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Location: Blogs Linda's Highland Blog |
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| Posted by: Linda |
17/04/2008 18:22 |
Very late getting here today, I have been hunting DIY stores in Inverness all day buying the last few bits and pieces for the baby show. I'm almost ready if the tables arrive by Tuesday as has been promised. It's been a really lovely day again here sunny and apart from a cold wind this morning quite warm.
I have just been reading some very interesting but diverse opinions on world trade. Firstly from somebody who totally disagrees with the Fair trade system which he says chains poor peasant farmers to the land when they don't want to be there (not sure how he knows this!). He suggests that many farm workers prefer to go and work in factories and be exploited. People who buy Fairtrade are simply salving their consciences at the expense of poor farmers. His arguement is that we should scrap farm subsidies immediately and simply grow whatever thrives best in a particular climate. The US for example are producing cotton at a loss due to the subsidies thereby denying the third world an opportunity to compete. Europe agricultural policy is squandering money by supporting inefficient peasant farmers he suggests. In short he is advocating free trade which sounds good but I cannot begin to imagine the complex mechanisms that would be required to put it in place not least agreement throughout the world!
My second article was from somebody that was buying new bed linen and although it was more expensive they felt that they could not live with their conscience if they bought cheaper goods at the expense of other people not getting a fair price for what they have produced. I cannot pretend to have great knowledge of these issues but on balance it still seems to me that the Fairtrade option is the only one that is workable at present. I would be really interested to hear what you feel about it, perhaps you can help me to understand these issues a little better.
Linda
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