When a baby is born, it is a common assumption that crying is a positive sign of health. This initial cry of the newborn indicates their first assertion of well-being in their coming to life. Making your voice heard becomes then the most natural sign of a functioning organism; speaking up as a necessary, vital part of a living being.
Trade as a decolonising tool
When the Fair Trade movement gained momentum in the 1960s, its ambition was to challenge the relationships of power between exploited countries, usually located in the South of the globe, and the widespread imperialist, neocolonising practices that were defining the business norm in the “Global North”. Driven by the desire to change the narrative around what businesses should look like, and the idea of considering fairness (to people and to the planet) as the conditio sine qua non of making business decisions, this small group of visionaries were not afraid to speak up in front of the trending injustice and to provide an alternative to colonialism, one that would truly benefit all. They raised their voices against abuse and committed to uprooting systematic injustices by using trade to trigger a localised and yet global reaction on the whole economy.
By using (inter)national trade as a tool, Fair Trade pioneers envisioned a gender-, economic-, social-responsive trade alternatives that could be adopted worldwide. Even though back then Fair Trade initiatives often became a tool for Christian religious propaganda, over the years the Fair Trade movement evolved and developed better strategies and included all voices to describe what fairness should look like.
Photo credit: BFTA (Bethlehem Fair Trade Artisans) (Palestine)
Why we support Palestine as the World Organization of Fair Trade Enterprises
Decades later, however, the legacy of colonialism continues to shape the current global economic landscape, defining and pervading our lives. From the food we eat to the clothes we wear, colonial and racist policies seep through and radicate in our society, always favouring the patriarchal, white, rich élites. Therefore, practising fairness as business owners, consumers and citizens implies a bigger scope than what sometimes can be felt as an abstract, farfetched concept of “trade”, but a broader political positioning. And if indeed Fair Trade is about rectifying relationship of power and dismantling systems of (economic) oppression, it must also by definition stand against not only colonisation, but its most modern counterparts: military forced oppression, land-grabbing, and ethnic cleansing, too.
As the world witnessed and is still witnessing, eyes open, the bombing of Palestine, the murder of civilians in Rafah, the starving of children, the abuse, violence and destruction, to stay honest with the values that have always driven our movement, remaining silent is not an option. Silence means choosing the side of the oppressor. Silence means choosing to support violence, planned ethnic cleansing, intentional starvation of innocent people, and colonisation. And, putting aside the moral stance implied with it, supporting the Israeli government in its attempt to destroy Palestine and its people also means utterly disregarding the principles set by international law, and in particular of article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
We don’t want to be bystanders
As people in Gaza cry for help, we too need to make our voices heard and amplify the plea of Palestinians to the International court to urgently stop Israeli attacks.
However, an abstract condemning the war is not enough and bearing witness is not enough. People of conscience around the world are rightfully shattered, enraged, and sometimes feeling powerless about the Israeli government’s genocide against Palestinian people. Boycotting products and services of companies funding the Israeli government has become a powerful way of having an impact on global politics. These non-violent punitive measures are essential acts of resistance that civil society can take to make a real, tangible impact.
But punitive measures are not the only ones citizens can take to support Palestinians: restorative measures too are equally crucial to bring direct, localised support to the people affected by the attacks led by the Israeli government. Buying from producers like Al Reef (Palestine), HLHCS (Palestine), BFTA, and Sindyanna of Galilee (Israel) means supporting the work and life of Palestinian Fair Trade producers and of the Israeli opposition that speak up every day against its government’s brutal actions against Palestine. It means creating a flow of support that can represent a concrete chance to survive – not only for these businesses but also for all the people behind them.
