fair trade

The need for equitable development to address growing poverty is more critically important now than ever before. The self interest of wealthy nations has drawn the promised free and fair…

Fairness is about justice, a basic element of humanity. In the sphere of international trade, that notion should logically be deployed simply because it is the right and only way…

Decades ago it was smoke and mirrors that were used to create illusions. Today’s illusionists are a little more sophisticated – they use brands, certificates, and a lot of money…

It has been a while since Dr. Robert Aboagye-Mensah of the Christian Council of Ghana famously commented, “International trade between my country and the West is like an antelope and…

The June 2008 issue of ‘The Director’ Magazine of the IoD, included a well researched feature on the subject of CSR. It was to me, an informative, yet bewildering overview…

Sunday’s news was full of the ‘Primark Scandal’ which has attracted a swift and ferocious response from Primark. Naturally the company feigns ignorance of exploitative labour practices amongst its suppliers…

The environment and climate change, together with poverty and the related malnutrition, are without a doubt the most urgent and substantial challenges that our 21st Century civilization must face. Yet we have…

One of the most beautiful fruit shop in the world – a stone’s throw from Uda Walawe National Park – where the fruit, spice and vegetables are ripened or matured on the…

The New Zealand Herald of Monday March 17th, quotes my father, Dilmah Founder Merrill J. Fernando, referring to Fairtrade as a ‘farce’. Newspapers like sensational headlines and that probably accounts…