Seen as early as the 1940s in the US, fair trade is now an organized global movement. Its ultimate goal is to _(1)_ producers in developing countries whilepromoting sustainability. Fair trade focuses on getting better prices and _(2)_ fairer trade practices. Fair trade also hopes to improve working conditions and create a _(3)_ means of living for farmers and workers in poorer countries around the world. By trying to eliminate the injustices of _(4)_ trade, whichdiscriminates against the poorest producers, fair trade enables them to have more control over their lives. This, in turn, improves their _(5)_ in society. Fair trade goods include handicrafts, cocoa, sugar, tea, wine, and coffee, to name a few. How does fair trade work exactly? Simply put, it eliminates a lot of the middlemen who take a cut of the _(6)_ and puts more money back into the hands of the impoverished workers. Let's take coffee for example. If you buy an espresso from a shop that uses only fair trade coffee beans, then more money would reach the farmer _(7)_ the far end of the production line. Granted, prices are a bit higher than at a shop that doesn't stock free trade coffee. However, the _(8)_ is that the additional funds go towards establishing health care programs,scholarships, better sanitation, and improved living conditions in the impoverished communities. _(9)_ all these pluses, who wouldn't want to jump on the fair tradebandwagon? Critics believe that the additional funds never actually make it back to the farmers and workers. Instead, they get pocketed by the businesses for unnecessary expenses. So, if there is little money flowing back to the producer, then there is little betterment in their lives. _(10)_ these criticisms, fair trade hastaken root among many consumers, and it looks like it's here to stay.
(A) sustainable (B) profits (C) establishing (D) protesting (E) conventional (F) upside (G) assist (H) With (I) position (J) at (K) Despite (L) joyous
|
留言列表