Fair Trade Coffee For A Better Planet
Fair Trade Coffee For A Better Planet
We love to eat and drink foods and drink we cannot grow in the climates of Europe and North America. If we could grow coffee and chocolate beans there is little chance we would stand for poor working conditions and child labor in our own countries. Distant laborers, however, are easily forgotten. They often work under harsh conditions which lead to frequent and severe injury, even death. Efforts to change their way of life are often most effective when driven by market forces. This is why fair trade coffee is so important.
These organizations address the appalling discrepancy between price per pound and the cost required to produce beans. Without regulations, the price paid often leaves producers and workers in continued poverty. No margin of profit remains to improve working conditions or implement social infrastructure, such as health care and education.
Fair trade organizations do their best to put a stop to these horrific situations. They set a minimum price for coffee beans, ensuring that companies receive a profit for the beans they produce. Committed employees from fair trade organizations also go right into farming communities to implement programs to grow organic products or help workers establish their own business, such as those strictly for women.
Countries susceptible to these problems already suffer from ongoing financial and health difficulties. These include African nations like Ethiopia. South American countries such as Peru, Guatemala and Mexico harvest many of the beans we covet so highly in colder regions. One can hardly imagine such atrocities being permitted if we could grow coffee beans at home.
Consumers can force the hand of companies that turn a blind eye to labor practices. They can purchase fair trade only, and turn their back on anything which does not meet their ethical standards. They have more power than they realize.
This goes for coffee shops as well as supermarkets. Expect transparency from the restaurant where you purchase your daily cup. If managers will not provide that transparency or reveal their product does not fit your strict trade standards, go somewhere else. Write a letter explaining why the company lost your business, and even convince your friends and family to do the same. The numbers may force a change. One clue to the product a shop serves comes from the price: cheap coffee often means low wages and poor standards of living for the men, women and children who harvested your hot drink.
The fair trade symbol will grace the products you are looking for. This makes finding it on grocery shelves easy. On-line shopping enables consumers to explore the range of choices and even find gifts for similarly concerned friends and family. Fill a gift basket with only ethically purchased goodies and sleep more easily. VPS Hosting for Online Forums Knowledgeable information on plants online Forex Automoney Scam Or Not Watch Bangladesh Vs Zimbabwe 4th ODI Dec Live Online Reasons for Having an Online Apartment Finder Online Payday Loans Can Be The Best Option Make Money Fast With Online Survey Work Use Online Savings Accounts To Save For Specific Goals Book Online Buses from Chennai to Coimbatore Online advertising - including website optimisation - continues to grow An Online Guide To Web Design And Development New Ways For Making Money Online Forex Automoney Review