Equal Exchange

There is one thing lately that has fascinated me and drove my crazy at the same time about the human race.

Opinions.

Everybody seems to have one, some with more validity than others based on their source of information and thought process.

The world of blogging has allowed every “Joe the plumber” to have a venue to have their opinions spread out for the literal world to see.

Rather than a simple speech there is an opportunity for people to comment, for ideas to be discussed. Sure, chat rooms may do the same thing – but the networking capability of blogging has ushered its induction as a new favorite pastime of the international society.

 

In a random search for other blogs interested in social justice issues I happened across the following four blogs;

 

http://matthewryanward.blogspot.com/

http://trevinwax.com/

http://chrisblattman.blogspot.com/

http://www.refugeesinternational.org/blog/

 

They are just four ordinary people, sharing what they have found, and inviting discussion about their conclusions.

 

And now for today’s topic.

Coffee, food and clothes seem to be the three things that college students consume the most of. Typically we are unaware of where there these resources have come from. Whether slavery or abuse was involved in producing them does not often seem to cross our minds as we order our pumpkin spice latte celebrating the autumn season.

A few weekends ago, CBU went to APU for a Speech and Debate tournament. After leaving at seven in the morning on a Saturday, the on campus coffee shop was a welcome sight about halfway through the day. Although the rivalry between University sports can get intense, I was inspired by something that I saw when walking inside cornerstone café.

http://www.equalexchange.coop/

Four organizations have gotten together to define Fair trade as

 “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, marginalized producers and workers - especially in the South. Fair Trade organisations (backed by consumers) are engaged actively in supporting producers, awareness raising, and in campaigning for changes in the rules and practice of conventional international trade.”

I have blogged about this before, but after finding how APU has made a decision to change companies to a fair trade company, I began to wonder where the coffee, tea and sugar that CBU uses finds its origin.

Equal Exchange offers everything from coffee, to chocolate bars, cocoa, teas and snacks such as almonds, cranberries and pecas. Brochures feature pictures and reflections from farmers, producers and consumers that are part of its change.

The following image puts into perspective how different their process if from the conventional coffee chain.

 

With many of the problems in the trade world today, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. When confronted with the facts that fairly traded products are more expensive, we often choose the cheaper of the options out of “necessity.”

Equal Exchange works to connect the consumer with the farmer.

Diego Perez Lopez, President of CIRSA Cooperative in Chiapas, Mexico said, “Consumers and farmers must continue to walk together. We are all working together in this cooperative effort for the good of all… we are all in the same struggle for a life of peace.”

Aside from workers being treated with fairness, they pride themselves in over 90% of their products as organic.

Dona Ana Lucia Banol, part of the cooperative in Colombia said, “Everything I grow is organic. Why? You see my hands; they’re covered in dirt But they’re no longer burnt from using chemicals. And my land? Well, it’s time to give back to the land a part of what the land has given to me.”

As college students and as followers of Jesus we need to be aware how our decisions affect others – in more drastic ways than we can imagine. With the upcoming election many of us can feel powerless, as if our voice is so small in the presidential campaign of California that it will not matter.

And we vote anyways.

By emailing our food service and other places we shop, we do have a voice in the market of the future and the market of today. So send a few emails... let me know what you find out :)