FTF 2005 Notes: Kimberly Grimes, Plenary Session III
Plenary Session III (10/1 at 10am): Kimberly Grimes, Made by Hand International
- Fair trade businesses are just like conventional businesses, but they care about all of the players.
- A new concept in business is the ?tri-line?, which encourages the consideration of social, economic and environmental costs (as opposed to the ?bottom line?.)
- ?Cooperation? should replace ?competition.?
- If we leave control in the hands of a few powerful corporations, we are not a democracy.
She expressed concern about a fair trade retailer talking about being in competition with another fair trade retailer, saying there?s no such thing as competition in this work because we?re all working toward the same goal. This idea was met with some criticism during the brief Q&A time. It?s an interesting question--is World Fare in competition with local churches who are selling fair trade coffee to congregants at the wholesale price through their denominations? Interfaith Coffee program? Or are we all just working toward the same goal?