Great article from Chris Bacon, discussing the future of Fair Trade; and some real dialogue about Fair Trade choices
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Recent Posts
What Impact the Coffee Industry on Producer Countries?
February 2, 2012 – 10:11 pm
This interesting article explores the impact of the coffee industry at origin. Worth a read.
http://coffeelands.crs.org/2012/01/2012-the-year-of-the-impact-at-origin-baseline/
Join the Fairtrade Debate
February 1, 2012 – 10:43 pm
With Fairtrade reaching 25 years, there is a growing debate about its future, its direction and its place in trade justice. This Guardian article provides an interesting insight to the issues and invites readers’ views
Ethiopian Coffee Farmers Still Facing Injustice
January 20, 2012 – 8:51 pm
This short blog post brings in to focus the injustice that small farmers in Ethiopia still face – has anything really changed in the industry despite the efforts of the ethical trade movement and the exposure from Black Gold and others. We can make drive better trading practice but there has to be the will to do it from the industry and this needs to be driven be consumers.
http://www.blackgoldfoundation.org/ethiopian-coffee-farmers-still-facing-injustice
The OCC and Abiyot
January 16, 2012 – 8:40 pm
Here at the LYF we are really proud of the Oromo Coffee Company. With our Oromo colleagues and other supporters, we set the OCC and, although it’s still a struggle for everyone involved, it’s still going and growing. A truly unique and wonderful social enterprise. This article tells the story of the OCC and of Abiyot, one of the founding members and the most dedicated member of the team. Whilst trying to study at university, he still commits all his spare time to making a success of the OCC.
Are worker cooperatives a more sustainable business model in these economic times?
January 16, 2012 – 8:23 pm
This BBC Radio 4 programme examines worker co-ops in the UK and internationally and asks whether, in these tough times, with high levels of mistrust of business, co-ops are a better solution for the future. http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0196tn9/In_Business_All_Together_Now/
How Much Coffee do the Big Boys Buy?
December 11, 2011 – 8:22 pm
Graphic showing Coffee Buying By Corporations
The major Food Corporations – Sara Lee, Kraft, Nestle and Starbucks buy huge quantities of coffee each year. This graphic helps to put this in context and shows how much of it is (or is not) fair trade.
Interesting Blog about Coffee, Trade and the USA
December 11, 2011 – 8:06 pm
Should Fair Trade Certify Corporates Like Nestle?
November 29, 2011 – 10:11 pm
There is a growing debate about the direction that Fair Trade certification bodies are taking, fuelled by the recent split by Fair Trade USA from FLO. This article focusses on the issues.
http://motherjones.com/tom-philpott/2011/11/nestle-folger-fair-trade
Invaded by the USA !
November 24, 2011 – 12:59 pm
Well. It was a welcome invasion….
The LYF were delighted recently, to have visitors from the USA. Vanessa Lancaster, a Michigan-based Education Consultant who specialises in curriculum materials and teaching techniques that reach disadvantaged communities and individuals, heard about the LYF’s work in setting up the Not Just A Trading Company programme.
Vanessa was particularly excited to hear that the curriculum materials that the LYF is developing on ‘ethical enterprise’ for disadvantaged groups – we’re aiming to reach those who are exceptionally bright – ‘gifted’ even – but who did not fit easily within a mainstream educational learning environment. She decided to give her time and advice ‘in kind’ to the LYF and as well as spending time with LYF staff, got to meet local fair trade entrepreneurs at ‘The Fair Trade Co-operative’ in Holmfirth and to spend time with teaching staff at Stockport Academy.
Vanessa was accompanied by her ten year old son Mac. Mac has developed an enormous interest in all things fairly traded, following his involvement with the LYF. He has returned to Roeper School in Michigan with some brilliant ideas such as ‘Reverse Trick or Treating’ and says on his blog “Since I’ve returned from the U.K. I’ve been handing out Reverse Trick-or-Treat kits to my school. I’ve handed out almost 500 kits while telling parents and kids about Fair Trade”. You can find out more about Mac’s inspirational activities here – http://macrox.tumblr.com/
