for the planet and its people

One cup at a time happens May 18th at TRU.

TRU Fair Trade Group and Oxfam Canada joined forces to organize an inspiring evening of Fair Trade and Climate Change Education. Sponsored by Caffeine Downtown and Nature’s Fare Markets, the event will take place on Tuesday, May 18th at Thompson Rivers University and will feature two speakers: Adina Gray, TRU Student Researcher and Robert Fox, Oxfam Canada Executive Director.

Many of us could hardly imagine starting our day without the morning brew. While we sit back and enjoy its enticing aroma and comforting flavour, few of us might realize that we are consuming the world’s second most traded commodity after oil: Coffee. Even fewer of us are probably aware of the social and environmental impact that our coffee choices have on the livelihoods of small producers from some of the poorest countries around the world. While the world consumes over $1.5 billions of coffee cups of coffee a day and the top four roasters own coffee brands worth over $1 billion in annual sales, small coffee farmers are forced to live on less than two dollars a day.

MBA Student Adina Gray spent the past year researching the coffee industry and more specifically an emerging alternative market known as Fair Trade. “The key goals of Fair Trade are the establishment of a direct and ethical trading relationship between producers and consumers, allowing the former the opportunity to earn a decent living through the payment of fair prices,” Adina explains. In her presentation, she will talk about her research and share stories from working with Cooperativa Agraria Cafetalera Pangoa, a Fair Trade Coffee Cooperative from Peru that she visited last year. “It was an amazing learning experience and I was humbled by the kindness and friendliness of the farmers. They work so hard to improve their crops and are very proud of their labour. My morning coffee cup has a completely different meaning now,” said Gray.

Adina Gray visiting coffee farms in Peru

Cooperativa Agraria Cafetalera Pangoa, a Fair Trade Coffee Cooperative in Peru

Fair trade coffee, ready for shipping

By purchasing Fair Trade coffee, consumers also have the opportunity to help protect the environment. Coffee is often grown in regions with fragile eco-systems where deforestation and land degradation are of major concern. Fair Trade encourages farmers to use environmentally sustainable growing practices and reduce the use of harmful chemicals. Environmental degradation and climate change create challenges not only for these farmers but for disadvantaged people from around the globe. Oxfam Canada’s Executive Director Robert Fox will explain how climate change disproportionally impacts the poor communities who are the least responsible for emissions but suffer the greatest effects: increased droughts, floods, disease and hunger. Within poor communities, women suffer the most as climate change increases their burden in rural households and exacerbates gender inequalities. “There are many critical links to be made between issues of (fair) trade and climate change and how they in turn relate to women’s rights and gender justice”, Fox said.

Admission to event is free and open to anyone who is interested in finding out how his/her actions can support Fair Trade and alleviate the devastating impact of Climate Change. The presentations will begin at 7:00 pm in the TRU International Building, Room 1020 and Fair Trade door prizes will be offered.