Fair trade is not about spending more money or buying more stuff. It’s about helping producers in developing countries get a fair price for their goods. In A Fair Deal: Shopping for Social Justice, Kari Jones provides a history of trade, explaining what makes trade systems unfair and what we can do about it. By examining ways in which our global trade systems value some people over others, the book illustrates areas in which fair trade practices can help families all around the world and suggests ways to get involved in making the world a more equitable place.
What planning and research did you do for you book?
I researched all over the place! I even sent a message to Zambia to talk to a family who are part of a fair trade project there. Apart form that, I spent many hours pouring over information about trade, fair trade, free trade, economy, etc. and then trying to understand them. I spoke on Skype to some kids in the USA who are involved with Fair trade, and I had the pleasure of spending time with Stacey Toews and Hugo Ciro from Level Ground Trading who helped me understand the intricacies of fair trade and how it works.
What’s the best piece of writing advice you’ve received?
The best piece of writing advice I ever received was to be patient. I am always in such a rush to get finished things, but writing takes time!
What’s in your to-be-read pile? What makes you want to read those books?
All of the books in my to-read pile are from local authors. There are so many fantastic local writers, I could never get further than books written by authors from BC if I’m not careful!
Do you listen to audio books? What do you listen to?
I do! I love listening to audio books, because it means I can keep listening to stories when I’m doing other things like sewing or gardening. I always listen to fiction, and sometimes I think listening to audio books is the best way to read a story, because there’s a real voice in my head.
What book do you think you learned the most from reading or admire most? Tell us why!
Just one? Maybe it was Anne Of Green Gables, which I read when I first came to Canada when I was 17. I loved Anne, and how spunky and fun she was, and I loved how she had all these adventures, but the story wasn’t an “adventure” story but instead was a story about a girl. That taught me a lot about how stories are made.
What’s your favorite movie that was adapted from a book or short story?
Well Harry Potter of course! Who can resist seeing all that magic come to life?
Do you listen to music when you write? Why or why not?
Nope. Because I find the rhythms of the music infuses the rhythm of my writing. Not always a good thing.
Do you have a quote you like to live by?
Be the change you want to see in the world. Even though Gandhi didn’t really say these words, they are good ones anyway
What’s your favorite city you’ve lived in! Tell us why!
I’ve lived in a lot of cities, but I guess I’ll have to say Victoria, because it seems I never left, so I must love it here.
A Fair Deal: Shopping For Social Justice is available now!
Kari Jones is the author of numerous books for young readers and teens, including At the Edge of the World, a young adult novel. She lives on the west coast of Canada, where she enjoys exploring the coast by kayak with her husband and son and their dog, Tintin. For more information, please visit www.karijones.ca.