date: Wed Sep 11 17:42:20 2002 from: Mike Hulme subject: Re: Fair trade coffee club to: John Turnpenny I'm happy to switch to Fairtrade coffee. Of course there are problems here - why do we drink tea/coffee from around the world - aircraft emissions - when we could drink water, milk and apple juice from our local supplier. But we do it to provide the local growers with a market and a fair price. So which takes precedence? Mike At 12:05 11/09/02 +0100, you wrote: Dear coffee clubbers, Post-ESRC proposal, and pondering the amount of tea and coffee we get through in TYN, I thought it would be great if we could change to Fairtrade tea and coffee. If you're not familiar with this, the reason most coffee and tea is cheap because, among other things, the people growing, harvesting and packing the product do not get paid a fair wage. Products with the Fairtrade mark (eg Tea Direct, CafeDirect) ensure that, among other things, those involved get a fair wage (see below for more details). We pay 30 p a week at the moment for unlimited drinks, nothing really. Switching to Fairtrade would involve a price rise (probably to about 60 - 70 p per person per week depending on where and how we get our produce) but even that is very little - at Norwich Union they pay 16 p per cup, and even at a friend's small publishing company they each pay £1 per week for unlimited drinks. As part of a centre promoting sustainable solutions to global problems I think it's worth the extra few pence a week. Please let me know whether you want to make the switch! JTP *********************** The International Federation for Alternative Trade's (IFAT) definition of Fairtrade is: 'Fairtrade is a trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency and respect, that seeks greater equity in international trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of, marginalised producers. Fairtrade organisations are engaged actively in supporting producers, awareness raising and in campaigning for changes in the rules and practice of conventional international trade.' The goals of Fairtrade are: To improve the livelihoods and wellbeing of producers by improving market access, strengthening the producer organisations, paying a better price and providing continuity in the trading relationship. To promote development opportunities for disadvantaged producers, especially women and indigenous people, and to protect people from exploitation in the production process. To help consumers exercise their purchasing power positively, by raising their awareness of the negative effects of international trade on producers. To set an example of partnership in trade through dialogue, transparency and respect. To campaign for changes in the rules and practice of conventional international trade. To protect human rights by promoting social justice, sound environmental practices and economic security. Source: International Federation for Alternative Trade - [1]www.ifat.org