Michael Pleming from the Oxygen Cafe and Lindsay Fryer aka 'The Bushman' reading his poem - 'On Coffee Fare (fair)'
On the 7th May a small group of devoted coffee drinkers gathered at the Oxygen Cafe in Toowoomba to celebrate Fair Trade Fortnight. The focus this year was on Papua New Guinea. As small scale famers, coffee bean growers are greatly affected by low and unstable prices. During the 1990s the price of coffee beans plunged and farmers received as little as 3 cents for every $3 coffee sold. This has meant that around the world millions of coffee farmers struggle to afford basic needs such as health care and food.
It doesn't have to be like this. By purchasing Fairtrade coffee you support a fair minimum price for farmers. This enables them and their families to have food, shelter, health care and education. It also supports community development projects in small rural communities and helps to improve sustainable farming practices.
By making the switch to fair trade coffee and tea your family, work place, school or church community can make a real difference in the lives of farmers in developing countries. This is not charity - this is justice! To find out more about fair trade coffee go to http://www.oxfam.org.au/campaigns/fair-trade/coffee/
If you want to know how to start being a part of Fair Trade contact us
On Coffee Fare (fair)
Mark Copland with friends at 2009 Fair Trade Coffee Break
A Bushman sat and pondered, His brew before him and wondered, Whose hands had toiled, back bent, Brow knitted, where the money went?
What man, woman and sadly child, Laboured long for no smile, To give him pleasure of extent, This morning at leisure, Toowoomba precinct.
But then placed before him, true, A mug of coffee, an excellent brew. The proprietor said ‘How was that?’ A bushman beamed, removed his hat.
“She’s bonza mate, this mug of brew” “Glad you talked me to it, in lieu” A little extra, here, then along the way Books and schools and little’ns can play
So dear friends, gather around Get yer beans, fair trade ground! And you’ll breathe a lot easier At the Café Oxygen, now busier Copyright: A Bushman May 2009
Trade Justice by Sr Suzette Clark rsc and Dr Patricia Ranald
