Posted by Rachel on: 05.06.2007 /
“Fair trade needs to move from guilt to solidarity. Guilt is a demeaning emotion. It’s another way of exerting one’s superiority. And it’s repulsive to the recipients. Pity doesn’t recognize the humanity, the equality, of working people. They don’t want pity. They don’t want a special break - they want an even break.”
- Adam Neiman, founder of No Sweat Apparel
This quote was excerpted from the May issue of Sojourners magazine in an article entitled What Would Yeshua Wear?, which also mentions our very own Joe Turner. Hurray for Joe!
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Comment by: joe
1 05/10/07 7:24 AM | Comment Link |aggg… lets not even go there.
Comment by: Rachel
2 05/10/07 7:43 AM | Comment Link |Can you elaborate, Joe? Did you not like the Sojourners article? Or did you not like the Adam Neiman quote?
Comment by: joe
3 05/10/07 8:05 AM | Comment Link |Adam Neiman is being economical with the truth and the report is inaccurate in several ways.
I can go through it point by point if you like.
Comment by: Rachel
4 05/10/07 8:08 AM | Comment Link |Yes Joe, I would like to hear your input.
Comment by: joe
5 05/10/07 8:39 AM | Comment Link |Well, to start with the impression is that I phoned Adam for advice. This is not the case. Part of the purpose of the existance of my non-profit is to inspire and encourage others to trade with Palestinians.
When I accompanied Adam to Bethlehem to introduce him to suppliers, I had bought organic cotton from Turkey to Bethlehem, developed designs and had clothing manufactured and for sale in the UK for six months.
Also, it must be pointed out that to date No Sweat has only bought a few thousand T-shirts from Arja Textile, which has a capacity to produce hundreds of thousands, so Adam is a very small customer and looks to remain that way for the forseeable future. There are many other textile factories just in Bethlehem.
That is not to say that Nosweat has not risked something by going to work in Palestine, nor that my company and I are unpleased that we have been able to persuade other brands to consider trading there.
But I am unimpressed with my name being taken in vain. I would rather not be mentioned at all than totally out of context in this way.
Comment by: Rachel
6 05/10/07 9:00 AM | Comment Link |Thanks for clarifying, Joe. I can see how that would be very frustrating. Sorry to have poked at a sore spot - I was just so thrilled to see your name in the article. I was yelling to my husband, “Joe Turner! I know Joe Turner! He posts on our blog!” :-)
Would you prefer that I delete the link to the Sojourners article?
Comment by: joe
7 05/10/07 11:20 AM | Comment Link |Na its ok. It is good that people are talking positively about Palestinian textiles. I just need to form a thicker skin.