From http://www.blackgoldmovie.com:
Multinational coffee companies now rule our shopping malls and supermarkets and dominate the industry worth over $80 billion, making coffee the most valuable trading commodity in the world after oil.
But while we continue to pay for our lattes and cappuccinos, the price paid to coffee farmers remains so low that many have been forced to abandon their coffee fields.
Nowhere is this paradox more evident than in Ethiopia, the birthplace of coffee. Tadesse Meskela is one man on a mission to save his 74,000 struggling coffee farmers from bankruptcy. As his farmers strive to harvest some of the highest quality coffee beans on the international market, Tadesse travels the world in an attempt to find buyers willing to pay a fair price.
Against the backdrop of Tadesse's journey to London and Seattle, the enormous power of the multinational players that dominate the world's coffee trade becomes apparent. New York commodity traders, the international coffee exchanges, and the double dealings of trade ministers at the World Trade Organisation reveal the many challenges Tadesse faces in his quest for a long term solution for his farmers.
My eyes caught a glimpse of this documentary called "Black Gold", so I've decided to take a look at it. Now I am a supporter of Fair Trade, so I'm pretty excited that there's a documentary that supports it. "Black Gold" explores through one of the hottest industries in the world, the coffee industry, and how we and the farmers are affected by it. There are so many people who enjoy their cup of Starbucks coffee, but we forget about the poor farmers who give us this coffee. For every cup of coffee you buy from Starbucks, the farmer in Ethiopia only makes three cents. That is just outrageous.
So anyways, I'm pretty interested in seeing it. I've heard really good things about it, but it's not really easy to get a copy. There's only one source in the US right now at California Newsreel, and I believe it's only for educational pruposes. However, PBS is showing "Black Gold" through their program, Independent Lens, on April 10th, 2007. Check your local listings for more specific times. My local PBS station is airing it late, it looks like, so I'm probably going to record it. But I believe that the issues brought up in it will be good to talk about on the blog, and I think it will expose people to the idea of Fair Trade.
Official site:
http://www.blackgoldmovie.com/
PBS's Independent Lens site:
http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/blackgold/
Friday, March 30, 2007
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
The importance of the Pledge of Allegiance
I pledge allegiance to the Flag
of the United States of America,
and to the Republic for which it stands:
one Nation under God, indivisible,
With Liberty and Justice for all.
They are simple words. They are the words our teachers made us memorize and recite since we were young. But do we know what it means?
I've seen this more than once: but it seems that more and more students, at the high school level, seem to consider the Pledge as a mere routine that interrupts their socializing. Basically, a waste of time. Students stand silent, not out of respect, but of apathy. I'll admit, even I'm guilty of this. As a student, it's hard to be one of the few students saying the Pledge. But alas, I've always said the words to my heart, and while I would not like to make judgement on anyone, it doesn't look like anyone else even cares.
This once again goes back to how we, as Americans, have taken for granted many of the freedoms and rights that we have been given as Americans. Maybe it's because we don't want to pledge allegiance to these United States. Over the past few years, we have faced scandals from Enron to president Bill Clinton, wiretaps, the Iraq war, and countless more, all the way to the scandal involving Attorney General Gonzales today.
This is just my opinion, but I think we have lost trust in the government. From experience and observation, when a human being is hurt through something traumatic or otherwise, then he or she will not be likely to trust people as much, preferring to do what they want. People have becomed consumed in themselves. America has become consumed in themselves, and that is what is tearing this nation apart.
If this nation plans ot have a brigher future, we need to step up and change things. We need to stand together and create a more honest and trustworthy society and government. We don't have to necessarily agree on everything. That doesn't mean we shouldn't criticize the President or the government. Theodore Roosevelt once said, "To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public." We need to disagree, because that is what makes up a democracy and allows us to be a great nation. We must take charge and work together as ONE NATION UNDER GOD, putting our "freedom of responsibility" to use. If we want to make this a better country, then we shouldn't be throwing hate messages at each other. We are sensible people. When standing together, we are INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
I feel if people properly understood, I think people would care more about America and the world around her. I am very thankful for the Pledge of Allegiance.
of the United States of America,
and to the Republic for which it stands:
one Nation under God, indivisible,
With Liberty and Justice for all.
They are simple words. They are the words our teachers made us memorize and recite since we were young. But do we know what it means?
I've seen this more than once: but it seems that more and more students, at the high school level, seem to consider the Pledge as a mere routine that interrupts their socializing. Basically, a waste of time. Students stand silent, not out of respect, but of apathy. I'll admit, even I'm guilty of this. As a student, it's hard to be one of the few students saying the Pledge. But alas, I've always said the words to my heart, and while I would not like to make judgement on anyone, it doesn't look like anyone else even cares.
This once again goes back to how we, as Americans, have taken for granted many of the freedoms and rights that we have been given as Americans. Maybe it's because we don't want to pledge allegiance to these United States. Over the past few years, we have faced scandals from Enron to president Bill Clinton, wiretaps, the Iraq war, and countless more, all the way to the scandal involving Attorney General Gonzales today.
This is just my opinion, but I think we have lost trust in the government. From experience and observation, when a human being is hurt through something traumatic or otherwise, then he or she will not be likely to trust people as much, preferring to do what they want. People have becomed consumed in themselves. America has become consumed in themselves, and that is what is tearing this nation apart.
If this nation plans ot have a brigher future, we need to step up and change things. We need to stand together and create a more honest and trustworthy society and government. We don't have to necessarily agree on everything. That doesn't mean we shouldn't criticize the President or the government. Theodore Roosevelt once said, "To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public." We need to disagree, because that is what makes up a democracy and allows us to be a great nation. We must take charge and work together as ONE NATION UNDER GOD, putting our "freedom of responsibility" to use. If we want to make this a better country, then we shouldn't be throwing hate messages at each other. We are sensible people. When standing together, we are INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
I feel if people properly understood, I think people would care more about America and the world around her. I am very thankful for the Pledge of Allegiance.
Monday, March 26, 2007
What is "Freedom of Responsibility"?
Freedom of Responsibility: I define it as the freedom to take charge of one's actions. A freedom to realize that there is more than just themselves in this world. A freedom to do what is good for others.
This is the freedom I wish the Founding Fathers would have written down in the 1st Amendment. Educated as they were, however, they weren't expecting the "ignorance" of American society today. There are so many citizens in this amazing country who take for granted everything we as Americans have. For example, have you ever seen the guy who happens to have the lastest iPod or the Lamborghini that you've been drooling over for the past two months...yet, they still complain, because they don't have this or that. They forget about people in third world countries who don't have basic needs, like food or water, and here we are, throwing out whole meals. I think there's a problem here.
Freedom of responsibility means we as Americans must take charge. We need to take responsibility for our actions, even our mistakes. There are problems in this world. And we need to help fix them.
This blog is basically a study of the world I as I see it around me. It is a study of the good and bad, not only of the world, but of America as well. These are my reflections on news, culture, politics, technology, health, entertainment, and everything else there is. I hope you take the time to read my posts as I write them, and feel free to comment as much as you like.
Because we all need to speak up and take responsibility. Because that's what changes the world for the better.
God bless,
Randall
This is the freedom I wish the Founding Fathers would have written down in the 1st Amendment. Educated as they were, however, they weren't expecting the "ignorance" of American society today. There are so many citizens in this amazing country who take for granted everything we as Americans have. For example, have you ever seen the guy who happens to have the lastest iPod or the Lamborghini that you've been drooling over for the past two months...yet, they still complain, because they don't have this or that. They forget about people in third world countries who don't have basic needs, like food or water, and here we are, throwing out whole meals. I think there's a problem here.
Freedom of responsibility means we as Americans must take charge. We need to take responsibility for our actions, even our mistakes. There are problems in this world. And we need to help fix them.
This blog is basically a study of the world I as I see it around me. It is a study of the good and bad, not only of the world, but of America as well. These are my reflections on news, culture, politics, technology, health, entertainment, and everything else there is. I hope you take the time to read my posts as I write them, and feel free to comment as much as you like.
Because we all need to speak up and take responsibility. Because that's what changes the world for the better.
God bless,
Randall
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