Date post: | 18-Nov-2014 |
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2. We love coffee
Coffee is one of the largest commodities today and millions around
the world are dependent on its production.
Although the majority of coffee consumption takes place in the US
and Europe, most of its production happens in developing countries
by small scale farmers.
Theres nothing we love more than to stop by Starbucks for a Vanilla
Latte on our way to work or school
But do we really know what goes on in order for us to enjoy our
lovely cup of coffee every morning?
3. So, whats going on?
Workers in the production of coffee suffer from low wages and bad
working conditions. There have even been reports of slave and child
labor on many coffee plantations
Case studies have been performed in Brazil, Nicaragua, Mexico, etc.
that all report of the bad working conditions in the coffee
production industry and a number of problems have resulted from
this booming industry
Both permanent and seasonal workers describe their experiences of
long working hours, poor food and deteriorated housing and
sanitation infrastructure on farms, lack of access to health and
education services, substantial barriers to freedom of association,
and in some cases systematic subjection to sexual harassment and
other forms of maltreatment or abuse.(MacDonald)
4. The Sufferers..
Growing coffee has been the livelihood for many families for
generations. Many of these farmers do not know how to do anything
else except grow coffee.
Millions of people in developing countries are being effected by
the coffee crises.
The coffee crisis first began in the early 1900s, and got even
worse between 1999 and 2003.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73MLpuaKLrA&feature=youtu.be
5. The Crisis continued..
This drastic price crash for coffee still effects the lives of
producers.
The consequences of the price crash, and the chronic poverty that
already existed, remain. In other words, even though prices have
recovered, the coffee crisis continues. (Keating, 27)
In Nicaragua there are a lot of producer families that are
participants of organic and fair trade certified coffee. These
producers have to submit forms of inspections to the labor
standards and environmental practices in order to be given the
highest amount of money for their coffee beans.
6. Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGI27d8K4-o
Think before your next cup of joe!
7. Fair Trade
Fair trade institutional systems promote social justice and
fairness and focus on making democratic decisions.
Many companies are claiming now to be fair trade but this is more
of a trend than a reality.
However, we read that fair trade and other sustainable 'coffee
movements currently account for less than1% of the total volume of
coffee produced globally and support only a minority of
farmers.
8. The Beloved Starbucks..
Supposedly, Starbucks has agreed to start selling a major portion
of fair trade coffee in their stores.
In 2002 Starbucks bought one million pounds of fairly traded
coffee.
Starbucks has also helped some of the countries that they work with
by building facilities for the workers and their families.
9. Starbucks: Not Fair Trade???
Words mean nothing, we want proof!
While Starbucks claims to be a model corporate citizen, the
articles and facts we have found prove to say different.
Starbucks buys more than 100 million pounds of coffee every year
and less than 1% of that is fair trade.
Human rights monitors have TRIED
visiting Starbucks locations, but
are never able to verify these claims.
10. Hmm..
We found videos and articles created and written by Starbucks
employees that claim that Starbucks is 100% fair trade.
We were intrigued by this and asked the employees of the Starbucks
that we were in working on this project if they knew if they brewed
fair trade coffee and they reported that no information on that
could be shared.
11. Wouldnt we know?
From the information we have gathered, we conclude that Starbucks
is not 100% fair trade.
If they were, wouldnt it be advertised in their stores? It would be
very noticeable and known by all if this were true.
The biggest coffee company in our country makes millions of dollars
a year while the small-scale farmers and slaves working to produce
the coffee it sells are struggling and majorly underpaid, if paid
at all.
12. Local Coffee Shops
Today our local coffee shops are hurting because of big
corporations like Starbucks.
The local coffee shops support fair trade coffee by offering it and
advertising it in their shops as well.
Overall your local coffee shops tend to have lower prices than
places like Starbucks.
You will find that these shops are also a lot less crowded, at
almost every Starbucks you will find yourself waiting in a
line!
13. Alternatives to Starbucks
There are alternatives to Starbucks that are selling fair trade
coffee.
Some examples:
Green Mountain Coffee Company
Peace Coffee Company
The Roasterie Coffee Company
Equal Exchange Coffee Company
Gorilla Coffee Company
14. What we can do..
We can all make a difference!
People of all ages (adults, young adults, teenagers, preteens and
even some children) are all coffee drinkers in todays society, but
do they have any idea of whats going in their cup?
http://youtu.be/cC_DHZ8eB30
Visit local coffee shops in your area, see what they have to
offer.
Finally, be aware of what your drinking, knowing whats going on
will make you think twice about what your investing in.
15. Discussion Questions
Do you think we as consumers and individuals can really make a
difference by buying only fair trade coffee?
Is your vanilla latte, or drink of choice, worth the wellbeing of
other individuals?