Church takes stand on ‘fair trade’ coffee

<a href=www.zwire.com>The New Britain Herald By BRIAN FRAGA, Staff Writer April 12, 2003

SOUTHINGTON -- The First Congregational Church in Southington will once again demonstrate its social conscience Palm Sunday as Pastor Gordon Ellis will give a sermon entitled "Jesus, Bullies, Justice and Fair Trade."

Ellis will speak out on the fair trade issue, which has become a focal point of social activists nationwide. These activists allege American corporate entities exploit foreign workers in the age of globalization by paying them sub-standard wages for desired commodities in the United States.

The targeted commodity Sunday will be coffee, with worshippers being served "fair trade coffee" after worship. The Church Council recently voted to exclusively use the politically-conscious java, which is often organically grown by coffee farmers paid a minimum wage by fair trade organizations.

The church has also asked all its members to drink fair trade coffee exclusively at home.

"It’s like drinking a cup of justice," Senior Minister Gordon Ellis said in a written statement. "To quote Erbin Crowell (a Lutheran social activist), ‘Communities of faith are looking for ways to do justice in our daily lives. One simple way to reach out to communities in need is with the cup of coffee that we hold in our hand.’"

Coffee is a major cash crop for farmers in such South American countries as Brazil, Columbia and Venezuela. Many of them were harmed economically as world coffee prices plummeted to a historic low of 45 cents-per-pound in 2001, down from a high of $1.40-per-pound in 1999.

According to Equal Exchange, a fair trade organization, the low price of coffee along with middlemen taking a large chunk of profits has led to the farmers’ communities and families being devastated. The fair trade organizations often subsidize the farmers with minimum wages to assist with living expenses.

To become fair trade certified, a coffee importer must meet stringent international criteria; paying a minimum price per pound of $1.26, providing credit to farmers to invest in equipment and providing technical assistance such as helping to transition to organic farming.

"When farmers can’t get a fair price for their coffee, it has a ripple in their communities, their country and even the world," said Crowell, an Equal Exchange member. "Without a stable income, they can’t afford to invest in their farms, they can’t pay for their children’s education, they can’t afford medicines and they can’t plan for the future."

The First Congregational Church has shown a distinct social conscience during this Lenten season. The church has held a weekly seminar series focusing on world issues such as the war on Iraq and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Ellis has participated in antiwar rallies himself.

Brian Fraga can be reached at bfraga@newbritainherald.com or by calling (860) 225-4601, ext. 225.