B UILDING C HANGE : THE F AIR T RADE MOVEMENT FROM LOCAL TO GLOBAL By:

W HY F AIR T RADE ? Because: In a matter of years there will be 9 billion people on this planet Social issues and poverty continue to dominate the landscape globally Environmental degradation continues to increase at astounding rates Our economic model is collapsing beneath us We need a new business model and approach to global trade

A FEW REASONS FOR THIS STATE We are stuck in a rut We are hemmed in by old ways of thinking and old ways of trading, doing business, manufacturing and producing Our governments refuse to address the realities of today, nor the realities of tomorrow We now view the world for what it can’t be rather than for what it can

W HAT F AIR T RADE IS TRYING TO DO ABOUT IT Empower producers to take a stance Empower consumers to make informed choices Bring business in line with the realities of our social and environmental world Drive change from the bottom up

G OALS F AIR T RADE IS SEEKING TO ACHIEVE Equalized global trading system Equal opportunity Access to health, safety and fair pay Economic stability Environmental sustainability

B ARRIERS F AIR T RADE SEEKS TO OVERCOME For producers Access to markets and global pricing Access to tools and resources For Consumers Access to information - Addressed through traceability, allowing individuals to vote with their dollar For businesses Instability, uncertainty and risk - Providing stability and assurance

H OW DOES IT DO THIS ?

S TEP 1 – B Y CREATING STABILITY

S TEP 2 – B Y SIMPLIFYING SUPPLY CHAINS BY C REATING DIRECT RELATIONSHIPS WITH PRODUCERS Conventional Local Farmers Transporter Exporter Broker Importer Roaster Distributor Retailer Local Farmers Cooperative Importer Roaster Retailer Fair Trade

S TEP 3 – B Y STRENGTHENING THE VOICE OF PRODUCERS THROUGH THE C OOPERATIVE S YSTEM

S TEP 4 – B Y ENSURING THAT THE PRINCIPLES OF P ARTICIPATORY D EMOCRACY ARE ADHERED TO The cooperative system means each member has a voice Decisions and plans for the community are made democratically Opportunities for capacity building are created

S TEP 5 – B Y BUILDING DIRECT & LONG - TERM RELATIONSHIPS BACK INTO THE SYSTEM

S TEP 6 – B Y PROTECTING WORKERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH S USTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND FARMING METHODS

S TEP 7 – B Y S TRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES T HROUGH S OCIAL PREMIUMS 20 cents per pound of coffee $1 premium per box of bananas that benefit the communities

W HERE C OOPS I NVEST IN E DUCATION

W HERE C OOPS I NVEST IN HEALTH AND SOCIAL PROGRAMS

W HERE COOPS I NVEST IN TRAINING

W HERE COOPS I NVEST IN EQUIPMENT & T ECHNOLOGY

H OW DID ALL OF THIS GET STARTED ?

H ISTORY OF THE SOCIAL MOVEMENT 40’s/50’s - Handicrafts 60’s – Trade not aid campaigns – Oxfam UK 70’s – Alternate trading models established between buyer and seller 80’s/90’s - Gradual shift into agricultural goods begins – Labeling and certification become established 2000’s – Grass roots continues to be driving force behind Fair Trade Business begins to see increased demand from consumers While view Fair Trade as a more stable way to do business

E VENTUALLY LEADING TO AN I NCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF P RODUCTS AVAILABLE

W HAT ASSURANCES ARE THERE ?

H ISTORY OF L ABELLING AND CERTIFICATION 88 – The Max Havelaar labelling Initiative begins in the Netherlands 90’s – Other Labelling Initiatives spring up in different parts of the world 97/98 – Labelling Initiatives come together as global partnership – International Fair Trade Label Organization (FLO) created 2002 – Fairtrade International Mark launched

T HE G LOBAL F AIR T RADE S YSTEM CompaniesProducts There are now 27 Organizations – 19 Labelling Initiatives, 3 Associate Members and 5 Marketing Organizations There are now 3 Producer Networks made up of over 1.2 Million producers in 64 countries

C ERTIFICATION Supply Chain Verification Transparency, traceability and accountability Providing risk management Opportunity to buy and conduct business in an ethical and Fair way Become part of a global system Use of the worlds most globally recognized ethical seal

S TANDARDS Fair Trade Minimum Price Pre-Harvest Credit Payment of a Fair Trade Premium Fair and Safe Working Conditions Stability and Guarantee: Direct Relationship Long term relationships Contracts: Transparency, accountability and Traceability Environmental sustainability: Safeguarding of natural resources Environmental responsibility Opportunity: Creating economic opportunity Capacity building Gender Equity

W HAT ROLE DOES CIVIL SOCIETY PLAY IN ALL OF THIS ?

C IVIL S OCIETY HAS BEEN THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS SOCIAL MOVEMENT Partnerships, relationships, networking and making connections Building, organizing and coordinating the movement Driving the demand – Creating the markets

T AKING T ANGIBLE S TEPS F ORWARD

B Y TAKING A DIVERSE A PPROACH

Vancouver Toronto Montreal Calgary Edmonton Winnipeg Ottawa Regina Saskatoon Quebec St. John Fredericton Halifax Charlottetown Canadian Fair Trade Network B Y G ETTING O RGANIZED

B Y LOOKING FOR STRATEGIC INPUTS THAT C REATE SYSTEMIC OR CASCADING CHANGE

B Y U TILIZING L EVERAGE P OINTS

B Y PUSHING, SUPPORTING AND CREATING NEW BUSINESS MODELS

F INAL REMARKS Change is possible Working together will ensure we will get to where we need to get to Thank you for your time