Unknown atrocities by western photo card companies

Fair Trade is becoming more and more known amongst the general public which is a great thing. A few products are HOT, like coffee, fruits and cacao after the stories about farmer exploitation reached the main stream media. Untold are the stories about how most Western photo post card companies steal the natural beauty from countries in the south to make the western countries richer and leave the natural owners of the countries beauty with nothing!

Ever studied the small print on the back of a photo card with an image from the majority world? I will bet you $100 the photo is taken by a western photographer, printed by a western publisher and probably even printed in a western country.

While the beauty displayed on the postcard belongs to a southern country ALL the money is going to western companies, photographers and printers. Even the taxes are paid in the west and not in the southern countries where the value is created. Isn't it a bit strange that the country that provides all this beauty we want to send to our loved ones ends up with none of the profit made? Even the beautiful photo post cards in the third world shops make the rich countries richer and the keep the poor countries poor.

That is where FairMail cards comes in and makes a difference. The pictures on FairMail cards are taken by underprivileged teenagers from Peru who earn 50% of the companies profit to finance their education, printed in a Peruvian printshop, exported by FairMail which pays taxes in Peru and sent to the consumers by the Peruvian National Post Company. This we FairMail maximizes the amount of earnings that stay in Peru. Which is much more fair as Peru is the country providing the natural beauty.

Want to stop the crimes committed by western photo card companies NOW? Buy Fairmail Cards via the webshop on www.fairmail.info

Peter den Hond - FairMail

Comments (1)

Hi Peter,

I just read your post and I think the Fairmail concept is fantastic. I can't believe I haven't heard of it sooner - I live/work in Peru, making shoes with artisans. Do you work with teenagers in Lima? I used to work with a grassroots social organization in Yerbateros, which would love to hear about what you are doing. The kids on the hill in Yerbateros (San Agustin) have very little opportunity to explore creativity and much less in a way that brings them value.

On another note, just off the top of my head, I would love to work something out with the Fairmail organization and our shoe line ... I have a couple ideas, please contact me if you can at kerryclarkson@marcellotoshi.com.

Many thanks, Kerry

posted by Kerry on 3/ 1/2008 11:58 pm

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