Newsletter: Credit card balance transfer deal Cash advance payday loan Get credit report free online Government grants on student loan Free credit report with 3 score Home equity loan indiana Debt consolidation help Cheap credit report Citibank student loan Credit score 650 Compare home equity loan Citibank student loan corporation Bad business card credit Annual credit equifax report Quick cash payday loan Consolidation debt link suggest Budget credit and counseling Shell gas station credit card Free bad credit personal loan Home improvement loan interest rate Understanding credit score Home improvement interest loan rate Card card continental credit finance master Approval personal loan Apply card college credit student Bad business credit en language loan Apply card credit macys Direct deposit prepaid credit card Card consolidation credit uk Discover credit card application Bad card credit debt California home jumbo loan Consolidation credit debt 3 credit score Business card credit start up New home construction loan Low interest rate personal loan Trans union credit report agency One hour payday loan Personal loan canada Bad card credit credit deposit no Business gas credit card Secured debt consolidation Atlanta debt consolidation loan Home loan for people with bad credit Free trans union annual credit report Personal cash loan Fast loan payday Credit card rating Corporation loan sc student Credit equifax report sample Visa student credit card Loan mexico new student Texas debt consolidation loan Instant student credit card Business credit card no credit Loan until payday Payday loan personal Miami home equity loan Free credit repair information Bad credit home loan need Credit card merchant account Consolidation debt non profit Chase student credit card Ez payday loan Whats my credit score Bad credit school loan Card credit login mbna Credit free from government report Consolidate credit debt Apply for wal mart credit card Best business credit card Great lake loan student Missouri payday loan Card credit discount gas Credit card reader writer Credit debt counseling services Buy new car bad credit Direct merchant bank credit card Bad credit credit card no deposit Small business credit card machine Bad card company credit credit Credit card uk high risk Bad consolidation credit debt mortgage Credit free national report Home loan refinance rate Capital one platinum credit card Settling credit card debt Christian credit counseling dallas Discover secured credit card Bad card credit credit no Cheap personal loan Delaware home improvement loan Business card credit mbna Bad car credit loan roanoke No interest credit card Bad credit repair report Beacon credit score Compare secured credit card Secret credit report repair Credit card depot and debt consolidation Atlanta bank federal home loan Credit rating canada Fico credit score Bad card credit people Verizon credit card account online Loan student subsidized Best credit card rate Free credit card terminal Hotel reward credit card Credit free no obligation report Bad credit home mortgage Card certified credit merchant processing services Consolidation loan rate student People with bad credit Personal loan quote Ameriquest card card credit master platinum Consumer credit help I have bad credit need a loan Student loan consolidation services Clean credit report Master credit card Well fargo home equity loan Best low rate credit card Major credit card company New mexico home equity loan Capital one credit card services 0 percent credit card Card debt consolidation First time home buyer fha loan Bad credit home financing Free copy of credit report Best unsecured personal loan Build credit score Bank of america home equity loan Business credit card offer Free annual credit report government Card company consolidation credit debt Government home loan va Instant credit repair Acc merchant credit card Fix a bad credit report Christian consumer coun credit Maryland home loan Federal home improvement loan Refinance home loan texas Shell gas credit card Student loan finance corporation Online home improvement loan Chase cashbuilder credit card Accept credit card on the web Free credit report credit card Guaranteed high risk personal loan Advance loan online payday Car loan credit score Advice card consolidate credit debt financial off pay How to lower credit card interest rate Ohio debt consolidation loan Debt consolidation agency Bad card credit secured Canadian prepaid credit card Easy loan payday quick Third party credit card processing Secured credit card in canada Free credit rating report 0 card credit interest uk Credit card counseling debt consolidation New hampshire home loan Second mortgage bad credit Bad card credit credit get Card consolidation credit debt service Cambridge credit counseling corp Processing credit card transactions Credit card and student loan consolidation Target credit card application Bad credit home mortgage refinance loan Credit card debt statute of limitation America card credit debt Credit card high limit instant approval Citibank credit card Bad credit checking account California card consolidation credit debt Car auto loan credit bad Application card college credit student Credit card machine leasing Bad credit loan ok personal Apply card college credit student Application california home mortgage loan Bad construction credit home loan Bad credit mobile home loan International loan student Credit card balance transfer offer Home mortgage loan rate Free equifax credit score Disney chase credit card Free debt consolidation services Bad credit history loan Buying a home with bad credit Arizona debt consolidation loan California home interest loan refinance Credit card fraud and identity theft Free credit card numbers Grant loan student Federal home loan bank of new york Consolidation debt non profit program Bad card credit gas people Free sex web cam with no credit card Free stolen credit card numbers Consumer counseling credit debt management The best credit card No fax required payday loan Bad bankruptcy credit mortgage Loan repayment student Poor credit georgia home loan Fast bad credit personal loan Talento credit card machine Background check credit report Consumer credit law Credit card rate comparison Carolina corporation loan south student Bad credit mortgage rate Secret credit report repair Consolidation defaulted student loan Private loan for a student with bad credit Loan online personal uk Fast cash advance payday loan Capital one credit card uk Credit card merchant terminal Bad card credit Personal loan unsecured loan Bad card credit credit free Free debt consolidation help 0 best card credit Ohio debt consolidation Card chevron credit payment Credit card debt management Consolidation debt loan uk unsecured Georgia home loan refinance America card mbna credit bank Home improvement grants loan New york home equity loan Home mortgage loan rate No credit card required porn Uk personal loan online Credit free report texas Center loan national service student Real time credit card processing Auto bad bankruptcy credit credit loan no Free consumer credit counseling Free online experian credit report Student loan Chase credit card online Credit card Bad credit loan mortgage tennessee Orange county home equity loan Consolidate consolidation credit debt Credit free report texas Bad credit home loan mortgage quote Colorado home mortgage loan company Consolidation credit debt help Mbna credit card Credit counseling toronto Best credit card online deal Texas guaranteed student loan corporation Debt consolidation financing Maryland debt consolidation Credit debt consolidation loan Credit free report trans union Bank first credit card Stop credit card application Free cell phone no credit card Wireless credit card processing Home equity loan calculator American card credit express payment Maryland bad credit mortgage Trans union credit report history Credit fico free report score Debt consolidation mortgage uk Auto financing bad credit Bad card credit First premier credit card services Credit free indiana report Easy online payday loan First national bank credit card No fee secured credit card Maryland debt consolidation loan Ontario home loan No fax payday advance loan Card credit internet payment processing Bad card credit credit credit no Jacksonville home equity loan Mobile credit card processing equipment Free credit report and free credit score Credit card depot and debt consolidation Instant online payday loan Bad credit payday loan Best credit card offer Bad credit credit card no annual fee Free adult web cam no credit card Providian visa credit card Credit repair florida High risk personal loan Credit equifax from report Christian consolidation counseling credit debt Free trans union credit report Free credit help Bad credit home loan california Business credit card no credit Home loan rochester new york Credit personal report Credit card processing equipment Low rate personal loan Card consolidation credit debt management Approval card credit instant student Buyer california first home loan time Credit free illinois report Best low interest credit card Secured credit card application 3 credit online report Card compare credit different from offer Equity florida home loan rate Guaranteed bad credit loan Credit card processing canada Bad consolidation credit loan student Personal loan with collateral Sallie mae student loan consolidation 0 intro rate credit card California equity home in loan Credit card for student with bad credit Equity home loan massachusetts rate 0 apr visa credit card Debt consolidation loan without owning a home Advice blog consolidation debt Repair credit score Free credit card uk Credit card for online shop 0 apr credit card application Accept card credit payment No faxing instant payday loan 3 in 1 credit report American express prepaid credit card Government loan for first time home buyer Equity home loan minnesota rate San diego home equity loan Home loan mortgage va Government student loan Military bad credit personal loan Should i consolidate my student loan Bank card com credit household Bad credit repair service Cash loan payday quick Get credit score Capital one bank credit card Home equity loan orange county california Chase credit card online Bad credit credit card no fee Best rated credit card Low apr credit card uk Free debt consolidation program Annual bad card credit credit fee no Credit card counseling Bank federal francisco home loan san Credit counseling of america Personal loan rate Virgin personal loan World financial network national bank credit card Loan home mortgage rate in california American express small business credit card Center consolidation loan student California home mortgage loan rate California countrywide home loan Best small business credit card Credit card visa master card National foundation for credit counseling Credit history report online Student credit card debt Credit card for people with bad Credit counseling detroit Cheap home owner loan Student loan debt consolidation calculator Credit free free online report Consolidation counseling credit debt service Card chevron credit payment Bad credit loan mortgage refinancing Capital card co credit one Guaranteed online personal loan Capital one secured credit card 0 interest credit card transfer balance Credit equifax from report Interest loan rate student Consolidation credit debt loan poor Build business credit Debt consolidation help Sears credit card Home interest loan rate Bad credit home loan refinance Credit credit report score Card company credit negotiating Premier credit card Accept credit card internet Real time credit card processing Florida mortgage home loan Credit repair loan Consolidation debt loan uk Best card credit merchant rate Card cardmember chase credit service Payday loan uk Approval bad card credit credit instant World savings home loan Credit score canada Small business line of credit Business card consolidation credit Credit card processing low rate Discover student credit card Best credit card deal Providian credit card services Bad best card credit credit Home owner loan corp Card credit intrest low rate Consolidation loan personal secured Punishment for credit card fraud Bureau credit score Card credit low processing rate Free annual credit report ohio Best student credit card Easy personal loan Bad credit personal loan uk Balance transfer credit card for bad credit Bad credit home loan refinance Michigan debt consolidation loan Home improvement loan texas Guaranteed loan personal unsecured Broker california home loan Bad card credit credit loan uk Georgia home loan Accepting business card credit small Bad credit mortgage refinance loan Christian counseling credit family Consumer credit counseling Bad card credit credit secured Debt consolidation loan without owning a home Apply for instant credit card Bank of america business credit card Loan online student Credit repair tip Equity home loan mortgage rate Credit free massachusetts report Aspire credit card company Credit order report Online no fax payday loan Consumer credit counseling service inc Free credit check without credit card Debt consolidation online quote Consumer credit counselor Refinance private student loan Best reward credit card Fix credit score Airline mileage credit card 0 interest credit card uk California home loan mortgage mortgage Quickly improve my credit score Free credit report and score Shell credit card account No credit card required Credit instantly online report 0 card credit interest transfer How to start a credit card company Apply canada card credit jersey new Credit card debt negotiation Personal debt consolidation loan uk Minnesota home improvement loan Home equity loan for mobile home Shell gasoline credit card 0 credit card rate Bad consolidation credit debt loan people Card credit first premier secured Christian counseling credit service Bad credit card Providian secured credit card 0 fixed apr credit card Accept card credit line payment Visa credit card numbers Annual credit equifax free report Credit free report score Guaranteed high loan personal risk Debt consolidation loan for non home owner Bankruptcy loan personal unsecured Credit free report trw Business credit card offer Best home equity loan rate Personal debt consolidation Bad credit special finance car loan Home construction loan Credit equifax read report Article credit card debt Bad card company credit credit Merchant credit card processing Hard money personal loan Improve credit rating Orchard bank credit card status Consumer credit counseling of maryland Building business credit Pennsylvania debt consolidation loan Free stolen credit card numbers Consolidation credit debt repair Home interest loan mortgage rate Boost credit score Card college credit Canada card consolidation credit Pay off credit card debt No transfer fee credit card Southwest airline credit card Card credit merchant online processing Discover credit card application Airline credit card Bank home equity loan rate Credit equifax online report Card credit mbna platinum plus Company consolidation debt minnesota Bad credit personal signature loan Credit report credit score Best credit card after bankruptcy Computer financing bad credit Card credit student unsecured American consumer credit counseling Home equity bad credit Credit card debt payoff Consolidation federal loan program student Capital one credit card company Credit repair credit card Consumer credit counseling center California home loan teacher Texas home loan Bad card charge credit Consolidation loan personal student Card credit debt eliminate Student loan debt consolidation calculator Home loan low rate Credit card debt collection Chase home equity loan Trans union credit report address Second debt consolidation mortgage Providian bank credit card Credit card debt law Corp finance loan student Bad credit refinance loan Lowes capital one credit card Online shopping credit card Consolidate credit card debt Bad credit card application Credit free report yearly Maine debt consolidation loan Consumer counseling credit inc service Cincinnati credit counseling Accept credit card merchant account Citi bank credit card Check credit free online report No balance transfer fee credit card Balance card credit offer transfer Credit repair software Low cost credit card processing Free credit report in georgia Credit card repair Debt consolidation agency Adjustable rate home loan Student credit card apply online Private loan for a student with bad credit Orchard bank credit card services Free debt consolidation information Apply for wal mart credit card Consolidate consolidation counseling credit debt debt Consolidation debt free information Personal loan after bankruptcy Low apr credit card American express secured credit card Delaware home equity loan Low interest business credit card Credit report repair services Bureau credit equifax report Card company consolidation credit Tennessee home loan Credit card debt loan Consumer credit bureau Approval card credit guaranteed unsecured Accept credit card internet Advance loan payday quick First horizon home loan Credit card for student with no credit Buying a home with bad credit Bad credit mortgage in florida Capital one platinum credit card Bad credit interest mortgage rate Debt consolidation loan for non home owner Airway card card credit master us Bank of scotland credit card Broker california home loan mortgage Home loan owner personal secured Equity home homeequity1.us loan mortgage Christian counseling credit family Credit information report Apply online for credit card Federal stafford student loan Consolidation credit debt rating Card consolidation credit debt services Bad consolidation credit debt loan Reward 660 credit card America bank card credit payment Card consolidation credit loan Hsbc credit card india Builder card cash chase credit Mobile home park loan Bad credit signature loan Calculator card consolidation credit debt Fha va home loan Chevron gas credit card Business credit application Bad credit new home loan Bill card consolidation credit Free credit score check Bad credit signature loan College loan parent student Christian consolidation counseling credit debt Home equity loan Wachovia secured credit card Alternative student loan for bad credit

Revolutionary Biofool

April 1st, 2008

A revolutionary development in automotive transport has uncovered a fuel made from rice and banana skins that would allow cars to do a month’s avarage motoring on 1 grain of rice and 1 banana skin. The new technology, codenamed AP R1 L Fuel is to be tested today for the first time on public roads with a journey from Barking in Essex to Crackpot in North Yorkshire. A junior minister for transport confirmed that this unheard of new fuel would, for today only, be completely tax and duty free.

Rilap Loof

Plastic bags to cost 5p - Channel Island Breakthrough

March 7th, 2008

In what could only be described as an astonishing piece of inter-island co-operation, the major food shops in Guernsey and Jersey have got together and agreed to introduce a 5p charge for plastic carrier bags from May this year. This is not a money making scheme as the proceeds will all be donated to local charities, but a genuine breakthrough in the fight against the 10 million plastic bags used on these 2 islands every year. Somewhat predictably there has been a little bit of whining, but you will get that with any change however positive. For these islands however, the environmental benefits will prove significant, as they both have limits to landfill capacity, and being surrounded by sea, this will hopefully make an immediate cut in the number of bags that end up blown into the sea, causing untold damage to marine wildlife. It will be an interesting period to see exactly what impact this has, as local campaigns were already starting to cut the use of plastic bags. The Channel Islands are by no means first to tackle this problem, but a voluntary charge on the bags is an innovative step, and shows how perhaps it could be repeated throughout the UK, without the need for legislation. Perhaps what we are seeing is the start of a community led movement to have needs addressed by community action rather than government.

Fair Trade Phil

ps - shameless plug for a great selection of reusable shopping bags at ecomundi


Shared Interest

February 28th, 2008

As part of Fairtrade Fortnight in Guernsey, our Fairtrade Steering Group had arranged a visit by Shared Interest, the co-operative lending society that aims to reduce poverty in the world, by providing fair and just financial services to Fairtrade producers. It was really interesting to hear both sides of their work, the raising of capital, largely in the UK and the lending operations - in this case, their rep from Costa Rica talked about how ethical finance, alongside Fairtrade sales was enabling producers to succeed and expand, to invest in their community and bring benefits to many people. It was a strong and firsthand message that again refutes the nonsense talked by the Adam Smith Institute. A good crowd was present, asking interesting and perceptive questions and the key message coming out of the evening was how important it is to see ourselves as part of these communities, because the decisions we make today will affect their lives as well as ours.

Fair Trade Phil

Fairtrade Foundation Comment

February 26th, 2008

Following my post yesterday, I am delighted to see a further robust rebuttal today from the Fairtrade Foundation here to the frankly ridiculous comments from the Adam Smith Institute. It will come as a serious blow to their credibility that someone was able to make these senseless and irresponsible comments on their behalf. Fairtrade has always and will continue to enable hundreds of thousands of producers to improve their own lives.

Fairtrade Fortnight is upon us - Ubuntu

February 26th, 2008

Time has rushed around and fairtrade fortnight has kicked off with a bit of a bang for the Fairtrade Foundation, no doubt a great achievement to get Tate & Lyle to convert all their products over the next year. What a great start to the fortnight! A sure sign of the success of Fairtrade is that people start to knock it - and let’s not forget, there are some powerful industry lobbies out there who have no interest in seeing Fairtrade succeed and flourish. Some of the comments in the media this week from supposedly intellectual institutes are so laughably ridiculous, it makes you wonder who authorised the statements.  How anyone can assume that paying a poor farmer more money for the crops he grows is trapping him into poverty is beyond me. By ensuring that workers earn enough to feed and educate their families will ensure that steadily over time and generation by generation abilities, wealth and expectations will rise, and the families will work their own way out of the poverty trap. Simply bullying small producers with no bargaining power to sell their produce for a pittance will not help anyone - it is neither fairtrade nor freetrade and some of these “intellectuals” should learn to tell the difference.

ubuntu.gifPersonally I am kicking off fairtrade Fortnight with Ubuntu Cola - a great product, and the result of clever ideas - check out their website and keep your eyes open for it. We hope to have our first stock in a few days. Ubuntu Cola is made using Fairtrade sugar from Malawi and Zambia. Over and above the Fairtrade premium, The Ubuntu Trading Company is committed to returning one third of its profits to further development projects for African sugar growers and their communities. Launched last year in Universities, Ubuntu Cola has a distinctive and refreshing taste, perfect straight up over ice or as a mixer in a host of classic drinks.  Fans of the drink include Andy Cato of Groove Armada.

As for Ubuntu, - it is a bit like legal opinions, if you want three versions of what it means you need to speak to two people! Wikipedi gives a vauge description,    but I prefer the short version “I am because you are” - if you have any others, post them here!

 Have a good fortnight,

Fair Trade Phil

Ethical Junction

January 29th, 2008

I’ve been talking to our friends at Ethical Junction this week, and they have exciting plans and a new web platform coming soon. They are the premier online meeting place for ethical businesses and will be expanding the community element of their site in the very near future - check out their membership offering here or contact them directly at membership@ethical-junction.org.

Human Values

January 8th, 2008

Here at Mundi Group we had a busy festive season, ten times more web orders and almost double the shop sales we had previously experienced - occasionally we goofed - I’m the first to put my handup and admit when we get it wrong. And we do our damdest to fix our errors pdq! But I have to say I am disappointed with the tone of some e-mails we receive - some of them contain things you wouldn’t say to your dog. Really - do we all expect perfection in other people - do we offer it ourselves. Does everyone realise another human will read that abusive e-mail we have sent? I have spent the last 2 years working for free for the fair trade cause and the consumer abuse I have seen by e-mail this year is enough to make me give up and do something else. Perhaps the answer is just to publish them here - when I can find time to edit them - I will allow you to pass verdict on the vitriol sent to us!

Ethical Businesses

November 27th, 2007

It’s probably no surprise to hear that I come across a great many “Ethical Businesses” in the course of my day job running the Mundi Group. I have to say my experiences at their hands are mixed. In my view, a true ethical business is one where the ethics are core to the business - in every decision, it must be ethical, how we deal with staff, suppliers, and customers must be ethical, how we advertise and portray ourselves must be ethical - and yes, of course, the products we sell must be ethical. I see an increasing trend for businesses to move into the “ethical sector”, with a bit of greenwash, and usually a bit of hogwash, but often the way they interact with customers or suppliers leaves a great deal to be desired. I have been left disillusioned by so called “ethical organisations” unwilling to discuss matters when we have been unhappy with substandard services. Success of course can often undermine the basic premise - as businesses grow and take in outside investors, it becomes increasingly difficult to stick to principles in the face of management targets. And perhaps as more staff are taken on, the original owners philosophy can get watered down. Is it inevitable? I hope not! At Mundi Group we are committed to maintaining our ethics - its more than a business strategy, it’s our personal beliefs and philosophy. 

 Fair Trade Phil

Bin the Bags (plastic, that is!)

November 20th, 2007

Plastic bags are so cheap to produce, sturdy, plentiful, easy to carry and store that they have captured 90% of the Supermarket and retailers market since they were introduced over 25 years ago.  As a result, the remnants are everywhere. They are used for dog mess, lunch boxes, bin liners, and much more. But most end up in landfill, or drift around on the breeze until they end up clogging drains or land in the sea, where they are responsible for the death of marine wildlife such as turtles. The numbers are absolutely staggering and this is because the cost to the public (i.e. usually free) does not reflect the true costs associated with production and safe disposal of “free” bags. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, somewhere between 500 billion and a trillion plastic bags are used worldwide each year. Of those, millions end up in the litter stream outside of landfills. Once in the environment, it can take anything from a few months to hundreds of years for plastic bags to completely breakdown, and as they do so, toxic elements can seep into the earth.The vast quantity of stray bags has meant a dramatic increase in the amount of sacks found floating in the oceans where they choke, strangle, and starve wildlife around the world. The advent of rapidly biodegradable bags, often made from plant starches rather than plastics will undoubtedly help, but the real need is to reduce the annual total of bags used significantly.

Tax on Bags

Some countries have had extensive success by adding a tax to each bag, effectively making people think more about their use of disposable bags, and providing an incentive for strong, reusable shopping bags. This is likely to become a common approach to the problem, and there are some imaginative solutions such as onya bags, which fit into a clip on pouch, and turtle bags, which are good quality string bags and scrunch into a small pocket sized ball.

Some Scary Plastic Facts

·  500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are used each year.
·  Hundreds of thousands of sea turtles, whales and other marine mammals die every year from eating discarded plastic bags mistaken for food.
·  Plastic bags don’t biodegrade, they photodegrade—breaking down into smaller and smaller toxic bits contaminating soil and waterways and entering the food web when animals accidentally ingest.
·  Windblown plastic bags are so prevalent in Africa that a cottage industry has sprung up harvesting bags and using them to weave hats, and even bags. According to the BBC, one group harvests 30,000 per month.
·  Plastic bags are among the 12 items of debris most often found in coastal cleanups, according to the nonprofit Center for Marine Conservation.
 

Plastic Solutions

·  In, Ireland, a plastic bag tax introduced in 2002 reduced consumption by 90%. Approximately 18,000,000 liters of oil have been saved.

·  A high quality reusable shopping bag has the potential to eliminate hundreds, if not thousands, of plastic bags over its lifetime.


 

Top Tips to bin the bags


“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed people can change the world: indeed it’s the only thing that ever has!”

Margaret Meade

Your actions count! Help to reduce the mindless consumption of single use plastic and paper bags.1.   Start using reusable shopping bags. Find the right styles and designs to suit your taste and lifestyle. 2. Refuse a bag. Cashiers are programmed to keep the line moving and don’t always stop to think or bother to ask if you need a bag. If you don’t need one, don’t take a one.3. Reuse plastic bags you have accumulated as garbage liners.

4. Start using Ultra Compact bags like the onya or turtle bags from ecomundi . We love these since people tend to forget their bags when they go shopping- Ultra Compact bags are small enough to stash in your purse, jacket, backpack, car, etc. so one is always handy.

5. Get stores to offer cash credits if you bring in your own bags.

6. Open your eyes to how many bags you consume: keep count. For instance, if you have a giant plastic bag holding plastic bags in your closet, take 5 minutes and count how many you have. OR, count how many plastic and paper bags you go through in a week.

7. Spread the word to wake up others.

8. Cut down on plastic produce bags by bringing your own reusable produce bags

Want to More – be an activist –it’s easy!

·         Email retailers and politicians to voice your concerns.

·         Give newspapers, radio and TV stations a “heads up” — this is a story whose time has come!

·         Campaign for a plastic bag tax

·         Belong to an environmental or community organization? Request that this issue be added to the group’s agenda.

·         Have your own suggestions? Let us know - post your comments on this blog

 Be Green, be happy,

 

Fair Trade Phil

Black Gold Movie - a review

November 14th, 2007

As mentioned in the last post, I went to see a local screening of Black Gold last night. In an era when Multinational coffee companies now rule our shopping malls and supermarkets and dominate the industry worth over $80 billion, coffee is now the most valuable trading commodity in the world after oil.

But while we continue to pay for our lattes and cappuccinos, the price paid to coffee farmers remains so low that many have been forced to abandon their coffee fields, or worse, turn them over to the production of narcotics such as chat.

Nowhere is this paradox more evident than in Ethiopia, the birthplace of coffee. Tadesse Meskela is one man on a mission to save his 74,000 struggling coffee farmers from bankruptcy. As his farmers strive to harvest some of the highest quality coffee beans on the international market, Tadesse travels the world in an attempt to find buyers willing to pay a fair price.

Against the backdrop of Tadesse’s journey to London and Seattle, the enormous power of the multinational players that dominate the world’s coffee trade becomes apparent. New York commodity traders, the international coffee exchanges, and the double dealings of trade ministers at the World Trade Organisation reveal the many challenges Tadesse faces in his quest for a long term solution for his farmers. The film, like the struggles of the coffee farmers doesn’t really have an ending, certainly not a happy one. If we want to do something about that, then the only way is to do something personally. Governments won’t intervene because of thebig business lobby maintaining the status quo - consumers voting with their feet is the only thing that will shift big business. We only sell Fairtrade Coffee, to change lives, only buy Fairtrade Coffee!

Fair Trade Phil