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.

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.

Business Profile: Lakshya

The Story Behind Lakshya:

Located in Faridabad just outside of New Delhi, Lakshya is a self-help group of street children working to provide shelter and education for themselves and other children. Many of these children had previously been pulling rickshaws, polishing shoes, or rag picking instead of attending school. Ramesh Kumar Gupta, who ran away himself, founded Lakshya as a co-op to create sustainable lifestyles for the next generation of street children.

Children who are age 6-16 attend local schools and learn about different social issues. When children graduate from the Lakshya program at age 19, they can either work as full-time employees or look for other employment. By offering opportunities for education and job skills, Lakshya aims to point New Delhi’s street children in a positive direction.

Lakshya Products:
The Lakshya co-op children and adults create various types of jute bags and paper bags. These colorful products are made from recycled paper and cloth meaning that buyers can purchase something that’s both beautiful and eco-friendly. Current products include backpacks, wallets, tote bags, laptop bags, and toiletry bags.

How You Can Help:
You can purchase Lakshya products at the Amani Cart and online on Lakshya’s website. Every purchase helps Lakshya provide a better life for the street children in New Delhi. The more purchases Lakshya receives, the more children can be helped!