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«FAIR TRADE» : Will this be enough? Some personal reflections and challenges from Roy Scott |
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After 40 years in «alternative marketing», or what is now often called «fair-trade», Roy Scott offers historical reflections and questions the future  Roy Scott FRSA writes for Church Times, Fair Trade Fortnight issue, March 7, 2003
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When I first got involved in development work back in the 60s, the big issue on trade was how to help get countries out of the mono culture of cash export crops, converting land instead for domestic food production, and encouraging the export of higher value finished products rather than mere raw materials.
People knew a little about the realities of so-called "sweat shops", but not a lot, and the conditions under which products were made were not really considered to be anything much to do with us as consumers. I was working for Oxfam, who had in a very small way started buying handicrafts from commercial importers in order to raise funds for the aid programme. When I visited one of these UK suppliers, he congratulated Oxfam's astute buying because much income for Oxfam's work could be made by buying cheap and selling at a good profit.
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I had to persuade the charity's trading board that what it was doing could be considered "exploitation", but was challenged to find an alternative way to do things. Thus, in 1965, I started Oxfam's Helping-by-Selling project – I suppose the forerunner of what is now called «fair-trade».Through the experience of 10 years development, our pioneering moved from "helping" to empowerment, by realizing the merits of workers' cooperatives and artisans' societies.
We developed a model for a global cooperative called Bridge, that would have directly linked producers and |
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As a result of the arrival of an alternative market, existing cooperatives were revived and new societies came into being in many places.
It became a large and successful business with enormous potential for a changed world.
Unfortunately, the idea was not allowed to develop as an independent cooperative, and its principles of partnership were diluted in the bid for quick growth. But those less idealistic ambitions didn't work very well, and after Not all was lost. After leaving Oxfam in the mid 70s, on a UN assignment in the Philippines I discovered that cooperatives started with the support of that programme had fallen on hard times as a result of the withdrawal of orders. |
In One Village, we have tried to continue the original ideals: long-term commitments, support of cooperatives and community enterprises
In calling this One Village, we try to say that the world is really one small and interdependent community. |
Members of batik-makers' co-op, Chennai, India
As well as us, a whole movement has built up all over Europe and in other well-to-do countries too. Other organizations have developed, and communities have benefited. |
This is not only to do with improving earnings, but perhaps more importantly sales of craft made articles are confidence builders for the artisans. Traditional products originating in their own places are recognized and appreciated by buyers far away. Skill is developed as people demonstrate their personality as creators.
We in One Village continue to grow, although of course we have not had the resources that were available to some others. We now have an extensive website www.onevillage.org, where shopping these products is easy wherever customers seek out craft made articles for the home. |
Our friends in other organizations have shifted their emphasis away from craft and into commodities. They have very promising success in getting products manufactured from these commodities even onto the shelves of supermarkets, and that is a useful thing to achieve.
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Generally in society, these days there is much more awareness of the interconnectivity of people, and the responsibility that falls with all of us to be right with one another; that all kinds of decisions and actions each of us take day by day really do have an impact on our brothers and sisters in the world community.
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The phrase «fair trade» is commonly banded about, and this helps people to think that they are doing right by the makers when they chose products and materials so labelled.
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We in Europe are given to complain about all kinds of things that would be considered bliss by our neighbours in other places. Extra security and income offered by the alternative marketing network makes an enormous difference in the context of producers' own lives, yet the earnings and wellbeing of producers remain grossly out of line with those of consumers.
As world systems race us away from justice, it is time for us to awake to the deeper and more far-reaching changes that are so urgently needed. |
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December 2010
Roy Scott addresses members at the 40th anniversary of St Mary's Mahila Shikshan Kendra, Ahmedabad, a producers' society which he had helped get started so many years earlier.
One Village remains a major partner for this enterprise that now enables livelihoods for about 500 people in an economically-stretched part of the city.
One Village Community Extra is the principal contributor to the society's producer bonus scheme, enjoyed by all members every year.
Joining the 40 Years celebrations is Thomas Macwan, RC Bishop of Ahmedabad (far right on platform) and Dominican sister Lucia, founder of the project (see her at left below along with members enjoying the celebration address).
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consumers in lasting commitments beneficial to all. Parts of this proposal were adopted, including the Bridge name and its dividend systems to return profits to those who had contributed to making them (especially the producers).
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paying higher prices in a positive and hopeful environment, reassuring producers about their cultural roots by building markets for products based on traditional styles and skills.
Even big corporations set on profit-making now specify minimum standards of working conditions when they buy clothes and other products in low-income countries.
But the reality is that global inequalities continue and, according to the International Labour Office and others, the differences in living standards are widening rather than getting closer. A recent ILO annual report notes that world economic gains are usually accompanied by "persistent inequality and growing exclusion".
But of course it is difficult to do all that without first checking our own driving force and motivation.
For more information and comment on the fair trade movement, please visit our series of fair trade editorial pages that begin when you click