 "Photo: Courtsesy of Campus Progress")
UH Students for Fair Trade received the Best Action Campaign award at the Campus Progress National Conference for switching almost all coffee sold on campus to 100 percent fair trade beginning Fall 2009.
UHSFT, which accepted the award July 8 in Washington, D.C., showcased its persistence during the fair trade coffee negotiations.
“UHSFT is capable of a lot of things, but taking no for an answer isn’t one of them,” Campus Progress advocacy associate Tanya Paperny said in a press release. “When they reached an impasse in their negotiations with the administration, they utilized creative — and occasionally confrontational — tactics to draw attention to their cause and pressure decision makers to do the right thing.”
According to UHSFT’s Web site, its members are educators at the University regarding fair trade and ethical issues on campus.
Fair trade refers to an organized movement that promotes sustainability and helps empower goods production in developing countries.
Members of UHSFT have also been working toward increasing wages and improving working conditions for Aramark’s UH employees.
UHSFT was founded in 2006 by history doctoral candidate Timothy O’Brien.
Campus Progress, founded in 2005 and part of the Center for American Progress, acts to empower new progressive leaders nationwide.
12 comments
To quote "trade without any interference from third-party organizations with ulterior motives" is hard to find. Between the seller and the consumer, there are many third-parties with ulterior motives involved in the process. Take marketing companies for example. They are hired by a seller to promote and target specific buyers to sell their product. Virtually every company in the market place uses such ad companies. I understand that you don't like the idea of economically supporting coffee growers with your purchase and want to be able to deny them through your purchases on campus, but trade, of all sorts, is filled with "third-party organizations with ulterior motives". Why don't you like the idea of Fair Trade certifications?
According to the World Bank and Princeton free trade is "international trade free of government interference". Fair Trade certification is done by Trans Fair USA, a non governmental organization. So happily you can have your free and Fair Trade coffee in the same cup!!
BTW, did you take comparative politics with Mikulska earlier this summer?Christopher
The comment didn't say that fascism is a purely right-wing concept, it said "suppressing those voices if fascism" not the "only" fascism. I agree, in concept supressing any voices or opinions is fascism. However, the goal of UHSFT is not to take away the choice you have on campus. As far as what product is there, the quality of which doesn't change. Its still the same banana, coffee bean, etc. whether its certified fair trade or not. Economicaly, fair trade coffee is priced at the same level as non fair trade coffee is. Look at Einsteins, Java City, etc. They price their products on size of cup, not blend. In my view I am proud to be supporting a better wage for others with the choices I make in my purchases. I feel like it is important to support others who are less fortunate than myself. As a citizen of the richest nation in history, its just one more thing that I can do for others.Christopher