Pie Palace

A couple of weeks ago, I noticed that Second Cup started sporting a Fair Trade logo on their signage. Being the kind of person that thinks people should be paid a reasonable wage, and knowing that coffee workers can be treated like serfs, I started stopping by Second Cup to grab the occasional cup of java. Then I started wondering. When I order myself a caramel corretto®, is it really fairly traded?

So I sent an email to Second Cup’s customer care. Their response was a little disappointing:

Thank you for your email and your interest in the Second Cup. I have included below our Fair Trade Coffee available through Second Cup. Currently this is the only coffee in our series that is certified. Please do refer to our website at www.secondcup.com to review our selection and how we are making a difference environmentally and socially.

So, even though Second Cup says “24 fairly traded coffees available every day”, they really mean they have one fairly traded coffee.

It’s back to Bridgehead, and their fully fair trade menu for me.

My fiancé’s mp3 player died last month, and mine is on its last legs¹. Since my lady love is a bit of a technophobe, I started looking into iPods. One of the first stories I ran across when I was looking into them was about the suicide of Sun Danyong – an employee of one of Apple‘s suppliers. The guy had apparently lost an iPhone prototype and then been subjected to a week of abuse at the hands of his employer, Foxconn. He then committed suicide.

When I buy stuff, I try to keep to the ethically made goods. I buy fair trade when possible, and I avoid products that don’t have a fair trade option. But because iPods have a reputation for usability and my sweetie deserves the best, I crafted this letter to Apple’s PR contacts.

Dear Ms. Cotton and Mr. Atkins,

I’m in the market for a new MP3 player. Before I buy an Apple gadget, I’d like to know what Apple is doing to ensure that its suppliers are treating their workers well. The ongoing coverage of Sun Danyong’s abuse and subsequent suicide has me reconsidering Apple products.

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I don’t expect Apple to get a TransFair certification any time soon, but I can at least ask if they’re doing anything.

1. I don’t recommend Creative Labs Zens. When shifting off of “Lock” mine occasionally cranks the volume to 100% or 0% percent and locks up. Alternately painful or annoying. (back)

For those of you who enjoy your sweets to be both inexpensive and ethical: the Metro Central Y sells excellent Cocoa Camino hot chocolate for a measly $7, including tax. That’s 20% cheaper than Bridgehead! NOM NOM NOM NOM!

Election day is Tuesday. I’m going to be voting for my Green Party candidate, Jen Hunter. As a long-time Green, that shouldn’t be too surprising, but I am happy about a number of planks in the Green Party platform. My favourites are:

Fixing Our Electoral System

In case you hadn’t heard, our electoral system is broken. It needs to be fixed. Duh.

Afghanistan

I’m not a fan of Canada’s current mission in Afghanistan. I do believe that Canada should be doing its best to promote the expansion of human rights, but I’m concerned about the way the mission is being run. I’d like to see more civilian oversight, a broader humanitarian mission, and a wider coalition of forces in the country. As such, I approve of the Green Party’s proposal that Canada should push for a UN mandated mission, and operate within that framework.

Removing Corporate Subsidies

Corporations are odd beasts. At their best, they reward innovation and generate wealth for their employees, investors, and suppliers. At their worst, they gerrymander government policy, squander economic resources, stifle innovation, and mistreat their employees. The Green Party policy reflects my belief that economic entities should not receive long-term subsidies from the government, nor should they receive large one-time perks. Yes, I’m looking at you, Fort McMurry.

Fair Trade

Imagine the crappiest job that you’ve ever had. Now imagine that job with a fraction of the pay, a 60 hour work week, and physically dangerous conditions. Toss in some physical and sexual abuse to make things a rollicking good time. Don’t forget that you’re enjoying these conditions so fat bastards people in the first world can buy a t-shirt for less than $10. Or save ten cents on a coffee.

Certified fair trade is a mechanism that exports human rights to countries that make our stuff. First world countries pay a little more for goods, and the premium is rolled into educational programs, local infrastructure, and health initiatives in countries where the government is either unwilling or unable to provide for those needs.¹ The Green Party wants to include those principles in our international trade agreements, and government procurement.

Yeah, there’s other stuff: decent healthcare policy, doing something about Darfur, and, yes, even environmental policy. But those are the things that caught my imagination. I don’t particularly care about income splitting. Nor do I care about nixing nuclear weapons.

Vote how you will. I’m voting for tomorrow.²

1. It’s a little more complex than this. In some cases, it also involves agreeing on prices before the start of a growing season, third-party verification that labour and environmental standards are being adhered to, etc. TransFair has a fairly opaque website, but they’re the most trustworthy certification body that I know of. (back)
2. Or possible next Wednesday, we’ll see. (back)