Fair trade and good hearted ukulele players

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toubisard

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Fair trade products are every where in western economies. The idea is simple. Buy stuff at a fair price at point of production and sell at a fair price at the point of consumption. Third world food producers are the people that feel the most difference. Can Ukulele underground become a Fair trade organization by undertaking to use fair trade products where ever possible and by standing in solidarity with Fair traders all over the world.
There must by loads of Fair trade users contributing to this site. Let us play the ukulele for the little people.
 
Aloha,

I love fair trade. Everybody should give Glore a try :)

Fair trade costs a bit more but I think it's really worth it :)

Mahalo :shaka:
 
I am in support of any effort that will help heal the world. One of the ways we can do that is to buy more responsibly in general, but in particular it is important to consider where a product is coming from, and who is getting the money. Fair trade is certainly a big part of that consideration for me. I am also a big supporter of buying used anything (except food)
 
Dunno about UU getting into the coffee business. ;)

In all seriousness, it would be neat to see some neat UU merchandise sold for a good cause. (Not that keeping UU alive isn't a good cause!) Maybe some organic-cotton T's and tote bags, at least.
 
Fair trade.

Thanks for the feed back. Can we spread the message further? What are your views.
Wales/Cymru became the worlds Fair trade nation last year. We did with constant lobbying and good will from charitable causes.
Have a look at Wales/Cymru Fair trade /Masnach deg. Fair trade should not be seen as a charity in my opinion it should be normal to want to pay a producer a proper wage. I'm doing a gig with some guitarists next week, the event will be all about Fair trade. Sing of love, sing of life, sing of social justice of patriotism of peace and make your latte Fair trade.
 
Fair trade again

Well people the gig in aid of Fair trade awareness was performed in a quarry at the top of a hill overlooking the sea. The band half of which is in rehab and the other half should be, made loads of new friends. Toubisard was allowed out for the day and was able to promote the Fair trade idea to the multitude. A private ambulance service took him away at the end of the gig. Bottom line is PLEASE PLEASE promote FAIR TRADE products as and when you can. Remember it could be you that is being exploited,,,,
 
In town

Hey Toubisard
Nice post about the fairtrade gig in Wales. I'm just about to start working for the Fairtrade Foundation in London certifying food producers as fairtrade. Let me know if your in the city and we'll go for a beer. Would be really keen to hear bout your work.
Ben
 
As a native speaker of English, I think a fair trade is one where the buyer and seller agree on a price.
 
Tanizaki said:
As a native speaker of English, I think a fair trade is one where the buyer and seller agree on a price.
Click to expand...
Yes that is correct. However if the price paid to the producer is set too low and the price set for the consumer is too high it would suggest that both producer and consumer are being exploited. This could be seen as unfair trade. The Fair trade ethic is to ensure the producer is properly paid for supplying a product and that the consumer is aware of the fact and that the profit in the middle is a fair profit and not one that is made at the expense of a third world producer.
We should have a long hard look at where our Ukuleles are made.
 
toubisard said:
Yes that is correct. However if the price paid to the producer is set too low and the price set for the consumer is too high it would suggest that both producer and consumer are being exploited. This could be seen as unfair trade. The Fair trade ethic is to ensure the producer is properly paid for supplying a product and that the consumer is aware of the fact and that the profit in the middle is a fair profit and not one that is made at the expense of a third world producer.
We should have a long hard look at where our Ukuleles are made.
Click to expand...


I agree with you completely.

This seems to be a huge undertaking.

Maybe we could get together a list of suppliers who use fair trade agreements? Sustainable wood would be a plus, too.

LonnaB, the hippie
 
toubisard said:
Yes that is correct. However if the price paid to the producer is set too low and the price set for the consumer is too high it would suggest that both producer and consumer are being exploited.
Click to expand...
That is a conditional statement, not an argument.

This could be seen as unfair trade. The Fair trade ethic is to ensure the producer is properly paid for supplying a product and that the consumer is aware of the fact and that the profit in the middle is a fair profit and not one that is made at the expense of a third world producer.
We should have a long hard look at where our Ukuleles are made.
Click to expand...

The purpose of "fair trade" is to set price floors. As I said, a fair trade is when a buyer and seller agree on a price. It is not fair for someone else to poke their nose into the transaction and say, "that price is too low!"

When I go to the store, I can buy normal cotton or "fair trade" cotton. The "fair trade" cotton is more expensive, so I won't buy it. Care to tell me how you helped the "fair trade" producer?

My ukes were all made in classy Asia. :shaka:
 
ThePunkWay said:
wow, classic worker vs masses argumentation here..... socialism vs capitalism, right here before our very eyes!

*sits back for the show*
Click to expand...

No, it's actually about trade barriers.
 
ThePunkWay said:
wow, classic worker vs masses argumentation here..... socialism vs capitalism, right here before our very eyes!

*sits back for the show*
Click to expand...

Without capitalism we wouldn't have these fair trade issues to contend with... you see, in socialism you give what you can and take what you need, but in capitalism we give what we have and take what we get.

Capitalism at its worst is antagonistic to freedom in general (despite the misnomer "free market") because it takes away the power from the people, or elected officials, and places it in the hands of those with the most money. Chomsky said it better than me, but I already posted that quote here a while back- http://www.ukuleleunderground.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14260 in my attempt to spread the gospel of Bill Talen.
 
Similar to fair trade...

Perhaps UU should look into printing their shirt through American Apparel--not only are they made by giving workers fair compensation, but they're all manufactured in the USA. I think it'd be a great way for UU to support a good cause similar to fair trade, while supporting our economy in our recession. It would cost a little more, but it would be worth it for the cause--much like fair trade.
 
It really is about Fair trade and is above poitics.

I serve on my local Town Council and as such work with people of varying political views in British politics. I have noticed at the level I serve that Fair trade issues are dealt with by the ethic of treating people fairly across party lines. Most agree regardless of political leanings. I am proud of a democracy that allows me as an independent with left wing leanings to agree with those that are opposite to me on fair trade as an ethic. The bigger picture comes in to view when we see a local manufacturer pack up and relocate in one of the emerging economies in Asia leaving a uncertain future for our own work force, indeed for our economy. These movements of are usually based on a desire to profit by using a cheaper work force. I find this contrary to my own ethical sense of fair trade. I therefore own two European made Ukuleles. I choose Fair trade products because I believe that the field workers at point of production have been properly paid and treated with some respect. I visited Costa Rica recently and was happy to find fair trade working. Growers in the British Commonwealth all benefit by supplying fair trade. It is not a political thing but it is a fair trade thing. Shall we vote?
 
ukulelebadass said:
Without capitalism we wouldn't have these fair trade issues to contend with... you see, in socialism you give what you can and take what you need, but in capitalism we give what we have and take what we get.
Click to expand...
And what do you suppose happens when what I can "give" is not sufficient to met your "need"?

Capitalism at its worst is antagonistic to freedom in general (despite the misnomer "free market") because it takes away the power from the people, or elected officials, and places it in the hands of those with the most money. Chomsky said it better than me, but I already posted that quote here a while back- http://www.ukuleleunderground.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14260 in my attempt to spread the gospel of Bill Talen.
Click to expand...

"Takes away power" implies that a person is born with inherent power. We are all born powerless and have only what power we acquire. If money is a wrong basis for power, what do you propose is a proper basis?

I am unable to conceive of a society where some people will not acquire more social and political clout that others. Your dream society would be no different than the current free market capitalism, except you'd have the additional annoying smugness of "tut tut, at least we got rid of money!"
 
Fair trade and how the simple message can be lost.

I'm sorry I started this thread. It has no relevance to Ukulele playing or Fair trade any more...So I will play and sing for a fair trade cause on another street at another time.
 
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