Consider the Canadian Federation of Students’ successful
Consider the Canadian Federation of Students’ successful lobbying to boycott clothing sales on campus that are the result of worker exploitation:
“Over 50 students’ unions across the country have purchased more than 250,000 items from ethical manufacturers through the Canadian Federation of Students’ (CFS) sweatshop-free materials service. The success of the program showcases the possibilities of student-run, not-for-profit services in promoting fairly traded, environmentally conscious, and union-made materials for use on campuses during orientation week and throughout the academic year.”
http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/students-across-canada-run-sweatshop-free-orientation-545287262.html
1. Explain why fairly traded, environmentally sustainable, and union-made materials are morally preferable. In your answer consider the point that some people prefer cheap clothing for financial reasons, outlining an argument against spending more money on ethically sourced clothing and showing why it is wrong.
2. Should all campuses in Canada endorse ethically sourced clothing for sale on campus? Explain, considering the point that a university might opt out of CFS for very different reasons. Offer an argument for or against the CFS union as the best practical means to ensuring ethically sourced clothing on campus.