Studentstoraise awarenessover commercialcoffee farmerstruggles

KELLY FtNLA:'11 STAFF WRITER KAF722@CABRINI.EDU

Be prepared to face a barrage of social consciousness on Thursday, April 22, from 11:30 to 1:30 in the caf and Jazzman's cafe because students from various classes will be participating in an advocacy campaign designed to raise awareness of the plight of the commercial coffee farmer.

Coffee is one of the most traded commodities in the world, second only to petroleum. Bean farmers are often paid less-thansufficient wages for their crops, and, as a result, the economies of coffee-farming countries like Columbia and Vietnam are suffering.

Coffee bean farmers are paid, on average 38 cents per pound. Fair trade farmers are paid $1.26 per pound. This is mainly due to the elimination of middlemen, nicknamed coyotes, or representatives of distribution companies that deal directly with farmers.

The increased price of fair trade coffee bean prices, which is slightly more expensive for consumers, allows communities to invest in healthcare, education and local infrastructure.

Students from Dr. Jerry Zurek's SEM 300, Mary Harris's international finance class, Dawn Francis's mass media class and Ruby Remley's product dis- tribution class are working together to advocate fair trade practices in the coffee market.

It's a remarkable cooperation across five courses and three departments," Zurek said.

The idea for the cooperative came after faculty members from varying departments traveled to Baltimore, Md., to Catholic Relief Services headquarters, to learn about international issues. Fair trade coffee was one of CRS's primary projects. They had already done a significant amount of research on the topic, according to Harris. This was one of the deciding factors.

Harris's class wrote papers after researching the social and economic factors of fair trade. Students were then asked to offer their opinions on the matter. The class unanimously decided that fair trade is better both socially and economically.

Members of the participating classes will be offering information sessions and administering short quizzes to anyone interested during lunch hours Thursday.

An informational powerpoint presentation, prepared by the product distribution class, will be projected on the walls of the caf and Jazzman's. Prizes are available to all of those who participate, and larger prizes will be given out lottery style to those whose fair trade knowledge is exceptional.

ATTENTION ALL GRADUATES'

One-YearGlobal MBA for Liberal Arts Majors

Preparefor a ManagementCareerin

Today'sInternationalMarketplace

Whetheryourdegreeis in modernlanguages or politicalscience, ourGlobalMBAgivesyoutheopportunity