Archive for August, 2009
Over time, the effects of free trade have become more and more apparent. Critics of free trade label claim that it allows wealthy Western nations and large corporations to exploit producers in developing countries. A resistance movement emerged in the form of âfair trade.â According to this approach, producers are paid enough to live comfortably and make their operations sustainable.
In recent years, globally conscious consumers have turned to fair trade products, which all bear distinctive labels. Coffee, tea, sugar, bananas, cotton clothing and wine are just a few of the most readily available fair trade goods that are widely available. Fair trade has not put a stop to imperialistic exploitation, but it has at least made a few strides in the right direction.
In college, I had a friend whose bath towels smelled awful. I could tell they hadnât been washed in weeks, maybe even months, and had all kinds of bacteria growing in them. He didnât realize that leaving his warm, wet towels balled up in the closet caused them to grow microbes and, consequently, stink. âWhatâs the point of taking a shower if you dry off with disgusting towels?â I asked. He needed a few biology and hygiene lessons to get his act together, and he could have also benefitted from using bamboo bath towels.
Towels made from bamboo fibers are naturally hypo-allergenic, anti-microbial and odor resistant. Even if my friend didnât wash his bamboo towels for a while, they would have been more hygienic and less smelly. On top of that, bamboo bath towels have the softness and silkiness of cashmere, yet are even more absorbent than cotton. Theyâre even durable enough to go in the washer and dryer â perfect for college kids, like my friend, who canât be bothered with special washing instructions.