Jain Spirit 2003 03 No 14

Author(s): Jain Spirit UK
Publisher: UK Young Jains

Page 12

GLOBAL NEWS
FAIR TRADE
PIONEERS HONOURED BY KING BAUDOUIN FOUNDATION
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giving disadvantaged producers and workers of the developing world an opportunity to participate directly in international trade at Fairtrade conditions, through a unique system of certification, producer support, business facilitation and consumer education.
Cocoa co-operative, Dominican Republic In December 2002, the King Baudouin International Prize for Development was awarded to fair trade pioneers of FLO (Fairtrade Labelling Organisations) International. Inspired by the vision of a king who was keenly aware of social inequalities between the North and the South, the Brusselsbased King Baudouin Foundation established the King Baudouin International Prize for Development in 1978. The prize, with a value of 150.000 Euro, is awarded every two years.
The Foundation wishes to recognise the actions of individuals or organisations that make a significant contribution to the advancement of developing countries. FLO International and its member organisations have been chosen as this year's winners for their pioneering role in
Guarantees a better deal for Third World
Producers
FAIRTRADE
International trade may seem a remote issue, but when commodity prices fall dramatically it has a catastrophic impact on the lives of millions of small scale producers, forcing many of them into crippling debt and countless others to lose their land and their homes. FLO International and its member national organisations in 17 countries exist to ensure a better deal for marginalised and disadvantaged third world producers. FLO promotes Fairtrade, which challenges the conventional model of trade, and offers a progressive alternative for a sustainable future. It empowers consumers to take responsibility for the role they play when they buy products from the third world. Results from recent consumer surveys suggest that
Berry-producing co-operative, Costa Rica the majority of people would prefer to buy FAIRTRADE Mark products. Through its Fairtrade Standard setting and Certification system, FLO International permits more than 800,000 producers and their dependants in more than 40 countries to benefit from labelled Fairtrade. FLO guarantees that products sold anywhere in the world with a Fairtrade label and marketed by a National Initiative conforms to Fairtrade Standards and contributes to the development of disadvantaged producers.
In autumn of 2002, it was announced that a new FAIRTRADE Mark was to be introduced gradually across the 17 countries that make up FLO International. Until now, there have been seven different FAIRTRADE Marks used across the 17 countries. Now, the global vision behind the FLO system will be represented by the international label. "The system has always been global; now the FAIRTRADE Mark is too," says Harriet Lamb, Executive Director of the UK's Fairtrade Foundation, a member of FLO International. This will make it easier for consumers to recognise and choose the more ethical option for their shopping baskets. For more information on the work of FLO International, visit www.fairtrade.net 3-16 March 2003 is Fairtrade Fortnight in the UK. For more information, and to contribute your support to Fairtrade, visit www.fairtrade.org.uk
Banana grower, Dominican Republic
March - May 2003. Jain Spirit
Jain Education Intemational