SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION AND TRADE -
A PANEL DISCUSSION

Final Observations Arnd Spahn (IG Bau)

There are many examples, changes and positive developments that should be continued. In Europe, we are currently discussing if sustainable consumption and criteria for sustainability can be connected more closely to the recommendations made by consumer associations. In this context, there are many changes in European consumption patterns. Consumer associations are starting to consider not only the price of a product, but also its quality and if it was produced in a sustainable way. This development should be supported. In other fields, there are initiatives to provide associations, cooperatives, canteens, etc. with more fare trade products. But there are no market- structures to make justice a reality. At its last federal congress, the German Trade Unions' Association even gave up their aim of fair competition, because we no longer believe that this goal can be achieved.

We have talked about criteria for sustainability which has much to do with individual visions. I believe that there is an ideological aspect to sustainability which has just been discussed. Nevertheless, we expect a lot from these alternative developments. I think Rudi is right when he says that we use these alternative developments to create models, but they do not enable us to arrive at structural solutions. These must be achieved in other fields. I hope that we will talk less about ISO and more about codes of conduct at the conference in May. To me, this is an important point if we want structural improvements in market-relations. Maybe, we should further discuss the example of our collegue from the Philippines, who talked about the group of Japanese visitors and the intercultural exchange between producers and consumers. There are many approaches, and we will see which course the preparatory work for the Brussels conference will take, which ideas will be implimented, which ideas will be dispenced with, but we will all have great expectations.

Question from our companion from IG Bau: On behalf of IG Bau, has there any process being started in order to encourage the members of your organisation to promote Fair Trade?

Yes, in Germany we also have the fair trade system. The German Trade Unions` Association cooperates together at board level where we have tried to gain support for fair trade. Many groups within German society are participating in this process. There is a large social alliance in support of fair trade and the consumption of fair trade products. Yet many new questions have occurred during this development. I have already mentioned one of them. We will have to discuss these questions very intensively, but you, the colleagues from the South, are the ones who are asking these questions, who are discussing these questions with us. We are very well integrated in the German fair trade process, but this process is not about us. This process is about our colleagues from the South, who must be more involved. The situation is different in Germany: 250 000 seasonal workers work illegally in our country. Ukranian seasonal workers work for 18 Pfennnig (6 Pence) per hour in the federal state of North Rhine-Westtphalia. People who break their legs while they work are driven across the Polish border by night and are thrown out of the car in front of a Polish hospital because they do not have any social insurance and are working illegally in Germany. The chairman of the German Agricultural Employers`Association was sent to prison because he employed illegal workers. We do not really discuss these problems in Germany. We do not receive a lot of support when we ask these questions which concern our entire country, but we are supported by many of our colleagues from the South who hear about these German problems and think that this situation must be changed. Perhaps we are trying to use systems like fair trade to solve problems in a system of relations which includes Germany and Europe. I doubt that this can be very successful in the long run, but we must intensify these efforts.

Unlike Alistair, I still believe that sustainability has three pillars - economic, socisl and ecological sustainability. These kinds of sustainability must be strengthened, be it in Columbia or in Germany. Domestic developments have a strong impact on international relations, and if a country tolerates economic injustice within its own borders, it will not be able to develop just international relations.