Fair Trade Futures Conference -- Student Scholarships

Jordan McLaurin University of San Francisco

Close your eyes with me, will you? Imagine for a moment a world that offers you Fair Trade products on every level. This image and dream literally brings tears to my eyes. We must no longer endure an unjust and unequal way of living. We will no longer sit in our own little worlds, closed off to the needs of the world around us. We now have the power, the tools, and the connections to put these dreams and images into action.

At this conference our ethical, political, social, economical, and personal interests have been addressed in such a way that I feel encouraged and empowered. I will leave here this weekend with extensive knowledge on an issue that has already engaged my interest and attention. I know that after attending this conference I have resources, support, a strong basis, and most directly, an enriched personal passion for the promotion of Fair Trade on my university campus.

Being in solidarity with farmers, producers, and growers that utilize Fair Trade will create a place, a global society that encourages, promotes, and establishes trading relationships that will endure the test of time. Realization that all people on this earth are from one human family will put respect and dignity in the forefront of our minds. Joan Neal of Catholic Relief Services discussed this principal of unification and solidarity with our brothers and sisters around the world. She stressed the need to preserver through our hardships for the common good of all because, we are in this together and we need to remain together. If we can “loose ourselves in the sake of another” we can say we are truly committed to this cause.