, I have had the chance to talk with Caribou employees about the label and how it is different from Fair Trade Certified.

The ten standards of RA have many appealing elements, especially with growing awareness of environmental issues. The majority of them deal with concerns such as ecosystem conservation, wildlife protection and waste management. There is also one standard related to working conditions, in which “farmers must ensure fair treatment and good working conditions for all employees.” This focus on employees helps us understand an important difference between Fair Trade and Rainforest Alliance. “Rainforest Alliance certification was developed to deal with agriculture at large….” I read that as “large agriculture” because RA is certifying a range of farm types, including estates and plantations. Fair Trade certification was started to help small-scale farmers who needed a fair price for their crop to stay on their lands and provide for their families. Unlike in Fair Trade, RA does not guarantee a minimum price but does believe that the RA certification will help farmers demand an above market price because their environmentally friendly product holds more value for conscious consumers.

To my mind, RA offers consumers another option in the marketplace because it addresses a concern that workers who may not own their own land but do need the work offered by estates or plantations are treated responsibly. While I recognize that large agricultural operations have the potential to force small scale farming out of the market, and I myself remain committed to purchasing Fair Trade over RA because I want to be “on the side of the small-scale farmer,” I can’t discount the realities that landless workers face. I also applaud the stated RA mission to “conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods….” (emphasis added)

As with all certifications, an important test is how the value chain is audited to insure that, in this case, workers are benefiting at the same time the planet is being protected. I confess I have no direct personal knowledge of the veracity of the RA certification. As important, as analysts such as Morson and Mongoven point out, another test of the value of certification is whether or not companies that can use a label take the opportunity to incorporate the standards into other aspects of their business. In their article “Many Shades of Green” Morson and Morgoven note that some companies may use a label for good publicity, others to respond to a particular market demand, and others try to transform their practices for their own benefit. Fully committed Fair Traders (those who go beyond using a label on just a few product lines) want to use the marketplace to transform not just their business but indeed the entire marketplace, in order to stop the exploitation that calls for Fair Trade in the first place. That is the most demanding approach to take to label use and, again, I don’t have any experience with the range of responses of RA label users. I’d welcome comments from those who do have direct knowledge.

Another emerging complexity in Fair Trade labeling is the arrival of the “Fair for Life” certification in the U.S. marketplace…more on that in my next posting.

Helping Obama-Biden Confront the Economic Crisis

It was just a week ago--but it seems longer given all the high-fives, tears, and spontaneous street celebrations--that the United States elected Barack Obama our next President. My birthday is November 4, and I had joked that all I wanted for my birthday was a Democrat in the White House, and I got my request. Thank you friends, family, and fellow Americans for a wonderful gift. I know it sounds trite because so many of us are saying it, but I do feel like I got my country back.

As some readers will remember, Obama wasn't my first choice, but once the party had a nominee, I got behind my candidate with my time, talents, and treasure. Now I want to get behind my President as he and his administration face so many problems. The economic crisis is perhaps the one that I can relate to most as a Fair Trader (and a stakeholder in 403b plans!). When it comes to trade, I most often focus on the micro--what you and I can do as consumer citizens--but surely now is the time to look issues on the macro level, especially regarding trade agreements.

The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy is part of several coalitions working to offer the new administration, and the new Congress, fresh ideas for trade policy. One of their efforts includes support for the Trade Reform, Accountability, Development and Employment (TRADE) Act of 2008. You can find the full act at the Library of Congress by searching HR 6180.
Here's a summary of its provisions, courtesy of Public Citizen. The initiative sets out what trade activists are for and what we believe our leaders need to do to address the financial crisis in terms of global trading systems:

* review existing trade pacts, incoming economic outcomes in the U.S. and indicators concerned with issues such as human rights and the environment,
* solidify standards for what can and not be included in future agreements, such as food and product safety standards,
* renegotiate existing trade agreements to address any gaps identified in standards such as labor protections,
* expand of Congressional oversight, and
* replace Fast Track approval.

Alas, as a resident of the District of Columbia, I have no voting representation in Congress but
if you DO have two Senators and some representatives to contact, let them know you support the TRADE ACT sponsored by Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Rep. Mike Michaud

In my next posting, I'll get back to what we can do as consumers, especially focusing on the topics from chapter 10 in my book "Daily Life with Fair Trade," such as making a household budget to guide your spending. Refreshing on those techniques in these difficult times will also help our new President out.

Fair Trade Leadership Position Open

As post-election euphoria subsides for many of us, we begin to think of how we as individuals will be called to help President Elect Obama implement a new era of American leadership. Each of us will have a part to play, and our "day jobs" are often a way we can devote our energies to causes we believe in.

After volunteering for a Fair Trade cooperative in Mexico back in 2000, I got my professional start in the movement with the Fair Trade Resource Network. Over the course of four years, I was fortunate to help this small but significant grassroots organization and its volunteers shape the Fair Trade movement in the United States. I'm excited that the position of Executive Director is open and I wanted to share the description in case some readers might be interested in applying according to the details below:

Executive Director for the Fair Trade Resource Network
Schedule: Full-time
Compensation: $40,000-$50,000 annual salary, health insurance, 2 weeks paid vacation
Start Date: January 1, 2009

The Fair Trade Resource Network is seeking a full-time executive director to conceptualize, energize, secure support for and carry out Fair Trade education campaigns in the U.S. and abroad. Salary, benefits and office location are negotiable.

About the Fair Trade Resource Network

The Fair Trade Resource Network (FTRN) seeks to improve people’s lives through Fair Trade alternatives by providing information, leadership, and inspiration. FTRN gathers, develops, and disseminates educational resources to people and organizations interested in the movement to build a more just and sustainable world through Fair Trade. See www.ftrn.org to learn more about our work.

JOB DESCRIPTION

The FTRN Executive Director is responsible for all aspects of leading a small non-profit organization devoted to advancing fair trade. S/he will envision, fundraise, plan, manage and promote all of the organizations programs. S/he reports directly to the FTRN Board Chairperson and will work closely with an active board of directors.

1. Vision and planning

Working closely with the board, the E.D. will envision and execute new and existing programs designed to promote fair trade.

2. Fundraising

Fundraising is an essential responsibility for this position. The E.D. will write and report on grant proposals, solicit gifts from major donors and small donors, organize fundraising events, seek sponsors for programs such as World Fair Trade Day, and innovate new fundraising opportunities.

3. Staff Management

FTRN has one part time administrative staff person, and a fulltime temporary program staff person, both of whom will report to the E.D. The E.D. will be expected to manage these staff, and recruit and hire new staff as growth allows.

4. Program Development and Management

FRTN’s major programs include:

1. World Fair Trade Day
2. Fair Trade and the Arts traveling exhibition
3. Fair Trade Leadership Training
4. Fair Trade Institute (online library partnership)
5. Education for Fair Trade and the Environment
6. Fair trade pen-pals and curriculum development



5. Outreach and Communications

As an educational non-profit, outreach and communications are major elements of the E.D.’s workload. The E.D. create and capture opportunities to promote fair trade through the media and grassroots outreach.

6. Networking & Partnerships

As a small non-profit, and the only one in the U.S. devoted exclusively to promoting fair trade, networking with allied individuals and organizations is essential in order to leverage our message. The E.D. will seek new allies, and manage existing partnerships with organizations such as the Sierra Club, Fair Trade Towns Initiative, TransFair USA, IFAT, Fair Trade Institute, and others.

QUALIFICATIONS

The ideal candidate is a social entrepreneur who is:

1. A passionate, visionary spokesperson for Fair Trade education, with a strong grasp on the complexities of Fair Trade and global trade issues, a compatible personal values system, and the ability to communicate fair trade messages powerfully in writing and speaking to the public and other stakeholders.



2. A strong fundraiser who enjoys connecting with potential funders and donors, able to make in person fund raising solicitations, get people excited about Fair Trade education, and secure contributions; able to develop fundraising strategies with the board and support the board in fund raising activities; and able to develop and monitor strategies for ensuring the long-term financial viability of FTRN. Grant writing and reporting abilities are required.

3. An established networker in Fair Trade, ready to network in the U.S. and abroad with other Fair Trade and Alternative Trade organizations in a collaborative, coalition building format.

4. An enthusiastic team player able to work with board and staff to conceptualize and implement new projects and programs. Program development and project/staff management experience must be demonstrated.

5. An effective manager able to oversee and streamline (but not perform) low-level administrative work, by contracting out services, and managing staff and volunteers; able to attract and energize volunteers and interns to help execute projects and/or administrative work and maintain a supportive work environment that reflects FTRN’s organizational values.

6. A prudent financial steward who can develop annual budgets that support FTRN’s operating plans and manage FTRN’s resources within those budget guidelines.

7. A persuasive communicator with media networking, outreach and PR skills; able to conceptualize strong and effective long term communications outreach strategies that will gain attention for fair trade.

8. A computer-savvy person familiar with web-based communications technologies (or eager to learn them), capable of basic web site content management (not programming or design but such tasks as posting news and other new content), managing e-newsletters, email lists and other online communications.

9. A person ideally located in or near a major metropolitan area for easier access to foundations, conferences, volunteers, partners, and media.

Other helpful experience would include:

o Experience in education or curriculum development
o Experience in running a profitable business and developing income-generating projects to supplement grant money.
o Experience in event planning and management

To apply, please send the following materials to work "at" ftrn.org:

o Cover letter describing qualifications and interest in Fair Trade education;
o Detailed resume/CV;
o Any supporting materials as examples of relevant work, such as successful grant proposals, marketing or communications materials, newsletters or other related materials;
o At least three references, ideally including at least one person who served as a board member or executive director.