-The section of the article called “Marginalized Workers Gain Dignity at Winery in South Africa” is about Stellar Winery and an employee Marie who has had a positive experience working there. The story starts by talking about Marie’s life before Stellar. It says she dropped out of high school, had to endure the passing of her mother, and care for her family including four orphans. Once getting a job at Stellar Winery, Marie now has good income, electricity, and sanitary systems. This allows her and her family to live comfortably, unlike before. Through her hard work she has become a partial owner of the company, and a farm manager. She was also given other awards for her outstanding work.
-I enjoyed reading this because it seems like a great success story for a fair trade worker. Reading about Marie’s hard life before Stellar and all that she has accomplished reflects on fair trade. I think the fact that she is able to achieve so much is because she truly likes her work environment, and the fairness is so high that if a person wants to he/she can be successful. I think the recognition that she has received for her hard work is also nice because it will make any worker proud, and is encouraging.

-The Cameron Russell talk gives her experiences as a model, and the way people perceive modeling. She gives examples and pictures of some work she did in the industry and the behind the scenes of what was happening at the times of those pictures. She also speaks about the statistics of profiling and how young girls feel about their bodies. She relates this to her treatment by others based on her looks, and talks about how they should not matter.
-The part of Russell’s talk that made an impact on me was when she talked about little girls wanting to be models when they grow up. The fact that she encourages pursuing a career where your looks are not everything says something about her character. It reveals to me that there are models that are not all about the industry, and are down to earth. Another interesting piece was when she gave a few stories where her looks benefitted her. She talked about getting a dress for free, and getting out of a ticket because she was attractive. She makes the point that not everyone gets treated this way, and that things should not be like that. I liked the honesty that she had in this talk, and how she isn’t afraid to give her opinion.

Actual Text #1

After reading this article, one part that stuck out to me, was the discussion of Fair Trade’s purpose and how it compares to Free Trade. It is stated on page six, “Free Trade increases nation’s economic growth, where as, Fair Trade empowers marginalized people and improves the quality of life.” It also talked about how Fair Trade is developed to be honest and transparent. It is not created so that companies can say they are Fair Trade but really only have 5% of their purchases be Fair Trade oriented. Subsequently, when discussing the difference between Fair Trade and Free Trade, it showed how Fair Trade eliminates the middleman for a more direct trade route, where as, Free Trade’s supply chain includes many parties between producer and consumer.

Response to Text #1

I think it is important for everyone to know the difference between Free Trade and Fair Trade. It is clear that Free Trade does not have the workers’ overall well being in mind, but rather directs their focus to helping undeveloped countries by way of government policies. I understand that it is good to help these less industrialized countries make money and have strong financial support, but it is not helping them as people when we are not treating them in the most respectful manner. These individuals should not feel as though we are pitting them. It is not important to them to receive money from us, but rather to help us, by showing Americans what they are passionate about. They are pleased to help our country out through Fair Trade because they can see their hard work is being noticed. Another important piece of information that stuck out to me in this article was the word “empower.” When describing Free Trade vs. Fair Trade, it is shown that the main goal of Fair Trade is to empower the people and help them improve the quality of their lives. It is great to know this goal is focused around the individuals themselves. I feel that they are more likely to get out of unsafe living conditions, grow and succeed, as human beings and as communities, if they are given the tools of learning and empowerment, rather than us Americans giving them money to show our “support.” Lastly, it is imperative that Fair Trade cuts out the middlemen that Free Trade has in their supply chain. Reason being that, these groups of people in undeveloped countries, live their whole lives around work and designing products they feel passionate about. They create these Fair Trade products to survive. There is no need to have parties between the producers and consumers, when it’s clear and ethical to give the money to the people who earned it.

Actual Text #2

Another story that was touching to read about was the “Visually Impaired Woman in India finds Lifeline in Fair Trade.” This woman is an artisan and has been visually impaired, since she was born. Because of this devastating condition, she has spent most of her life poor and famished. However, with the help of Blue Mango, she was able to find the help she needed. Not only to fix her living condition, but to also help other women who are either widowed, abandoned, abused, and disabled. Blue Mango facilitates training, employment ownership and empowerment, to these women, so they are able to lift themselves out of the demoralizing situations and change their lives for the better.

Response to Text #2

The reason this story stuck out to me the most was because it showed how anything is possible. Today, in the states, people constantly complain about their lives, the government and other issues, but they continued to sit around and do nothing about it. They think that everything in life should be handed to them, but that is not how life works. These women, especially Botumani, show what it means to get out there, push through the hardships and difficulties and change your own life. She has a disability that most people are lucky they were not faced with, yet she still is doing more from her end then we do, living in a free country. There is so much opportunity out there, but everyone is too naïve to see it or step out of their comfort zone to achieve it. Botumani shows true strength and provides the world a great lesson that anything is possible. Finally, when reading this story, it reminded me of my favorite quote that I would like to share. “You know, sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage. Just literally twenty seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it” (We Bought a Zoo).

In the first paragraph of this article a statistic is stated that really captured my attention; “The gap between the rich and the poor is widening, with the world’s richest 20% consuming over 75% of the world’s resources while the world’s poorest 20% consumer only 1.5%.” This is stated to capture a reader’s attention and begin to explain why issues of Fair Trade need to exist. Fair Trade works to improve the quality of life of those who need it most while giving them also giving them confidence, self worth, and a sense of dignity.
This statistic really stood out to me because so often I feel like things are too expensive for me as a college student. Textbooks seem to cost a fortune, my college education has put me in debt, trying to dress in the newest trends quickly shrinks my bank account ,and leisure trips to the city tend to add up rather quickly. But when I really take a step back to think about it, I have everything I need. I have clothes, shelter, food to eat at every meal, and my health. In life, these are the things we take for granted. The fact that there are some without these necessary items is baffling and seems to open a space in my life to work to make the world a little better.
This article also includes a short description about a husband and a wife, Ganesh and Nanda who used Fair Trade to help disadvantaged children. The couple makes Nepali drums and instruments that are sold in both retail and wholesale markets. The profits from sales have improved the couple’s life and they have used what is left over to open a shelter for disadvantaged children. The home, Mitrata, was opened 10 years ago and provides food, shelter, education, and a home for about 100 children in the community.
The home is Nanda’s passion and it was so inspiring reading about someone so selfless even when she does not have much for herself. Nanda reminded me very much of my own mother who too is a very selfless role model. Though not exactly like Nanda, my mom gave up her career after my sister and I were born to be a stay at home mom. When we went off to kindergarten, she did not feel she could return to work because she wanted to be home with us every time we were sick, had a day off from school, were home for summer vacation, and for all of our extra circular activities. She opened her own day care from our house which she has successfully run for the past 20 years. Having my mom home has truly meant the world to me, but watching her give love and kindness to the children who come to our house each day is beyond words. Like my mom, Nanda is an admirable woman who has devoted her life to helping others.

1. The first text discusses the differences between traditional trade methods and methods of fair trade. The reading explains why fair trade is important in underdeveloped countries.

2. The second passage is in the form of a Ted Talk. This video is titled "Looks aren't everything, believe me I'm a model" and is hosted by Cameron Russell, a model. She explains how people are often treated unfairly, and judged by looks or preconceived notions.

This text clarified why traditional trade methods do not suffice for people in underdeveloped countries. Often in first-world nations, such as the United States, the government imposes subsidies, tariffs, taxes and policies to set price standards in order to protect both sellers and consumers. Large and developed governments also provide labor laws to ensure people can maintain a high standard of living. Contrastingly, in third-world nations, the government does not have the resources to provide these subsidies. According to the National Labor Committee, the average wage for overseas production is one dollar per day, and this provides less than twenty-five percent of the minimum needs of a family of five. In order to produce and farm at low cost, environmental standards and working conditions are ignored. This was extremely eye opening for me. I believe, as people of a country of wealth, Americans have a duty to aid our international neighbors as they attempt to make a living for themselves and their families. It is important for businesses and individual consumers alike to examine the power of their purchase. Purchasing products that are certified Fair Trade enables artisans to receive fair wages while simultaneously maintaining environmental standards.

2. The TED Talk video reveals how image can be crafted to create a desired image or perception. The speaker, Cameron Russell starts the talk in a revealing dress and high heels. As the speech progresses she changes into modest clothing, making her appear much more like an average woman. She shows pictures of her doing typical activities such as vacationing with family and posing with her soccer team. Beside those pictures, she shows photographs of herself modeling during the same time period. In the first pictures she appeared as an average looking teenage girl, in the second, she looks glamorous, almost artificial, not even like the same woman. She says the pictures of her modeling are not her at all, it is pictures of a woman sculpted by hair and makeup artists and expensive clothing. I feel that I am able to identify with Cameron. Depending on where I am I change my appearance from clothes, to make up, to behavior. With family I conduct myself differently than with friends, which is also different from my behavior in the workplace and school setting. My many different identities all make up me, but each is sculpted form of myself. All people change depending on their settings. This makes me question when a person is revealing their true selves. I found myself asking: are people ever able to be their true selves without the worry of judgment? Cameron concludes by conveying that looks are not everything. How someone looks, regardless of setting is not the most important aspect.

1. I was very excited to refer this TED Talk to the class. The aspect of social justice in this class has really caught my attention. This talk consists of an attractive model who is unhappy with the superficiality of the modeling world. Her goal throughout the talk is to convince the audience that true beauty is not visible. She continues to say that women are given these modeling jobs solely on looks and nothing else. Therefore, the "not pretty," truly talented women in the world are sometimes looked upon by society as inferior. This directly relates to the oppression and prejudice that so many women in Fair Trade countries are subject to, either because of their race or their status in society.

2. I wish to discuss the 3rd criteria of the Fair Trade Federation entitled "Build Capacity." The definition states the following: "Fair Trade is a means to develop producers' independence. The word "independence" here interests me the most. Employers today really have no interest in our independence. They rely on other factors such as race, education, and extracurriculars on our resume. I will elaborate upon the dichotomy between Fair Trade and corporate America and how independence is treated in both.

Actual Responses

1. The act of model Cameron Russell transforming herself from a model to an "average" women on stage sums up her entire talk. Once she was no longer in an attractive dress, the number of times people look at her or approach her on the street dramatically decreases. Why is this? Why do people not consider that this woman could be one of the most amazing personalities on the planet? The answer is simple. Pop-culture. Pop-culture is a celebration of sight. Beautiful people are given more attention than the less attractive. Social justice is therefore no longer just. It is a sad and frequent occurrence. One of my favorite quotes states the following: "People do not change; they are gradually revealed." While our looks change over time, we still maintain the same internal pros and cons, highs and lows, personalities and dispositions. This should be the basis of social justice. People should be judged for the fact that we were all created, and all created equally. Our physical appearances can change, but our intrinsic right to be treated equally should not.

2. "Fair Trade is a means to develop producers' independence. This is part of the business model of fair trade. Workers are hired because they are given a chance to improve he quality of their lives. Therefore, their independence is given a chance to shine. Contrastingly, in corporate America workers are hired in a "dependent" sense. We are forced to depend on the name of our school, the status of our GPA, and other awards and recognitions that hopefully catch the eye of our employer. After we are hired, we are there to increase profit and efficiency to contribute to the economy. We work for ourselves, but only in a monetary sense. While I agree that we all need money to live, I think there should be more of a balance in corporate America which could help improve the quality of life of the people in the industry who seem to have it all but actually do not.

Text 1:

"Even within the Fair Trade world, there are various labels, accreditations, terms and criteria identifying how some product, or some organization, advances social justice and environmental sustainability. Unlike with organics, Fair Trade is not regulated by any government institution or single authority. So, conscious consumers now need to use precious time to discern the significant differences between various Fair Trade accreditations... the level of trust consumers have in any accreditation is at risk if businesses using that accreditation act irresponsibly in other ways." (pg. 28)

Response:

It sickens me to think that businesses use false Fair Trade labels to accredit themselves with being socially just, when in reality they are only making attempts to improve their brand image. They are taking advantage of conscious consumers who want to make a difference, and ultimately giving the consumers a false sense of social responsibility. I believe that the government should create an institution in which this can be regulated. I do not see any difference in a company falsely stating that their product is organic or falsely stating that their product Fair Trade. Not only would such an institution benefit conscious consumers, but it would also benefit companies that do support fair trade by redirecting the consumers to legitimate Fair Trade businesses. Hopefully in the near future, some of the prominent international Fair Trade organizations can work with some governments to create ways of regulating this issue.

Text 2:

"Those who favor changing the system from within say that encouraging mainstream businesses to carry a few lines of Fair Trade items introduces the concept to vastly more consumers, benefiting far more producer families and communities. A differing view holds that developing alternative business models that capture significant market share will inspire higher standards in mainstream business... Many alternative-model advocates welcome the trend toward mainstreaming, but call on those businesses to move beyond a token investment in Fair Trade and pursue greater social responsibility in all their dealings." (pg. 26)

Response:

I found this discussion between reforming or replacing conventional trade with Fair Trade to be interesting. It introduced the idea that Fair Trade could vastly gain more popularity if a Fair Trade business could gain a large market share and influence other mainstream businesses. I see this as a possibility that could happen in the near future. The booklet discussed how coffee is the most popular Fair Trade product at the moment, and that Starbucks generated the most sales of Fair Trade products than any other retailer, but sold only 4% of its coffee as Fair Trade. Starbucks is already a mainstream company and holds a large share in the coffee market, if it only increased the amount of Fair Trade coffee it sold it could easily be one of the first trail blazers in introducing Fair Trade to mass consumers and influencing competitors. I believe Fair Trade advocates should focus on introducing alternative business models to the coffee market because it would be the most successful in comparison to other markets and it is an excellent starting point to begin informing mass consumers about Fair Trade.

Text 1:
With so many different definitions, and no single, authoritative body, Fair Trade takes many forms in the U.S. and around the world. Different organizations and individuals use different criteria for determining what is, and isn’t, Fair Trade (page 5).

“Unlike with organics, Fair Trade is not regulated by any government institution or single authority. So, conscious consumers now need to use precious time to discern the significant differences between various Fair Trade accreditations” (page 28).

Response 1:
Earlier in the text there is discussion regarding the widening gap between the rich and the poor and how “conventional trade often lowers labor and environmental standards below a subsistence and sustainable level”. It seems that big businesses are the reason that these problems exist and persist, because they are so powerful that opposition is difficult. Why can’t Fair Trade become a centralized enterprise? The fact that there is no single authoritative body means that it is more difficult to make changes, especially when the opponents are so monstrous. “Unlike with organics, Fair Trade is not regulated by any government institution or single authority. So, conscious consumers now need to use precious time to discern the significant differences between various Fair Trade accreditations.” By making it so difficult to verify, Fair Trade becomes less attractive and less used by consumers. What I would like to know is, are there any efforts to combine the major Fair Trade organizations? In addition, would Fair Trade become more impactful if this were possible? I think it would and I think that it’s very important.

Text 2:
Major Brands Selling Some Fair Trade Certified Products:
Dunkin Donuts, Seattle’s Best Coffee, Caribou Coffee, Peet’s Coffee and Tea, Starbucks Coffee,
Safeway, Sam’s Club, Target, Trader Joe’s, Wal-Mart, Whole Foods Market, Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shops, Bruegger’s, Einstein Bagels (page 18).

Perhaps the thorniest dilemma confronting Fair Traders in the early 21st century is this: Can Fair Trade achieve its full potential by changing conventional trade from within? Or is it better to develop alternative business models that take market share from mainstream companies and force them to meet higher standards? (page 26)

Response 2:
My response here has more questions in it than it does actual reflection. I want to know how difficult it is to get these big companies to change to Fair Trade production. What is the process? Do companies see that this is the direction that consumers are going in or do they think it’s just a phase that will pass and allow them to continue in the same direction? I think that the reality of the situation is that all of the companies in the world practicing non-Fair Trade and non-Fair Labor production (which is probably most) cannot be overtaken by Fair Trade organizations. Therefore, we must present viable solutions and different production plans to these companies whose production practices we wish to change. The reading asks many questions such as “Reform or Replace Conventional Trade?” Can we get these questions answered so that we can move forward or are differing opinions and unanswered questions going to hold us back from changing the world?

Visiting disposablepeople.org was extremely enlightening. It was all about the new age of slavery. I never knew that there tens of millions of slaves in the world, and that there are even still slaves in the US. The new slaves now mostly work in mines, brothels, homes, and just about anywhere they can be exploited. This new age of slavery is even more widespread than any other point in history and is something to be extremely cautious about.

The thing that surprised me the most was the article on shrimp harvesting. I love to eat shrimp, and I eat them on a weekly basis. But I had no idea that they were harvested by slaves. It really makes me think twice about where I buy my shrimp from.

The article on purchasing power was really well written. I appreciate the connection the article makes between faith and fair trade. The fact that Jesus's parables align so well with the message of fair trade is no coincidence. The article touched me because it made a vital link between my own faith and what we've learned in class, not only that but it gave me the impression that my dollar actually helps make a difference in creating a better world

Although I am not a religious person, I am very familiar with the biblical texts from growing up in a religious household. I really appreciated the Global Outreach speaker in class and the distinction that she made between spirituality and religiousness. The thing that really stuck me on the disposable people website was the core beliefs, particularly the first one. “We believe in freedom for all individuals regardless of race, religion, gender, or age.” It is 2013. Isn’t this a fundamental belief that should be held by everyone at this point? Why are there so many people who don’t believe that everyone should have access to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?

I think that the reading- Using Our Purchasing Power for Justice and Hope was very valuable to me even though I’m not religious. Many of the teachings of the bible, especially the quotes used in the reading are very valuable in teaching commonly held morals throughout the world. The one quote I could not get out of my head during class or the reading is "Give a man a fish, and you have fed him once. Teach him how to fish and you have fed him for a lifetime.” I really appreciated the quote that Fair trade is not about charity. It is a holistic approach to trade and development that aims to alter the ways in which commerce is conducted, so that trade can empower the poorest of the poor." I think the two quotes have a similar idea. It’s all well and good to give people money, but it is much more rewarding emotionally and it is much more long lasting to give people the opportunity to make their own living.

One of my favorite things that my professor, Kate said in class was that she believed in transparency. Having transparency in a company is so important for the consumer’s trust that the price they are paying is going to the right things. Unfortunately, we have gotten used to a lack of transparency in everything we buy (including our college tuition!) I think that with the growing popularity of fair trade, the public will be more likely to turn to larger corporations and ask them what they’re up to and demand some transparency. Both of these readings really stood out to me to start questioning where I am getting my goods from and who is being affected by it. I am extremely thankful to be able to be in a Fair Trade class because if I was reading this at home I’d be moved and upset, but I wouldn’t know what to do about it. By educating ourselves on the statistics and being real about the amount of injustice surrounding the goods that we buy, we can educate others and I hope in this class we’ll be able to provide consumers with alternative goods and support the people who work hard to make them fairly.

Using our Purchasing Power:
1. "In conventional trade the producer generally receives only 1 to 5% of the retail price that the consumer pays, whereas in Fair Trade the producer usually gets 20-30%" (Hoffhine and Farrell, pg. 7).

This article was an eye opener for me. Before entering this course, i had no idea what in the world fair trade was. I mean for me it was either equal trade or trading at a fair. Jokes aside, it was ridiculous to see how unequal and how terrible the industries that run America treat the "enslaved" work force they use for their products. Although fair trade is not charity it allows for people to gain something valuable. To have pride and to bring home money and prosperity to their low income families. Fair trade brings life to families on the verge of death, and yet our society takes something brilliant as fair trade and corrupts it. I mean numerous companies say they are fair trade companies however in reality they are just companies that use the title as a namesake. They use it to gain more customers, sort of like how there are "organic" brands. Overall this article was a great read and it was an amazing introduction to something i could not even grasp at first.

Disposable People:
1. 27 million slaves in the world today more then any other time in history.
2. $90 is the average cost for a human slave around the world.

Overall, the disposable people article surprised me however to be honest we should not be expecting anything different. I mean throughout history slavery has been a commonplace and in theory slavery is part of the human condition. Not to generalize, but on a macroscopic level humans being live on slavery. Maybe it is not direct slavery however, people are slaves to their jobs, their families, their duties. Slavery is a social construct that has been with humanity since the dawn of time. Yes, i understand that direct slavery is a horrid and disgusting thing, but just look at the world around us. A beautiful place yes, but a world that is corrupt to its core. Today slavery ranges from 12 to 27 millions, which includes child slaves, sex slaves, and a wide variety of physical labor slaves. We cannot however overlook as i mentioned before the men and women who are slaves to society. Slaves to the social constructs that this world has created. Hopefully in the years to come we can bring an end to all slavery, but maybe that's naive and slavery will always exist.

Disposable People:
-"It is this illegal labor that usually goes unnoticed once the popular crustacean enters the global market making it nearly impossible to track down."
-"When you thaw shrimp to put on your barbecue, it’s likely that the last person who handled that shrimp was a slave."
-"There are 27 million slaves in the world today."
-"It is possible to end slavery in 25 years."

Using Our Purchasing Power:
-"We know what it is like to be victims. We see the pictures on television and we can't send money, but it gives us joy to be able to help our brothers and sisters in the USA through the sale of our products. Never in my life did I think that would be able to give money to help an American."

Response:

Slavery is a serious topic discussed in classrooms in America due to its grim history. However, when we are taught about slavery it is taught to us as if it is a thing of the passed. This promotes ignorance of the subject, which is as much of a concern (maybe even more of a concern) now than it was over the past few centuries. I knew slavery still existed in some parts of the world, such as in Sierra Leone to mine for diamonds, but I did not realize the number of slaves was so large: 27 million! It's scary to think that a lot of the products we deal with on a daily basis may have involved slave labor. What frightens me even more, is that we cannot ever really know which products use illegal labor and which do not. However, it is reassuring to hear that we can put an end to slavery within the next couple decades if we all work together. Even though it is possible to end slavery, the fact that the use of slave labor is unknown when buying products makes me question if conscious consumers really are helping put an end to the problem, or just continuing it.

I was extremely inspired by the quote I posted from the text after I read it for the first time. It made me realize that there is hope in solving humanities issues. The artisans know what it is like to be the victim from living in poverty all of their lives, so they did what they could to help the victims from Hurricane Katrina. This struck me because we don't often think of how the less fortunate can help us, but how we can help the less fortunate. The artisans have a different view; they view the world as a family, referring to us as their "brothers and sisters." This made me realize how important creating a global relationship is. It creates an environment of harmony and selflessness, in which the goal is the common good of the people and not the individual. American culture strongly supports individualism which often causes us to overlook global problems and focus more on what is happening at home. The artisans do not value individualism as strongly as Americans, which is why even though they are in poverty they still want to help those who are also struggling to support their global family. I was also inspired by the empowering feeling the artisans received by helping the Katrina victims. Even though they still rely on our help to make sure they receive fair wages a difference, they were able to feel like they too made a difference by donating their profits. It's that type of feeling that gives us the spiritual nourishment Emily spoke to us about in class.

1. The reading on Using Purchasing Power for Justice and Hope contained many biblical passages inserted into the reading, suggesting that the word of God influences the actions described. This passage offered moving statistics and stories of real people, including pictures which allows the reader to make a personal connection.
2. The Disposable People Website displayed facts about slavery that deeply affected me. In fact, I found myself rereading the facts multiple times in disbelief.

For me, most influential part of the Purchasing Power reading was the chart showing how the distribution channel affects the artisan's payment. In conventional trade, the artisan has no control over the price of the goods they produce and therefore, are often underpaid. The middleman, or retail seller, marks up the good by enormous margins, however, in order to keep the end price cheap enough for consumers only end up paying the artisan about five percent. When I saw this chart I began to question the products I own and where they came from. Most of my clothes are from undeveloped countries, and were most likely created by an underpaid artisan. I also began to question the food I eat and products I use every day. Typically, American consumers want to buy products and spend as little money as possible. Without even realizing it, the less money spent on a good results in less payment to an artisan.

Although this reading was very moving, and contained a great deal of information and pictures, I was most influenced by the Disposable People website. I navigated to the website, not totally sure what to expect, I saw was a scrolling list of facts at the top of the page. The first one that scrolled read "There are nearly 27 million slaves in the world today." I read and reread this post nearly ten times. I couldn't believe what I was reading. I had no idea slavery was this prevalent today. I felt a pit grow in my stomach as I kept reading. The facts continued to scroll and I learned that nearly half of the slaves in the world today are children. These children are abused physically, sexually, and above all, mentally. One of the articles featured on the website was about the harvesting of shrimp. Nearly every shrimp has been touched by a slave, most often a child slave. Once the shrimp enter the global market they are impossible to track; therefore, finding the enslaved children is also impossible. I have always been interested in Fair Trade but reading these facts entices me to forgo cheap clothing for clothing I know has been bought and sold fairly.

Regarding the Disposable People site, I was completely humbled with the quote, "Slavery probably crept into your life several times today." The ten shocking, yet true, facts that the website gives are a chilling reminder that human trafficking is a very real situation in the world. Sex slavery, child prostitution, and child labor are realities that are often overlooked by many people, including myself. It is a common reaction to think that there is no way that these crimes have any impact on us, especially as college students, but that is not the case.

After thinking through some of the products that my friends and I enjoy such as coffee, shrimp, clothing, and shoes, at one point in time, all were probably handled by a slave. The indirect connection that we have to slavery is a reminder enough that we must utilize our purchasing power to benefit the workers that support Fair Trade products. By creating a market demand for fair trade products, and eliminating a demand for products that are not fair trade, but produced by slaves, we can play a part in stopping the injustice in the world. The 27 million slaves that are in the world today should be treated as non-disposable, sacred human beings.

In terms of the "Using Our Purchasing Power for Justice and Hope" article, I was struck by the quote that states, "When we support the poor, we are not only supporting the poor, we are glorifying God; when we reject the poor, we are not only rejecting the poor, we are rejecting God." Additionally, Henri Nouwen's "Open Hands" states "we become whole only when we an open our clenched fists and release those things that we cling to."

The first quote immediately brought to mind Father McShane who constantly states, "To much is given, much is expected." As a Catholic in the business world, I definitely feel that I have an extra duty to serve those who are not as fortunate as I am. By using the graces that God has blessed me with, I can reach out and do my part to make society inclusive of all. Each one of us is a child of God, and it is not up to individuals to decide who is worthy of attention and love.

God wants us to treat all individuals as equals and not pick and choose, because when we do that, we deny Him completely. Nouwen's quote compliments this behavior. By reaching out to the lowest amongst us, we are letting go of our clenched fists and becoming not one, but many. Reaching out to the fair trade producers also allows us to forgo the products that are easy to acquire, and instead thoughtfully purchase products that provide a mutual enhancement for the supplier and consumer. It takes courage to live for others, and by overcoming this fear, we are allowing ourselves and others to reap the spiritual, emotional, and physical benefits of the world.

Actual Text:
1) Fair Trade is not about giving and taking; it’s not about handouts. It is about mutuality and respect, because we all need each other…. The buyer seeks out and occasionally pays a bit more, knowing that the profit form the sale goes directly to the producer, not through multiple layers of people who each skim off a bit of the profit. (Hoffhine and Farrell, pg. 14-15)
2) $90 cost of average slave. (Disposable People Video)

Actual Response:
1) The Fair Trade market embodies a completely different set of ideals compared to consumer market. They encourage artisans not to compete with one another but to conjoin ideas and help each other. The focus is on enabling artists to educate themselves about the various techniques and designs used to create their unique craft. This concept of communally sharing ones unique craft in order to strengthen the entire group’s quality as a whole is what makes Fair Trade so successful. It is not about the competition and who beats whom. It’s simply about creating the most unique products for the public.

2) After watching this two-minute clip about slavery, it almost seemed as though I was slapped in the face with the harsh reality of this day and age. I am obviously not under the impression that slavery is completely abolished but had little understanding of just how large of an issue it continues to be today. It seems almost unfathomable to put the price of solely ninety dollars on a person’s life. Putting any type of number on a human’s life seems outlandish and disgusting. It should be illegal, right? Although this is a huge generalization, majority of students at Fordham University could lose $90 and be able to recover in only a matter of a couple days. The fact that someone in such “modern times” still has the ability to purchase a person for such a small amount of money shows how prominent the issue of slavery continues to be.

1) Actual Facts from the disposable people video:
A) 27 million slaves in the world today more then any other time in history.
B) Slavery is not legal anywhere, but happens everywhere.
C) At least 14,500 slaves are trafficked into the US each year.
D) $90 is the average cost for a human slave around the world.
E) It is possible to end slavery in 25 years but EVERYONE must play a part.

2) Actual Text from the reading:

"We believe that the more you produce, the more profit you will make. In the case of these growers, the more they produced and the harder they worked, the more they "went into the hole.""

Actual Response

1) This may sound very naive, but I was not aware that in the world we live in today, there are more slaves then ever before. I was under the impression that yes, injustices do happen and there is a level of human trafficking present but this number of 27 million is actually frightening. We learn in grammar school, high school, and even college about slavery from the past, however, I have not taken any course that has remotely touched on the current massive amount of trafficking that occurs regularly. 14,500 humans are trafficked into the US in a year, but where is this in our news? Why does this not make front page? That is bothersome to me especially because we live in such a technologically advance area of the world and this information should be made apparent just as frequently as the advertisements on television or the internet to buy a new car! $90 is the average cost of a human slave... how can we put a price on a persons life? I have friends who spend $90 on shoes and to think of this as the price to own somebody is absolutely mind blowing. And finally, it will take 25 years to end this if, and only if, everyone gets involved. This links back to my point on the massive 27 million slaves that I did not even know existed at such high masses. Education is the issue here, this is a global issue that needs to be brought to light on all social media outlets. If everyone really made this number known just as everyone knew when Beyonce was going to have her baby, or when Kim Kardashian was to have hers, then I believe this could come to an end. Until then, I am appalled!

2) In the documentary "Black Gold", the story of the coffee growers in Ethiopia, the need for fair trade is seen clearly. These workers were not paid or let alone respected on a human level. I was raised to believe if you work hard you will be rewarded, and in many cases this is not true. If the more they worked the less they received then where is the incentive to even work? Where do these workers find the faith and good spirit to continue life as such? There is no motivation, there is no Universal Declaration of Human Rights that they know of. This is injustice at its finest.