From Sonairte
Trade is one of the pillars of our social and economic systems. Exchange of goods is as old as humankind itself. However, of late, the rich countries of the world, using abstract market mechanisms and trade laws, have manipulated the market to serve their own interests at the expense sadly of the developing world.
Unfair trade can cripple developing countries to a point where they can no longer feed their own people. The causes of this inequity are complex . The solutions are there but it is the dismantling of the shortfallings of the current system that poses a very significant challenge to the world.
The "Fairtrade" system is an effort to address these issues and is strongly endorsed by Sonairte. The fairtrade logo guarantee that the farmer involved in the growing of the product has received a fair price. There are many products on the market today that feature the fair trade logo such tea, coffee and chocolate though there are many others. The centre makes supports Fairtrade in a practicaly wa by stocking "Fairtrade" Products in the shop, using them in the cafe, and holding regular Fairtrade events.
