Fair Trade and the First 4 Millenium Development Goals

"Eradicating extreme poverty continues to be one of the main challenges of our time, and is a major concern of the international community. Ending this scourge will require the combined efforts of all, governments, civil society organizations and the private sector, in the context of a stronger and more effective global partnership for development. The Millennium Development Goals set timebound targets, by which progress in reducing income poverty, hunger, disease, lack of adequate shelter and exclusion — while promoting gender equality, health, education and environmental sustainability — can be measured. They also embody basic human rights — the rights of each person on the planet to health, education, shelter and security. The Goals are ambitious but feasible and, together with the comprehensive United Nations development agenda, set the course for the world’s efforts to alleviate extreme poverty by 2015. "

United NationsSecretary-General BAN Ki-moon

So where does Fair Trade fit into all of this? It actually helps improve all of the MDGs whether directly or indirectly. Here’s how it impacts the first 4:

1. Eradicating Extreme Poverty and Hunger

Fair Trade helps alleviates poverty around the world by providing higher wages to the producers of goods in poverty stricken areas. Producers are able to get their goods to markets that were normally only available through middlemen. Fair Trade gets rid of these middle men allowing more of the profits to return back to the workers.

2. Achieve Universal Primary Education

Another facet of Fair Trade is the elimination of child labor. Since the workers can no longer bring their children along with them to the jobs, then they have time to go to school Also, as workers bring home more money due to their higher wages, they can afford to build schools as well as pay for books and pens for their children to use at these schools. Many of the workers displayed in documentaries talk about how they need higher wages in order to send their kids to school. Fair Trade is a means for them to achieve this goal.

3. Promote Gender Equality

Fair Trade may benefit women more than any other demographic. Women who might be suppressed in their local markets due to their sex can now find markets through the global Fair Trade movement. They no longer need middlemen who may discriminate against them and charge them more or even may not bring their products to market.  Now not only can these women find markets but they will also receive a fair price and wage for their work. As they bring home more money their husbands will respect them more. Beatings will stop and women will have a greater say on their own lives.

4. Reduce Child Mortality

Reducing child mortality can be directly tied to promoting gender equality. According to ForeignAffairs.com, “Educated women have fewer children; provide better nutrition, health, and education to their families; experience significantly lower child mortality; and generate more income than women with little or no schooling.” Many Fair Trade organizations provide co-ops and meeting groups for women to attend at which they can talk and learn from other women. They feel more empowered and they learn more. Also, as women bring in more money they have more of a say in finances which allows them to direct more money towards their children. Also, as MDG 2 comes to fruition more girls will be attending school leading to an increase in MDG 3 which will in turn reduce child mortality even more. All of this can be started by participating in Fair Trade.