If this
jewellery could talk it would tell a gruesome story of three decades of war and
poverty. Cambodia has had a horrific past
under the rule of Khmer Rouge, but this history inspires the country’s people
to yearn for a better life. Ethical Gifts, an online Australian
retailer of fair trade and eco-friendly products, is now helping to provide
that opportunity by importing unique handmade fashion jewellery pieces from
Cambodia.
Brass bomb
shell casings and landmines litter the countryside of Cambodia. Over 63,500 landmines have been recorded in
Cambodia since 1979. HALO Trust a not-for-profit global
organisation has 1,100 staff working to remove the hazardous debris, to make
the land safe again.
Beth
Chesler, Owner of Ethical Gifts has
a strong belief in ethically made products.
“Fair trade offers all of us the chance to put out a hand to help lift
up others who are struggling. Fair trade
is not charity, it offers workers and producers an opportunity to be paid
fairly and treated with respect” said Ms Chesler.
Women have
scores of choices for buying fashionable jewellery in today’s market. However, ethical shopping is now a growing
trend as consumers become more socially responsible with their purchases and
start to ask where their products actually come from, and how they were
made.
According
to Fair Trade Australia & New Zealand Australian consumer support of fair
trade certified products continues to grow with sales rising almost 40% in 2011
to just over $165 million. The continued
growth in sales comes after increasing recognition of the fair trade mark by
Aussie shoppers which rose to 44 per cent in October 2011 up from 37 per cent
in 2010.
“Simply by
being a little more aware of the impact of our shopping dollar we are able to
have a very positive, life changing effect on workers in impoverished
countries. Fair trade provides for
producers things that we take for granted, regular nutritious food, housing,
education, health care and most importantly hope” said Ms Chesler.
Buying ethically produced jewellery is
also a unique gift. Consumers will find
satisfaction from their shopping experience knowing that each purchase has a
positive economic impact on the people that made the product. Ethical
Gifts stocks socially responsible, high quality, handmade gifts that are not harmful on the planet