Book review : "Unfair Trade" by Conor Woodman
While splurging on books at Delhi book fair '14 I came across this masterpiece. An intriguing tale of the challenging condition of farmers/ workers in the developing world forming the foundation of much of world's key raw materials yet themselves living only on daily subsistence.
What is much much appreciated is the passion the author displays in this work - wherein he himself has traveled across countries of the globe and understood the plight of Chinese factory workers, African coffee workers, Afghanistan's weed farmers etc. The fact that story comes from the horse's mouth adds the drama & authenticity which one needs in books like these.
The reader can trust the facts stated in book & form his own perspectives.
Connor starts with how we as consumers are increasingly becoming ethical centric in terms of goods we buy. We trust big organizations to find the best way to their raw material suppliers problem and believe when they say "we are ethically conscious". Are they really doing enough? Sometimes yes and sometimes not.
What companies must do and few of them are already doing - is go to the grassroot level. Start from empowering the people. Olam features as the ideal company in this book. Olam knew that empowering African farmers for better cotton produce was the only way to have profitable business & healthy output.
That maybe is sustainable growth/ ethical profit - merging profits & economic well being of the poor supplier - to create a smart ecosystem where both survive & thrive.
Go or not go ?
Great Read if you are intrigued by Company CSR and how & why should a company execute its CSR policies
Don't Go
If you think that capitalism is the way of life. If you are not moved by the fact that India ranks 6th in the number of billionaires & also 1/3rd of poor in the world live here.
What is much much appreciated is the passion the author displays in this work - wherein he himself has traveled across countries of the globe and understood the plight of Chinese factory workers, African coffee workers, Afghanistan's weed farmers etc. The fact that story comes from the horse's mouth adds the drama & authenticity which one needs in books like these.
The reader can trust the facts stated in book & form his own perspectives.
Connor starts with how we as consumers are increasingly becoming ethical centric in terms of goods we buy. We trust big organizations to find the best way to their raw material suppliers problem and believe when they say "we are ethically conscious". Are they really doing enough? Sometimes yes and sometimes not.
What companies must do and few of them are already doing - is go to the grassroot level. Start from empowering the people. Olam features as the ideal company in this book. Olam knew that empowering African farmers for better cotton produce was the only way to have profitable business & healthy output.
That maybe is sustainable growth/ ethical profit - merging profits & economic well being of the poor supplier - to create a smart ecosystem where both survive & thrive.
Go or not go ?
Great Read if you are intrigued by Company CSR and how & why should a company execute its CSR policies
Don't Go
If you think that capitalism is the way of life. If you are not moved by the fact that India ranks 6th in the number of billionaires & also 1/3rd of poor in the world live here.
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