May Action Alert

May 2013
Fair Trade: Empowering Local Economies Rather Than Trade Agreements

Celebrated the second Saturday in every May is World Fair Trade Day. In addition to increased awareness, the day emphasizes the connecting of fair trade producers and customers around the world.

While no official definition exists for the term, fair trade, most individuals who purchase fair trade agree that those producing the products are justly compensated for their time and efforts. As a result these individuals influence the community in which they live, including Earth, positively. Transparency is also highly valued. As a way to examine other priorities of fair trade, individuals are invited to:

Take some time to reflect upon your “typical” day from start to end examining the foods, beverages, clothing, and materials that you consume/use throughout your day. If so desired, individuals are invited to form a list.

Consider the following with regard to each item on the list…

• Who helped bring this item to me in the harvesting and production process? What face(s) do I imagine in my mind?
• What do I know about what the environment cost to bring this item to me and the compensation of the individuals in the process of bringing this item to me?
• What type of an exchange (cost) was made for this item? How fair and just is the exchange/cost based on my demand and the supply of the item?
• What type of accountability exists between where I obtained the item and me, the “purchaser?” What type of shared responsibility exists with regard to sustainability of Earth as part of my consumption/use?

Based on reflection on the above questions, what priorities are emphasized as aspects of fair trade?

Promoting local economies offers an alternative to global economies when examining the priorities of fair trade. Additionally, fair trade examines the common good and creates opportunities for all involved.

In contrast, current U.S. trade agreement goals include eliminating taxes on incoming and outgoing goods. However, most trade agreements also contain rules about intellectual property rights, the regulation of companies by governments, privatization, and financial decisions. One might say these trade agreements tend to focus on corporate needs and competition.

In the current Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) being negotiated (highlighted in the April Action Alert) Citizen’s Trade identifies the following leaked needs of corporations:

• Cheaper Labor Costs                                                 
• Longer Drug Patents
• Special Powers to Attack Environmental Laws          
• Further Financial Deregulation
• Concentration of Global Food Supplies                    
• Caps on Food Safety Protections
• Dismantling of “Buy Local” Preferences                  
• Lower Taxes

Reflection/Action:

• What insights were gained from the above materials? What action is brought to individual attention as a result of this reflection?
• In Solicitudo Rei Socialis, John Paul condemns actions and attitudes in economics “which are opposed to the will of God,” especially the “all consuming desire for profit and the thirst for power, with the intention of imposing one’s will upon others.” (# 37)
• Fast Track allows trade agreements to circumvent ordinary Congressional review, amendment and debate procedures. Congress must oppose Fast Track, and should instead assert its constitutional authority to set the contents of U.S. Trade Policy. U.S. citizens are invited to call members of Congress (202.224.3121; charges apply) urging legislators to publicly oppose Fast Track for the TPP and the Obama administration to publicly release the draft text of the TPP negotiations.
• The Fair Trade Resource Network has resources located here.  

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International Day for Biological Diversity 2013: Focus on Water

 May 22 commemorates the International Day for Biological Diversity. The theme Water and Biodiversity coincides with the United Nations designation of 2013 as the International Year of Water Cooperation. The goal of the day is to increase awareness on the theme and to increase actions toward that theme. Additionally, 2005-2015 is also the International Decade for Action, Water for Life.

Water is fundamental to all life on Earth. No living organism can survive without this precious resource. The Millennium Development Goals (reduce in half those who do not have access to safe water and sanitation) further share how human health and the preservation of the environment also depend on this resource.

How many individuals take water for granted? What about children of today? Using water as if it were limitless is an indicator of this. Yet, what happens to aquifers and the sources of our urban water? How can we nurture water as gift from God and create a set of morals around this precious resource?

As Christians, the Bible indicates several places where water is a sacred gift from God (i.e. Genesis 1:1-2, Genesis 1: 9-10; John 7: 37-39; John 4: 7-14; etc). As stewards of God’s gifts, individuals might ask, “What is sustainable stewardship when it comes to water?” There is so much talk about being sustainable and green, yet where does “blue” come into the sustainability question? How do individuals/businesses/groups choose what tradeoffs are acceptable in the search for environmental sustainability?

Knowing that many of the products we eat and use begin with or require water is known as “hidden water.” What hidden water exists in an individuals’ lifestyle, a groups’ buildings and grounds, business operations, and government structures and functioning? How might individuals and groups reduce this burden of hidden water? How might water be underpriced or unpaid for in total when it comes in a local water bill or when purchasing any product for consumption or use? What does this speak of with regard to how water is valued?

Thus, developing a personal value of water and acting out of this personal value implies examining daily life on hidden and unhidden levels, our local water aquifers, and our childhood experiences with water. How did childhood experiences with water shape our thoughts about water today? Perhaps our current connection to local water influences further thoughts about this relationship? What of this relationship is being passed to today’s generation of children and to others in need of insights with regard to the sacredness of water?

On this day of biological Diversity and throughout this year of Water Cooperation, individuals and groups are invited to examine their relationship with water and reflect upon the set of ethical principles each has with regard to water. Writing these morals down and posting them is of the essence if each desires to continue to change actions so that water continues to be held as God’s gift, precious to all.

Reflections/Actions:

• In a Message to the Bishops of Brazil in 2004, Pope John Paul II wrote, "as a gift from God, water is a vital element essential to survival, thus everyone has a right to it.” Without realizing this truth and developing morals around the sacredness of water, water becomes only a product to be consumed. Which of my actions speak of sacredness; which actions speak of consumption as a product?
• What would a water ethic for our world or country look like? What aspects of sharing, keeping water local, maintaining coastlines, maintaining enough water in aquifers, and leaving enough for nature exist in this ethic?
• Does my city/village or state have a water ethic? What role might I be able to play to make this a reality? Examples of water ethics exist on the web.
• Water Cooperation 2013 website is located here. The UN website on water is here.
• Further useful information, including a calculator for your individual and national water footprint, is located here.
• Resources and tools for understanding and improving our use of water is here (Hidden Water, Water footprint, and many other resources).

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Comprehensive Immigration Reform Update

 A bill entitled, Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013 (S. 744), was introduced by the Gang of 8 (Senators Schumer, McCain, Menendez, Rubio, Durbin, Graham, Bennet and Flake) on April 17. While there are those who are happy that legislation on immigration reform has finally been introduced, there are others who question various components of the bill. A bipartisan group of legislators in the House are also working on a bill.

Individuals may visit the following websites for a variety of perspectives on the proposed legislation:

• Farmworker Justice (Scroll down, click "more" to April 17 article)
• National Immigration Law Center
• Leadership Conference of Women Religious    
• Sisters of Mercy     
• U.S. Catholic Bishops Migration Chair     
• Catholic Relief Services

Reflection/Action:

• The U.S. Catholic Bishops’ guidelines for comprehensive immigration reform is here.
• Take action for comprehensive immigration reform here.