Comercio Justo, or “Fair Trade” products are often seen in “socially conscious” retailers like health and “whole” food shops. It presents a novel approach to doing business that takes into account social and environmental factors in its pricing to consumers and directly compensates commodity food producers, like coffee and cocoa farmers. Here proponents explain the philosophy from several different vantage points.

Can an educated public really create a kinder, gentler, consumer society? Do informed buyers make decisions more sensitive to their world? Can you have your cake and eat it too? Some activists think that voracioius consumers need not be subdued, but only that their desires be tweaked, redirected…

Do those who control the wealth in a society also dictate its desires? In this segment we’re able to listen in on the discourse of Spanish intellectuals critical of the modern consumer culture, which they see as something of a Svengali-like oppressor and manipulator of the masses.

Can a consumer-driven market be replaced by an informed system of mutual cooperation by a like-minded populace? Is the market always at odds with the well being of the planet? Is it true that otro mundo es possible? Let’s find out what some experts think…

Karina gives a summary of the two startup companies she has previously spoken about and gives us some helpful advice about small changes we can make in our daily lives to help the environment.

Carlos explores some additional economic terms in the second part of this video, concluding the lesson with a text to review the words we have learned thus far.

In part three of his series on financial vocabulary, Carlos discusses some terms related to the stock market, complete with a brief text to review them in context.

Carlos teaches us additional financial vocabulary with lots of useful example sentences to heighten our understanding.

Carlos introduces us to several business and finance-related terms. Let's learn their meanings as well as hearing them in plenty of example sentences that are similar to those we might hear or see in the written or spoken news.

This time, Iván from Caravanas y Remolques Navarra [Navarra Caravans and Trailers] shares with us the three main models of Carpento caravans and the features that make them ideal for camping.

Undecided between a motorhome and a camper, Fermín has the opportunity to explore the pros and cons of each during his visit to the world famous Barcelona International Caravaning Show. Let's hear him recap many of his findings.

In this series, Fermín tells us about his short getaway to Barcelona to visit its International Caravaning Show, one of the most important of its kind in Spain and Southern Europe. Let's first hear about his journey from his hometown in Málaga to Barcelona.

Adriana edifies us about the different varieties of coffee, explaining their origins as well as identifying the one that is most highly-rated and another that might negatively affect our health.

Let's learn more about the Hayni project, which provides a space where young boys and girls can learn and play, all while developing their self-esteem and autonomy.

Dea Flor is the traditional clothing brand created by Elena Maldonado from Otavalo, Ecuador, who tells us how, with her designs, she both expresses herself and pleases her customers.