Each for All: The Co-operative Connection

The topic of today’s show is Ethical Purchasing, Fair Trade, and Food Security.

In February, UVic will be the site the first Victoria Ethical Purchasing Forum, organized by the BCICS, in collaboration with the Canadian Student Fair Trade Network, Vancouver Island Public Interest Research Group (VIPIRG), Values Based Business Network, and the Canadian Social Economy Hub.

The Ethical Purchasing Forum is designed to bring together co-operatives, businesses, activists, faith groups, academics, indigenous organisations, farmers, labour groups and politicians to talk about enhancing ethical trade in the Victoria region.

Today, we are pleased to bring you a panel of involved community members to share their knowledge with us. Perhaps it would be best to have everyone do their own introduction, Sol do you want to get us started.

• Sol Kinnis
• Megan Thom
• Ian Hussey
• Debbie Dergousoff

Discussion

• Debbie and/or Sol provide a working definition of ethical purchasing and any other terms that may need some initial explanation, i.e. food security, fair trade, etc. Mention the upcoming ethical purchasing forum (we'll come back to this later in the show).

Debbie, or Sol, is it possible to start by giving us a rough working definition of What is Ethical Purchasing?

“Ethical purchasing put simply is buying things that are made ethically by companies that act ethically. Ethical can be a subjective term both for companies and consumers, but in its truest sense means without harm to or exploitation of humans, animals or the environment.” (from Ethical Consumer, UK)

How does this tie into Fair Trade?
How does this tie into Food Security?
How did the idea of this Ethical Purchasing Forum evolve?
What impact does purchasing products ethically have?

• Megan can talk about what's going on within campus. (plus discussion)

How much is the idea of purchasing ethically produced products discussed in the University setting?

Bologna is a city in northern Italy has been widely recognized as one of the world's leading examples of a successful co-operative economy, with one third of the region's GDP deriving from co-operative enterprises. Every year the BC Co-operative Association offers the popular Bologna Summer Program which sends a group of students to Bologna to learn both the theory and application of co-operative economic models. If you are interested check out www.bcca.coop.

• Ian talks about what is happening with students at the national level.

• Ian, Debbie, and Sol continue discussion moving to what is happening at the international level.

• Wrap up with discussion and information on the upcoming ethical purchasing forum.

Thanks very much to my wonderful guests for joining me today. I know you’re both very busy with all your projects and in preparation for the forum.

Check out the Forum's website:http://ethicalpurchasing.bcics.org