Notes on Fair Trade

     In its most familiar usage, “Fair Trade” refers to ethically sourced goods—chocolate, coffee, cotton—produced in developing countries under standards meant to ensure safe working conditions, environmentally sustainable practices, and fair compensation for workers. But in this essay, I propose a more expansive and urgent definition: Fair Trade should also apply to how nations engage in international commerce. The same moral imperative that demands chocolate farmers in Ghana be treated fairly should apply to factory workers in Ohio, steelworkers in Pennsylvania, and engineers in Michigan. Trade must be fair not only in how it sources goods, but in how it affects people on both sides of every trade deal.

The Paradox of Happiness: Involvement Without Attachment

Happiness is often portrayed as a pursuit—something to be chased, earned, or stumbled upon. Yet the deeper truth may lie not in pursuit, but in perspective. A quote by Ram Dass captures this paradox poignantly: "Our journey is about being more deeply involved in life and yet less attached to it." At first glance, this sounds contradictory—how can one be fully immersed in life while remaining unattached? But it is precisely within this tension that the key to lasting happiness may be found.