SPIRITUALITY, FAIR TRADE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
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22	October 2013

Story of Stuff and Ethical Objections to FT

Points that stood Out
1) We have created 100,000 new synthetic chemicals that factories have created through production process of materials to make "better" and "safer" goods for us as end consumers.

2) What happens to factory works who are being taken advantage of or who are not fair trade? Will they suffer more when they are in less demand?

My interpretation
1) This fact about 100,000 man made chemicals that have been created through processing materials, chemicals, and toxins is frightening. These are chemicals that have not all been test as safe to the environment and to humans. The thought is that they are put into the air and are diluted. The issue is that there are many chemicals that are not proven to be safe or unsafe. But when these chemicals interact with the other thousands of created chemicals there is a probability that some of them will be dangerous to us. This was one of the most eye opening facts in this video that focused on sustainability of our economic system.

2) Is fair trade the best way? Can everyone at the bottom end of the spectrum survive in this system? Or will some suffer while those in fair trade benefit from better conditions? Some of the arguements will argue along the similar lines of public education and the voucher program, which is famous in DC. The program allows for some students the money to go to a private school who would normally not have the chance. The connection I see to fair trade is that only some benefit while a large amount still suffer from big corporations taking advantage of them (or public school students still have to go to bad public schools). Another relation is that the few in fair trade (and with vouchers) benefit alot but those not classified as fair trade are hurt even worse. There needs to be a way to bring everyone up. That needs to be the goal.