Maccas and Gloria Jeans Jump On Eco-Bandwagon
June 13th 2008 14:07
I began to smell a rat when I went to Gloria Jeans a few weeks ago. Always a bit suspicious of their motives, with their Mercy Ministries moneyboxes (which, from one person I know well who has been through the program, is no miracle cure), their apparent monopoly on both the Hillsong Coffee Coiffers and their coffers (any church where you can't get a free cuppa is a bit dodgy, if you ask me... where's the hospitality in that?), and their fundraising drives where exclusive use of GJ's hotchoc is mandatory.
However when I noticed the new posters, claiming that GJ coffees were "Rainforest Alliance" approved, I was suspicious.
Fair Trade is something that I'm becoming more passionate about. My husband, a huge William Wilberforce fan, is inspired by the effort that went into producing massive change in the world. "Wilbur" and the Clapham Sect triggered the movement that abolished slavery. It was here Fair Trade began, with groupies of the dashing young evangelical telling their friends to give up sugar, as it contained "the blood of slaves".
Recently I've learnt, due to "Fair Trade Fortnight" at our church, that much of the world's cocoa is harvested by children stolen and enslaved. How's that for turning you off your chocolate binges? I have opted to avoid the usual hot chocolate mixes at the supermarket, for the ritual of making it from scratch with Fair Trade cocoa, and have reduced my tea drinking ritual (I'm a leaves, pot, strainer, tea-drinking purist), not only due to the massive caffein headaches I've been having, but also because I'm using Scarborough Fair brand Fair Trade teabags, which you can buy in Coles and Woolies. I'm also thinking twice about buying blocks of Cadbury's. Even their "we own the colour purple, and reserve the right to crush small operators into chocolate oblivion if they use it" was not strong enough to maintain an anti-Cadbury's stance, though wariness of Nestle due to their baby formula and dirty water in third world countries debarcle has stayed strong. Nevertheless, the idea that kids can be stolen from their families to satisfy my cravings is abhorrent. We 1st World Consumers have a lot to answer for. With Fair Trade, we can start effecting change in our world.
However, big businesses have caught wind of people's growing social consciousnesses, and are tapping into the "sustainable"/"eco-friendly" marketing strategies. Along with Gloria Jeans, McDonalds has begun blitzing TV audiences with the message that their McCafe coffees are Rainforest Alliance approved also.
When two big franchises with suspicious links to consumerism-driven trade practices start saying they're really very good, alarm bells start going off. Why not go for "Fair Trade" branded coffee, sol the producers get a fair wage?
So I did a bit of research, and found this description of Rainforest Alliance.
Really Long Link
Described here as "Fairtrade Lite", it points out that this branding is high gloss tokenism, aimed at tapping a market, without actually changing anything for the better.
My advice to you, if you're serious about Fair Trade, is to boycott Gloria Jeans and McCafe, and lobby your local cafe to use fair trade tea, coffee (which can even be purchased at ALDI!), and cocoa in their brews. Start this weekend!
For more info on Fair Trade, check out:
http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/
and within Australia, you can purchase various (such as bags made by former sex workers as an alternative means of sustainable income, with the added bonus of better health, safety and self-esteem) Fair Trade products online at:
Really Long Link
However when I noticed the new posters, claiming that GJ coffees were "Rainforest Alliance" approved, I was suspicious.
Recently I've learnt, due to "Fair Trade Fortnight" at our church, that much of the world's cocoa is harvested by children stolen and enslaved. How's that for turning you off your chocolate binges? I have opted to avoid the usual hot chocolate mixes at the supermarket, for the ritual of making it from scratch with Fair Trade cocoa, and have reduced my tea drinking ritual (I'm a leaves, pot, strainer, tea-drinking purist), not only due to the massive caffein headaches I've been having, but also because I'm using Scarborough Fair brand Fair Trade teabags, which you can buy in Coles and Woolies. I'm also thinking twice about buying blocks of Cadbury's. Even their "we own the colour purple, and reserve the right to crush small operators into chocolate oblivion if they use it" was not strong enough to maintain an anti-Cadbury's stance, though wariness of Nestle due to their baby formula and dirty water in third world countries debarcle has stayed strong. Nevertheless, the idea that kids can be stolen from their families to satisfy my cravings is abhorrent. We 1st World Consumers have a lot to answer for. With Fair Trade, we can start effecting change in our world.
When two big franchises with suspicious links to consumerism-driven trade practices start saying they're really very good, alarm bells start going off. Why not go for "Fair Trade" branded coffee, sol the producers get a fair wage?
So I did a bit of research, and found this description of Rainforest Alliance.
Really Long Link
Described here as "Fairtrade Lite", it points out that this branding is high gloss tokenism, aimed at tapping a market, without actually changing anything for the better.
My advice to you, if you're serious about Fair Trade, is to boycott Gloria Jeans and McCafe, and lobby your local cafe to use fair trade tea, coffee (which can even be purchased at ALDI!), and cocoa in their brews. Start this weekend!
For more info on Fair Trade, check out:
http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/
and within Australia, you can purchase various (such as bags made by former sex workers as an alternative means of sustainable income, with the added bonus of better health, safety and self-esteem) Fair Trade products online at:
Really Long Link
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Comment by Dianna G
I Wish This Was 42
Fictional Worlds
Other than that.
I'm a Fair Trade fan myself. I'm vegetarian and trying to cut back on my paper/electricity use. (Okay, I'm addicted to air conditioning, but OTHER THAN THAT) I really do feel for the environmental stuff and the poor African slaves.
First off I don't think we have Gloria Jeans in Canada and second off McDonalds doesn't have anything I can eat ANYWAY and I HATE COFFEE.
Okay. I'm done. But I like this post. And I think I'm going to read more. And like it all. I like this sort of thing.
Yay activism. (Even though I am extremely lazy.)
But did you HAVE to tell me that people are enslaved to make chocolate? I mean, c'mon, how is that FAIR? Now what am I supposed to do about my chocolate cravings? I'm poor. And fourteen. Think I can buy my own special chocolate? Think again. -.-
Okay I'm done. For real this time. You're awesome.
~Dianna
Comment by Jeannine Baird
Clean Green Neen
I know, it's harsh. My kids love Nutella (hazelnut chocolate spread), and I must say I doubt I'll be able to get a Fair Trade brand. However, it's not fair that my kids get to eat something that other kids have been stolen or sold for.
I did a quick websearch and found this website for you, which may help you find a Fair Trade fix in your homeland.
For me, it's the motivation I need to eat less chocolate. Melting a little and using it as a dip for fruit, rather than hoovering a whole block at once, is better for me as well as the world.
One of my favourite quotes comes from a bloke who was involved in the Reformation of the church in Switzerland; Ulrich Zwingli. He said, "Sometimes you must do what you want least in order to attain what you want most." It's a great quote for today's instant gratification-driven world. Maybe saving up, a la Charlie Bucket, for that extra special block on an extra special occasion, might make it taste all the better.
God bless you, Dianna. It's easier to change your consumer habits when you're still young and "poor". I pray you will always have a heart that acts on your beliefs.
Neen
Really Long Link
Comment by Dianna G
I Wish This Was 42
Fictional Worlds
I mean. At least they're enviro-friendly-ish sometimes but blah. We're poor.