After a lesson that seemed to take hours to start , it must have been my migraine, we considered the ethical factors that might be considered when thinking about  purchasing organic or inorganic products, using apples as an example.

Remember you need to write up your answer to the essay question on the support sheet, this is good practice and will help you in your next piece of coursework.

I have placed a copy of the sheet under work set. Remember the deadline for submission is Monday 2nd of July 2007. Remember this is just a guide and I’m hoping for some independant flare as well!

Tomorrow we go on to look at consumer landscapes and hopefully begin to look at an example of a product web.

Just another bit of praise about the quality of your coursework and your meeting of deadlines. Well done to all.  You see, I can be nice sometimes. 

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Watched Leonardo DiCaprio in Blood Diamond, the film is set during  Sierra Leone’s civil war in 1999. The title refers to diamonds that are mined in war zones and then sold to fund conflicts; though the diamond trade is now strictly regulated, it is estimated that 1% of diamonds mined come from conflict zones. Once processed and fashioned into jewellery, the consumer has no knowledge of the diamond’s original location. The film reminded me of Noel Jenkins’ work on the subject, a great example of a product web and interdependence.

We also have historical links with Sierra Leone, it being an ex-colony, British forces are currently present in the country advising the government on the development of its armed forces.

The film has an adult rating, due to its disturbing scenes of civil conflict, so it’s one for parental permission, trailer below.

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With thanks Sally.

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Hat tip Alan. This is a fascinating idea, urban vertical farms. Less space, locally grown produce reducing carbon footprints (But as we know, food can be produced in the U.K. , transported to the continent, for washing and packaging, and then shipped back to the U.K. ), visually pleasing. But what about countryside?  One for the National Rural Dimensions conference at the start of the month.

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Thanks to Tom Biebrach for highlighting this carbon footprint calculator from the W.W.F. (that’s the environmental group ).

My footprint is 3.08 planets, how do you do?

Nice to see some Geographers excelling during Sports Day this afternoon, congratulations!

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After a bit of coursework ranting by me, this was question we considered today . Fair Trade can be defined as when the producer is paid a price for their product that covers the cost of production. Fair Trade products certified by the Fair Trade Foundation are branded with the logo shown in the inset.

Fair Trade products are more expensive, not only because an above market price is paid, but because a social premium of usually around 20% is added to the price. Basically Fair Trade items are a niche market.

This social premium is used to develop the quality of life of the producers.

So what are the advantages of buying Fair Trade?

• You are providing producers in LEDC countries with a fair price for their product that covers the cost of production. Basically, they aren’t working for nothing.
• Fair Trade represents a different way of production. Producers are encouraged to work sustainably with the environment, are prohibited from using child labour, are encouraged to take collective democratic decisions through co-operatives, on behalf of their communities, they must provide suitable working conditions and allow the protection of workers rights through unions.
• The social premium may be used to fund social programmes like health and education, support small affordable loans to encourage diversification, and provide advice on marketing or improving yields.
• In buying Fair Trade, people hope that they are actively helping to reduce the inequality between the world’s richest and poorest people.

Fair Trade does have its critics

• Basic I know, but I have a limited budget!
• Fair Trade does nothing to tackle the root causes of the inequality that LEDC producers face, Trading laws that protect MEDC farmers. Fairer trading laws would allow access to MEDC markets, but are you willing to see a potential loss of employment in British farming?
• From an economic viewpoint, the price of certain products is low for a reason (We will consider coffee later.), overproduction, people suggest that it is unfair to subsidise these products by paying an over the market price for them. It disadvantages millions of farmers that aren’t involved in Fair Trade Co-operatives. Wouldn’t it be better to fund their diversification into differing products that demand a higher price?
• There have been recent concerns about the marketing of some products as Fair Trade by supermarkets, who in reality pay only a slightly increased premium to the producers and pocket the difference in profit.
• As Fair Trade is a niche market, doesn’t encouraging the movement to Fair Trade actually cause the value of the products to fall?
• People are also a little concerned that multi-nationals are producing and marketing their own Fair Trade products, this is slightly ironic, taking using one hand and giving using the other.
• In reality some people see Fair Trade as a guilt purchase, ‘I’ve done my bit…’ I don’t have to worry now’.
• Then there is the environmental impact, is it really environmentally friendly purchasing products from Africa? How does this impact on my carbon footprint? Though I reckon I might struggle for British coffee…

Anything I’ve missed here?

So, is it worth it?

As we have already seen, this ethical shopping has two sides….

We might be meeting tomorrow, all depends on the weather and Sports Day…

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Preamble.

Apologises for the blogging break, end of term is a busy place. Congratulations to those that completed their coursework, it was a tight finish for some. For those away or with extended deadlines due to absence, you must hand in your work as shown as possible.

We have now started People as Consumers, two key terms we have to understand

Producers are the people that produce a consumer product, this may involve extraction of a raw material and the subsequent manufacturing of a finished product.

Consumers are the people that purchase a product or service.

In reality we are all consumers..

We have been considering the issue ethical shopping, the complex decision making that some of us might make when considering a purchase. Our decision to purchase a product or service might be dependant on several factors…

• Its impact on the environment. E.G. Organic produce, Carbon footprints.
• The welfare of animals. E.G. Animal testing.
• The working practices employed by the company producing the product. E.G. Sweatshop labour.
• Our personal politics. E.G. avoiding products from certain countries, because we disagree with their policies.

Of course, many us may just be thinking price!

As we now know, ethical shopping can be a bit of a mine field, as my mate Jim said to me on Sunday, ‘You somewhat have to pick and choose your causes…’

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I had a quick look through the coursework today, people seem to be heading in the right direction, I have a bit of a worry about mapping, but we’ll discuss this Monday.

As part of people as consumers, you will investigating the impact of your purchasing power on other ‘places’ and peoples in the world, three main themes of the course here, interdependence (our links with other places), globalisation (particularly with reference to TNCS/Multinationals and their impact on our consumption patterns and consumer landscapes, but also their impact on the environment and the lives of people that produce their products.) and also sustainability (Can we keep up this rate of consumerism? Who does it impact upon?). We have already somewhat looked at this, with our decisions over energy sources impacting on Antarctica and our choice of Tesco over independant shops, changing the face of the High Street.

This topic though will focus more on individual choice. In preparation you might want to listen to the ‘Cost of’ series, from the B.B.C. documentary archive. The first is about the people who produce cotton for t-shirts, the second is about the production of coffee. You can download these for your MP3 players. Both are good examples of product webs.

Also check out the excellent revision movies on Geography Rocks, great work from Miss Sumner and students!

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Thanks for the outstanding work, looks nice quality as well…

(Image courtesy of flickr user Hedgeman.)

The arrival of the Tesco superstore close to Lower Bath Street has generated passionate debate, is Tesco good or bad for Ilkeston?

Positive

People argue

• Tesco has provided valuable service jobs in an area where traditional manufacturing has declined. See posts on Stanton.
• that the store has widened the appeal of Ilkeston, raised its status, the store has a high threshold and was drawn shoppers from across the local area.
• that as a result of Tesco, shoppers also visit Ilkeston High Street,
• That Tesco will encourage the regeneration of Lower Bath Street, as businesses hope to cash in on business by association.
• Tesco is a good neighbour, investing in the development of infrastructure and footpaths around the site, as well contributing to local community projects.

Negative

People argue

• The location of Tesco in Ilkeston has resulted in a decline in trade for independent stores, and resulted in the decline of the Morrisons store, an important anchor for the multiples of Upper Bath Street.
• As a result, employment has been lost.
• Consumers also have less choice.
• Those who visit Tesco, don’t walk into Ilkeston, who really wants to walk the hill? Alternatively, drive to a car park and pay for the pleasure.
• The bypass has effectively cut the town in two, people will just drive to Tesco with ease, avoiding Ilkeston.
• Tesco doesn’t cater for everyone, the elderly may have to use public transport or taxis, remember the eight pound taxi fare! (Tesco has provided a free bus service to the store in the past- does this still happen?)
• Tesco doesn’t reinvest its profits in Ilkeston, as a national company it uses national rather than local contractors, the profits ‘leak’ elsewhere. 
• Traders were also unhappy with the mezzo level to the store being developed, nicely getting around planning regulations. It allowed Tesco to stock a wider range of goods, thereby creating more competition for the High Street.
• As for the regeneration of Lower Bath Street, the evidence is there to see!

Anything I’ve missed…

What is your opinion?

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Sorry, I’m a bit behind on the blogging posts, about two lessons, thanks for a great lesson this afternoon.   I’ll catch up over the bank holiday weekend.

Still waiting to give some coursework marks back, but I’m waiting on the final pieces of homework to be handed in on changing shopping habits.   I know that many of you are pleased with your coursework marks, if not, we need to reflect on your weak areas and think about how we can improve these for the next piece of coursework, which starts on Monday!

You might also want to have a look at Mr P’s blog, his students are finishing their final piece of coursework and also preparing for the exam, that they are doing this year!

So cloning…

According to the New Economics Foundation, Britain’s High Streets are at risk of becoming clone towns at the expense of traditional independent stores. They argue that the High Streets are increasingly becoming identikit, they lack character as they become more similar, often referred to as homogenisation.

A clone town can be defined as a High Street that is dominated by multiples.

But why is this such a problem?

• Multiples will take business away from independent stores, therefore resulting in their closure. (See what can large supermarkets offer us? )
• This may result in a loss of employment, though balanced with the employment supplied by multiples.
• Critics argue this results in a loss of choice for the consumer.
• A lack of competition might also be bad for the consumer, it may result in higher prices.
• Money that the multiples earn often doesn’t remain local, as they are national companies, the profits ‘leak’ elsewhere.
• Aesthetically, critics suggest that the environment becomes dull and repetitive, as the same old familiar shop frontages can be seen, the environment loses it’s character.

The New Economics Foundation also suggests two other classifications for High Streets.

Border Towns, those that have a mixture of traditional independent and multiples stores.

Home Towns, those that have retained their traditional character, without the significant encroachment of multiples.

Bangor is supposedly an example of a Home Town, a theory that we will be testing in July!

Next time, what has Tesco done for Ilkeston?

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