misskristin

To put it simply, Many industrialized countries have subsidy's to support farmers in times of dry production, or if the market changes. Most non modern countries and societies, are finding that when trading to countries that are post modern superpowers, they are getting less and less for their produce as the years go on even though the demand is much higher than ever before. In Ethiopia, most coffee farmers are producing 'chat' which is a drug along side their coffee beans and still not able to meet their BASIC sustenance needs.. Large companies and corporate powers are just pocketing our money, while the farmers are not even able to meet the needs of their families.

Things like climate change are putting added stress on developing countries. Africa is the only country in the world to become more poor in the last 10 years. Next time you brew a pot of coffee, or go out to buy one, think about who you are supporting. You could be helping a farmer not support the drug trade in his own country and feed and clothe his family, or you can pay some CEO's gas bill when he fills up his Hummer, that he drives in (all alone mind you) day in, and day out.



Let's start doing small things to support these countries, and get them on their feet. We are not teaching them anything by giving them certain handouts. Nor are we doing them any justice by forcing them to modernize before they are ready. The poor are getting poorer because the rich want to be richer, that is really it. Now I am not saying we should stop supporting humanitarian aid, but a lot of the reason these people are in the state they are, is because of unfair trade agreements. Yes yes, I know there are many other problems in developing countries other than fair trade issues... but coffee is something most of us do daily. Also products such as Tea, Cocoa, Sugar, Fruit, Rice.

Here is a list of companies that sell fair trade products.