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G There's value in fair trade options Shelly Sanders Oakville 15 | Thursday, November 19, 2015 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com rowing up in the 1970s, clothing was an expensive treat reserved for birthdays and Christmas. Then, most of the products we consumed were made in Canada or the U.S. Today, 97 per cent of our clothing is outsourced to developing countries and prices have dropped to the point where items have become disposable. But there are two indisputable problems with this: such industry generates trillions of dollars in profits, but is one of the largest polluters, and the people who make garments, can earn less than three dollars a day, often working in unsafe conditions. In the documentary, The True Cost, it's claimed that toxic waste from leather factories flows into India daily. There is also said to be a high rate of suicide among cotton farmers in India and many have died in numerous factory collapses. Even more disturbing is the number of children working under horrific conditions. At September's United Nations Sustainable Development Summit, the International Labour Organization announced that 168 million children are working. On the Ivory Coast, it has been reported, that children work on cocoa plantations, and in 2012, a sweatshop in Delhi, India was raided and children were found working forcibly long hours making Christmas ornaments. The more I learned, the harder it was for me to accept our throwaway economy. I began looking at labels, avoiding brands I knew were made in sweatshops. This mindset is the essence of fair trade, a movement that developed to ensure living wages for workers under safe conditions, incorporating sustainable methods to preserve the environment. The annual Fair Trade Sale at Maple Grove Church provides the opportunity to see diverse products made by artisans from all over the world. It's also a chance to learn more about this growing movement; in Canada, 17 cities and towns have Fair Trade Status, and my next goal is to add Oakville to this list. Maple Grove's Fair Trade Sale takes place Sunday (Nov. 22) from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at 346 Maple Grove Dr. You'll find more information about this event and Fair Trade at www.facebook.com/ MapleGroveFairtradeSale. AyA Kitchens of oAKville 1195 north service roAd west 905.847.1522 ayaoakville.com