Three local panelists clarified important issues of international trade, including fairness and cultural identity, as part of World Fair Trade Week.

“We want to broaden the awareness of fair trade and fair trade issues, as well as clarify fair trade versus free trade,” said Tammi Martin, manager of Worldly Goods, 223 Main St. The non-profit store sells hand-crafted items from around the world.

Dan Albritton, member of the South Central Iowa Federation of Labor, and Jonathan Mullin, part of both Amnesty International and Sierra Club, also shared their individual experiences within globalization and fair trade.

Martin said fair trade is a complex issue.

“It is created to provide a marketplace for artisans all over the world to be able to establish a good living, provide fair wage within a local context and honor cultural identity, among other things,” Martin said.

Mullin, junior in biochemistry, said he had two focuses.

“We try to help people better their homelands from international companies, and we are also working on what is known as the `International Right to Know Initiative,’ which restricts businesses from moving overseas and selling back to America to save money, which is an unfair practice,” Mullin said.

Albritton spoke briefly on the Labor Union and political actions that are taken in connection to actions in Mexico and California, among others.

“There are many good and bad aspects to globalization,” Mullin said. “Most importantly, the spread of communication.

“Although things aren’t where they should be at today, there is great potential for equal levels and opportunities in the future,” he said.