Answer to Question #212359 in Management for mike

Question

 Discuss the early example of fair trade linked to the Salvation Army. Why and how was it started? What were their objectives and do they still follow the same objectives? How did their products change over time?

Answer 1

In 2006, members of the Salvation Army in New Zealand, Tonga, and Fiji invented "Fairtrade." Members recognized power inequalities in international trade. It was especially disheartening to see how developed-country suppliers extensively exploited developing-country suppliers. The plan was to promote items labelled and certified by the Fairtrade organization. The organization reportedly considers worker and supplier rights and would sell competitively priced high-quality items.

William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army, stated one key goal of Fairtrade. Booth argued that it made no sense to preach the Gospel to people whose primary concern was survival because their attention would be concentrated on how to acquire enough money for sustenance rather than on God. According to Booth, Fairtrade was a method of demonstrating Jesus-like concern for workers' livelihoods, making them more open to hearing about and embracing Jesus and the Gospel. Fairtrade goods are still utilized in production and marketed today.

Members of the Salvation Army and Fairtrade profess to be devoted to the aforementioned goal since unfair trade practices impact adults and children. The reality, on the other hand, tells a different tale. Even though Fairtrade items are accessible, their high price means that consumers in developing nations can hardly afford them. The money from sales is insufficient to support the farmers who create the goods.

When Fairtrade first began, Booth, made most of his money from selling tea. Over time, the product line has expanded to include the sale of food crops and cash crops and items that include Fair Trade into the textile industry's supply chain and natural resources such as gold and carbon.