One of the points from the reading “Reluctant Entrepreneurs” that resonates with me is how Ben Sedan insisted that he did not need a microloan, and was not open to change because he was convinced that his family would not have the means to expand their business. It is not as if Sedan didn’t want the best for his family, or that he wasn’t willing to put the work in. He just wasn’t aware of the possibilities that could arise with thinking about business differently. This is where Al Amana and other organizations become so crucial in not only identifying entrepreneurs, but also connecting with them on a deeper level than just providing capital.
This brings me back to one of the points I had made in an earlier blog: education is so key to allowing people to realize what opportunities are available to them. It seems as though in certain cultures, people are accustomed to being humble and not taking more than they need, and they transfer these personal values to business as well, which is a contrast to the capitalist system in the United States, where we often see greed as a prevalent driver in business.
The idea of being poor because one is not intelligent or resourceful is simply not true, and this is where our other reading, “The Parable of the Black Sheep,” comes into play. The author states that as a twelve year old, he thought that people were poor because they just “let themselves be.” People are not poor because they do not want to change, or are comfortable in their situation, as it may seem from a child’s point of view. They are poor because they do not see a way out, and often do not have the means, the support, nor the knowledge that is necessary in order to catalyze a change.
I really enjoyed the personal narrative of this reading, because it makes everything, especially the lessons presented, much more real and universally applicable. I liked that the author encourages young people to challenge the status quo, which isn’t very common in the school system here in the United States, where a lot of the time, teachers just follow standardized lesson plans, and there is little room for questioning, participation, or hands-on experience on the part of the students. This is where creativity is muted, and new ideas are often stifled because kids do not learn to think for themselves. Thus, we can all make an effort to think outside of the box, regardless of whether we are living in poverty, to achieve more.
One thing that especially stuck out to me in the reading was the description of entrepreneurs by someone Maathai knew. He said; “entrepreneurs see possibility, an idea, and won’t stop, regardless of the obstacles, until they make it happen. I really like this quote because it is so encompassing and telling of the entrepreneurial spirit. This motivated Maathai to do groundbreaking work with the Rockefeller institution and make changes to the way people consider philanthropy that would have otherwise never happened had he gone with the secure job opportunity.
I think that this quote especially holds true for entrepreneurs who are also trying to do good in the world, because no matter how hard it is, or how many people doubt that their vision is possible, they will not stop trying until they make the change that they had envisioned and like Maathai, benefit those that need it the most.
Another quote that struck me was when the author was struggling, and the CEO of a health care company told him to “just start… don’t wait for perfection. Just start and the work will teach you.” This quote also had an impact on me and was seems to embody the spirit of being an entrepreneur.
This is such an important thing to keep in mind when starting out, because change will never come if we do not act upon it. If we expect something to happen, whether it be profits or a positive impact through fair trade, we must be willing to put the work in, even though it may not seem like the perfect time financially or otherwise.
In "‘Game-Playing’: Rethinking Power and Empowerment,”, I really appreciated how the author elaborates on the different kinds of power that can be expressed over individuals or groups of people. These types of powers differ from the traditional notion of “power-over,” and are not brought to light as much but pose huge problems. These include hidden power, and invisible power, which are so important in analyzing the reason that certain constructs are in place and why people continue to accept and follow them.
When thinking about fair trade, hidden and invisible power become especially relevant, because often the people who are exploited are not aware of the extent that they are being used, or the profits that others are making from their labor. In other cases, people have accepted that this is the system of living that they are born into because of the power structures in their society, and have little belief that their economic and social status could change. The “invisible” power is a way of life, and as the author states, people even begin to imitate it in their own lives although it is clearly detrimental, through what Gramsci calls hegemony, or the “individual internalization of ruling ideas.” To me, this seems like such a problem, because although the people themselves are oppressed, they unknowingly end up perpetuating those same ideas in their own relationships on an individual scale.
A concept from the reading that I really liked was “power with,” because it gives the idea of power a positive spin, helps us more from associating power with oppression to thinking of it in the context of empowerment.
Furthermore, I think that it is exactly what we are trying to do in our class and with Amani. The power of the whole proves to be greater than the power a single person holds, and only when we work together can we expect to make a greater difference. If just one person was trying to run and sell from the cart, then there would be no way that we could raise as much money and awareness of fair trade. “Power with” shows us that in order to really be successful, we must be willing to share and work together in order to spread the word about fair trade.
I really enjoyed the chapter, “Harnessing Entrepreneurial Energy” by William Foote, because it brought up some really interesting considerations for a person working with developing economies.
Foote brings to light the problem that exists for farmers and cooperatives who are seeking to expand their business, but need funding that falls somewhere between microloans and traditional banking. A lot of the time, banks do not want to provide loans because of the unstable nature of the agricultural industry, or because of the region itself.
I think that Foote has found such an important niche in financing these cooperatives, because they enable individual farmers to improve the quality of their crops, and their output, which attracts more prominent customers, and allows them to move from being subsistence farmers to entrepreneurs. This in turn gives them the freedom to invest their money in other places, such as education for their children. I love how the impact of these loans can be directly seen, and really changes the lives of the people that receive them.
Another part of the chapter that stood out to me was when Foote wrote about his passion for music, and how he was able to connect with people he was visiting and doing business with just by sitting down with them and playing songs on his guitar. This to me showed just how important it is to be sociable, adaptable, and understanding when you are doing business in a different country. It is so important to get to know the people you are working with, and this comes to prove that it is such a personal process and a journey. The mutual enjoyment of music shows that Foote and the farmers are in it together, and even though we are all born under different circumstances, when it comes down to it we are all people who enjoy the same things.
I thought that the introduction to “A Brilliant Idea” was such an interesting read, especially because it delves deeper into the business side of fair trade. One fact that jumped out to me was the poorest 40% of people in the world account for just 5% of the world’s income, whereas the richest 20% account for about 75% of the world’s wealth.
The statistics on the disparity when it comes to wealth are upsetting, because a person cannot choose the circumstances in which they are born, and most of the world doesn’t have the resources and/or the political structure that we have here in the United States that would allow them the opportunity to climb the economic ladder. Reading this brings about a certain sense of guilt, but also a sense of gratitude. More people should be aware of these statistics not just to take action, but to really appreciate every moment and opportunity they are given in life.
I also thought the author’s information on the Fair Trade Labeling Organization International was interesting, especially from a marketing standpoint.
I definitely think that the FLO is so important in getting the word out about fair trade, because it endorses products and gives the consumer a visual reassurance of fair trade goods. The potential of the fair trade mark is huge, and perception plays an important role in that. I thought it was a good point when the author talked about the positioning of the FAIRTRADE mark, and how it has been necessary for the public to associate the logo on fair trade goods with high quality products. This is where the dilemma about big brand names taking the mark mainstream, because a lot of the time, their intentions can be in question and the image of a fair trade product in a customer’s mind could get distorted, but at the same time, the big brands are so important in getting the word out and reaching a huge market of consumers with their products.
The reading Fair Trade: A Human Journey even further opened my eyes to the importance of Fair Trade and the impact it has on individual's lives. Here are a couple of my thoughts after reading these passages:
When reading Fair Trade: A Human Journey, several points especially stood out to me. The first point was when the author states that women working as artisans in Bangladesh make on average about $30-$40 dollars a month, and then parallels this amount to what a manager in an industrialized country would make in just an hour.
This stark comparison was eye opening to me, but also interesting because the author goes on to say that this wage is enough for the women to feed, clothe, and educate their children. I thought that this was very telling, and revealed the differences between the lives that these women lead and life here in America, for example. To me, it is difficult to compare the two because a person in America could argue that having one person making an income of $30-$40dollars/hour for a family here in the United States would barely be enough for them to be considered living in the middle class. While the way of life is incomparable when you consider each separate income, context must also be factored in. The cost of living is so different in each area, that people in both cultures making these entirely different incomes could both be considered as living within the same class in their respective society.
Another part of the reading that resonated with me was the quote by Laurie Waridel, who says, “Like democracy, which isn’t just about going to vote from time to time, the globalization of social and environmental justice isn’t just talk. It means taking ideas and putting them into action of a daily basis.”
I thought that the author’s thoughts were particularly relevant to the discussions we have had in class for the past couple of weeks that seem to share a common thread- it is the personal choices that we make every day that are going to make the biggest difference. I thought back to when we talked about who was to blame for the atrocities that are committed in the chocolate industry, and it was brought up by one of my classmates that the person who is most at fault is one who has the most information yet fails to make any changes or take action accordingly against the injustices he or she identifies. I completely agree with this, and think that it is what Waridel is saying as well; talking about fair trade and awareness of the issue is not enough. We cannot be passive because when it comes to change, action and making changes on a personal level and on a consistent basis is what is going to make a difference.
One of the most revealing and shocking scenes in the video for me was when the documentary makers visit the territory of Kunda, the rebel leader. I think that this section of the film is especially telling because it delves further into the root of the problem when it comes to violence in the Congo. Kunda believes that he is justified in carrying out a religious mission to regain lands and punish those who do not share his views. It was so sad to see the Hutu child prisoners being kept under Kunda’s watch, because the viewer knows they are not responsible for any of the conflict in the region, but are being punished for it nonetheless.
What is upsetting is that the mineral trade helps pay for this injustice to continue. The problem is, however, that as long as there is a demand for cell phones and a lack of regulation, the trade will go on. As long as these powerful economic interests are present in the Congo, violence and unrest will keep occurring.
I think that another problem that becomes evident through this is the power of self-interest that suppresses action. This is showed in several ways throughout the film. For example, rebel leaders use the UN logo to transport coltan across border lines, and the UN is aware of it but does not take action because of their economic interests, and the complications that would result from taking sides in the region. In addition, exporters can essentially name their own price for the mineral, and say that the do not know if the money funds the rebellion or not, just as long as they are making a profit. Mobile phone companies are also defensive and do not want to admit responsibility, even though most of their phones are manufactured in China, from where the coltan cannot be traced.
I think that taking responsibility along the supply chain will be crucial in improving the coltan trade, and allow for steps to be taken towards Mbubib’s vision of a fair trade cell phone. It is necessary for exporters, middlemen, manufacturers, and phone companies alike to know where the coltan comes from and ensure that no atrocities were committed in the process. I also recognize the challenge in this, however, because phone companies, for example, are reluctant to get involved and possibly take charge of the mining processes due to the political situation and the dangers of dealing with the rebel leaders.
Hello everyone! My name is Gabriela, and I am a student in Dr. Combellick's Entrepreneurship and Fair Trade class as well. Here are some of my reactions to the documentary "The Dark Side of Chocolate":
One of the most riveting parts of the video for me was the interview with the boy who was a victim of child trafficking. For the viewer, there is a sense of helplessness that really hits home because he or she knows that there is nothing that can be done to help this boy who was only trying to help raise his family out of poverty by traveling to the Ivory Coast. The issue becomes very real through this example, as well as through the use of secret cameras that really expose the most shocking footage of the child trafficking industry.
I found these scenes to be a shocking reminder of the miscommunication and lack of cooperation at an international level to combat the issue of child labor. Instead of acknowledging the issue, the international community seems to be shrugging their shoulders at it. This is why the videographers should be commended, because unlike the chocolate makers and authorities who decide to turn their heads the other way and deem the problem as unsolvable, they decided to be proactive and do something to expose it. The telling footage is an indication of the disfunctionality of the legislation currently in place, such as the Harkin-Engle protocol in 2008, and proves that more needs to be done to eliminate the cycle of child labor that is occurring between the Ivory Coast and neighboring countries.
Another scene that I would like to point out is the interview with the SAF-CACAO CEO Ali Lakiss. At first, the head of the company denies that there was any child trafficking going on in the Ivory Coast, and even invites Miki Mistrati to go see for himself that there were no children working in the plantations. When he does visit, however, he and his team find that there are in fact many children working there, most of who are not getting paid anything, and were sold to the plantations for only around 200 euros. Upon showing this footage to the CEO a second time, he does end up admitting that there is a problem, but says that it is being addressed by the authorities. However, in a subsequent interview with the chief public officer who is supposed to be working on combating the problem in the Ivory Coast, it is proven that this is unfortunately not the case.
One of the things that is most shocking to me is the unwillingness on the part of cocoa manufacturers to take responsibility and address the issue in the industry. I think that there are many benefits to chocolatiers to become certified fair trade, because they will be recognized as responsible by the consumer. More importantly, however, if more companies begin to ensure that their plantations are free of child labor, others will follow suit and the issue can ultimately be eliminated. This move by the chocolate manufacturers and distributors, however, cannot be possible without the cooperation of the government with private industry owners. Change can only occur with the acknowledgement that there is a problem, and the initiative to actually do something to fight the child labor trade.
Tue Nov 19, 2013 4:01 am
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