Have a Holly Jolly Fair Trade Christmas

I've been thinking a lot recently about Christmas and what I and my family are going to spend this year. Money is tighter this year than usual - in the past, my wife has worked a part-time job along with my full-time ministry. In moving to Ohio, we have made the determination to have her stay home and take care of our daughter; which has been great from a family standpoint, but from a financial standpoint, it's been interesting to say the least.

Christmas spending is projected to be at an all-time high this year, which is surprising to me because of all the things that have happened this year: the oil prices have shot through the roof (I've surprised myself recently for being happy that the gas prices have hit the low $2.00 range again), the hurricanes and natural disasters in our world have prompted people to give some of their savings to disaster relief, and many people spent money on big vacations this summer as the travel fear after 9/11/01 has generally dissipated.

I have read a couple of very good articles from Time Magazine this year concerning the operations of some of the retail centers that my family likes to frequent for the good deals we get, and it has caused me to rethink my shopping values and strategies, and so this Christmas I'm considering doing something a little different: I'm going to try and buy my Christmas presents from companies that participate in Fair Trade. You may have seen this term in the news recently; if you're a Coldplay fan, you've at least seen Chris Martin's mantra "Make Trade Fair" written on his arm or on his piano. He even says it at the end of each concert.

It just makes sense to me. If I made items to be sold in the market, I would hope that I would have a voice as to how much and to whom these items can be sold. Unfortunately, around the world, business does not work this way. One woman says it this way:

- “Not only does it [fair trade] give [the artisans] opportunities for their families to be lifted out of dire poverty, but it also gives them the dignity of having a safe working environment and also an environment that is democratic. While most imported goods come from manipulative factories, fair trade cooperatives are owned by the artisans and allow every person a voice in decision making. This is especially significant for women in cultures where females typically are not included in decision-making processes. Fair trade groups also offer reasonable wages and support systems for the oppressed."

It's going to be hard, I think, to find everything made by a Fair Trade company. (Do any Fair Trade companies make Dora the Explorer toys?) But I'm going to give it my best shot and see if it's possible.