EthicalConsumerismWorkshopFacilitatorPackage

Age:HighSchool(grades9-12)Objectives:

• Understandingofconditionsinourworldwhichleadtoconsumptionpatterns• Explorationofconsiderationstomakewhentryingtoconsumeethically

• Problemsolvingsurroundingchallengestoethicalconsumption

• Explorationofalternativeconsumptionpatterns

TableofContentsHowareweConnected?Activity..............................................................................................….....2QuandaryCardsActivity……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..3Alternative-ConsumptionActivity…………………………………………………………………………..………………..8

HowAreWeConnected?ActivityTime:5-10minutes

MaterialsRequired:

Whiteboardorposterpaper

Writingutensil

Instructions:

Explaintothestudentsthatourwholeworldisincrediblyconnectednowmorethaneverbefore.Thismeansthatthingslikecommunication,jobs,andtradebetweenandacrosscountriesisveryeasy;thewordusedtodescribethisis“globalization”.

Ask:Whydoyouthinkglobalizationhasincreasedsignificantlyoverrecentyears?Possibleresponses:internet/socialmedia,abilitytotravelandshipitemsbetweencountriesmoreeasily

Thisworkshopwillbediscussingalotofthewaysinwhichourglobalizedworldimpactshowwepurchaseitems.Wearegoingtobeginwithadiscussionofhowglobalizationinfluencesourlivesinwaysthatwecanalreadyeasilyidentify.

Splitstudentsupintogroupsof4or5,andaskthemtoidentifyasasmallgroupwhichofthefollowingstatementsapplytoanyoftheirgroupmembers:

• Eatenafoodfromanothercountrythisweek• Wearingatleasttwoitemsofclothingmadeinanothercountry• CansayhelloinalanguageotherthanEnglish• Havecalled/facebooked/emailedsomeonelivinginanothercountryrecently

Bringthegroupbacktogether.Askthestudentstoshoutoutthecountriesandlanguagesthatweretheresponsestoallofthequestions.Writeoutalltheseresponsesontheboardsotheycanseetheconnectionwehaveallovertheglobe.

Debrief:

Ask:Doyouthinkglobalizationisagoodthingorabadthing?Explainthatthereareargumentsforbothsides.Globalizationcanbeseenasagoodthingbecauseitallowsmorecountriestoaccessavarietyofgoodsandservices,itprovidesjobsingenerallypoorercountries,anditgenerallyallowsahigherlevelofculturalexchange,whichcanleadtobetterunderstandingofothers.Opponentstoglobalizationsaythatitisdangerousbecauserichercountrieshaveagreatersayinthetypeoftradethatoccurs,puttingpoorercountriesatadisadvantage.Also,therearelessregulationsputinplaceforinternationalcorporationsintermsofprotectingtheenvironmentorhumanrights–sowhowillregulatethis?

Explaintothestudentsthatpartofbeingethicalconsumersisthinkingmorebroadlyabouttheimpactthatourpurchasesarehavingonothersevenifthisimpactisfeltinacountryfarawayfromus.

QuandaryCardsActivityTime:10-15minutes

MaterialsRequired:

4quandarycards

AdaptedfromTheBritishCouncil,2013TeachingEnglish

Instructions:

Askthegroupiftheyknowwhataquandaryis.Explainthatitislikeadilemmaoraproblem,andoftentimeswhenwearetryingtobeethicalconsumers,wefindourselvesinquandaries.Wefindourselvesinthesetoughsituationsbecausesometimesitishardtoconsiderallwhowillbeimpactedbyourpurchase,evenwhenwetrytobeinformed.

Splitstudentsupintofourgroups,andprovideeachgroupwithahandoutsheetthathasascenarioonit.Askthemtoreadthescenariointheirgroupanddiscussthequestionsonthesheet.

Allowthestudentsabout5minutestodothis,andthenbringtheconversationbacktothelargergroup.

*Iftightontime,cutthispartout*Askeachgrouptoreadtheirscenarioandprovidetheirresponsetothefirstquestiononthesheettothebiggroupsoeveryonehearseachscenario.

Debrief:

Explaintothestudentsthatshoppingethicallyisnotalwayseasy,infact,mosttimesitisreallyhardtodo,becauseaswearegoingtotalkaboutinasecond,theeconomicsystemthatwearein(calledcapitalism)makesitreallyhardforustovalueethicswhenwemakepurchases.

Remindthestudentsthatbeingabletoshopethicallyisaprivilege,andnoteverybodyisabletodothefollowing:

• havingtheabilitytoaffordoftentimesmoreexpensiveitems• havingtheabilityandknowinghowtoaccessinformationoncertaincompaniestoinformyour

purchase• havingtheabilitytoshopindifferentplaces,whetherthatisonline,ordrivingfurthertogotoa

differentstoretomakeamoreethicalpurchase

Therefore,weshouldnottakeamoralhighgroundifwedecidetomakeethicalpurchases.Instead,weshouldencouragethosearoundustoeducatethemselvesaccordingly,anddowhattheycantomakeethicaldecisions.

Quandary1:YouloveenjoyingCoolWhipondessertsatfamilygatherings.Yourfamilyfrequentlybuytubsofittoenjoyonfruit,pies,orcakesbecauseitscheapandprettymucheasytofindatmostgrocerystores.YoursisterhasstartedsuggestingyourfamilybuysfromadifferentbrandnowbecausesheknowsKraft(thecompanythatownsCoolWhip)hasunethicalpractices.ShesaysthattheysupportproducerswhocutdownhugeareasoftherainforestinSoutheastAsiatomakespaceforpalmplantationstoproducepalmoil,whichgoesintheCoolWhip.Shesuggestsyourfamilystartsbuyingamoreexpensivebrandthathascommittedtostopusingpalmoilinitswhipdesserttopping.Whatdoyoudo?Doyou:

• JoinyoursisterandconvinceyourparentstostopbuyingCoolWhip?• Notmakeabigdealofit,butwheneveryougogroceryshopping,choosesomething

different?

• BoycottallKraftproductsasastatement?

WhatdoyouthinkwouldbeaneffectivewaytochallengeKrafttopressurethemtostopusingpalmoilintheirproducts?

Quandary2:Youlovechocolateandhaveafavouritechocolatebarthatyoueatquiteoften.Youjustsawsomebodypostanarticleonfacebookaboutthecompanythatmakesyourfavouritechocolatebar.ItdeclaredthattheypayverylittletotheworkerswhoproducethecocoainSouthAmerica.Ininsomecases,theproducerscan’tsurviveandtheirfamiliesaresuffering.Whatdoyoudo?

Doyou:

• Decidethearticleisn’tworthlisteningtoandtrytoforgetwhatyouread?

• Writealettertothecompany?

• Stopbuyingchocolatefromthatcompany?

Youknowthecompanysellsmillionsofchocolatebarsallovertheworld,sodoyouthinkyoudecidingtonotbuyfromthemanymorewillreallymakethatmuchofanimpact?

Quandary3:Youhaveafavouritebrandofshoesthatyoulove.Youhaveaskedyourparentsforapairofthemforyourbirthdaypresent,andyouknowtheyhavealreadyboughtthem.LastnightyousawadocumentaryontheTVthatshowedwherethisbrandofshoesaremadeandyousawthattheyaremadeinhugefactoriesbychildrenwhohavetowork14hoursperdayandaretreatedbadly.Whatdoyoudo?

Doyou:

• Askyourparentstoreturntheshoeseventhoughyouknowtheywon’tgetalltheirmoneyback?

• Stillaccepttheshoesbecauseitwasn’tyourmoneyspentunethically?

• Accepttheshoesbuttellyourparentsyoudon’twantanymoreitemsfromthatcompanyinthefuture?

Whydoesreceivinggiftsmakeithardtoalwaysbesurethethingsyouaregettingareethical?

Quandary4:YouandyourfriendsheadtothemallonFridayafternoonafterschooltofindacutetopforapartythatweekend.Youseethereisasaleonatoneofthestoresyouusuallygoto–2shirtsfor$15.Thisworksgreatforyourbudget,becauseyouonlyhave$20tospend.Youfeelunsureofwheretheshirtsarecomingfromandwhoismakingthem,afterall,lessthan$8foroneshirtseemsreallycheap,butyoualsoonlyhavesomuchmoney.Whatdoyoudo?

Doyou:

• Getthetwoshirtsfor$15,gettingtwotodaymeansthatyouwon’thavetospendmoremoneyonpossiblyunethicalpurchasesassoonasifyouhadonlyboughtoneshirttoday.

• Notbuyanythingatthemallbecausenothingthatyouknowforsureisethicalisunder$20–eventhoughthismeansbeingtheonlyoneoutofyourfriendstonothavesomethingnewtowear

• Buythetwoshirtsfor$15,butonceyou’rehomeyoudosomeresearchintothestoretofindoutiftheshirtswereethicallymade.Iftheyweren’t,youreturnthem.

Choosingtomakeethicalpurchasesoftenmeansspendingabitmoremoney,whichsometimesisreallytoughifyouonlyhavesomuchmoneytospend.Isitfairforustojudgepeoplewhoshopatstoreseveniftheyknowitisunethicallyproduced?

Alternative-ConsumptionInfographicActivity+GalleryWalkTime:25mins

Materialsrequired:

5informationpackagesforgroups

5largepiecesofposterpaper

Selectionofmarkers

Tapeorstickytac

Instructions:

Dividestudentsintofivegroups(iftheyhaveaspecificareaofinterestofanyofthetopics,theymaychoosetheirgroup).Provideapackagetoeachgroup.Allowstudentsabout20minutestoreadovertheirwholepackageintheirsmallgroupandorganizeitontoaninfographicthattheywillcreate.

Onceinfographicsarecompleted,tapethemuponthewallorlaythemontablessotheyarereadable.Askthestudentstotakeafewminutestowalkaroundtheroomandcheckoutallofthedifferentinfographics,learningaboutthedifferentalternative-consumptiontechniquesthrougha“gallerywalk”.

Debrief:

Askthestudentstoreturntotheiroriginalseatsafterlookingatalltheinfographics,andasalargegroup,discussthefollowingquestions:

Couldyouseeyourselftryinganyofthetechniques?Whichones?

Didanyofthetechniquesseemnotveryuseful?

Doyouthinkifmanypeoplechosetousethesealternativemethods,ratherthannormalconsumptionhabits,wewouldbeabletohaveapositiveimpactonourworld?

AlternativeConsumptionGroup1:SecondHandEconomy

Readoverallofthematerialsinthispackagetolearnmoreaboutsecondhandshopping,andhowthisisanoptionwhenwearetryingtobeethicalconsumers.Usetheknowledgeyougainedthroughthesematerials(plusanyotherknowledgeyoumightalreadyhave)toorganizealife-sizedinfographicforyourclassmatestoread.

Besuretoincludethefollowinginformation:

Whatisyouralternative-consumptionmethod?(Provideabriefdefinitionofsecondhandshopping).

Whataresomepotentialproblemswithorbarrierstopeoplebuyingsecondhand?

Doessecondhandshoppinghaveanyimpact(positiveornegative)onotherpeople,animals,ortheenvironment?

AdditionalReflectionQuestions:

Whereplacesorwhatarewaysthatyoucouldpurchasesecond-handitemsotherthanthriftstores?

Shoppinginthesecondhandeconomymeansthatyouarepurchasingitemsthatareresoldbyotherswhopreviouslyboughttheitem.Anotherwordcommonlyusedwhentalkingaboutbuyingitemssecondhandis“thrifting”,orshoppingatthriftstores.

Shoppingsecondhandistypicallythoughtofasbeingbeneficialforseveralreasons:Cost:Buyingitemssecondhandalmostalwayscostslessthanpurchasingthesameitemnew.

Environmental:Buyingitemsthatarebeingresoldmeansthatyouarepossiblypreventingtheitemfromjustbeingsenttoalandfill.

Youknowwhereyourmoneyisgoing:Whenpurchasingdirectlyfrompeoplewhoareresellingitems(fromplaceslikeebay,kijiji,oramazon),themoneythatyouarepayingfortheitemisgoingdirectlytoaperson,andnottoapotentiallydangerousorunethicalcompanyorcorporation.Whenpurchasingitemsfromsecond-handshops,mosttimesthemoneyisgoingtosupportcharitiesorotherprogramstobettercommunities.

Therearesomepossibledownsidestothewholesecondhandeconomythough:Stigma:Buyingsecondhandclothingsometimesbringswithitajudgmentaboutwhatsomebodycanorcannotafford

Whathappensifwedon’tbuyit?Ifthereareitemsthatarenotpurchasedatsecondhandshops,itiscommonpracticeforthemtobesenttocountriesoverseastoberesoldagain.ThisiscommonplaceinseveralEastAfricancountries,andhastakensuchatollonthelocaltextileindustry,thatfivecountrieshaveproposedabanonimportingsecondhandclothing,inordertostrengthentheirlocalclothingmarket.

Whatifweallshoppedsecondhand?Manysmallthriftstoresexistinlow-incomeneighbourhoods,andcatertotheneedsofthosewholiveinthearea.Thismeansthattheywilloftenhaveverylowpricesonsecondhanditems,becausethisiswhatthoseintheareaareabletoafford.Ifallpeopleweretoonlystartshoppingatthesethriftstores,itmightimpacttheselectionofclothingavailableforthosewhoneedthelowerprices,oritmightencouragestorestoincreasetheirprices,thusmakingitemsinaccessibleforlow-incomeshoppers.

SellingthePoor:thePoliticsofValueVillageEmmaMcKenaTheCommunityEditionJanuary6,2017(Waterloo,Ontario)

Inthepasttwodecades,second-handclothinghas—likemanyotherculturalobjectsofthepoor—becometrendy,covetedandhip.Thereisnowaburstinglocalmarketofvintageclothingshops,internationalonlineretailersandevencommercialcorporationslikeUrbanOutfitterssellingusedand“revamped”items.Whilemanysecond-handstoresoftendocontributetocharity,buildcommunityanddecreasedependencyontheglobalsweat-shopeconomy,whenitcomestothemassiveretailcorporationValueVillage—wheretheresellingofdonatedusedclothingisacorporatestrategymarketedtopoorpeople—itiscriticaltoexamineValueVillage’sactualpoliticsandtheireffectsonlow-incomecommunities.

Ontheonehand,thesearchforcoolsecond-handgoodshasledtoanincreaseofmiddle-andupper-classpeopleshoppingatValueVillage.Thisexpansionofitsdemographichascertainlynormalizedwearingsecond-handclothes.Thisnormalizationhasperhapsledtoadecreaseinthestigmathatpoorandworking-classpeoplemayexperiencewhentheirclothingisnotvisiblynamebrand,fromthemall,highquality,ortrendy.However,thishasalsoledtotheincreasingpricesofValueVillageandothersecond-handstoreswhoaretakingadvantageofadevelopingmarketwheresellingsecond-handclothesdemandsverylittlelabour,resultinginhighprofitlevelsfortheoriginalownersoftheproducts,theownersandinvestorsofValueVillage.

ValueVillageisactuallyownedbyalargeAmericancompanycalledSavers,whoareoneofmanycorporationsownedbytheconglomerateTPGCapital.OneoftheimpactsofValueVillagebeingoneofmanycompaniesownedbythismulti-layeredcorporationisthattheprofitsfromValueVillageneedtotravelallthewayuptoTPGCapital.MeaningValueVillageneedstomakeahugeprofit.Bysellingatahighpriceitssurpluscommodity,ValueVillagecanmaintainitsworkersatminimumwage,payadministrators,donatesomethingtocharity(exactlywhichcharityandhowmuchisbeingdonatedisunclear),andfinally—mostimportantly—payoutitswealthyinvestors.

MylocalValueVillage,likesomanyValueVillages,islocatedinaneighborhoodthatisonthebusycity-busline,andisannexedbetweenlow-incomerentalunitsandsmallprivateproperty.ThisparticularValueVillageisthereforesituatedwithinalow-incomecommunityand,throughitsmarketingstrategy“BuyMore,SpendLess”hasadvertiseditselfaseconomicallyaccessibletopoorandworking-classpeople.However,theactualproductsinsideValueVillagearemarkedverydifferentlyfromthestore’sclaims.ValueVillageisnotfulfillingitsclaimtohelpcommunitieswheninrealitythepricingoftheusedgoodsisofteneconomicallyinaccessible,allthewhilerequiringcustomerstodothephysicalworkofrootingthroughoftenworn-out,stained,andbrokenmerchandisetofindsomethingaffordable.Overthepast10years,thepricesatValueVillagehavebecomeinconsistentlyanddrasticallyhigh,sometimesmoreexpensiveeventhanthoseverysameclothingitemspurchasednewfromdiscountretailerslikeArdene,Sirens,Wal-MartandJoeFresh.

ItistimethatValueVillagechangesitseverydaybusinesspracticestoreflectitsmissionstatementandtheneedsoflow-incomecommunitymembers.Butwecan’texpectValueVillagetodothisonitsown,

asitisinvestedmostofallinprofit.Locally,wecansupportthe$15andFairnesscampaignorlearnmoreaboutthegrowinglivingwagemovementinSouthernOntario.Or,wecanchoosetodonateourusedgoodstoactualnon-profitsliketheWorkingCentreorMCC’sThriftonKent,whereprofitsareusedtosupportsocialprograms.

AlternativeConsumptionGroup2:SharingEconomies

Readoverallofthematerialsinthispackagetolearnmoreaboutsharingeconomies,andhowthisisanoptionwhenwearetryingtobeethicalconsumers.Usetheknowledgeyougainedthroughthesematerials(plusanyotherknowledgeyoumightalreadyhave)toorganizealife-sizedinfographicforyourclassmatestoread.

Besuretoincludethefollowinginformation:

Whatisyouralternative-consumptionmethod?(Provideabriefdefinitionofasharingeconomy).

Whataresomepotentialproblemswithorbarrierstopeoplebecominginvolvedinasharingeconomy?

Dosharingeconomieshaveanyimpact(positiveornegative)onotherpeople,animals,ortheenvironment?

AdditionalReflectionQuestions:

Howdoessharingwitheachotherinsteadofpurchasingforourselveschangewhatwetypicallythinkaboutgettingnewitemsandcommunity?

Whatroledoestechnologyplayinthesuccessofsharingeconomies?

SharingEconomies&UnusedValueSharingeconomiesallowpeopletoshareitemsandserviceswitheachother,usuallyatalowercostthanifthesamethingsweretobeboughtnormally.Othertermsusedtodescribeitinclude“shareconomy”,“peer-to-peereconomy”,and“collaborativeconsumption”.

Itexistsatdifferentlevels–fromwebsitesthatconnectpeoplewholiveinthesameneighbourhoodwhoareabletolendouttoolstothosewhoneedtotemporarilyborrowthem,tolarge-scaleserviceslikeUberthatconnectpeoplewhoneedrideswiththosewhohaveacarandareabletodrivethemwheretheyneedtogo.

Sharingeconomiesarebasedonthebeliefthatunusedvalueiswastedvalue.Unusedvalueisthetimethatitemsthatwepurchaseareleftunused.Thinkaboutit,youmightbuyalawnmowerbecauseyoumovedintoahousewithayardthatneedstobemowed.Youdon’tspend24hoursofeverydaymowingthatlawn(thatwouldbeabitridiculous).Youmightonlyuseitonceaweek–leavingituntouchedfortheothersixdaysoftheweek.

Sharingeconomieswouldseethisasanopportunitytotransformthewastedvalueinthosesixdaysintousablevalue,wherethelawnmowercouldbesharedwithothersinyourneighbourhoodwhoalsohavealawntheyneedtomow,butwhoonlyneedtouseitonceaweekalso.

5waysthe“sharing”economyworksagainstworkersErikSherman,August18,2014,Moneywatch

Theso-calledsharingeconomyisoftentoutedasanunequivocalgood.Advocatesdescribeitasawayforordinaryconsumerstoearnincomefromtheircars,apartmentsandotherpersonalassets,whilealsofosteringanewclassofInternetcompaniestocompetewithold,staticindustries.

YetifflourishingnewbusinessessuchasUberandAirbnbaremakingitbigbycuttingtheiroverheadandsidesteppingregulations,andifcustomersaresavingmoney,thebenefitsforworkersinthesharingeconomyaredecidedlymoremixed.Herearefivewaysinwhichtheallthissharingandgiggingcandisadvantageworkers:

Stability.OnekeydifferencebetweentraditionalemployersandtheInternetcompaniespioneeringthesharingeconomyisthatthelattercan'tpromisetheiremployeessteadyincome.Afterall,apaycheckdependsonhowwellagivenappmatchespotentialclientsandthoseprovidingresourcesorservices.Workersalsodon'tknowwhenorwheretheywillwork,whileacceptingsomeshort-termprojectsorassignmentsmightprecludetakingonmorelucrativework.Ajobmaywelloffermoreflexibility,otherwords,butthatoftencomesattheexpenseofhavingpredictableworkhours.

Income.Manyofthetechcompaniesfacilitatingtheconnectionsbetweenclientsandworkersboastabouttheamountofmoneysomepeoplemake.Forexample,Uberhassaiditsdriverscanmakeupto

$90,000inNewYorkandthatthemediangrosspayforoneclassofdriversinSanFranciscois$74,191fora40-hourweek.

Butsuchnumberscanbedeceiving.Companiesmaymentiontop-endpayoragrossamountforallworkers.Infact,thepayforgigsappearsnotonlyfarmoremodest,butoftennowherenearalivingwage.

Meanwhile,evenwhenthecashseemsgood,muchofthecostofrunningthebusinessfallsonworkers.Ride-sharingdriversmustpayforwear-and-tearontheirvehicles,gasandcommercialinsurance.Othersjumpingfromonejobtothenextmustabsorbthetransportationcosts,expensefortoolstodothework,phoneservice,accounting,healthinsuranceandtaxes.

Bythismeasure,evenannualincomeof$90,000looksfarlesslucrativeifathirdormoreofthemoneycomesoffthetop.

Benefits.Mostemployersinthesharingeconomydon'tofferbenefitsbecausethedrivers,maidsandotherworkersintheseindustriesaren'temployees.Theytypicallygetnopaidsickorvacationdays,401(k)plans,healthinsuranceorlifeinsurance.

Asaresult,workersmustpayfortheirownbenefits,whicheatsintoincome,ordowithoutthem.AlthoughtheAffordableCareActdoesofferindividualsawaytogethealthinsurance,manybenefitpackagesavailabletoself-employedpeoplearemorecostlythantheoptionsforcorporations,meaningthatthelosscanbeevengreater.

Control.Thecompaniesthatprovidesuchservicesoftenemphasizethecontrolpeoplehaveovertheirtime,andforsomeworkersthatflexibilitycanbeamajorplus.Yetunpredictablehoursandunstableincomecanunderminethatautonomy.Meanwhile,suddenshiftsinacompany'spoliciesorprocedurescanmakelifedifficultforworkers.

Protection.AkeyadvantageforcompanieslikeUber,LyftandAirbnbisthattheyarelargely,ifnotentirely,unregulated.Yetthatisstartingtochange.MunicipalitiesandstatesaroundtheU.S.arenowweighingwhetherandhowtoleveltheplayingfield.Thelegalandregulatoryrepercussionscouldendupfallingmoreheavilyonthedrivers,rentersandotherindividualswhoparticipateinagivensectorthanonthetechcompaniesprovidingtheonlineframeworkforbusiness.

AlternativeConsumptionGroup3:‘Swapping’items

Readoverallofthematerialsinthispackagetolearnmoreaboutswappingitems,andhowthisisanoptionwhenwearetryingtobeethicalconsumers.Usetheknowledgeyougainedthroughthesematerials(plusanyotherknowledgeyoumightalreadyhave)toorganizealife-sizedinfographicforyourclassmatestoread.

Besuretoincludethefollowinginformation:

Whatisyouralternative-consumptionmethod?(Provideabriefexplanationofwhatitmeanstoswap).

Whataresomepotentialproblemswithorbarrierstopeopleswapping?

Doesswappinghaveanyimpact(positiveornegative)onotherpeople,animals,ortheenvironment?

AdditionalReflectionQuestions:

Inwhatwaysdo‘swap’eventschangethewaythatwethinkaboutconsumptionandcommunity?

Doyouthinkitwouldbepossibleforusasasocietytoonlyswapasameansofexchanginggoods?

Swapsareawayforpeopletoexchangeitemsthattheystillvaluebutthattheynolongeruse.Mostcommonareclothingswapswherepeoplecanattend,bringingclothing,shoesandaccessoriesthatarestillingoodconditionbutthattheynolongerwearandswapthemforotheritemsthatothershavebrought.

Swapscanhappeninpeople’shomes,orinpublicspaceslikeparksorcommunitycentres.Thespaceissetupinsectiondividedbyclothingitem,andpeopleplacetheitemsthattheybroughtinthecorrectareaandthenareabletolookthroughalloftheotheritemsbrought.

Sometimesswapshaveasmalldonation“covercharge”thatgoestoalocalcharityorcommunitygroup.Inthisway,swapsarenotjustaboutthepeoplewhoareattendingbutalsoforotherpeopleintheircommunities.

SwappingandCapitalismCapitalismplacesaheavyemphasisonindividualrights,focusingontheneedforpeopletoworkhardtogainsuccessforthemselvesasindividuals.Capitalismdoesnotfocusmuchontheneedforpeopletocometogetherincommunity,andforcommunitiestoworktogethertoachieveequalityforall.

Hostingaswapcontradictsthisveryidea,becauseitrequiresustocometogetherincommunity,andshareresourcesthatwealreadyhavewithoutcontributingtolargecompaniesthatmakealotofmoney.Itencouragessharingofresourcesthatwealreadyhave,inareciprocalway,sothatallpeoplecanwalkawayfromtheswaphavingbenefitted.

Swapsalsooftenhaveasocialcomponenttotheevent.Forexample,bringingafoodordrinktosharewithfriendsisoftenapartofattendingaswap,sothatpeoplecancometogethernotonlyforthe“shopping”experience,butalsoforthesocial,communitydevelopingexperience.

Thewaymanyclothingretailersproduceandsellclothingthesedaysisconsidereda“fastfashionindustry”,inwhichthereisaveryhighturnoverrateintheclothingthatstoresareselling.Inaddition,theclothingthatisbeingsoldisoftenofverylowquality,anddeemedoutofstylequitequickly.Thisisawayinwhichcapitalismencouragesustocontinueconsuming:itfrequentlyshowsusnewproductsthatarenewandattractiveandalthoughtheyaren’tmadeverywell,theyalsodon’tcostverymuch,sowecanpurchaseanewshirtandskirtoneweekandthrowitouttwoweekslaterbecausewecangorightbacktoForever21togetanewonethatiscoolerandfreshlooking.(perceivedobsolescence).

Swapschallengethis,becausetheyaretakingthepowerawayfromthecompanieswhoaretellingustokeeppurchasing,andinsteadwearegivingthatpowerbacktoourfriendsandpeerswhenwesharewiththem,takingthingsawayfromthelandfill,andkeepingourmoneyinourpockets.

AlternativeConsumptionGroup4:FairTrade

Readoverallofthematerialsinthispackagetolearnmoreaboutfairtrade,andhowthisisanoptionwhenwearetryingtobeethicalconsumers.Usetheknowledgeyougainedthroughthesematerials(plusanyotherknowledgeyoumightalreadyhave)toorganizealife-sizedinfographicforyourclassmatestoread.

Besuretoincludethefollowinginformation:

Whatisyouralternative-consumptionmethod?(Provideabriefdefinitionoffairtrade).

Whataresomepotentialproblemswithorbarrierstopeoplefairtrade?

Doesfairtradehaveanyimpact(positiveornegative)onotherpeople,animals,ortheenvironment?

AdditionalReflectionQuestions:

Howisfairtradedifferentthenprovidinginternationalaidetoworkerswhoarestrugglingfinanciallyincountriesaroundtheworld?

Howdoyouknowifsomethingthatyouarebuyingisfairtradeornot?

WhenyoubuyproductswiththeFAIRTRADEMark,yousupportfarmersandworkersastheyworktoimprovetheirlivesandtheircommunities.TheMarkmeansthattheFairtradeingredientsintheproducthavebeenproducedbysmall-scalefarmerorganizationsorplantationsthatmeetFairtradesocial,economicandenvironmentalstandards.Thestandardsincludeprotectionofworkers’rightsandtheenvironment,paymentoftheFairtradeMinimumPriceandanadditionalFairtradePremiumtoinvestinbusinessorcommunityprojects.

Fairtradeworkstobenefitsmall-scalefarmersandworkers,whoareamongstthemostmarginalizedgroupsglobally,throughtraderatherthanaidtoenablethemtomaintaintheirlivelihoodsandreachtheirpotential.

Inanincreasinglyglobalisedworldourlivesarebecomingmoreinterwovenwithpeoplearoundtheworld,throughthewaywedobusiness,theproductswebuyandtheholidayswetake.Yetahugegulfofsocialandeconomicinequalitiesstillexists.Manypeopleareleftwithoutaccesstobasicnecessities–food,water,housing,educationandhealthcare.Globaltrade–andmorespecifically,thesystemof

‘freetrade’–canhavenegativeimpactsonsmallholderfarmers,whocannotcompetewithlargercompaniesandglobalmonopolies.Thiscanresultinfarmershavingtoselltheirproductsforaverylowcost.Thiscanmeanmanypeopleareforcedintopoorworkingconditions,lowpay,unsafeworkingconditionsandexploitativepractices,astheyhavelittlechoice.‘Fairtrade’isanalternativemarket-basedapproachtotradethatcounteractsthe‘freetrade’system.Itisasystemofeconomicdevelopmentthataimstogiveproducers(especiallyindevelopingcountries)alivingwageandenablethemtomakebettertradingconditionsandpromotesustainability.Ethicalcertification(throughorganisationssuchasFairtrade,RainforestAllianceandUTZCertified)isaprocessbywhichassurancescanbemadethatproductsaretradedfairly.Therearemanydemonstratedexamplesoffarmersandfarmingcommunitiesreceivinghigher,moresustainableincomesasaresultofthe‘fairtrade’system.

ResearchfindsFairtradefailsthepoorestworkersinEthiopiaandUgandaMay24,2014,SOASUniversityofLondonFairtradecertifiedcoffee,teaandflowersdonotimprovelivesoftheverypoorestruralpeopleinEthiopiaandUganda,accordingtoafour-yearresearchprojectconductedbyleadingdevelopmenteconomistsatSOAS,UniversityofLondon.Theprojectstudiedrurallabourmarketsinareasproducingcropsforexport,underdifferentinstitutionalconditionsthatincluded,insomeresearchsites,Fairtradecertification.

Lowpayforwageworkers,particularlywomen,andlimitedaccesstoschools,healthclinics,improvedsanitationandothersocialprojectsinruralareaswereamongthefindingsin‘Fairtrade,EmploymentandPovertyReductioninEthiopiaandUganda’,areportpublishedtoday.Teamsofhighly-trainedfieldworkersstudiedwagesandworkingconditionsintwelveareasgrowingcoffee,teaandflowersinEthiopiaandUganda.Aswellasreviewingexistingstudies,theresearcherscollectednew,detailedmicro-levelcomparativeevidencefromareasproducingagriculturalexportsonhowrurallabourmarketsaffectpoorpeople’slives.

Keyfindingsfromthereport:• MostruralpeopleinEthiopiaandUgandaenjoyamuchhigherstandardoflivingthanseasonaland

casualagriculturalwageworkers.Inruralareas,manualagriculturalwageworkersaretheverypoorest.• WhereFairtradeflowersweregrown,andwheretherewerefarmers’groupssellingcoffeeandteainto

Fairtradecertifiedmarkets,wageswereverylow–especiallywomen’swages.Infact,wagesinothercomparableareasandamongcomparableemployersproducingthesamecropsbutwheretherewasnoFairtradecertificationwereusuallyhigher.ThiswasnotbecausetheFairtradecertifiedcooperativeswereinmoremarginalised,deprivedareas.

• InsomeareasdominatedbyFairtradecertifiedcooperativesworkersinthesamplesdidappeartohavegreateraccesstosomefringebenefits(e.g.,freemealsintwosites,oronothersitesmoreaccesstoloans)thanworkersinareaswithoutFairtradecertification.Evenhere,though,otheraspectsofworkconditionswereoftenworse.

• Thefindingsonlowerwagesheldtrueevenaftertheeffectsofscaleandotherdifferencesacrossworkersandsitesweretakenintoaccountindetailedstatisticalanalysis,contrarytotheclaimsmadeintheFairtradeFoundation’sownstatementaboutthisresearch.

• Fairtradepublicisesitscontributiontothefundingofschools,healthclinics,improvedsanitationandother“socialprojects”inruralareas.Fromhoursofquantitativeandqualitativeinterviewswith

respondentsandothers,includinginsomecasescooperativemanagers,theSOASresearchersfoundthatthepoorestoftenhadnoaccesstothese‘community’facilitiesintheresearchsites,evenwhentheywereorhadbeenwageworkersontheprocessingstationsorforproducermembers.

AlternativeConsumptionGroup5:RepairCafés

Readoverallofthematerialsinthispackagetolearnmoreaboutrepaircafés,andhowthisisanoptionwhenwearetryingtobeethicalconsumers.Usetheknowledgeyougainedthroughthesematerials(plusanyotherknowledgeyoumightalreadyhave)toorganizealife-sizedinfographicforyourclassmatestoread.

Besuretoincludethefollowinginformation:

Whatisyouralternative-consumptionmethod?(Provideabriefexplanationofrepaircafés)

Whataresomepotentialproblemswithorbarrierstopeoplefixingtheirownitems?

Doesrepairingorfixinginsteadofbuyinghaveanyimpact(positiveornegative)onotherpeople,animals,ortheenvironment?

AdditionalReflectionQuestions:

Whydoyouthinkpeoplepurchasenewitemswhensomethingbreaksratherthantryingtofixit?

Doyouthinkrepaircafésshouldexistinpublicspaceslikeparksandlibraries?

Toronto’sRepairCafélookstobuildabiggernetworkoffixersLukeSimcoe,TorontoMetro,January17,2016

ThefoundersofToronto’sRepairCaféhaveasimplephilosophy:ifit’sbroke,fixit.

“Rightnow,weliveinakindofdisposablesociety,butwewanttobringbacktheideathatyoucanfixstuffandyoudon’thavetothrowitout,”saysco-founderPaulMagder.

Magder,alongwithWaiChu,startedtheRepairCaféin2013.Theyholdmonthlyeventswhereanyonecanhavetheirbrokenitemsrepairedbyateamofvolunteerfixers.They’llmendjustaboutanything,fromcomputerstoclothing,appliancesandjewellery.

“Lampsarereallybig.Wegetatonoflamps,”Magdersaid.

AccordingtoChu,thegoalsofthecaféaretwofold:theywanttosaveitemsfromneedlesslylandinginthelandfill,whilealsoteachingpeoplehowtorepairtheirownthings.

“Repairissomethinganyonecanlearntodo,”Chusaid.

Ultimately,ChuhopesinitiativesliketheRepairCafécanhelpcreateamoresustainablesociety.Sheandothervolunteersarecollectingalistofhard-to-fixitemsandplantolobbythecompaniesthatmakethemtochangetheirpolicies.

“Wenoticecertainmanufacturersaremakingthingsthatarenotmeanttolast.They’renotdurable,ortheycan’tevenbeopenedtobefixed,”shesaid.

Aftertwoyearsofgrassrootssuccess–monthlyeventsinTorontoroutinelyattractuptoahundredvisitors–Chusaid2016willbetheyeartheRepairCaféreachesoutward.They’replanningeventsinunderprivilegedareasinTorontothatwillinvolvelocalyouth.

“Theplanisthathopefullytheycanstarttheirownrepaircafés,”shesaid.

WhatexactlyisaRepairCafé?Repaircafe.orgRepairCafésarefreemeetingplacesandthey’reallaboutrepairingthings(together).IntheplacewhereaRepairCaféislocated,you’llfindtoolsandmaterialstohelpyoumakeanyrepairsyouneed.Onclothes,furniture,electricalappliances,bicycles,crockery,appliances,toys,etcetera.You’llalsofindexpertvolunteers,withrepairskillsinallkindsoffields.Visitorsbringtheirbrokenitemsfromhome.TogetherwiththespecialiststheystartmakingtheirrepairsintheRepairCafé.It’sanongoinglearningprocess.Ifyouhavenothingtorepair,youcanenjoyacupofteaorcoffee.Oryoucanlendahandwithsomeoneelse’srepairjob.Youcanalsogetinspiredatthereadingtable–byleafingthroughbooksonrepairsandDIY.

IstheRepairCafétakingbusinessawayfromrepairprofessionals?Repaircafetoronto.comTheanswerisquitetheopposite.TheRepairCaféaimstobuildaculturewhererepairingratherthanthrowingoutisthenorm.Wedemonstratetopeoplethepossibilityofgettingthingsfixed.AttheRepairCafé,weadvisepeoplewhoneedfurtherhelpwiththeirbrokenitemstoaccesstheservicesoflocalprofessionalswhoarestillinthebusinessofrepair.

VisitorstotheRepairCaféarepeoplewhoarenotnormallycustomersofrepairspecialistsastheyfindtheexpenseprohibitive.

Inaddition,manyrepairprofessionalswanttoprovideaservicetotheircommunityandtheRepairCaféisanenjoyablewayforustogettoknowoneanother.