Fair Trade coffee farmer-friendly Thumbs up to
the Environmental Coalition for encouraging UCLA to buy Fair Trade
Certified coffee. The university currently purchases its coffee
from Superior, a company that barely provides small farmers in
developing countries with a decent living wage. Fair trade
certification would ensure that coffee farmers in need of financial
help receive a minimum flat rate, free from the influence of the
market. Currently, farmers in many developing nations receive less
than 50 cents per pound of coffee. Under Free Trade Certified
coffee arrangements, they would receive a minimum of $1.26 per
pound. Though this would slightly increase the price of coffee for
the consumer, it would ensure coffee farmers receive more livable
wages. With over 52,000 students, staff and faculty, UCLA is a
large consumer group which can set an example for others and make a
difference for people whose livelihoods depend on coffee
production. We applaud the Environmental Coalition’s efforts
to promote this awareness and hope students realize the products
they purchase can affect people on the other side of the world. We
urge UCLA to join UC Berkeley and UC Davis in promoting fair trade
coffee.
Conciencia Libre exemplify balance between academics,
activism Thumbs up to Conciencia Libre for their display
of student activism amid the stress and tension of midterm exams.
During fifth week, the group erected crosses on Meyerhoff Park in
memory of the more than 600 people who died attempting to cross the
United States-Mexican border since the implementation of Operation
Gatekeeper in 1994. Each cross bore the name of a deceased person.
At one point during the week, the university wanted the group to
take down the crosses. Regardless of the administration’s
threats to punish the group, members stood their ground and started
a petition in order to show the university that students support
their actions. In addition, a number of Conciencia Libre members
camped out Wednesday night on the steps of Kerckhoff Hall to ensure
that the crosses remained in place. Students sipped coffee, studied
for midterms and graded papers in the blistering cold. Though there
was a misunderstanding on some points of the agreement between the
group and the university, we laud Conciencia Libre for remaining
active on an issue it feels passionately about. We commend
students, such as those in Conciencia Libre, who both satisfy
academic requirements and still promote awareness of what they
consider important. They serve as an example of what it means to be
student activists and we encourage others to become involved in
political action as well.
Adelphia decision a big turn off to cable
consumers Thumbs down to Adelphia Communications for
removing adult entertainment channels from its service. The company
decided to substitute these channels with others they believe fall
within “community standards,” such as the Health
Network. Since Adelphia Communication’s decision will apply
to all its subscribers, individuals in areas of Westwood will no
longer have access to pornographic material through the cable
company. People were not unwillfully subjected to adult-oriented
programs before the company stopped its services. To the contrary,
Adelphia only delivered adult material to those purchasing it.
Thus, a person could not accidentally stumble upon pornographic
material while channel surfing. Adelphia should not dictate
morality by determining what material is appropriate for viewers.
Doing so is the equivalent of censorship. People should be allowed
to decide for themselves the type of programming they want to
watch.
Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down represents the majority opinion of the
Daily Bruin Editorial Board. Send feedback to [email protected].