It was during the UNCTAD conference in Geneva in 1964 when he first heard the cry of Fair Trade Coffee. At that time, industrialized countries evaded central issues such as the price of raw materials and market opening.
During the second UNCTAD conference in New Dehli in 1968, developing countries again demanded a fairer trade, but the world ignored these demands. In the EU-60, Third World problems were not much interest to the population.
Among the few groups that were concerned, the idea of creating stores “UNCTAD” to sell products in the Third World whose entry into the European market was impeded by tariffs. The sales were intended to protest against the international trade and the unequal distribution of power. In April 1969, the first “solidarity tent” was opened in the Dutch town of Breukelen.
It was the beginning of a period of rapid growth of the movement of solidarity shops: in just two years, the Netherlands and could boast of having 120 stores of its kind and the movement spread rapidly in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, France, Sweden, Britain and Belgium.
In the south of the Netherlands, an organization called SOS Wereldhandel had participated actively in the imports of developing countries. Founded by young Catholics in 1959 as a charitable organization, SOS Wereldhandei began in 1967 to import handicrafts from several Third World countries and sell by catalog, through churches and groups in solidarity with the South.
The shops were so supportive and stable output directly to SOS Wereldhandel. Sales were excellent and the organization was able to create “branches” in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Belgium. Over time, these “branches” broke away to form national organizations.
Autumn 1973 saw the launch of the world’s first fair trade coffee. Imported from cooperatives in Guatemala, the “Indian Solidarity code” significantly accelerated the expansion of fair trade coffee sales were soon overcome the craft. In the 70′s there was a rethinking and an ideological discussion on the objectives of fair trade. Raised the sale of products primarily as a way to provide information and raise awareness. Outlets, shopping solidarity became campaign headquarters.
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