Fair Trade Indonesia

My researches have turned up very few fair trade organisations here.

1. US-based ForesTrade's organic program fully embraces the idea that it is our moral responsibility to conserve fragile tropical ecosystems and maintain a harmonized balance within the earth's ecological systems. Walking our talk, we approach organic and sustainable agriculture with three main goals in mind:
· Maintaining balance with the natural environment.
· Educating producers about the long-term economic value of organic and sustainable agriculture.
· Ensuring the wellbeing of partnering farmers and their communities.

To that end, they sponsor a number of projects in Sumatra, including:

a. sustainSumatra which is an initiative that was launched after the Tsunami in Northern Sumatra as a way to provide relief efforts and long term reconstruction assistance to the region.

This broad-based effort will provide strong support to shift from emergency relief to long term reconstruction and sustainable development in areas of Asia heavily affected by the earthquake and tsunami.

b. PT Mitra Ayu, a growing producer and exporter of essential oils such as patchouli, nutmeg and clove stem.

ForesTrade has an office in Lampung, South Sumatra.

2. The Gayo Organic Coffee Farmers Association (PPKGO) is an organic Fair Trade cooperative located in the Gayo Highlands of the Aceh province of Sumatra. Co-op members are small-scale coffee farmers dedicated to producing 100% shade-grown, organic coffee.

In a region known for political conflict, the co-op has continued to produce, process, and export high quality Sumatran coffee. It has maintained relative peace and unity among an ethnically diverse membership comprised of Gayo, Javanese, Acehnese, Padang, and Batak peoples. Twenty percent of PPKGO's members are women.

"The value added from Fair Trade is not just about money, it is about protecting the
ecosystem and our community. We are able to invest in infrastructure to improve our well-being. Thanks to Fair Trade, one of my children is now in medical school and the other is in midwifery school."
Mohammed Salim, PPKGO member

3. Pekerti has been established "to increase the standard of living of poorer communities, to establish a fair, democratic process and involvement of communities in their own economic activities"

Pekerti markets Indonesian handicrafts.

There's an everlasting cultural spirit behind every pieces of craft you see, inherited from generation to generation. The fact that craft is a mass-product nowadays does not make such a spirit fades away. It's a culture, a tradition, a heritage, in which lives are devoted.

Pekerti respects and appreciates the process, the way, the philosophy, and the minds behind its making. And most of all, the people behind it who have devoted their lives. A product is not just a thing for sale. It's an art with a human touch deep inside. Craft is about a sense of beauty, respect, and dignity. That's why we, at Pekerti Nusantara PT, proudly present you something unique and special from Indonesia: beautiful crafts presented by talented and skilled artisans.

4. Yayasan Mitra Bali
Established in 1993 as a nonprofit, nongovernmental organization, Mitra Bali functions loosely as a cooperative of 80 artisan groups representing 900 member artisans who make wood, silver and bamboo handicrafts. Mitra Bali only works with producers who support gender equity, provide healthy working conditions, use environmentally sustainable materials and do not exploit child labor or women. Mitra Bali's Design Center offers free design service and trend analysis with artisans; the organization's shop provides access to the local market.

Because many Balinese handcrafts are made of wood, Mitra Bali avoids use of hard woods and supports reforestation of soft woods by supplying seedlings to their artisans to develop sustainable wood harvests.

5. Merdeka Coffee
We are a boutique coffee company dedicated to the sourcing, selection and roasting of the best Indonesian coffees. Our clients are individuals, institutions and wholesalers who share our vision for exceptional coffee obtained through fair & equitable local trade relationships.

At Merdeka Coffee we believe in developing partnerships with small hold growers and farmers, both at plantation and village level. A percentage of our profits are shared with our Indonesian partners in order for them to develop their communities, their coffee expertise and to assist them promote environmental conservation.

What you can do

In the UK, you are in the middle of Fair Trade Fortnight. Do try to be fair for more than two weeks though. Remember, lives depend on you.

Support your local Green Party. (Unfortunately, there isn't one in Indonesia - yet.)

We all need to work. It's not just about making a living... it's part of being human. But somewhere along the line, work became Economics and real people became forgotten.

Greens believe that Real Progress means shaping economics to people's needs, not the other way round. Greens believe in measuring economic benefits in terms of quality of life, development of people and care for the environment, as well as money in the bank.

The world is increasingly being run for the benefit of multinationals, not its citizens. Real economic progress involves encouraging more local, smaller businesses - the real backbone of the economy - rather than the multinationals, which wield huge power but provide relatively few jobs. and work for change.

Boycott Starbucks but support Coffee Kids.

In the south of France, visit Maya at Saya (and say that Jakartass sent you).

Thanks to Indonesia Anonymus who put in touch with JPAflores - the Flores Fair Trade Network. Do read their manifesto. It's a model of clarity.

Finally, please email me if you know of other Fair Traders here, preferably those online.

 

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