You Look Good Living Fair Trade

In June 2010 The Ohio State University's study abroad program, Honors& Scholars Nicaragua: Engagement in the Americas, had its first trip. The program was offered again this year and we are the 2011 class. This blog is about our venture through Fair Trade and the class trip. Please join our journey as we prepare for Nicaragua! The views expressed here are my own and not those of Ohio State or any associating entity mentioned in this blog.

[fairtradeusa]

When you buy Fair Trade coffee from Guatemala, you’re making a difference in the lives of farmers and their children.

Thank you for supporting Pedro Hu Ortega and millions of farmers like him!

[isobelontheinternet]

support fair trade

We can sponsor as many kids as we want, but if we continue, knowingly or unknowingly, to purchase coffee (or other commodities) from their communities at oppressive prices, those communities will never be able to grow out of their poverty.

[fairtradeusa]

“The American consumer is the most powerful force for good in history. If we all voted with our dollars we could change the world.” - Paul Rice

Thanks for supporting Fair Trade and for using your purchasing power for good!

[goodandfair]

[ilivefairosu-blog]

goodandfair:

Here’s a look at a few shots from the new Good & Fair Clothing website. Check it out at http://goodandfairclothing.com.

Props to Dallas Peters for the website design. Check him out here.

Props to Esther Havens for her beautiful photography. Check her out here.

[lusciouschaos]

[ilivefairosu-blog]

lusciouschaos:

I haven’t mentioned this yet, but my mom and I sell fair trade products. My mom started maybe two or three months ago by just setting up a table at local farmers markets, but this month we’ve expanded a bit by selling at legit craft/vendor shows.

It’s all very exciting. Fair trade isn’t common...

Reminds me of Connie words, "Fair Trade is a relationship." See my earlier post about that for further explanation. This is a wonderful post by the way, I love hearing critical and personal thought surrounding Fair Trade. We can only improve the system when we create and encourage dialogue.

[ourfieldtrips-deactivated201309]

[ilivefairosu-blog]

nuandao:

Today, Nuandao wants to share with a tiny find in Taipei that values fair trade products. The store was first established in the creative hub of Shanghai’s Tian Zi Fang, an old neighborhood now full of culture and art. Down the line, the store owner decided to leave Taipei to be with her husband, hence giving us the opportunity for us Taipei folks to experience the store. The store is currently located in a small space in the Yongkang Lane; although not much room for much, architecture and decoration has created a simple, natural atmosphere for the browsing experience. What we particularly like is the recycled wood furniture throughout the space - how green! 

In Taiwan, fair trade and design rarely come together. Twine here, is one of those rare operations. 

In many situations, fair trade or organic products tend to be more expensive, but the owner is trying to partner with manufacturers and creators from around the world to make fair trade products within reach of all people. Twine believes that the goods sold only will enhance a person’s life from both vendor and consumer side. 

Within the store, products are almost all unique handmade creations with the majority of these commodities, mostly from Africa, Bangladesh, India, Vietnam and Cambodia and other countries who are affiliated with the World Fair Trade Organization. At Twine, you can also find some works from Taiwanese designers, and the store also creates its own collection of clothing and accessories made from felt and wool. 

If one day, you were stranded on an island what 3 things would you want to bring? 

TWINE: scissors, knitting equipment, wire 

Thank you Francis and Chloe for the reporting efforts！ 

For more information, visit: 

www.twinestudio.net / facebook: www.facebook.com/twinestudio

台灣 台北市大安區 永康街二巷3號1樓

[email protected]

[partnersforjusttrade-blog]

[ilivefairosu-blog]

partnersforjusttrade:

As a member of the Fair Trade Federation (FTF), PJT is committed to the following principles and practices: Fair Wages in the local Context Producers receive fair compensation for their products, which means that workers are paid at least that country’s minimum wage. Since the minimum...

[freedomandjustice]

soleRebels.

[ilivefairosu-blog]

freedomandjustice:

Handcrafted, Fair Trade shoes made in Ethiopia!

http://www.solerebelsfootwear.co/

[fairtrade]

“Fairtrade small producers in the South are faithfully committed to the environment, which requires global commitment as well”.

Carlos Eugenio Vargas of COOPETRABASUR, a banana producer in Costa Rica, and CLAC Board Member (via fairtrade)

I find this quote to be very true from a first hand perspective. When we visited the coffee cooperative in the Sontule community, located in the mountains of Nicaragua, I was very impressed by how aware and proactive the farmers were in growing/ harvesting their product in a sustainable manner. They are so resourceful with their water and agriculture waste that it completely blew my mind. I also fully agree with the latter half of this quote, acknowledging global commitment.

[callmesisi-deactivated20251006]

[ilivefairosu-blog]

Internship with a Fair Trade organization? 

I. Am. So. Jealous. & great idea on the whole Tumblr thing ;)

callmesisi:

Guys check this out. I’ve been interning with a Fair Trade organization and offered to make a Tumblr for them, since Tumblr is my one worthy job skill. So click and follow and learn about our organization (which works with Artisan groups in Peru, giving them fair wages for the products they make for us) and if you have to do any shopping anytime soon…y’know…

[ilivefairosu-blog]

New Tumblr Goal

Not gonna lie, I'm a busy gal and with school starting next week, I fear for my tumblrs' life D: Not to worry, there are still TONS of stories/ experiences waiting to be shared about Fair Trade, Nicaragua, and our study abroad program. My personal goal is to create one solid post per week in the meantime, please enjoy some qued reblog posts. 

<3 Amber (ps. to catch a glimpse of what I"m talking about, check out my own personal tumblr )

[greenrespect-blog]

[ilivefairosu-blog]

greenrespect:

This link allows you to search for fair trade in your area!

[mattstorm]

[ilivefairosu-blog]

Relationship Levels With Fair Trade

Connie De Jong, leader of our in-country travel group and classroom professor, told us that the journey to understand Fair Trade can be best described as a relationship more than anything else. One must build their Fair Trade knowledge to truly understand the complexities and implications of the network and movement. After tracking the tumblr tag, "fair trade," for about a month now, I can't find her comment to be any more true. 

Typical tumblr posts start out as something like this, "I found out that most chocolate bars are made in horrible enslavement conditions, from now on I will only buy Fair Trade." You can replace chocolate bars with almost any commodity and that's about 1/3 of Fair Trade tagged posts; newfound enlightenment and a consumer commitment to change. Other types of posts I encounter are those focused on basic reasons to buy and support Fair Trade products, listing points and facts that are generally repeated on most pro-Fair Trade resources. Some of the these posts are well written and adequately researched while others are engaging blurbs yet all are a call for consumer action in the realm of social justice.

I myself have experienced the manifestation of her comment through my own journey for ultimate Fair Trade comprehension. What was initiated from documentaries and social media exposure lead to an interest in academic studies and eventual in-country, on-site experiences. It all relates back to De Jong's common classroom saying, a clear and simple explanation for people's ability to practice Fair Trade. This understanding serves as a guidance and brings peace in my desires as an aspiring catalyst of change in the Fair Trade movement.

[mothernaturenetwork]

[ilivefairosu-blog]

mothernaturenetwork:

Transparency Toolbar: The ideal add-on for the ethical e-shopper GoodGuide unveils the Transparency Toolbar, a new feature that allows online shoppers to make purchasing decisions based on their own green convictions and not claims made by marketers or retailers.

[ilivefairosu-blog]

Hello,I saw your post and link to my blog. I really appreciate your comment. I have added your blog to my "Friends of the Journey" list. I look forward to seeing more on your blog about your work in Nicaragua! Mitch Teberg, MAJourney for Fair Trade

Hi Mitch,

Wow, thanks for adding us to your list! I was impressed with your work and got super stoked to see our blog on the list. I watched Black Gold when I was 15 but ever since taking this class and going on our trip I feel like I am brand new to understanding Fair Trade.

It's tough juggling two jobs and this blog but I have a couple of drafts I'm working on about our trip, I shall post them soon! Our class is also working on a book about our experiences, the trip, and Fair Trade to publish at a later date.

Amber S.

PS. This is a super late response to when this message was sent but I didn't know how to check messages on Tumblr until now. XD

[newwavefeminism]

When someone works for less pay than she can live on…she has made a great sacrifice for you…The ‘working poor’…are in fact the major philanthropists of our society. They neglect their own children so that the children of others will be cared for; they live in substandard housing so that other homes will be shiny and perfect; they endure privation so that inflation will be low and stock prices high. To be a member of the working poor is to be an anonymous donor, a nameless benefactor, to everyone.

Barbara Ehrenreich’s  Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America (via squeetothegee)