Shows How Our Current Trading System Perpetuates Poverty And Injustice And Explains How The Alternative System Known As Fair Trade Can Break The Cycle Of Exploitation And Environmental Destruction [back Cover]. Introduction: Making A Difference With Every Cup 1 -- Chapter 1 The Global Context 9 -- Economic Growth Rules Supreme 13 -- Mental Colonialism 15 -- Chapter 2 Rebuilding Democracy 21 -- When Buying Becomes Voting 23 -- Bringing Ethics Into The Equation 25 -- Chapter 3 Coffee And Its Hidden Costs 31 -- The History Of Coffee 32 -- Coffee In Mexico 32 -- The Environmental Cost Of Coffee 34 -- Brew For The Birds 37 -- Chapter 4 The Conventional Coffee Route 41 -- Link 1 Small Coffee Producers And Workers 42 -- From Coffee Tree To Cup 43 -- Isolation 44 -- Food Insecurity 45 -- Coffee Production 46 -- The Coffee Tree 47 -- Use Of Chemicals 47 -- Link 2 The Local Trader 48 -- Pesticides 49 -- Link 3 The Processor 50 -- Link 4 The Exporter 50 -- World Coffee Production 51 -- Link 5 The Broker 51 -- Price Fluctuations 52 -- Link 6 The Roaster 53 -- Coffee Roasting 54 -- Link 7 The Retailer 54 -- The Wealth Of Nations? Or Corporations? 55 -- Link 8 We, The Consumers 56 -- The Effects Of Coffee On Health 57 -- Who Owns The Brands We Buy? 58 -- Chapter 5 A Different Path For Coffee Growers 63 -- The Fair-trade Route 64 -- Principles Of Fair Trade 65 -- Union De Comunidades Indigenas De La Region Del Istmo (uciri) 66 -- Uciri: An Example Of A Cooperative 67 -- The Indigenous Peoples 68 -- Uciri's Rules Of Operation 74 -- Uciri's Projects 75 -- Uciri's Organizational Structure 76 -- Portrait Of Uciri 81 -- What Else Is Going On In Mexico 82 -- More Fair-trade And Organic Production Organizations 83 -- Making The Alternatives Known 86 -- Chapter 6 Consumer Power 93 -- Origins Of The Fair-trade Movement 93 -- Fair-trade Labels 96 -- The Certification Process For Fair-trade Coffee 98 -- Fair-trade Coffee In North America 99 -- When The Big Boys Move In 105 -- Campaigning For Fair Trade 106 -- Confused? Choices In Sustainable Coffee 109 -- Transferring Responsibility To The Consumer 113 -- Conclusion: Holding Up The Stream Of Inequity 119 -- Appendix A Fair-trade Certification Criteria 125 -- Appendix B Organic Coffee Certification 129 -- Appendix C Shade-grown Coffee 141 -- Appendix D Moving Into Action: Contact List 149 -- Appendix E Where To Get Fair-trade Coffee 156. Laure Waridel. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.

Waridel, Laure

Canada - English Language, Canada

1 edition, June 1, 2001

Montréal, 2001

0, PT, 2001

Includes bibliographical references (p. 159-165) and index.

Our morning coffee is the fruit of the labour of millions of workers and producers in the South. Unfortunately, many of them earn paltry wages for work done under very difficult conditions. Chances are, the coffee you are drinking was grown by farmers who labored long, back-breaking hours while exposed to harmful chemicals in order to pocket a few cents.
In an attempt to break the cycle of malnutrition, dependence, illiteracy and violence, an alternative trade system, known worldwide as "fair trade," has been created. The products of this type of exchange, encourage consumers and retailers to opt for coffee which is "fairly traded."
This book looks at the fair trade movement by examining the issues surrounding the production and trading of coffee. Using Mexico as an example, part one describes the conventional coffee trade, tracing the coffee bean's journey from the tree, through the hands of several intermediaries in both the North and South, to its final destination as a cup of coffee. Part two presents the fair trade concept through the example of the Mexican peasant organization which was one of the first to embrace the fair trade system, and which was also a pioneer in the production of organic coffee. The third part explores the situation of fair trade in North America, and provides comprehensive sources and references for anyone who wants to get involved, at any level.

xv, 173 p. : 23 cm
The author uses the example of the world coffee trade to present her views on how the current trading system perpetuates poverty and injustice and explains how a "fair trade" system can break the cycle of exploitation and environmental destruction
Includes bibliographical references (p. 159-165) and index

For millions of people coffee is a pleasure, a delight for the soul or a morning pick-me-up.

2023-06-28