From this point forward, buy and drink only organic, shade grown, fair trade coffee.
Why organic? No herbacides and pesticides are used which could pollute the soil and groundwater.
Why shade grown? Shade grown means that the coffee plants were grown in the midst of the existing forests instead of deforesting to plant coffee.
Why fair trade? The workers who grow and harvest the coffee will recieve a living wage for their work.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
But just like refusing to buy Nike because it might be made it less than cozy conditions, what do doing these things actually accomplish besides just making one feel good about their latte?
We are living in a world that more and more operates under the conditions of a semi-free market economy. In a free market economy, dollars are votes. If enough people refuse to buy products that cause harm to the environment, are made in less than ethical ways, etc. the markey will respond. We've already seen it happen. 10 years ago there was practically no such thing as organic, shade grown, fair trade coffee. Now, atleast in a few places forests aren't cut down to grow coffee, people recieve decent wages for their work, and the work they do doesn't pollute the soil and groundwater. A pretty good step I'd say. There is such a thing as conscious consumerism.
Also, what is the point of having morals or ethics or values if you don't live them out...even in your latte? It's exactly that sort of "nothing I can do" attitude that allows these problems to persist. All that is necessary for the progress of evil is that good people do nothing. Granted, your latte today isn't a big deal, but it is something, and it is something that everyone can do...which is the idea behind this little series. Things that EVERYONE can do that WILL have a positive impact on the world.
I'm certainly all for living out principles of morals, as Biblical instruction has always been given in such a fashion, as opposed to case law. The principle of not bearing false witness against your neighbor isn't violated when you lie to the Nazis about the Jews under your kitchen floor.
The principle here could be seen in the establishing of the sabbath year forgiveness of debt as a way of breaking the culture out of a system of debt slavery. Definitely working against oppression.
But who is the text speaking to here? Does it address the family who buys the bread that was made from wheat harvested by a man who should have been forgiven a debt but wasn't? Economics may have changed a bit in the past 2000 years, but if people weren't buying what you were selling back then, you were still out of luck. The text is addressing the people who had a direct relationship to the suffering of others.
Solomon speaks to this in Ecclesiastes, saying that if you see oppression or injustice (seemingly in someone else's yard), don't be shocked; know that there are authorities over them and a highest authority over everything.
hey jason,
so what do you think of starbucks? did i tell you i work for starbucks?
also when can i come see you:) ? im hoping to be in montana july 27th and at masters by august 13th. will you be around sometime before or in between then?
crb
Sassy,
You will be pleased to know that Shade Grown, Organic, and Fair Trade Coffee is available at Starbucks.
Post a Comment