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fishermen and this leads to large-scale economic damage. If these abuses continue the African fisher -
men will never be able to close the economic gap between themselves and the West. As a consumer,
make sure you know where the fish you buy comes from.
Say No to non-sustainable tropical hardwood
Large-scale deforestation and the disappearance of the biodiversity also has an enormous impact on
indigenous populations, since this is one of the few natural resources available to them. Sustainable
wood products, which come from forests managed by village communities in developing countries,
are not only environmentally-friendly they also provide a fair income for the local population. The
profits from large-scale (often illegal) felling usually hold little benefit for the indigenous population;
the population of the Third World has no control over the profits from its own natural resources.
Introduce export restrictions
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The Third World will really only be on an equal footing with the West when consumers in the West use
their power to help combat unfair exports. Local farmers cannot compete with agricultural products
from the West, nor do they receive a fair price for their own produce, since we continue to dump our
agricultural products in Third World countries.
Rob Cameron Since the end of 2007 Rob Cameron has been the Chief Executive Officer of the Fairtrade
Consumers in the West must also campaign to stop the export of arms to Third World countries.
Armed conflicts will continue to thwart progress, and these countries will never be able to develop
in a beneficial way.
Mr. Pronk even went so far as to say that the export of C02 should be reduced. It is often Third World
countries that are hardest hit by the consequences of climate change, even though, per capita, C0 2
emissions are often 30-40 times greater in the West than they are in the Third World. The consequences
for the countries of South America and Africa are failed harvests due to drought, and in some cases
farmers are even seeing desert sands starting to encroach upon their agricultural land. If you, as
consumer, really wish to see fair trade between the West and the Third World you will have to say No
to certain products and No to these unfair conditions.
Author: Peter Koelewijn
Source: www.neomundo.nl
PERSONALIA
Labelling Organization, the umbrella organization that unites all sorts of Fairtrade initiatives in more
than twenty countries around the world. Before becoming CEO of FLO, Cameron was the CEO and
Executive Chairman of the international communications company Flag Communications. He has also
become one of the UK Prince of Wales’ ambassadors for corporate responsibility, and has been a member
of a number of think-tanks on responsibility for more than a decade.
Peter d’Angremond Director Max Havelaar Foundation Netherlands since 2009. Worked in marketing
and sales functions with Schiphol Group, Disneyland Resort Parijs en Sara Lee Household & Body Care
Nederland. From 2005 head of Business Area Consumers, part of the Schiphol Group.
Koert Jansen Fund Manager Triodos Sustainable Trade Fund. Triodos Bank aims to be a pioneering
force in the world of sustainable banking and to contribute to social renewal. The Bank finances
companies, institutions and projects that actively benefit people and the environment. In 2009
Mr. Jansen became Fund Manager of Triodos Sustainable Trade Fund in 2009. This fund assists fair
trade and organic producers in developing countries to prefinance their export to EU and US based
clients.
Rob van Tulder Professor of International Business-Society Management, Rotterdam School of
Management, Erasmus University. Van Tulder is also Academic Director of the Partnerships Resource
Centre (www.erim.nl/partnerships) which aims at a modern approach towards development by means
of cross-sector partnerships.
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