Fair Trade and the Last 4 Millenium Development Goals

Last week I went over the first four Millennium Development Goals. Each one was in some way tied to the Fair Trade movement. The last four MDGs are little more abstract in how Fair Trade might impact their completion. That’s not to say that there’s no link at all. Here’s how:

5. Improve Maternal Health

One of the key goals within this MDG is universal access to reproductive health. One of the greatest facets of Fair Trade is its impact on women around the world. I went over this extensively last week especially during my explanation of MDG 3 concerning gender equality. The most beneficial aspect for women is the creation of coops within their communities. These coops allow women to share ideas and support one another. According to fairtraderve.org,

• Female hired laborers on Fair Trade farms have access to paid maternity leave, vacation and sick leave, as well as a guarantee of their job upon their return.
• Fair Trade standards guarantee hired laborers receive regular medical examinations and free protective equipment. Fair Trade standards ensure that women are not exposed to agrochemicals during pregnancy.
• Some coops have elected to use part of their Fair Trade premiums for women’s health programs that focus on nutrition and family planning.

By empowering women through coops, Fair Trade helps fulfill MDG 5.

6. Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Other Diseases

The most obvious impact on the fight on major diseases is that increased incomes allows for workers to afford medicine to combat the diseases. Workers in coops can also come together and build health clinics in their communities. Parents can now afford bed nets for their children, largely reducing incidences of malaria. Also, as women gain more say in household finances, more spending will be on health and nutrition than in a patriarchal system, according to a paper from the International Food Policy Research Institute. Furthermore, beyond just an increase in income, Fair Trade also limits the chemicals workers are exposed to. Agrochemicals are prohibited on all Fair Trade farms, significantly reducing a major negative health impacts on workers. This also decreases pollution of drinking water a major source of diseases in impoverished communities. It is through all these measures that  Fair Trade contributes to the reduction of major diseases in poverty stricken areas.

7. Ensure Environmental Sustainability

One of the major facets of this MDG is “Halve, by 2015, the proportion of the population without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation” according to the UN website. The effect on the first point is pretty obvious. An increase in workers’ wages and the introduction of coops in the community allows members to pool money together to build wells and water pumps. They can build new houses with running water so drinking water is no longer polluted by sitting in a bucket allowing for diseases to grow. Also, since women gain a greater say in finances through Fair Trade, they will especially favor the installation of wells and running water. Fetching water has normally been a feminine job in poor areas. They may have to walk miles with heavy jugs of water every single day. With wells and running water now in their community, women save time which they can now devote to working and earning more money for their household. Also, as I mentioned above, Fair Trade regulates the chemicals being used on farms, chemicals that have traditionally polluted rivers and waterways that could be used for drinking purposes. It’s shocking that clean drinking water is a struggle for many communities, but through Fair Trade we can alleviate this problem.

8. Develop a Global Partnership For Development

It is pretty fitting that the eighth and final MDG is creating a global partnership. This is a core aspect of the Fair Trade movement. I have written about this before in my blog on Jesuit principles aligning with Fair Trade and even my blog on the faces of Fair Trade. My peers have touched on this in all of their posts on profiling the students of fair Trade and also the artisans we directly work with. I have no problem repeating it again though. Fair Trade provides a direct link between consumers in developed countries and producers in impoverished areas. By supporting these workers, you have a direct impact on their community today and in the future. Securing financial stability now helps their children and grandchildren achieve financial stability in the future.