Soul Economy

Wow! Today we celebrate the 98th International Women’s Day. The very first International Women’s Day (IWD) was launched by Carla Zetkin on 19 March in 1911 to celebrate the social, political and economic achievements of women. Carla was an influential socialist German  politician and fought for women’s rights (Source: Wikipedia). In 1913, International Women’s Day was changed to 8 March and is now held on this date globally each year.  In China, Russia, Ukraine, Macedonia, Vietnam, Mongolia, Bulgaria, Belarus, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, IWD is even a national holiday. And in some countries, IWD has the same status as Mother’s Day.

Since launching Soul Economy, I have had the pleasure and privilege of meeting many amazing and inspiring women. Social and eco entrepreneurs who wake up each day and work on the making the world a better place, changing the world one step at a time. Wonderful women who have travelled to developing countries and upon returning to Australia, are now working with these communities by supporting fair trade – to help these poor communities overcome poverty and become sustainable. Fabulous designers who are  using organic fabrics and eco-friendly production processes to help us to reduce our carbon footprint. This now means, that here in Australia, we are lucky enough to be able to purchase a wide range of ethical products from food to women’s fashion and accessories, shoes, bags, home décor, children’s toys and games, sleepwear, children’s and men’s clothing, sports gear, gifts and wrapping, jewellery and corporate promotional products.

While there has been a strong focus on environmental issues and the need to live more sustainably, the fair trade movement in Australia is not as well recognised. “Fairtrade is about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world. By requiring companies to pay sustainable prices (which must never fall lower than the market price), Fair trade addresses the injustices of conventional trade, which traditionally discriminates against the poorest, weakest producers. It enables them to improve their position and have more control over their lives.” (Source: Fairtrade Foundation, UK). Fairtrade premiums paid to these farmers and workers are invested in the social, economic and environmental development of their communities.

I am excited and pleased to see that fair trade is growing in Australia. In 2008, retail sales of Fairtrade Certified products in Australia & New Zealand was more than AU$28 million compared to AU$18 million in 2007 (Source: Fairtrade Association of Australia and New Zealand, 22 December 2008) – and growth is estimated to exceed 50% again in 2009. Even though Australia’s take-up of Fairtrade lags well behind other countries (Courier Mail, 31 March 2008), Australia along with Spain are predicted to have the strongest growth in fair trade over the next 5 years (Datamonitor, 12 March 2008). In fact, Datamonitor forecasts a 15.7% growth in fair trade purchases over the next five years from 2007-2012 in the 11 countries (including Australia). And while the global financial crisis is having an impact, it is encouraging to read reports that consumers are still choosing to purchase ethically.

It is great to see the results these wonderful women entrepreneurs in fair trade businesses are achieving.

On this special day, I wish to leave you with some quotes that I find really inspiring from two amazing women of our time.

“I want to work for a company that contributes to and is part of the community. I want something not just to invest in. I want something to believe in.”
Anita Roddick

“If you think you’re too small to have an impact, try going to bed with a mosquito.”
Anita Roddick

“Unless you choose to do great things with it, it makes no difference how much you are rewarded, or how much power you have. “
Oprah Winfrey

“I don’t think you ever stop giving. I really don’t. I think it’s an on-going process. And it’s not just about being able to write a check. It’s being able to touch somebody’s life.”
Oprah Winfrey

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