Campaigners raise cups to coffee agreement
24 October 2007
You've probably heard of Fairtrade coffee. In fact you might have even started your day with a fresh Fairtrade cuppa this morning.
Despite more and more people getting switched on to Fairtrade coffee and realising the benefits it brings to producers, there are many growers who are still suffering the bitter taste of injustice.
Oxfam campaigners have been calling for a sustainable deal for coffee farmers through the Make Trade Fair campaign. Positive progress is being made - last month the International Coffee Organisation announced new agreements which aim to strengthen international cooperation on coffee.
"The agreement bears the mark of Oxfam's relentless campaigning the last five years", said Seth Petchers at Oxfam America.
But more action is needed. The hard work of implementing promises must begin.
The announcement comes at the same time as the DVD release of Black Gold - the must see film on the global coffee scandal. If you haven't already seen the film you can order a copy from Play.com. Watch it and learn more about the lives and struggles of the world's coffee farmers.
Comments:
I watched black gold, and thought that it was a very inspiring film.
It's a shame, however, that it was not shown in more cinemas, as the people who watched it with me already campaigned for fairtrade issues.
It did re-inforce my fairtrade views though!
chloe atchison-balmond | October 26, 2007 4:56 PM
Yeah I saw the film recently in Sheffield. It was an eye opening account of the enormous strugle the poorest communities face when trying to get a fair price for their coffee. Fantastic film. I was so disappointed that it was only being shown in a small cinema, with little publicity and few people in the audience. This is a film that everyone needs to watch & be aware of so that consumers in the west can put pressure on big brand coffee houses & governments & make change actually happen!!
Flic | October 26, 2007 4:30 PM
Yes, I have startted the morning with a fair tartde coffee but I am still feeling sad of the way things are still developing with poor people.
Montse Lopez-Beverley | October 25, 2007 12:12 PM