San Francisco, CA--On Monday, May 3, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors unaminously passed a resolution declaring May 8 as Fair Trade Day in San Francisco. The resolution expresses San Francisco's opposition to unregulated economic globalization in its current state and The City's support for fair trade, socially responsible investment, and sustainable and equitable economic development.

"As a purchaser of goods and services, the city has a responsibility to ensure that tax dollars are spent in a manner consistent with decent ethical and labor standards, including assuring that workers are paid a living wage, and purchasing goods made in the most fair manner when possible," the resolution reads. "As an investor of capital, the city has a responsibility to ensure that capital investment promotes sound development policies, supports responsible corporate activity, and does not engage in speculation."

"We applaud the supervisors' leadership in passing this resolution," says Deborah James, director of Global Exchange's Fair Trade Program. Global Exchange, a human rights organization, coordinated the effort to get the resolution passed. "Cities across the country should follow San Francisco's lead and commit themselves to promoting a more fair and equitable global economy."

The Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution allows public entities to determine how to use public funds when it is acting as a market participant. But the World Trade Organization is considering trade regulations that would limit local governments' ability to favor local businesses. This Fair Trade resolution, the first of its kind in the United States, marks a precedent for local government's right to control its own fiscal policies--particularly policies that favor socially responsible trade and investment.

Twenty-seven local businesses, investment firms, environmental, labor, and economic justice organizations endorsed the resolution, showing a growing community support for city officials taking a stand on these issues.

The next step is implementation of socially responsible purchasing and investment policies. "We want San Francisco to be the first government body in the U.S. to serve Fair Trade coffee in its city offices," says James. Fair Trade certified coffee is served in corporate headquarters, university cafeterias, and government offices across Europe, including the European Parliament.

As part of its broader human rights mission, Global Exchange sponsors a Fair Trade program that helps support community-owned and women-owned cooperatives in developing countries through the sale of hand-crafted housewares, jewelry, and clothing.

During the last decade, the international Fair Trade movement has grown dramatically, especially in Europe, where thousands of stores sell crafts and commodities with labels certifying that the goods were not made under abusive and exploitative conditions.

Fair Trade is one of the best alternative models for economically just and sustainable development. In 1995, Fair Trade stores in the US posted more than $20 million in sales, according to The Wall Street Journal; since then, sales have continued to grow rapidly, with some stores in the US reporting 40 percent yearly growth.

Expressing San Francisco's opposition to unregulated economic globalization in its current state and support for fair trade, responsible investment, and sustainable and equitable economic development,

WHEREAS, the United States as a whole consumes the greatest amount of goods and services in the world, invests the most capital, and thus wields tremendous influence in the global economy; and

WHEREAS, it is in our local interest to have a stable global economy which allows for productive local and regional economies; and

WHEREAS, the current financial architecture has been inadequate in dealing with the global economic crises, as evidence by crises of unprecedented proportions in Asia, Russia, and Brazil; and

WHEREAS, investment, trade, and consumption should promote an economy that allows for a decent standard of living and a sustainable use of natural resources; and

WHEREAS, The Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution allows public entities to place restrictions on the use of public funds when the public entity is acting as a market participant; and

WHEREAS, as a purchaser of goods and services, the city has a responsibility to ensure that tax dollars are spent in a manner consistent with decent ethical and labor standards, including assuring that workers are paid a living wage, and purchasing goods made in the most fair manner when possible; and

WHEREAS, as an investor of capital, the city has a responsibility to ensure that its capital investment promotes sound development policies, supports responsible corporate activity, and does not engage in speculation; and

Now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Supervisors of the City and County of San Francisco hereby Proclaims May 8th as Fair Trade Day, a day of support for a global economic system which is based in fair trade, corporate responsibility, and socially responsible investment.

Endorsed by:

• As You Sow
• Shelley Bradford-Bell, Executive Director, Bayview Opera House
• California Fair Trade Campaign
• Casa Bonampak Tienda Latinoamericana
• Campaign to Abolish Poverty/Fair Employment Coalition
• Economic Justice Now
• Economic Security Project
• Fair Trade Zone
• Galería de la Raza
• Global Exchange
• Global Partners, LLC
• Harrington Investments, Inc.
• JustAct, Youth ACTion for Global JUSTice
• International Development Exchange
• International Forum on Globalization
• International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU)
• Neil Lahaie, Labornet Coordinator
• A. Maciel Printing
• Maya Traditions
• Mixik Mexican Folk Art
• Mobilization Against AIDS International
• Modern Times Bookstore
• Northern California Coalition for Immigrant Rights
• Pacific Environment and Resources Center
• Parnassus Investments
• Progressive Asset Management
• Rainforest Action Network
• Ramona Enterprises
• Rose Foundation for Communities & the Environment
• Redefining Progress
• San Francisco Progressive Challenge
• TransFairUSA