Fair Trade News

Proclamation - City of Mountain View, California

WHEREAS, expressing Mountain View's support for fair trade, responsible investment and sustainable and equitable economic development, and opposition to a global economic system that favors corporate agribusiness at the expense of smallholder farmers and farm workers; and

WHEREAS, the U.S. as a whole consumes the greatest amount of goods and services in the world, invests the most capital and, thus, wields tremendous influence in the global economy; it is in our local interest to have a stable global economy which allows for productive local and regional economies; and the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution allows public entities to place restrictions on the use of public funds when the public entity is acting as a market participant; and

WHEREAS, as a purchaser of goods and services, the City has a responsibility to ensure that tax dollars are spent in a manner consistent with decent ethical and labor standards, including assuring that workers are paid a living wage and purchasing goods made in the most fair manner when possible; and

WHEREAS, as an investor of capital, the City has a responsibility to ensure that its capital investment promotes sound development policies, supports responsible corporate activity and does not engage in speculative hedging; and

WHEREAS, investment, trade and consumption should promote an economy that allows for a decent standard of living, sustainable use of natural resources and peaceful coexistence; and

WHEREAS, that the City of Mountain View undertakes to educate our community about the importance of fair trade and will look into purchasing resolutions for fairly traded goods;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Matt Neely, Mayor of the City of Mountain View, along with my colleagues on the City Council, do hereby proclaim October 2005 as

FAIR TRADE MONTH

a month of support for a global economic system which is based in fair trade, corporate accountability and socially responsible investment.

Signed and sealed this 11th of October, 2005.

MATT NEELY, MAYOR