One of the major components of fair trade is transparency. In order to obtain Fair Trade certification, the producer must, among others, be “organized into cooperatives or associations that are transparent, accountable and democratic.” IFAT defines transparency and accountability as “transparent management and commercial relations to deal fairly and respectfully with trading partners.” To me these seem like obvious business practices which should be followed by all. If you need to cover your operations, then you have something to hide, right? And now Wired magazine agrees.

Wired used a very literal take on transparency with their lead article “Get Naked and Rule the World” with a transparent cover that pulls away to reveal a naked Jenna Fisher from The Office, along with a strategically placed sign. While it is the image that is getting the most attention, it is the article which is truly controversial. The article “features a package of stories about radical transparency, our notion that the next model of business success is laying your company bare to the world—sharing secrets with your rivals, blogging about ideas as you have them, and copping to fumbles and foibles as you make them.”
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