Children

“There is no trust more sacred than the one the world holds with children. There is no duty more important than ensuring that their rights are respected, that their welfare is protected, that their lives are free from fear and want and that they can grow up in peace.”
– Kofi Annan

Mark Vallen from his series Art for Change

They are your children, though you cannot and do not see them. They are all of our children…the parentless, homeless, abused, innocent victims of war, and the unloved children of the world.

Why are they our children? Because they are the future, they are the future politicians, war lords, business leaders, suicide bombers, teachers, terrorists, writers, dictators and presidents.

If our actions, love and understanding lead a child on the right path today, taking them out of war and strife, then how do we sit idly by and do nothing?

A future teacher or terrorist…The choice is ours!

Tomorrow, Saturday, May 12, 2007, is World Fair Trade Day, this years theme is “Kids Need Fair Trade,”. Please take this day to think about what you buy, where it comes from, and how you are affecting the future of the worlds children. Start teaching your children today the value of fair trade, and its impact on other children all over the world. Your children are tomorrows leaders and consumers, and if they learn now the value of fair trade, then the future for millions of other children is safe hands.

Fair Trade means a fair wage, and with a fair wage becomes so much more than just more income for a family, it is a sustainable solution. A fair wage means, better labor practices, less exploitation, a better environment, more economic freedom and helps to create more opportunities…especially for children.
Fair Trade means children have a chance to stay in school, for it keeps children under 18 out of the work force if it keeps them out of school, and with education comes a promise of a better future.

A fair trade community does not just allow children to go to school, but it ensures that a community is able to develop more opportunities for their children, including cleaner water, better nutrition and medical care.

Please refer back to my post, ‘Human Slavery Today Versus Yesterday Continued…‘, on April 25th

Links
Sweatshop Watch - Has a shopping guide
Make Trade Fair
Fairtrade Foundation
Fair Trade Labeling Organizations International (FLO)
Fair Trade Federation
Support Fair Trade
Fair Trade Resource Network
Fair Trade Federation
Global Exchange
IFAT - The international Fair Trade Association
Transfair USA
Fair Trade DC
/manderson.home.igc.org/teacherguide/index.html”>KIDS and FAIR TRADE - A Teacher’s and Parent’s Guide