Jackie,

Thank you for your reply. I would really like a copy of that ppt. I will email you! Is this “fair trade ecosystem” made public anywhere?

Kevin,
Thank you for taking the time to reply to this post.

In response to splitting the FT Mvmt or becoming a different one, do you think that would create consumer confusion?

I do think we can celebrate our differences though!

While I agree that we need to find more cooperation strategies and ways to solve some of the conflicts. I also believe that we should continue to have critical thinking within the movement.

Critical thinking and some competitive practice drive us towards higher standards. Fair Trade will only succeed in the marketplace if we improve our standards. Handmade Expressions is a great example of a company that uses critical thinking to improve its standards and is doing great because of it.

Personally I don’t think the 100% FT movement and the certified FT products of corporate business are in the same movement. Sometimes I wonder if those of us in the 100% fair trade movement should revert to being the Alternative Trade Movement. The challenge may not be reconciling our differences with certification, but in celebrating the difference, so that the public is able to distinguish the difference.

After the 2005 Futures conference, the Leadership Group developed a draft Fair Trade “ecosystem” to help –as Jonathan and others are suggesting–identify different roles/spaces. So I’d say one way to respond to your questions is to ask another: where am I or my organization situated in the system? From there more clarity or insight might arise.

If anyone would like a copy of that PPT slide, I’m happy to share it (jacq.decarlo “at” gmail.com).

Jackie