This is the fifth and final segment in a series that compares three alternatives in the "ethical coffee" market:  fair trade, direct trade, and Starbucks’ C.A.F.E. practices.  Part one in the series explains how conditions in the traditional coffee market initially gave rise to fair trade coffee.  Part two explains what fair trade means.  Part three explains what direct trade coffee is.  Part four explains Starbucks’ C.A.F.E. practices.  The latter three articles also address criticisms of each of these types of "ethical coffee."  What follows below is a set of conclusions which, while intended to be understandable if read in isolation, does rely on the preceding articles for supporting argument and evidence.

At the Saddleback Faith Inquisition, err, Forum, both McCain and Obama were asked, "Who are the three wisest people that you know, and that you would rely on heavily in your administration?"

Obama:

His Wife
His Grandmother
Too many valid perspectives to limit to three

McCain:

General Petraeus
John Lewis
Meg Whitman

Fair enough and true to form, Obama was truthful and tactful; McCain was truthful and shooting from the lip.

The contrast in approach and thought process aside . . . Meg Whitman? The General and John Lewis were typical examples of McCain's pandering/bolstering version of straight-talk. No real surprises there – though Mr. Lewis may disagree. But Whitman? Really? OK, I'll play along.

This is the fourth part of a five-part series comparing three alternatives to the traditional coffee market for the socially responsible consumer:  fair trade, direct trade, and Starbuck’s C.A.F.E. program.  Part one explained why fair trade emerged as an alternative to the traditional coffee market.  Part two explained fair trade certification and addressed several criticisms that have been made against it.  Part three explained what direct trade coffee is.

Cross-posted from OH-16: John Boccieri for U.S. Congress:

John Boccieri has a plan to reform America's trade policies and restore our competitiveness.

Reforming Trade and Restoring America's Competitiveness

Unfair trade practices have had a devastating impact on our local communities. Since 2001, the state of Ohio has lost more than 102,000 jobs to China alone – the 5th highest amount of all 50 U.S. states.

Two thirds of U.S. jobs lost to China have come from our manufacturing sector, which won’t surprise local community members who have seen factories closed and jobs shipped away.

By WeBuyItGreen:  promoting green living and fair trade

This is the third article in a five-part series that compares fair trade coffee, direct trade coffee, and Starbucks’ C.A.F.E. program.  The first article in the series, Why Do We Need Fair Trade Coffee?, explains how conditions in the traditional coffee industry gave rise to fair trade coffee.  The second article, Fair Trade Coffee, explains how fair trade differs from the traditional coffee market.  It also addresses several criticisms of fair trade.

In addition to fair trade, direct trade has emerged as an alternative contender for the "ethical coffee" market.  Direct trade coffee is similar to fair trade insofar as it seeks to provide a fair price for small farmers and encourage them to develop sustainable, ecologically responsible practices.  As does fair trade, direct trade eliminates advantages that "middlemen" have over farmers in the traditional coffee market.

After a thorough vetting by the Public Committee for Democratic Vice Presidential Consideration, the former Carolina Senator respected for his work to end poverty and promote the interests of working families has been moved to the front of the pack. But it's not who you think it is . . .

By WeBuyItGreen: promoting green living and fair trade

This is the second article in a five-part series that examines three alternatives for the socially responsible coffee drinker:  fair trade, direct trade, and Starbuck’s C.A.F.E. program.  There are other labels such as certified organic, Rainforest Alliance certified, and UTZ certified coffee.  If you would like an overview of these and other certification labels for coffee, they are nicely explained in a recent article entitled Making Sense of Certification.  The three alternatives to be addressed in this series are major contenders in the specialty coffee market that claim to provide both a fair price for the farmer and environmentally sustainable practices.

By WeBuyItGreen: promoting green living and fair trade

This is the first in a five-part series of articles that compare three alternatives to the traditional coffee trade industry:  fair trade, direct trade, and Starbucks’ C.A.F.E. program.  However, before we compare these three alternatives to one another, let’s take a look at why fair trade coffee was created in the first place.  What conditions in the traditional coffee industry have created the need for fair trade, or some alternative that resembles it?

At Ryan for Kentucky, we believe that the playing field has been tilted against working families for far too long. My whole life, it seems that war has been waged on union workers and workers attempting to form new unions. I have witnessed this personally in a union fight. Although initially, 80% of the workers at our warehouse signed on to become union, the long process allowed the company to come in and "behind the scenes" peel off these votes. How? By turning worker against worker. Promising promotion of certain workers, and higher wages and more benefits if the union failed.

When he vetoed the Taft-Hartley Act of 1947, President Harry Truman called it "a slave-labor bill." The Republican-controlled Congress called it "an end to chaos," and overrode Truman's veto immediately. They were both politicking ahead of a defining campaign year.

The Presidential election of 1948 was a pivotal, fiercely fought contest for the soul of America. Post-World War. Early Cold War. Backlogged domestic issues. A nation starving for a new direction. A time when working people thought their wartime sacrifices and unresolved problems on the home front would take center stage. Indeed, the parties vying for the Oval Office crafted their campaigns (and parties themselves) around varying notions of what it would take to swing the working class vote their way. >>

Remember when Obama and Clinton were talking about renegotiating NAFTA during their campaigns in Ohio and Texas? Let's push Obama to keep his word! The best thing (IMO) about Obama's candidacy is the popular movement behind him, which largely replaces corporate lobbyists. That means that we have a voice and can influence policy through him, in principle. Have a look at this website to learn more about why NAFTA needs to be renegotiated, and sign the petition to push our candidate to commit to doing so.

Briefly, NAFTA lacked enforceable and effective labor and environmental protections. Its shortcomings are evidenced by the migration of manufacturing jobs across the border and the stagnation of wages and occupational safety legislation in Mexico. Read more about it here. If you feel inclined, sign the petition to pressure our future president to work on renegotiating NAFTA.

Admit it. You thought twice about the timing of the operation to free the hostages in Colombia. McCain. Trailing in the polls. Goes to speak about Free Trade in Colombia. The week a CNN poll found that 51% of Americans now 'feel threatened by free trade.' As President Bush continues to try to push through a new Free Trade agreement with Colombia before leaving office. The Republican Presidential nominee. And one-time prisoner of war. Is briefed about the rescue operation prior to its execution. The raid is a success. Cable news headlines like "McCain Knew" and "McCain met with Colombians prior to Hostage Rescue" and "Colombian Hostages Free" are read by millions of Americans watching muted TVs in bars, gyms, and noisy households across America. Heading into the Fourth of July weekend. When those Americans will stand around the grill and say, perhaps jokingly, but with the same predictable effect:

I'm fine with Obama's first salvo of national ads, but I'm also hoping for something different this year: I'd like to see an ad campaign that matches the 50-state strategy we've heard so much about.  In other words, let's see some ads that focus on the unique concerns throughout the country.

For example, there could be an ad just for Nevada slamming McCain for his pro-Yucca Flats position.  There could be an ad for Northern Virginia on Obama's plan for fixing the transportation crisis.  There could be an ad on fair trade for Michigan and Ohio.

As usual, the ever-expanding economic divideremains the most under-considered issue worldwide. Through the prism (pyramid) of its creation, the ways it maintains itself, and its long and short term ramifications, every other major issue of our time is better understood, if not directly tied. This includes war, immigration, education, crime, health care, even climate change and national security. At what point should we (they)be more afraid of our own economically terrorized 90+%than of bands of 'extremists' holed up in caves on the other side of the world, disenfranchised and radicalized by the exact same forces?

I have lately been hearing the woeful cries of the end of free trade.  

The liberalization of global trade has come ``to a screeching halt,'' said Fred Bergsten, director of the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington.

I'm guessing not everyone is going to miss the 'free-trade.'

We live in a rapidly changing economic environment.  The changes are in response to structural influences.  The primary structural shift was the expiration of the previous financial treaties in Hong Kong in 1997.  There have been at least the years since then to prepare for this shift.  In my opinion, the moment that China's sovereignty was returned to China, marked the moment that the modern global economy truly began.

Further amateur analysis from somewhere inside the learning curve following the fold...

I just read Jason Furman's 2005 piece on Wal-mart, as well as some of his other 'insights' on the wonders of free market globalization. I think it's time we clarify this 'Change' thing.

I'm taking a break from my American Axle diaries today to bring you a different kind of labor story, a Mother's Day labor story.  I'm also hoping that the strike will be ending soon and I'm hoping that I'll get to post that info in the next 24 hours.  I've got my fingers crossed on this one.

Now, for Mother's Day and giving flowers.

Come on and join me after the flip:

I know many people haven't heard of Ed Whitfield, Congressman from Kentucky's First Congressional District. He has kept a low-profile and has few accomplishments to show for it. Despite this, Ed Whitfield has quietly amassed a record of rubber-stamping President Bush and the Republican leadership in all their failed glory.