Two hundred years ago William Wilberforce stood up in the English parliament and fought for the abolition of the slave trade. Watching the film ‘Amazing Grace’ one wonders whether his work saw the end of slavery or merely one aspect of it. Slavery takes on many forms in our modern world; physical shackles are no longer a requirement. Our consumerism enslaves people into poverty, debt, oppression and exploitation every day. We encourage sweatshops, bonded slavery, unfair work practices and the physical and mental abuse of workers, both in the field and in the factory. How? By supporting the companies who perpetuate these crimes by simply purchasing their products. Every time we buy a product, we are making a statement about what we think regarding international trade. Our vision is often too near-sighted, we need to look out and to realise that when we take a packet of coffee off the shelf here in Australia, the ramifications ripple back to the Third World. We unknowingly consent to the de-humanisation of thousands.

In the film ‘Amazing Grace’ we watch as Wilberforce struggles against huge opposition. His fellow parliamentarians do not support him because it would damage their profit margins and upset their electoral seats. Wilberforce is haunted by what he has seen and heard regarding the treatment of slaves and his campaign continues until the injustice has been resolved. Despite the superior morality which he is advocating, the almighty dollar continues to shout louder until slavery is no longer profitable. This is the sad reality and the same problem which we encounter today. Speaking of ‘fairness‘ and ‘equality‘ does not translate into change as fast as a falling share market. Advocating what is fundamentally right does not mean people will support it. We need to hit big companies where it hurts, their pockets. We need to make modern slavery unprofitable.

As individuals we need to stand up to companies and nations and be active in changing the system which allows them to profit at the expense of another person’s humanity. We need to show them that we will not support them, by buying Fair Trade alternatives or abstaining from buying the product altogether if no viable, fair alternative is found. We need to leave companies and nations with no option but to switch to Fair Trade or to become irrelevant in the modern market.

Fair Trade is not about creating a bandaid solution to problems of unfair trade, it’s about changing the way people perceive and interact in the global economy. In the West we have huge consumer power which we allow others to manipulate and control through flashy advertising and a deafening silence on moral issues. We need to be informed and to act on that information. We need to stop underestimating our resources. We need to stop saying it’s too hard. We need to open our eyes and plug-into what’s going on around us. Fair Trade is about connecting people. Connecting those in Third World nations to resources they are otherwise denied and connecting people in the West to information and ways of confronting poverty head on.

If in doubt, Google it. Check out the Australian campaign Fair Wear at www.fairwear.org.au to see which Australian companies are taking issues of Ethical trading seriously. Have a look at www.fta.org.au for a list of places that stock Fair Trade across Australia. Join the Tribes and Nations mailing list and continue to check the site for updated information and ways to be involved. Become an informed shopper at your local supermarket and help to shake global trade.

We are inextricably linked to the cycles going on in our world market. We play a role just as the producers do. Only there is no hand covering our mouth, no fear of being denied our human rights, no threat of being turned out on to the street. We are not bound by debt, lack of alternatives or emotional blackmail. We therefore need to speak, if not shout, and to share what we know. We need to take our campaign to the shops and start speaking not only with our voices but with our money.