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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 6, 2000)
ASUO Survival Center encourages Fair Trade ■The Survival Center looks to start a full-fledged Fair Trade coffee campaign to raise student awareness By Emily Gust Oregon Daily Emerald With campaigns across the coun try calling for an end to the exploita tion of coffee growers and the begin ning of a more just system of distribution, the movement may fi nally be making its way to the Uni versity Deborah James, Fair Trade direc tor for Global Exchange, is coming to campus tonight to share her mes sage of the Fair Trade coffee cam paign. James’s keynote address is sponsored by the ASUO Survival Center and will take place at 7 p.m. in the Fir Room in the EMU. Fair Trade “basically means that farmers get a living wage for their coffee,” James said. She explained that most growers currently make All Ways Travel • Fall Specials • Orlando -$198.00* New York -$198.00* Baltimore -$198.00* London -$399.00* •tax not included, restrictions may apply. Subject to change without notice. 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Not only that, but many people who drink coffee have it daily, which means they have the chance every day to make a difference. The huge market means there is a huge opportunity for change. “Buying Fair Trade coffee is a sim ple, easy thing you can do on a daily i-: basis to support fairness for farmers around the world,” James said. With more than 2,500 retail out lets offering Fair Trade coffee to con sumers, and studies showing that people chose Fair Trade products instead of traditional ones when given the choice, it appears the ef fort is meeting with success. { C Buying Fair Trade Cof fee is a simple, easy thing you can do on a daily basis to support fairness for farmers around the world. Deborah James Fair Exchange director Global Exchange Starbucks began distributing Fair Trade coffee in its stores Oct. 4, but is only providing it in bags of whole beans that cost $11.45 and not in an individual cud of coffee. ‘‘We’re excited about the oppor tunity to bring Fair Trade coffee,” said Starbucks spokesperson Megan Behrbaum. “We were in con versations with TransFair USA and Global Exchange and we all share a common view to improving the lives of farmers in coffee origin countries.” James said the price between the two types is minimal. While the world price for coffee is $1, buying Fair Trade coffee is just 26 cents more. What makes the difference incon sequential is that the gourmet coffee focused on by the campaign sells for well over the world price. The 26 cents become even more insignifi cant when spread out over 40 cups of brewed coffee, which is how many cups a pound of beans gener ally yields. More success is seen in the fact that several cities have already passed purchasing restrictions, stat ing they will buy only Fair Trade coffee. These cities include San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Berkeley and Oakland, Calif. Many colleges, too, have brought Fair Trade coffee to their campuses, including University of Califomia Davis. And while there is not a full fledged campaign underway at the University yet, there are certainly those students who hope there will be soon. Survival Center Co-coordinator Randy Newnham said initiating a Fair Trade coffee campaign on cam pus is his personal crusade for the year. Students play an important role in initiating change, James emphasized. Not only can they become involved in the grassroots campaigns, but they can potentially influence what coffee is served on their campuses. James’ visit was meant to be the kickoff for an entire weekend event — the “UO Disorientation” — put on by the Survival Center. 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