Trade and ChocolateJuly 2013

All these products reach our homes as a result of trade.

Martin Luther King once said….

In the morning we drink coffee provided for us by a South American, or tea by a Chinese, or cocoa by a west African. Before we leave for our jobs we’re already indebted to more than half the world.

What do we know about trade?Each on of these statements are true.

In the last 10 years the price of a bar of chocolate has doubled, but the price of cocoa beans has halved. A bar of chocolate here costs roughly what a cocoa farmer in Ghana earns in a month. Most cocoa farmers and their children have never tasted chocolate.

Some companies make more money than entire countries. In 1998 the world’s five largest companies made more money than the combined incomes of the worlds 46 poorest countries.

One pair of jeans is usually made in more than 10 different countries eg • using cotton for denim from

Benin, • copper for rivets from Namibia, • cotton for pockets from Pakistan, • wire for zips from Japan, • pumice for treating denim from

turkey, • labour for sewing jeans in

Tunisia.

1.3 billion people live on less than 70p per day. World trade has been expanding rapidly for the benefit of richer countries like ours, but poorer countries gain less and less- yet the majority of people live in the developing world.

What do we know about chocolate and trade?

On average every person eats 7.5kg every year

Or 75x100g bars per year.

How the chocolate bar reaches us.

consumer pays £1 for the bar

The shop keeper takes 28P

The tax collector takes 25P

The chocolate company takes 40p

Leaving only 7p for the Cocoa farmer.

Problems faced by cocoa farmers.

Low prices and lack of support from government ( it often costs more to produce than what they receive)

low safety standards

Debts ( producers have no choice but to borrow money)

Poor diet,, health care and education ( children often have to work to support families)

Lack of control ( producers feel powerless as world markets control prices

It’s not fair!

Is there an alternative?

Fortunately Fair trade means that there is another option

Fair trade means paying producers a fair price for what they produce.

we can recognise these fair trade produce by the quality mark. There are now over 150 items which carry the mark.

What differences does it make?

guaranteed better prices which enable producers to improve the quality of their life.

Improved safety standards

Improved environmental standards

secure contracts so the producers have to borrow less.

Regular income to help improve diet, health care and education.

Producers have more say and more control over their lives.

What we can do.

Together we can make a real difference to the lives of the producers by buying fair trade products. We can recognise these products by the quality sign.

An average 16 year old in Britain will spend £1,000,000 during his/her lifetime. Their choices count.

Every time you go shopping the choices your family makes can have a real impact on others.

The message is simple. Think before you buy.

School Action.

Our school has a fair trade working group

We have a whole school policyVisitors to school receive fair trade

coffee and teaIn classes children have learnt about

fair trade.We also have our fair trade tuck

shop.

Tuck ShopThis academic year you have

purchased over £3650 of Fair Trade products.

This means that you have helped the lives of hundreds of people.

We have been able to make some profit from the tuck shop and it has been decided by the action group that it should be shared equally to our partner schools in Africa.

Igwamiti primary and Mwekera schools both benefitted from additional playground equipment and board games and so will Airport international School Ghana

Its not about charity!

Its about making the world a fairer place to live!

A better place to live!

This week

This week we have a visitor in school , a teacher from our partner school in Ghana.

His students have been learning about Fair Trade and have made fair trade bracelets.

They have also been busy making a film about importance of fair trade which we will share with you later in the year.

These will be available to buy this week in school along with our usual tuck shop products. The children in the school who made the beads will benefit directly from their sale and will get a fair price for their work.

Separately We are also holding a non uniform day, with a donation of 50p. If we all take part then we could raise over £300 to help support education in our partner school in Ghana.

The money raised will help purchase a computer to help our partnership grow. It will allow children from both schools to communicate more easily and share learning experiences.

Please do what you can to help this week

Thank You for listening