Text 1: "Today more than 1 billion people live on less than one dollar a day and lack access to clean water, health care, education, and other basic social services (UN Development Group 2008). 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% consume only 1.5% (World Bank 2008)"
Text 1 Response: I always get caught by startling statistics like these. How is it possible that one fifth of the world consumes three fourths of the worlds resources? The gap between economic and social classes is increasing all over the world, including the United States, as the infamous "1%" is unfairly dominating the economic scene. The stat about over 1 billion people living on less than one dollar per day specifically interests me because of an exercise I did during Urban Plunge. In the activity, we watched a documentary that challenged a couple to live on a minimum wage income for one month. We simulated the documentary with partners, and it was clear that living with such a low income is nearly impossible. I couldn't even imagine living on less than a dollar per day, and it is painful to think a fifth of the world's populating suffers that way.
Text 2: "Fair Trade is a very attractive concept, across the political spectrum. People like the idea of helping people, not with handouts but with the opportunity to work hard and decently"- Daniel Salcedo, Brief History of Fair Trade
Text 2 Response: I think that quote is the essence of and captures the purpose of Fair Trade. I like the idea that Fair Trade creates a business partnership between the person making the goods and the person buying the goods, rather than just there being a donor and a recipient. Whenever I think of Fair Trade, I think of the quote "Give a man a fish and you will feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you will feed him for a lifetime". Anyone can give a monetary donation that will buy a person in need food or other resources, but that will only last for a limited amount of time. Supporting their business will create a lasting source of income, and more importantly a sense of pride and accomplishment. The quote by Daniel Salcedo, the founder and CEO of www.peoplink.org and www.openentry.com clearly rings true because Fair Trade organizations began after World War II, over 5 million people and 60 countries have been involved in Fair Trade.
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