KANSAN.COM / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 2010 / NEWS
5A
LAWRENCE
Sugar trade practices not so sweet
Documentary seeks to expose social injustices of Dominican Republic sugar production
BY ZACH GETZ
zgetz@kansan.com
When people buy sugar from the grocery store, rarely do they consider more than the cost and color of the two-pound packages.
EVENT INFORMATION
What: The Price of Sugar
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Liberty Hall, 644 Massachusetts St.
Price: $5 suggested donation
STORES THAT OFFER FAIR TRADE PRODUCTS
But that disconnected approach to consumerism is what Lawrence Fair Trade hopes to change.
"The most important first step is to educate yourself on the realities of the production of goods you consume every day," Swenson said. "Just knowing where all these things come from really goes a long way to start to change some habits, and every little bit helps."
Community Mercantile, 901 Iowa St. — Fair Trade sugar, coffee,
tea, chocolate, bananas and more
Z's Divine Espresso, 10 East Ninth St. — Direct trade coffee
La Prima Tazza, 638 Massachusetts St. — Direct trade coffee
House of Cha, 21 West Ninth St. — Fair trade tea
J&J Coffee, 4821 West Sixth St. — Fair trade coffee
http://twohandsworldshop.com — Lawrence online shop with
handmade goods
The group wants to raise Lawrence residents' awareness to the economic and social injustices, such as low wages and unsafe working conditions, of farmers across the globe who do not receive the benefits of fair trade practices. Brady Swenson, a 2002 KU alumnus and member of LFT, said this issue is still largely unknown to the general public.
The film takes place in the Dominican Republic and follows Father Christopher Hartley as he travels through the country in order help expose the injustice used to produce sugar that oftentimes ends up in U.S. kitchens. Swenson said she hoped the movie will open the eyes of those who are unfamiliar with where and how the U.S. gets its sugar.
To help make the concept of fair trade more well known in the city, Lawrence Fair Trade will be screening a film, "The Price of Sugar," at 7 p.m. at Liberty Hall, 644 Massachusetts St. The documentary is free, but there is a suggested donation of $5 that will go to Lawrence Fair Trade to pay for the cost of the screening. After the film, there will also be an open discussion.
According to TransFair USA, a fair trade certification group, fair trade promotes environmental sustainability, safe working conditions and condemns child labor practices. Fair trade also seeks to ensure the producers of goods earn a fair and
living wage. While there is no exact definition of fair trade, there are several companies that give certification to those that abide by these rules.
Sugar isn't the only commodity plagued by poor trade practices. According to the Fair Trade Federation, clothing, coffee, cotton, fruit, rice, wine and other hand-made goods are also highly affected by unfair trade agreements that try to take advantage of small production farmers and producers.
"It's an incredibly complicated issue because it really goes to the root of our entire commercial structure in the world," Swenson said. "We don't see where they come from. We just see the advertising and marketing for them, then consume them."
Sarah Stern, fellow LFT member and a freshman from Lawrence, said she wasn't surprised more people weren't aware of the unfair trade practices going on in America.
"Big companies are in charge, and they are going to do their best to make sure it's not hugely publicized." Stern said. "I think that would've been one of the last questions I would've thought of, 'where did this sugar come from?'
Stern said her eyes were opened to the world of fair trade after talking with people selling fair trade Bolivian scarves on Wescoe Beach last semester.
Swenson said several businesses in Lawrence sell fair trade products, including Mirth, 745 New Hampshire St., and Signs of Life, 722 Massachusetts St.
However, fair trade isn't the only option businesses employ to ensure just work practices from their
suppliers. PT's Coffee Roasting Co. in Topeka supplies some of Lawrence's coffee shops with direct trade coffee beans.
Direct trade coffee bean suppliers buy directly from farmers, rather than through a distributor. The benefit of direct trade is that farmers get paid much more than market price or even fair trade price, and in turn suppliers get a much better product, said Stephen Seitz, a PTs employee
Direct trade buyers will also often invest in the farmer's community. Seitz said, PT's Coffee Roasting Co. teaches farmers new growing
practices, as well as gives farmers access to medicine or help with schooling.
"One of the more interesting things we did in on our direct trade trips to Finca Los Planes, El Salavador is we bought jerseys for their soccer team," Seitz said.
The best thing consumers can do is just ask for fair trade products or to simply ask where and how the goods are produced, Swenson said.
Edited by Becky Howlett
Check for continuing KUHJ-TV coverage at kansan.com/videos
A Walk to Remember
Collin Johnson/KANSAN
Ryan Campbell, a senior from Olathe, walks home from class behind the Spencer Research Library Monday evening. Campbell is graduating in May, so his time for walking on campus is limited. "I try to walk to and from as much as I can," Campbell said.
ECONOMY
Dow Jones closes above 11,000 mark
NEW YORK — The Dow Jones industrial average has closed above 11,000 for the first time in a year and a half on investors' rising hopes about the economy.
The Dow edged up about 9 points Monday to almost 11,006. The Standard & Poor's 500 index came within a point
of hitting 1,200 but closed just short of the mark.
Analysts said the Dow's move above 11,000 could provide a psychological boost and perhaps draw more investors.
"There is a huge stockpile of cash on the sidelines earning virtually nothing," said Jack Ablin, chief investment officer at Harris Private Bank in Chicago.
Associated Press
HPV Fact #8:
Guys can't get screened for HPV. So there's no way to know if a guy has the virus or is passing it on.
HPV Fact #12:
Condoms may not fully protect against HPV-the virus that can cause cervical cancer.
Visit your campus health center.
8
MERCK
Copyright © 2010 Merck & Co., Inc.
All rights reserved. Printed in USA.
hpv.com
21050004(36)-01/10-GRD