The European Tribune is a forum for thoughtful dialogue of European and international issues. You are invited to post comments and your own articles.
Please REGISTER to post.
That's the way it used to be: small settlements had their own bakers, shoemakers, etc. Trade was generally restricted to raw materials that could only be obtained in special places, like spices.
As far as we know through historical and archaeological research, from very early on (probably long before the Phoenicians), trade was not only about raw materials, but also manufactured goods (like wine, ceramics, fabric, perfumes, jewels...). Being (as I am) in favour of economic subsidiarity doesn't mean we have to rewrite history.
You are also grossly misrepresenting what is fair trade. The fair trade rules imply to pay to the producers (often organised in co-operatives) a price that allows them not only to survive, but also to improve their living standards and to give education to their children. It usually provides also ways to finance investment in new production means. "Dieu se rit des hommes qui se plaignent des conséquences alors qu'ils en chérissent les causes" Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet
by Frank Schnittger - Sep 24 2 comments
by Oui - Sep 19 18 comments
by Oui - Sep 13 32 comments
by Frank Schnittger - Sep 11 5 comments
by Cat - Sep 13 9 comments
by Frank Schnittger - Sep 2 2 comments
by Oui - Sep 26
by Frank Schnittger - Sep 242 comments
by Oui - Sep 1918 comments
by gmoke - Sep 173 comments
by Oui - Sep 153 comments
by Oui - Sep 15
by Oui - Sep 1411 comments
by Oui - Sep 1332 comments
by Cat - Sep 139 comments
by Oui - Sep 126 comments
by Frank Schnittger - Sep 115 comments
by Oui - Sep 929 comments
by Oui - Sep 713 comments
by Oui - Sep 61 comment
by Frank Schnittger - Sep 22 comments
by gmoke - Sep 2
by Oui - Sep 1177 comments
by Oui - Aug 315 comments
by gmoke - Aug 302 comments
by Oui - Aug 304 comments