Fair trade foods help workers

People around the world are discovering that they can buy some of the everyday things they need while helping workers around the globe build secure and rewarding lives by buying Fair Trade foods. This is a concrete way to say "no" to an economic system that exploits workers, enslaves children, and devastates the environment. For a product to be considered Fair Trade, the company selling it ensures that they adhere to Fair Trade principles which include: 1) Paying workers a fair, living wage; 2) Providing healthy and safe labor conditions; 3) Fostering cooperative partnerships so farmers have a say in how the business is run; 4) Cutting out middle men to ensure more profits get into the hands of workers; 5) Paying a premium that allows workers to improve their communities; 6) Providing education to help workers use environmentally sustainable production methods. The principles of Fair Trade go hand-in-hand with those of Catholic Social Teaching. Fair Trade items are offered for sale here at St. Paul the third weekend of every month after all masses in the
narthex. There will be gift bags for Easter and Mother's Day available at the sale next weekend, April 16 and 17, in addition to all the usual coffees, teas, cocoas and candy
bars. Find out more about Fair Trade at fairtradeaction.org.