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South Jersey Fair Trade Alliance
Building Economic, Social and Environmental Justice Through Fair Trade

The South Jersey Fair Trade Alliance is very excited to inform you
about Bill AR178 to support Fair Trade in the NJ State House! The bill
can be viewed at http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2006/Bills/AR/178_I1.HTM

Thanks to Organic Consumers Associtation you can send an email of support for the Fair Trade bill at http://www.organicconsumers.org/njFT_alert.htm

Our 3rd annual International Gift Fair has come and gone and it was the best year yet!! Thank you to everyone who came out and supported Fair Trade and local non-profits. Hopefully we can keep up the momentium as we push for change!
If you would like to get involved-
please feel free to contact us at southjerseyfairtrade@hotmail.com

The South Jersey Fair Trade Alliance is working to educate and activate SJ residents and business owners about the importance of Fair Trade. We work to raise awareness about this issue through our annual alternative gift fair, presentations, educational displays and legislation. The SJFTA is working to make Fair Trade Products more available in the South Jersey area and to benefit the Fair Trade movement.

Economic and Social Development

One of the most important criteria for Fair Trade is that farmers are a part of a cooperative. This allows farmers to participate in the democratic decision making process, giving small scale farmers a voice. Fair Trade guarantees small farmers a minimum price and with FT revenues the local community is able to build better housing, health care programs, schools and scholarships.
By linking the farmers directly with the markets, farmers in FT co-ops are able to earn 3 to 5 times more then they would through conventional mechanisms.

Labor, Health and Safety

No Child or Forced labor. Working cannot jeopardize school, social, moral or physical development of a young person. Protection from anti-union discrimination, Freedom of Association and the right to organize.
Producer organizations must work towards having a pension scheme, adequate sick leave, working hours and over time regulations and salaries are gradually increased to levels above the regional average and offical minimum wage. Progress must be made in forms of adequate personal protective equipment of good quality, relevant health protection and first aid programs are improved through training.
People under 18, pregant or nursing women, persons with incapacitated mental conditions and those with chronic diseases in the respiratory ways can not handle pesticides or other hazardess materials.

Environmental Benefits

Shade Grown- Over 80% of coffee and cocoa in the U.S. is shade grown. Growing coffee and cocoa under the shade of natural forest canopy preserves crucial habitat for a diverse array of plants, animals, insects and migratory birds.

Organic- Over 85% of Fair Trade Certified coffee, tea and chocolate has an organic certification. Even non-organic farms must use integrated pest management systems, which emphasize alternatives to chemicals.

Bio Diversity- Fair Trade helps to maintain diverse forested ecosystems, one of the most threatened environments in the world. Farmers who participate in FT implement additional soil and water conservation measures such as composting, terracing and reforestation.