Social Ministry

International 

 

 

 

 

FAIR TRADE COFFEE INFORMATION

 

Companies supported by the Fair Trade Federation are bound by these Principals and Practices:

Fair Wages in the Local Context: Workers are paid a fair wage based on countries minimum wage. More likely a living wage, meaning they can afford to cover basic needs such as food, shelter, education and healthcare for their family.

 

Participatory Workplace: Fair Trade Organizations work with small businesses, democratically run associations, and or co-ops which bring significant benefits to workers and their communities.

- Workers band together to access credit, reduce raw material cost and therefore establish more just process for their product.

- Profits are distributed more equally

- Profits also reinvested in community projects (I.e. Health Clinics, Child care , Education & Training).

- Workers are: involved in leadership rolls, developing organizational skills, creating safe and healthy working conditions and have decision making power over the use of their resources.

 

Financial and Technical Support: Fair Trade Federation members often provide financial assistance through:

- Direct Loans

- Linking producers with sources of financing

- Prepayment- instead of waiting 60-90 days to pay a debt so that Producers have sufficient funds for Raw materials, Basic needs during production, Technical Assistance and support, Market information, Product feedback, Training in financial management, Long Term Adapt production for changing trends.

 

Consumer Education: It is important to purchase fairly traded products because

1. You know that workers are paid a living wage.

2. They support healthy working conditions.

Fair Trade means supporting a company that respects Workers rights. Fair Trade means respecting the environment. The Fair Trade movement is helping to enhance Cross Cultural understanding and respect between Consumers and Communities in the developing world.

 

Environmental Sustainability: Emphasis on preserving the natural environment. Care for the earth. There is no benefit in depleting the natural resources.

 

Respect for cultural identity: Fair Trade Organizations encourage the production of products based on producers' cultural traditions. They encourage artists to use their talents in a way that preserves their cultural identity.

 

Public Accountability: Fair Trade Foundation members, finances, management policies, and business practices are open to the public and monitored by the Fair Trade Federation.

 

 

Social Ministry would like to thank the members of St. Thomas More for their generous and overwhelming support of the Fair Trade Coffee sales in recent months.

Since the Sale of Fair Trade coffee is an ongoing project to this ministry, it can be ordered through the St. Thomas More Gift Shop and online at http://www.stmlv.org/coffee/. We sincerely appreciate your continued support.

 

 

 

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Contact Ken Rosania at 361-3022 for more information on Social Ministry.