I'm finding a common, painful thread from people who are trying to live more green, eat locally or heed the warnings of Isaiah 10: 1-2. The thread is a beautiful brown, and it brings comfort and warmth as its fragrance wafts from kitchens across America.That stinkin' thread is coffee.
I've had to face some facts that make me a bit nauseas in my conscience (sounds like a Dr. Seuss book!). Retail prices continue to rise, but the farmers' wages are not. My cup of java is helping to sink farmers into a never-ending cycle of poverty ... along with their wives ... and their children.
So, what's the answer?
Fair trade.
Even my dear Starbucks, with all of its talk of buying fair trade coffee, still fills your cup with about 96% ofnon-fair trade coffee.
Don't drink coffee? Well, take a bite out of this:
Some 284,000 children toil in abusive labor conditions in West Africa’s cocoa fields, so that we can enjoy chocolate. Cocoa companies pay prices so low that many cocoa farmers cannot meet their families’ basic needs.
Don't ya' just hate learning new things? Yeah, me too. You should see what my Bible is doing to me!!
I want to keep some coffee on hand. I make a pot and take it up to church every Sunday. I will be purchasing my very first fair trade coffee this week. I'm buying mine through one of the companies supported by Global Exchange.
It's pretty tough, I know. It seems that we have to think about every single solitary purchase we make now. Well, we don't have to. Yet, I haven't bothered to do that until recently. I thought I was globally minded. I was, to an extent (that seems to be my mantra lately). I know I'm going to have times when I won't think, or when we'll swing through McDonald's or someone will be sick and we'll just grab what we can to get through a week. I'm just as normal as the rest of you.
However, I want my norm to keep changing for the better.
I have family in the coffee fields.
8 comments:
I think I'll have to give up chocolate, there's no way Michael would buy 4 candy bars for $12. No argument in the world will overturn his sense of frugality.
Rats! Hubby just brought me a fresh cup of decaf right before walking out the door and as I sat down to run through my google reader pics tonight... It somehow doesn't taste so nice now.... *sigh*
Yeah for this post! I used to work for *$ and that was the thing that ticked me off the most - people who have the power to change . . . no, revolutionize the industry, and they don't!
My hubby and I are working on a private label coffee co. called re:think coffee. Our offerings will be solely Fair Trade and UTZ certified. Our goal is to re think the ways that we consume everyday commodities.
Coffee is an issue for me and I no longer drink any. Not only because of unfair working conditions but for other reasons too.
Chocolate, however, is my struggle. I buy fair trade and it saddens me to know that children are still working as slaves to feed our addictions.
though not food-related, this site is interesting. this company helps women who were in prostitution make a living in another way- making bags. a couple of my friends worked with these women when they were in india last summer on a mission trip. a whole bunch of us at my school bought some of these bags... they're really bright and pretty! plus, they helped someone out. =)
http://freesetbags.com/
I feel the same way about baby formula. Once you find out what some of these countries are doing to poor babies around the world, it makes you appreciate breastfeeding even more! Information is power. Once you have it, you can't ignore it anymore!
Editing to add: it should be "companies" and not "countries." Sorry about that!
From one documentary fan to another--have you seen Black Gold? After watching it, I felt disgusted with myself. My husband and I immediately began purchasing fair trade coffee. A guilt free pot tastes oh so much better!
apryl
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