VoICE (Voices for Inquiry, Community, and Equity)

Monday, November 27, 2006

Fair trade coffee

We discussed taking up Bellarmine about their distribution of coffee that is not fair-trade. Seattle's Best does in fact have a line of fair-trade, but we don't use it (it may cost a nickel or dime more per cup). I suggest that we take up this issue with the administration before Christmas break and demand that they start providing fair-trade on campus.

Here's a website with more info about the benefits of fair-trade: http://equalexchange.com

Also, this is the line of fair-trade offered by Seattle's Best (wow they offer one whole type and don't even advertise it!!)
http://seattlesbest.com/products/Product.aspx?productID=17

We could start simply by talking to the administration and see if they are aware of this issue (how can they not be?) and see how they respond (probably by sending us up the ladder to talk to someone else). Any thoughts?

posted by Maria at 10:39 AM

11 Comments:

  • It is its own line of coffee among many in the Seattle's Best franchise. And, as Maria is pointing out, we're lucky they have one! Indeed, at least having an option would be a step in the right direction, although, I would advocate more strongly for having ONLY fair trade coffee--that way no one has to choose daily to either exploit or support coffee growers and pickers.

    I definitely vote for trying to get a meeting set up prior to the break. I'm thinking a delegation of 3 or 4 (under the representation of our underground unclub, VoICE, or, even, the school of ed if they need something official) with plenty of info regarding the fair trade line (which Maria provided) and perhaps some rhetoric from the university's mission. I'm happy to be a part of this delegation or a part of the second one (or both)as this gets pushed up the line to Sodexho corporate. Looking forward to the struggle.

    What are some possible good times to do this and who is up for it?

    I'm good for Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday mornings or Wednesday afternoons starting next week (12/4)

    By Blogger adam, at 12:49 PM  

  • I'd like us to at least get the option of buying fair-trade, but like Adam I'd much rather see it as the only option.
    I'm game for helping out, but Lord knows my schedule's a mess. I am good on Wednesday afternoons always, but I can tweak my work schedule if I know far enough in advance for the other days.

    By Blogger meghan, at 1:10 PM  

  • Such an appropriate quote, Katie.

    Sounds like there may have been some good discussion last night at the meeting. I will attempt to carry it through today's meeting and see what folks are willing to do.

    I think the idea of checking into all their food products are important to present an overall case to Sodexho. I'm thinking the fair trade coffee issue is the one we should tackle right now and may be a 'winnable' issue that we can build some momentum around.

    Thanks for contacting Susan, Britt. I think contacting under the name of 'students for social justice' is fine as I'm sure they would have a hard time understanding the concept of a group of concerned citizens who gathered to petition their corporation. Identity is an issue we'll want to continue to work on. If I could suggest trying to solicit a number of avaiable times from Susan to see what might work best for at least 3 or 4 of the group and tell her that we will get back with her. I want to be sure that we have time to put together a small prospectus of sorts that lays out what we know about Seattle's Best Fair Trade Line, what other universities have done in advocating for that line, and why this change is critical to the mission of our university.

    What do you all think? We could then follow the same process in challenging other products Sodexho carries.

    I like the energy around this process already. (We may want to watch the vitriolic rhetoric, however, regarding Sodexho. Remember, this is a public space, and taken out of context, all kinds of assumptions may be made about our group. Of course, we understand that our interest is in challenging what we see as an unethical corporation and ultimately helping dismantle the rabid privatization and corporatization of our commons.)

    By Blogger adam, at 5:29 AM  

  • Here are some sites I found regarding other schools. Some are better than others, but research none the less.

    http://www.usft.org/index.php?p=/Home/

    http://campus.crs.org/site/DocServer/fairtrade_big3.pdf?docID=181

    http://www.middlebury.edu/administration/enviro/initiatives/fair-trade_coffee.htm

    http://www.boston.com/news/globe/living/articles/2004/02/02/theres_a_new_cause_brewing_on_campuses/

    By Blogger meghan, at 5:39 AM  

  • OK, so our plan is to put together a three part prospectus: (1) Information we know about Seattle's Best Fair Trade line; (2) examples of other universities who have successfully advocated for fair trade on their campus with Sodexho; and (3) connecting our request to the BU mission and vision.

    As you gather info about these other universities, post here or share by email. We would like to have this gathered by our next meeting, 12/18.

    By Blogger adam, at 9:46 AM  

  • My final that day ends at 3, then I'm good. But unfortunately I haven't heard back from my university yet. If you'd like to, their school as an SFFT web site:

    http://students.washington.edu/sfft

    Let me know when you decide to go.

    By Blogger meghan, at 7:55 PM  

  • I emailed Puget Sound on Tuesday, but still haven't heard back. Is anyone emailing Luther College or Middlebury? If not I'm going to contact them because they had some good info on their websites.

    Either day works for me

    By Blogger Maria, at 9:02 AM  

  • probably can't do past 3 on Thursday as i have a class at 4:30, and we'll be meeting off campus. good all day on friday except 10:30-11. keep me posted. i'll be pulling the mission stuff together this weekend.

    By Blogger adam, at 9:18 AM  

  • Unfortunately I can't be there Friday, I have to be at work at 12. But the next one (which I'm sure will happen) I'm there.
    Oh, and I'm still waiting to hear back from U. of Washington.

    By Blogger meghan, at 9:31 PM  

  • yep. 11:30 works for me. viva la resistance'

    By Blogger adam, at 9:29 AM  

  • it looks really good guys! good luck tomorrow - wish i could be there.
    as adam says "viva la resistance"

    By Blogger meghan, at 7:56 PM  

Post a Comment

<< Home