Chris, Max Havelaar described a situation where the local small growers were forced to grow commercial crops rather than the rice and other foods that would enable them to feed themselves.
Seems to me that if they were allowed to grow what they wished they would grow foods they wanted rather than crops on which they lose money (how can they continue?). Harry ********************************* Henry George School of Los Angeles Box 655 Tujunga CA 91042 818 352-4141 ********************************* -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Christoph Reuss Sent: Wednesday, April 05, 2006 10:10 AM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: [Futurework] Coffee anyone? Lawry asked: > I wonder if it might be possible to launch a corporate-responsibility > consciousness initiative. I do not mean legislation and regulated > protectionism, but a genuine moral initiative that included specific looks > at specific executive actions and policies, and recognized and morally > rewarded those who reflected that consciousness of responsibility? For coffee, sugar, chocolate, bananas etc. there already is one: The Fair Trade network ( http://www.fairtrade.net ), in N.America known as TransFair ( transfairusa.org , transfair.ca ). They pay much higher prices to the growers and guarantee good labor conditions and democratic participation rights in small-farmer coops. The high revenue for growers is often used for local educational and health projects, and the organic production methods avoid health hazards from pesticides to the growers. So it's up to the consumer to vote with their feet. In Switzerland, Fair Trade products (known here as "Max Havelaar" brand) have a high market share and can be found in regular store chains. Chris _______________________________________________ Futurework mailing list [email protected] http://fes.uwaterloo.ca/mailman/listinfo/futurework _______________________________________________ Futurework mailing list [email protected] http://fes.uwaterloo.ca/mailman/listinfo/futurework
