EARTHKEEPING NEWS A NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN COALITION FOR CHRISTIANITY AND ECOLOGY Volume Ten, Number Six September/October 2001 COFFEE BRINGS ECO-JUSTICE ISSUE TO BREAKFAST TABLE The Fair Trade Coffee movement was launched to bring economic and environmental justice to small coffee farmers throughout the developing world. There are approximately 20 million coffee farming families in 49 countries in Latin America, Africa and Asia, millions of whom are experiencing the devastating effects of a plummeting world market price from overproduction without increased demand. Since 1989 there has been no international accord that regulates prices and production, and small farmers are at the mercy of "free" market transnational marketers who pay less for beans while American consumer prices remain steady. The Fair Trade Coffee Campaign of Global Exchange aims to bring stable wages to farming families, help ing to end child labor, provide education and funds for community development and sustainable agriculture. Faith-based organizations — national and local — working with Global Exchange on the Fair Trade Campaign include San Francisco Catholic Diocese, St. Ignatius Catholic Parish, San Francisco, Unitarian Universalists for a Just Economy, a network of 2800 Lutheran churches, and United Methodist Church, Women's Division. One group committed to serving only Fair Trade Coffee at meetings is the US Council of Catholic Bishops, Dept. of Social Development and World Peace . Organizations involved in the Campaign are committed to buying Fair Trade Coffee for their offices, meetings, and conferences. They are publishing articles and doing mass mailings; and are starting their own campaigns for Fair Trade! "By working collectively, we can help build sustainable ties with those who produce what we consume," says Christine Riordan of Global Exchange. For more information, call your local food co-op, or contact Global Exchange Fair Trade Department, 2017 Mission Street, Suite 303, San Francisco, CA 94110; 415/255-7296; fairtrade@globalexchange.org Home     Table of Contents