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What’s so important about Fairtrade?

Grandmother and former nurse Linda Sones sells organic cotton baby and children’s clothing and accessories, and natural, organic baby toiletries online at SonesUK. Her suppliers are all committed to various environmental and Fairtrade initiatives.

fairtradeprinciples.jpgFairtrade is an organized social movement and market based model of International Trade (Wikipedia). In a capitalist society profits rule and the scramble of wealthy countries to make money often results in exploitation of small scale producers such as farmers, craft and textile workers etc. who are left to exist on minimum wages without any hope for their and their families’ future. At present the rules of global economics are made by institutions such as the World Trade Organisation, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. Global policies are developed with input mainly from multinational corporations and little input from the public.

Fairtrade works by paying producers a fair price for crops plus a little extra to help community development projects. It also helps to promote social and environmental standards. Price is agreed according to local or regional context, is reached via discussion with all parties and covers not only the cost of production but enables socially just and environmentally sound production. It pays fairly and without gender bias so that women are properly rewarded for their work. It is suggested that many more farmers could benefit from Fairtrade if it were not for unfair trade rules that make it very difficult for poor countries to trade their way out of the poverty trap. For example tariffs which are a type of import tax are levied by many countries. A tariff of 500 percent on rice for example makes it impossible for poor countries to trade with Japan. The European Union and United States of America give farmers massive subsidies. Resultant over production is then ‘dumped’ on poor countries making it difficult for farmers to even sell their crops within their own country.
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Green pregnancy and baby

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Becoming a parent is often the catalyst for becoming greener. Suddenly being aware that our children are going to be inhabiting a planet that we’ve helped to ruin could even turn our lives right around. Whether you’re already conscious of the environment, or if you’re new to green, join me for a journey through what it means to be a green parent, and how to be the very greenest parent that you can be.

Pregnancy

Being pregnant is wonderful, beautiful, magical and also downright confusing. Not only do you have bucket-loads of hormones coursing through your veins making you feel up one moment and down the next, you’re also trying to make sense of the changes that are happening to your body and this sudden and incontrovertible responsibility for another, helpless, human being. One of the first things you can do to give your baby a good start in life is to limit the amount of chemicals and pesticides that you expose him (or her) to in-utero by making some lifestyle changes before or during your pregnancy. And you can protect your child’s future by taking care of the environment at the same time. Fathers-to-be can support and encourage pregnant mothers by making these lifestyle changes too.

1. Eat organic
At the mention of organic food most of us think of fruit and vegetables. But during this essential period of your baby’s development, take that even further. Meat, dairy, grains, even tea and breakfast cereals now have readily available organic options. Go for quality and grow your baby with nutrient rich foods that aren’t laced with dodgy chemicals.

2. Clothe your bump in sustainable maternity wear
Trying to find eco-friendly maternity wear may seem tricky at first, but it’s not. Firstly, the greenest maternity wear is second-hand maternity wear. If you have friends or sisters who have had their babies and are happy to pass on their maternity kit, lucky you. If you don’t, stop in at the nearest charity shop or dress agency and see what they have to offer. You could also try eBay. If you can’t find decent used maternity wear, there are some other options. Cadenshae sells a range of maternity bamboo tops and bottoms. Bamboo makes a wonderfully soft fabric and is sustainable because it grows so fast and uses far less water to grow than cotton. When you do opt for cotton, make sure it’s organic. You can even get organic maternity wear on the high street these days.

3. Pamper yourself
There’s no time in a woman’s life where she deserves more pampering and kindness than during the long months of pregnancy. It’s a tiring business growing a baby and uses up your energy reserves. Recharge yourself by getting plenty of rest, and stay comfortable in bed with a maternity pillow (which will come into its own again once your baby is born for feeding support). My maternity pillow kept me, and then my daughter, comfortable for over three years. It was a great investment.

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