Holiday boutique touts fair trade gifts

What a strange article.

I thought that the politically correct thing to do these days is to buy things that re locally produced? Ya know, it takes less fuel and so forth to ship your garbage all over, thereby lowering your carbon footprint.

Now I am supposed to be buying hideous third world tchotckes of a questionable toxic nature for my hippy-dippy bungalow?

I bet one would look great on the dashboard of my hybrid car.

I find these first two comments very sad, untrue and somewhat heartless - because you obviously weren't there. I did go to the fair and I was amazed at what was happening. I wasn't familiar with Trade As One before, but after going to the fair - I was incredibly impressed and glad to purcahse some items to help the people making them who are in situations you and I could probably not even imagine.
Each of the products were of great quality and you read the incredible stories behind each product. Women with AIDS, children in extreme poverty, females who got out of slavery - all now making these various items. So this is not only helping with Christmas gifts, it was helping people who are in dire need in other countries who are in harsh and extreme conditions.
Perhaps you should check the Trade As One web site to actually see what was at the fair http://tradeasone.com/
It is so odd to read such comments like the first two. It seems you don't care for humanity and make comments without doing the research.

While Trade As one looks like they are doing the right thing, not all fair trade is as appears. Gettting help to those in need is often very complicated, especially when involving many cultures. In my experience, the best way to life peole in Africa out of poverty is to buy things from them that they already do, traditionally. Pay a living wage and do the exchange through a trusted third party. Otherwise, much of hte money goes to build an uppper middle class in the african country and drive the american businessperson into bankruptcy. This business model is different from helping refugees, etc., but it will help many and that money will circulate in local communities. Unfortunately, many well-intentioned US charities that are involved with african enterprises seem to think it bad for amricans involved to make a living wage. The only thing this ensures, is that charity and continuation of programs will always belong to the upper middle class, staying in the charity realm and not providing infratructure on either side of the pond. There is lot's of buzz, at this time, regarding rethinking how to really help africans on a long term basis. The rock star charity approach is not and has not worked on a wide scale and we need to look for other, more long term, effective, solutions. To do this involves compassion to humanity everywhere and non-attachment to one single solution.

I agree with some previous posters that while these programs are seemingly well-intentioned, they don't really contribute to building a real economy for these people. What it does do is make a lot of people who can afford these types of gifts feel a lot better about being in a better situation. I think that if you are really concerned, a direct contribution to a reputable charity (thus lessening the carbon footprint)would accomplish the goal more readily.

cool

Tell ya what, I'll melt phone wires into bowls and I'll only charge you 5$ a piece for them. In this economy who can afford to spend 20$ on something like that? Haven't these folks heard of "shop local"?

Obviously not there wrote:

I find these first two comments very sad, untrue and somewhat heartless - because you obviously weren't there. I did go to the fair and I was amazed at what was happening. I wasn't familiar with Trade As One before, but after going to the fair - I was incredibly impressed and glad to purcahse some items to help the people making them who are in situations you and I could probably not even imagine.
Each of the products were of great quality and you read the incredible stories behind each product. Women with AIDS, children in extreme poverty, females who got out of slavery - all now making these various items. So this is not only helping with Christmas gifts, it was helping people who are in dire need in other countries who are in harsh and extreme conditions.

Perhaps you should check the Trade As One web site to actually see what was at the fair http://tradeasone.com/
It is so odd to read such comments like the first two. It seems you don't care for humanity and make comments without doing the research.

OR....we think it's rather obscene to ask that type of money for tchotkes made from trash. Many of us can just afford "necessities" and when we do splurge on a gift we try to make it something local made to support our local economy. Remember? Think global and act local????

might add,for those few who aren't feeling the economic pinch who want to support this... far out, go for it... but don't trash those of us who believe in helping our neighbors before worrying about the rest of the world.

Treehugger, this whole thread was launched by people attacking and poking at this fair trade event. So it isn't those in supportive of it out to say things against others who don't agree but defending why we felt it is a very good idea from those who condemned it. And if you check the Trade As One web site, most of the criticism here is addressed so these critics are saying things without doing the research.

i'm a little confused, are they prostitutes or ex-prostitutes who are making the crafts? the article seems to be saying they are currently prostitutes and also making crafts. it also seems to be saying they are former sex slaves. i am confused. maybe it's both?

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slightly salty wrote:

i'm a little confused, are they prostitutes or ex-prostitutes who are making the crafts? the article seems to be saying they are currently prostitutes and also making crafts. it also seems to be saying they are former sex slaves. i am confused. maybe it's both?

Yes, I noticed that too in the article - it was a little confusing so let me clarify. I am the purchaser for Trade as One products from around the world. The products being referred to in the article (in this case jewelry in Bangkok, Thailand) are made by women who have been able to ESCAPE prostitution and sex slavery to find new hope and dignity through employment making beautiful jewelry. I hope this helps!

I've never been one to make purchases based primarily on contrived feelings of guilt over necessity.

Burnt wire baskets that smell toxic? No thanks....I don't need one.

Cath wrote:

<quoted text>
Yes, I noticed that too in the article - it was a little confusing so let me clarify. I am the purchaser for Trade as One products from around the world. The products being referred to in the article (in this case jewelry in Bangkok, Thailand) are made by women who have been able to ESCAPE prostitution and sex slavery to find new hope and dignity through employment making beautiful jewelry. I hope this helps!

Thank you for clarifying. That's what I suspected, but as usual the Sentinel fumbled this very important piece of information. As for the women involved, I think that's wonderful, and I appreciate your efforts on their behalf.

thank you for putting this show on, Trade As One! I bought a little something at the event, glad to know that I was a little bit of a part of the happy ending for someone who had escaped something as terrible as slavery. Keep it up! do.justice, indeed!

These programs are well intentioned, but doomed to failure. These people need more than making little useless craft stuff that doesn't even require much skill. they need infrastructure; homes, land for growing food and job training that will equip them far longer than the interest of well meaning westerners.

Rita and others:

If you look at http://tradeasone.com/producer_stories/ you will see that these are not just quick fixes but are new businesses created for these people in need to producing something to address their issues as you are asking about.

Welcome to Santa Cruz, Cath & Nathan! Don't mind us, we have a few opinions....about everything.