Fairtrade cotton. (August 2006)
100 million rural households are involved in cotton production —- 10 million in India alone.
30 years ago, cotton farming provided farmers in Mali with enough to cover the costs of their farming and feed themselves and their families. Today, this is no longer the case. Cotton prices have fallen massively over the past 30 years; to the extent that in 2005 cotton farmers in Mali couldnīt earn a sustainable living from selling cotton. Fairtrade certification has now been extended to cotton, and aims to improve the situation for farmers disadvantaged by international trade injustices. Read more
Banana Price War: As the winners in the banana supply chain, supermarkets must take responsibility for the social and environmental impacts of banana production. (March 2006)
The casualties are civilian
In March 2006 Asda-Walmart started a new banana price war, slashing its banana prices by a massive 25%, from 85p/kg to just 64p/kg. A day later Tesco, Sainsburys and Morrisons also cut their prices to the same level. This represents around a 43% price drop from 2002 prices. This kind of price war potentially undermines all attempts to build a more socially and environmentally sustainable banana industry for both small scale farmers and workers on larger plantations. Read more and take action now
Multinational Corporations and Fairtrade: Nestle Partners’ Blend Coffee receives the FAIRTRADE Mark. (October 2005)
FAIRTRADE Mark
In October 2005 Nestle, voted the ‘world’s least responsible company’ in a 2005 internet poll, was granted the FAIRTRADE Mark for one of its products. Read our Q & A on the issues surrounding this move, and take action to tell Nestle that they need to give a fair deal to all their workers and producers!