islam and fairtrade

19 Pages·2011·7.32 MB·English

isla
m
and
fairtrade
fairtrade.org.uk
contents
INTRoDucTIoN ........................................................3
coMMENT FRoM HARRIET LAMb .........................3
WHAT IS FAIRTRADE? ...............................................4
ApRIcoT FARMERS IN pAkISTAN ...........................6
FAQS ............................................................................7
WHAT DoES ISLAM SAy AbouT FAIRTRADE? .......8
coTToN FARMERS IN MALI ..................................11
TRADE juSTIcE .......................................................11
REFLEcTIoNS ..........................................................12
GET INvoLvED: WHAT cAN you Do ...................14
FAIRTRADE MoSQuES ............................................15
ScHooLS ..................................................................17
acknowledgements
With thanks to Islamic Relief for their valuable support and input into this guide
2 ISLAM AND FAIRTRADE
‘the best of
people are those
that bring most
benefit to the
rest of mankind.’
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)
In striving to be the best Muslim, we their work. Inadequate agricultural
aim to perfect our ritual acts of worship, equipment, poor access to markets, a
but also to live our lives by the principles lack of market information, global trade
and spirit of Islam. Every day we rules which push down crop prices and
struggle to uphold principles of justice, favour rich countries and unscrupulous
fairness and honesty in our dealings traders are just some of the struggles
with family, friends and colleagues. But that farmers face. In the face of all this, it
our responsibilities are not restricted is not surprising that they are unable to
to only those directly around us. All make enough money to meet even their
creations of Allah – nature, animals, basic needs – like food, healthcare and
humans – have rights and we are school fees for their children. Fairtrade
duty-bound to ensure we are meeting is a way of ensuring that farmers get a
our responsibilities to them. One good price for their crop and have extra
responsibility we have is to less well money to invest in their community or
off people in the developing world. business. But the Fairtrade system only
works if we get behind it – and choose
Fairtrade is a way of ensuring that we Fairtrade products when we see them.
are fulfilling our obligations to farmers
and producers in poorer countries who In this guide you will find out exactly
struggle to make ends meet. Many what Fairtrade is and how it works, as
smallholder farmers in Africa, Asia and well as exploring some faith teachings
Latin America, face insurmountable on trade. Most importantly, you can learn
barriers to earning a decent living from how to get involved.
In just 15 years producers in Africa, I was struck again and again by their
since the birth of strength and ambition which, coupled with the dedication
the FAIRTRADE and determination of campaigners here, can take Fairtrade
further. So that boys like Alan, son of single mother Sarah
Mark, its
who works on a flower farm in Kenya, can attend university,
popularity has
because his education has been paid for right through
rocketed, its
secondary school by the Fairtrade premium. So that
simplicity and Fairtrade smallholder enterprises can unleash the potential
effectiveness have bubbling up. As one artisanal soap-maker in South Africa’s
become widespread. second largest township said to me: ‘Maybe one day we
will get to wear suits and ties and go to present our
But Fairtrade is more
business overseas’.
than a certification mark –
it is an inspiration for change.
Working alone on a small plot, a farmer can change very
little. Working with her neighbours, she has power. And
That is why Fairtrade works – as farmers start to export so for us too – by working together we are beginning to
on their own terms, as people talk about Fairtrade in their achieve transformative change for smallholders and workers
places of worship or buy Fairtrade, as companies engage across the developing world.
more with producers – everyone learns and understands,
creating a basis for lasting change. In the summer, visiting Harriet Lamb, Executive Director, Fairtrade Foundation
3 ISLAM AND FAIRTRADE
What is
Fairtrade?
Fairtrade is more than just a different WHy Do WE NEED FAIRTRADE?
way of doing business. It’s a unique
international movement with a bold
The graph below illustrates the long-term the commodities they produce. World
and breathtaking mission: to change
downward trend in commodity prices in commodity prices can be extremely
the way world trade works. It’s about a
real terms, when inflation is taken into volatile, making it hard for producers to
better deal for the people in developing
account. As a result of the catastrophic plan for the future. If farmers earn less
countries we rely on for our everyday
fall, many producers fail to get a fair than it costs to run their farms, they face
needs. It harnesses the power of
share of the huge financial benefits that real hardship – struggling to put food on
shoppers, producers, businesses and
result from international trade in the table or keep their children in school.
campaigners and it’s growing all
the time.
coMMoDITy pRIcES
WHAT IS A bETTER
DEAL?
NB: The small upward trend for
Producers have been paid a fair, 350
cocoa and coffee from 2006 is not
stable price
yet apparent in this series
300
Producers have longer-term trading
relationships, with more stability 250 coffee
Producers have access to training s/lbs 200 cocoa
nt
and skills to develop their businesses ce cotton
US 150
Producers get a little extra, the
Fairtrade premium, to decide for 100
themselves how to spend to strengthen
their businesses and their communities 50 sugar
0
vISIT 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000-09
www.fairtrade.net for
more about Fairtrade
around the world Source: FAO Trade and Markets Division (EST)
4 ISLAM AND FAIRTRADE
WHo bENEFITS
FRoM FAIRTRADE?

Fairtrade works with disadvantaged
farmers and workers in the developing
world.
Small-scale farmers suffer from poor
market access and a weak position
in the supply chain. Fairtrade
ensures the price they get for their
crop covers the cost of sustainable
production and allows them to plan
for the future.
Farm workers frequently do not
share the benefits of global trade.
Fairtrade aims to protect workers’
rights to decent pay, a safe working
environment as well as the right to
join a trade union.
vISIT
www.fairtrade.org.uk
for more information
WHAT DoES THE
FAIRTRADE MARk
MEAN?
Producer organisations receive an projects. The Fairtrade system does
FAIRTRADE IN
agreed and stable price for their not insist on organic production, but
products that covers the cost of the premium can be used to support FIGuRES
sustainable production and enables producers wishing to convert to
them to support their families and organic farming.
7.5
provide for a better future. million
people (farmers, workers, their
WHAT IS THE
Producer groups also receive an families and communities)
additional amount of money on FAIRTRADE benefiting from Fairtrade
top of that, called the Fairtrade FouNDATIoN?
premium. The group decides
70
democratically how this should be The Fairtrade Foundation is the countries
spent – improvements to health care, UK’s leading authority on Fairtrade, now selling Fairtrade products
clean water supplies, schooling, committed to tackling poverty and
or business improvements such injustice through trade. An independent,
827
as processing facilities or building non-profit body, the Fairtrade
warehouses – the choice is theirs. Foundation licenses the use of the producer organisations certified
FAIRTRADE Mark on products in the
Producers are working to implement UK that meet international Fairtrade
€3.4bn
more sustainable farming methods standards. By bringing producers and
by reducing chemical usage, consumers closer together, we are estimated global sales
recycling waste or investing the helping to build a citizens’ movement for in 2009
premium in their own environmental fairer trade.
5 ISLAM AND FAIRTRADE
WHERE cAN I buy
MouNTAIN FRuITS
DRIED ApRIcoTS?
You can buy Mountain Fruits
dried apricot products from
Tropical Wholefoods
www.tropicalwholefoods.org.uk
You can also buy
from Traidcraft, some
Tesco branches and
independent stores.
apricot
In 2010 catastrophic rainfall led to
landslides and floods that left many
farmers
farmers and their communities struggling
to cope. Floods damaged many villages,
in pakistan
and virtually all the farmers in the village
of Hunza had their apple and apricot
orchards destroyed or damaged by the
rains – their apricot harvest was entirely
lost. Limited food supplies, intermittent
The Karakoram Mountains in Northern and marketed by Tropical Wholefoods power supplies and damaged bridges
Pakistan merge with the Himalayas and and other importers in the UK. and roads were a big challenge to the
border both China and India. Farmers communities. In a bid to help farmers
in the highlands grow delicious fruit Mountain Fruits now works with over recover their business, 1.5 million rupees
like cherries and peaches and lots 2,000 families producing a variety (about £10,800) has been donated
of varieties of nuts. They work in a of dried fruits and nuts. The farmers by the Fairtrade Foundation, partner
harsh environment where summer are pleased as their crop yields have organisations and individual members
temperatures can soar to 47°C and increased – a result of the training to Mountain Fruits for farmers to replant
winter temperatures plunge to minus and advice they have received, such orchards on new land. Money from the
12°C. Growers cannot take full as organic farming techniques. Their Fairtrade premium has also provided a
advantage of trading their abundant production factory also provides a safety net as farmers have been able to
crop, despite the close proximity of unique opportunity for women in the start rebuilding irrigation channels and
the Karakoram Highway which links region as it employs only female staff – infrastructure. In the future, Mountain
the area to markets in Pakistan and so they can work safely and comfortably Fruits farmers are looking for more
China. Unreliable road conditions, the to earn money. opportunities to sell on Fairtrade terms and
perishable nature of the fruit and lack are pleased to be now supplying Fairtrade
of processing facilities means that most Selling Fairtrade apricots to the UK almonds to Ben & Jerry’s ice cream.
of their fruit either rots before it can be market means the farmers receive a
consumed or is dried as a low quality guaranteed fair and stable price and an
fruit for sale at poor local markets. additional premium to invest in projects ‘Local markets are important but
to further their business or the social the best price for our produce lies
in countries far from here Getting
Sher Ghazi was born in the town of well-being of their communities. Elected
a Fairtrade deal for apricot farmers
Hunza. As an orchard owner and fruit village representatives come together
in these remote valleys is a lifeline.’
grower himself he wanted to find a to discuss and decide how to use the Sher Ghazi, Chief Executive,
way to improve the livelihoods of poor Fairtrade premium. Their first premium Mountain Fruits
farming communities in the mountains was used for a number of small projects
and began working for Aga Khan Rural like paying the school fees of the poorest
Support Programme (AKRSP), a charity children in the village and the purchase
which does just that. Sher saw the of more than 300 apricot plants for
abundant fruit as a good opportunity distribution among farmers. Projects
for farmers and set about training that empower women have also been a
them to produce high quality fruit for key focus of premium use. Some areas
processing. This led to the establishment have set up educational institutions
of the Mountain Fruits company, of or computer training programmes for
which Sher is the CEO. Mountain Fruits women and others have bought sewing
now produces Fairtrade certified dried machines for vocational centres so that
apricots, apricot kernels, walnuts and women can produce garments to sell to
almonds. Their fruit and nuts are bought the local market.
6 ISLAM AND FAIRTRADE
Your fairtrade
questions ansWered
Q
AREN’T FAIRTRADE Q
IS THE QuALITy
pRoDucTS MoRE
oF FAIRTRADE
ExpENSIvE?
pRoDucTS AS GooD
AS My FAvouRITE
A. Not necessarily. With lots of big
bRANDS?
companies switching to Fairtrade– from
Nestle’s KitKat and Tate & Lyle sugar, to
A. When you buy a Fairtrade product, the
Ben & Jerry’s ice cream – shoppers are
difference won’t be in the taste, but in
still able to enjoy their favourite products,
the price the farmers have received. You
often without any increase in price.
will find the FAIRTRADE Mark on a range
Saying that, Fairtrade products
of products from own brand, no-frills
are unlikely to be the cheapest
products, to high-end, luxury products.
in-store product for the
There is something to suit everyone’s tastes.
following reasons:
q ARE SupERMARkETS
Fairtrade products guarantee a
Q pRoFITING FRoM
minimum price for producers so HoW Do I kNoW
that they can still meet basic needs, FARMERS bENEFIT FAIRTRADE?
however low world market prices fall. WHEN I buy
A FAIRTRADE A. The Fairtrade movement has sought
Independent certification, auditing to prove that it is possible to make
pRoDucT?
and traceability programmes and trade work for disadvantaged producers
product licensing and labelling cost in developing countries and still run
A. A product can only carry the FAIRTRADE
money to implement, and these costs a successful business. It isn’t about
Mark if the ingredients meet the rules and
are built into the prices of the product charity or handouts, but a better trading
standards set by Fairtrade International
through the supply chain. relationship. In this model, we must
(FLO) and /or the Fairtrade Foundation.
acknowledge that supermarkets do not
Many companies working with operate as charities. That means they
The international Fairtrade system
the Fairtrade system invest extra should treat Fairtrade products like
monitors and audits the product supply
money in the producer other products – they should certainly
chains to make sure the producers are
groups they source not increase their profit margins over
genuinely getting the Fairtrade minimum
from, such as conventional products, but nor should
price, and that the farmers, workers and
funding business they be expected to reduce or give
their local communities are benefiting
or agricultural up their profits altogether. Because if
from the investment of the premiums.
developments. Fairtrade products are not profitable at
all, then any new business pressure on
Fairtrade International (FLO) ensures
When a Fairtrade product is new to these companies could result in their
Fairtrade products can be accounted for
the market, volumes may be relatively removal from the shop shelves altogether
at every stage of the supply chain, from
small and so costs like marketing, and replacement with more profitable
farmers to buyers to traders to the end seller.
transportation, manufacture and alternatives. That would certainly be
packaging can be more expensive. As a disaster for the producers involved
FLO-Cert is an independent certification
sales and volumes increase Fairtrade in Fairtrade.
and auditing company. It checks producer
product costs can go down.
organisations and traders to ensure that
relevant social and environmental standards
The most important thing about the price
are met and that producers receive the
of a product with the FAIRTRADE Mark
Fairtrade minimum price and premium.
is that you know producers are receiving
a fairer price as well as a premium to
Shoppers can be confident in the robust
invest in the future of their communities.
Fairtrade system which ensures that
vISIT the FAIRTRADE Mark is only used on
products that come from Fairtrade certified
www.fairtrade.org.uk producers and that traders meet their
for more information
obligations under the Fairtrade standards.
7 ISLAM AND FAIRTRADE
What does islam saY
about Fairtrade?
Trade has a rich heritage in Islamic
history. The Prophet Muhammad
(peace be upon him) was himself a
successful trader and known for his
integrity, bearing the honorific title ‘the
Trustworthy’. Trading was central to
the lives of early Muslims, and so there
are numerous Islamic teachings and
instructions in the area of trade and
business ethics. Here we examine a
number of Islamic teachings coinciding
with principles upon which the fair trade
movement is based: sustainability,
fairness, equity, and workers rights.
vISIT
pRoMoTING FAIRNESS AND EQuITy
www.islamic-relief.com/
indepth for more information Fairtrade aims to promote a more Indeed, generosity is considered
on this topic
balanced relationship and exchange a virtue in Islam and the Prophet
between rich and poor. The concepts Muhammad (pbuh) declared,
of fairness, equity, mutual respect and ‘The generous man is near Allah,
consideration for others are inherent in the near paradise, near men, and far
moral teachings of Islam and so must be from hell, but the miserly man is
part of business dealings too. A person far from Allah, far from paradise,
or organisation should not undertake an far from men, and near to hell.
action or instigate a business transaction Indeed, an ignorant man who is
that will cause greater harm than benefit generous is dearer to Allah than
to the community or environment. is a worshipper who is miserly.’
(reported by Tirmidhi)
The basic principles of trade from an
Islamic perspective are justice and The Quran and ahadith are particularly
fairness. The Quran on several occasions insistent on the need for careful and
states unequivocally: correct weights and measures. Allah
warns those who take full measure
‘Deal not unjustly, and you shall not be but give less to others:
dealt with unjustly.’ (2:279)
‘Give a full measure when you
‘God loves those who are fair and just.’ measure out and weigh with a fair
(49:9) balance’ (17:35)
There are several ahadith too that ‘Give full measure and full weight
emphasise the honour accorded to honest in justice, and wrong not people in
and ethical traders: respect of their goods.’
(11:85)
‘A truthful and trustworthy merchant
will be in the company of the Prophets, ‘Woe to those that deal in fraud.
the upright and the martyrs.’ (reported Those who, when they have to
by Tirmidhi) receive by measure from men, exact
full measure. But when they have to
Similarly, ‘Allah shows mercy to a man give by measure or weight to men,
who is kind when he sells, when he give less than due. Do they not think
buys and when he makes a claim.’ that they will be called to account?’
(reported by Bukhari). (83:1-4)
8 ISLAM AND FAIRTRADE
pRoMoTING
SuSTAINAbLE
DEvELopMENT
In respect to promoting sustainable
development, Fairtrade finds
considerable support in Islam. ‘greater
Muslims believe that Allah has indeed than
given mankind stewardship over
the creation
the earth. Stewardship implies
taking care to manage, preserve of man is the
and protect the natural environment
creation of
for future generations. In fact,
the heavens
Muslims are asked to revere the
environment because the Quran and the earth.’
states that: (40:57)
‘Greater indeed than the creation
of man is the creation of the
heavens and the earth.’ (40:57)
pAyMENT oF DEcENT WAGES AND FAIR
‘give a full
TREATMENT oF WoRkERS
measure
when You Fairtrade advocates decent wages (pbuh) said: ‘Your brothers are your
and working conditions for workers, responsibility. Allah has made them
measure
as well as long-term trading contracts under your hands. So whosoever
out and to provide greater security and a safe has a brother under his hand, let
and healthy working environment for him give him food as he eats and
weigh With
producers and workers. Producers dress as he dresses. Do not give
a fair
can request pre-harvest finance or them work that will overburden
balance’ credit and receive the additional them and if you do give them
Fairtrade premium to fund social such task then provide them with
(17:35)
development projects such as assistance.’ (reported by Bukhari)
primary schools and healthcare.
Finally, workers should be given
There is considerable support in adequate, timely and fair wages.
Islamic teachings for fair trade The Quran says:
principles on the fair treatment of
workers. The dignity of workers must ‘Give just measure and
be respected. Workers should be weight, nor withhold
treated with dignity and honour and from the people the
have a humane and safe environment things that are their
for work. The Prophet Muhammad due.’ (7:85)
The information on these pages was adapted from Islamic Relief’s paper, Islamic Perspectives on
Fairtrade (2009) and can be read in full here: www.islamicrelief.com/indepth
9 ISLAM AND FAIRTRADE
wles
Ra
on
m
Si
©
‘god loves
those who
are fair and
just’
Quran (49:9)
Every time you choose Fairtrade, you give disadvantaged
farmers and workers in developing countries the chance to
rise out of poverty. They get a fair price, plus a little extra
to invest in a stronger future for their communities.
From biscuits and bananas to raisins and rice, it’s never been
easier to make your choices fair and just every day. fairtrade.org.uk
Fairtrade Foundation, 3rd Floor, Ibex House, 42-47 Minories, London EC3N 1DY. Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone]. The Fairtrade Foundation Registered Charity Number: 1043886. VAT Reg No: 6742 5453 23. Company Reg. in England & Wales No. 2733136