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Originally posted by 4D57415454200 link=1253017514/30#30 date=1253264197
Nope, I meant encourage them not to rip up their food crops.
Oh, sorry Michelle.
Kind of raises even more questions in my mind. "Discouraging" farmers in developing nations? How do you do that? Through education, legislation, nationalisation, force?
You mentioned Brazil earlier and it reminded me of Daterra. They have advanced the quality and desirability of their coffee product enabling them to become what I believe to be a role model when it comes to social responsibility. To me, they also represent a model of how poverty can be overcome.
Their website is worth a look if any CS readers havent already done so...
Originally posted by 527378787F65160 link=1253017514/31#31 date=1253270038
Originally posted by 4D57415454200 link=1253017514/30#30 date=1253264197
Nope, I meant encourage them not to rip up their food crops.
Oh, sorry Michelle.
Kind of raises even more questions in my mind. "Discouraging" farmers in developing nations? How do you do that? Through education, legislation, nationalisation, force?
You mentioned Brazil earlier and it reminded me of Daterra. They have advanced the quality and desirability of their coffee product enabling them to become what I believe to be a role model when it comes to social responsibility. To me, they also represent a model of how poverty can be overcome.
Their website is worth a look if any CS readers havent already done so...
http://www.daterracoffee.com.br/#/ids-home
Well, clearly, force. You know me, Im all about violence and oppression :-? I do realise its a complex issue, and I actually dont have many answers.
I absolutely agree that we ought to be concerned for the plight of the oppressed and the poor, the widowed and the fatherless. I, like many CSers it would seem, remain unconvinced that capital F Fair Trade is the best way forward.
But it seems logical that if there is less coffee grown, a higher price will be paid for it - whether or not any of that gets back to the farmers depends on the greed of middle men. Which is why I think the increasing number of coffee companies involved in directly-traded coffee is a great thing! And yeah, coffee through these avenues costs more. As it should.
As spoken about in another thread, there is a DVD called Black Gold, which whilst is primarily about the coffee growers in Ethiopia and a search to find a better way to get a bigger birr in the pocket, does touch on briefly at the end the fact that Africa(with a predominance of developing nations) has a grand sum of 1% of the worlds trade, as generously allowed for them through the WTO.
It was pointed out that if they were able to grab another 1%, the difference made in terms of less aid needed (and by extension greater self sufficiency and less poverty) woud be great indeed. And it was funny how the aid pictured arriving had USA in big bright letters stencilled across the tops of the bags.
It is a complex problem, and has to be regarded on many fronts, not just one tentacle in isolation. We could do another 10 pages in this thread and still only cover half the relevant issues.
Originally posted by 544E584D4D390 link=1253017514/32#32 date=1253271169
But it seems logical that if there is less coffee grown, a higher price will be paid for it
Seems like the simplest solution and one that would apply to any type of harvest. Yet I think its true that within the wine industry, bumper crops can generate more profits for the growers, while the glut of wine forces prices down for the makers?
Originally posted by 544E584D4D390 link=1253017514/32#32 date=1253271169
I do realise its a complex issue
Yeah, the more I think bout it the more my brain hurts.
Originally posted by 544E584D4D390 link=1253017514/32#32 date=1253271169
I actually dont have many answers
Me either. But I think bringing it to discussion raises our collective consciousness and makes us more considerate about our purchases - not a bad start.
Originally posted by 0B544C5A515A565F5F5C5C545857390 link=1253017514/33#33 date=1253272909
Good thing that a significant proportion of the coffee Andy sources for us is direct trade
And coupled with FairCrack, is why I am always thrilled whenever I have the opportunity to purchase through BeanBay.
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