Fair Trade Blog

Climate change continues to wreck havoc, most recently in Pakistan and China. Having been through a couple of record floods myself, I have experienced the unique power of such disasters. There is no way to fight a flash flood, you can only try to get to higher ground. Even then it is sometimes impossible to get out of the way. 

Fair Trade has been affected in Pakistan.  A Fair Trade Labeling liaison officer in the Baltistan region of Gilgit reports that 52 people have died and a landslide in the Gizar area took 20 lives. The Gilgit area is home to a number of Fairtrade certified fruit farmers.

The long term damage is severe since the bridges on the only road through the region have been destroyed along with homes and businesses. 

Natural disasters, unfortunately, are on the rise.  Climate change is causing more flooding, drought, and severe tropical storms.  As the population in vulnerable areas continues to increase the impact continues to build. 

Many of these areas are the same areas where Fair Trade is not only needed but thriving.