Is fair trade sustainable?

Summary information

Resources needed:

Access to the following websites:
www.fairtrade.org.uk/about_benefits_environment.htm
www.fairtrade.org.uk/suppliers_growers_sugar_alberto.htm
www.fairtrade.org.uk/suppliers_growers.htm
www.dubble.co.uk/beantobar
www.oxfam.org.uk/coolplanet/kidsweb/banana/index.htm
www.divinechocolate.com/about/kokoo/meet-the-farmers.aspx
www.fairtrade.org.uk/about_fairtrade_highlights_2002_welcome.htm

Procedure:

1. Display the statements below. Ask pupils to use the listed websites to explore these statements and discuss them in their groups:
“Fair trade food is high in food miles – that’s bad for the environment – we shouldn’t buy it!”
“Fair trade farmers don’t protect the environment – they take land from the rainforest, they grow GM foods, they use lots of chemicals and they drain rivers for irrigation!”
“Fair trade is all about money; it’s got nothing to do with sustainability!”
Ask pupils to indicate their reaction to each statement by standing along an imaginary line in the room i.e. ‘Stand over there if you strongly agree with the statement; on the other side if you strongly disagree; somewhere along the continuum if you feel their may be some truth in the statement.’

2. As a whole class, invite pupils to discuss their findings and thoughts about the statements.
What do they think being ‘sustainable’ actually mean?

Extension:

Invite pupils to find out about doing more to support Fair Trade in your school. The following links may help:
www.fairtrade.org.uk/schools.htm
www.co-opfairtrade.co.uk/schools_pack/download.asp

Evaluation:

Ask pupils to complete the following:

Sustainability is about…
Fair trade is about…
I think fair trade is…

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