The increasing popularity of fair trade has drawn criticism for a variety of reasons. Supporters and opponents of fair trade have been calling for stricter standards and higher fair trade prices. Some people have even referred to a practice of "greenwashing" to entice buyers. Read the following British article: How Fair is Fair Trade? (Or use the following key words to locate the article in an online search engine: BBC Fair Trade Debate.)
Where do you stand on the issue of fair trade?
Do you think fair trade actually perpetuates the cycle of poverty in developing nations?
Do you think the fair trade label simply makes unnecessary purchases seem acceptable?
Does it matter?