Fair Trade in the United States

Fair Trade in the United States

Recently Starbuck’s Coffee Company announced that by 2009, 100% of their espresso coffee will be Fair Trade. This is a major step for the Fair Trade movement across the globe.

Fair trade requires companies to pay sustainable prices, which must never fall below market price, to producers. The concept of fair trade has been around for an estimated 40 years, but the concept really didn’t take hold until the late 1980’s when a Dutch coffee maker created a label for fair trade coffee. In 1997, the Fairtrade Labeling Organizations International (FLO) was established in Bonn, Germany. FLO united labeling initiatives under one umbrella to establish worldwide standards and certification.

Fair trade standards include social, economic, and environmental requirements. Producers of fair trade products must meet these requirements to become certified, plus progress requirements that encourage continuous development of farmers’ organizations and the situations of the worker’s. Fair trade premiums are monies paid on top of the minimum price. The premiums are then invested in social, environmental, and economic developmental projects. Some premiums are used to train producers in organic and sustainable techniques. Fair trade criteria require sustainable farming techniques and require higher prices paid to organic producers. Producers are encouraged to minimize the use of energy, especially if from non-renewable sources. Producers are required to work to protect the natural environment and make protection of the environment a part of farm management.

Buying fair trade supports smaller farms worldwide including Costa Rica (bananas and coffee) South Africa (grapes), India (cotton and tea), Mali (cotton), Uganda (tea and coffee), Sri Lanka (tea), and Ethiopia (coffee).

In the United States, Fair trade products can be found at these major retailers: Starbucks Coffee Company, Seattle’s Best Coffee, Peet’s Coffee and Tea, Einstein Bagels, Dunkin’ Donuts, Safeway, Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club, Costco, Kroger, Fred Meyer, Target, Wild Oats, and Whole Foods Markets. The products available include coffee, tea, cocoa, sugar, fruit, rice, flowers, and wine. When buying in the United States, look for a black and white logo stating “Fair Trade Certified”. When buying in Europe, look for a green, blue and black label stating: FAIRTRADE” across the bottom.

For more information on Fair Trade, please visit the following links:
http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/
http://www.transfairusa.org/

~Apryl Nichole

Dress Up Your Apartment

How to Dress Up That Ugly Apartment
By: Apryl Nichole

Let’s face it: we’ve all lived in a not-so-good-looking apartment. Whether you’re in college, just out of college, recently divorced, or just not doing so well in this economy, you still have to live somewhere right?

Unless you qualify for those brand new low-income housing developments, most apartments that are “affordable” are not exactly the nicest on the market. You look in the local paper and you see ads that boast “new paint and new carpet” and “recently updated”. You call and arrange a time and discover that “recently updated” meant 1995 and “new paint and new carpet” meant the cheapest stuff they could get their hands on. You then sign a lease and pay the deposit and first months rent for the place that you think is the best fit. You move in and then what? Look past the ugliness. So your carpet maybe green shag and the walls are off-white and you have thick pop-corn ceilings. You can still dress it up.

First: cover those walls! Start hanging pictures, posters, and tapestries that reflect your taste and personality. If you are into horses or like the Western look, try going to a local mercantile or ranch supply store and getting some horse bridles, lariats, and horse shoes. Hang these items in the wall at various heights. If you need a cheaper way to decorate, hit those flea markets and antique shops. They are great resources for cheap, well used knick-knacks and other odd ball items. You can also find small tables and chairs to fill up unused spaces and funky corners.

Second: area rugs. If you have particularly vile carpet or tile flooring, find some area rugs at garage or estate sales. These not only cover that weird green and orange spot by the couch, but add depth to some rooms. For kitchens and bathrooms, Wal-mart, Target and K-Mart all have a wonderful selection of small door mats and bathroom rugs that can easily be used in the kitchen too. Get colors that are complimentary to your couch or off-set the other colors you may have.

Third: furniture make-over. In the old days, if you couldn’t afford to buy new furniture or re-cover your current items, you bought slip covers. These have been traditionally loose fitting, gigantic sheets that had no real form to them. Now slip covers have become much more advanced. Most slip covers are made out of softer, more durable material, and are formed to fit your couch or chair, and have elastic to aid in keeping cover attached. You can also buy pillows and throw blankets to aid in covering things up. If you are mechanically inclined, you can take the furniture idea one step further and re-finish your wood items. If you own real wood furniture that is a little banged up, try stripping it down and applying a fresh coat of stain and lacquer. This gives your wood furniture a new, distressed look for under $50. Be sure you have the tools, time, and place to do this, as it does get messy (you kitchen or sidewalk is not the place, but your parents garage might be).

Finally: look for the little things. If that stain on the wall next to light switch bothers you, cover it up with a small scenic photo from a magazine, or maybe a photo of your friends. You could also write an little inspirational message and tape it there so you see it every time you turn the light off or on. Don’t despair, every one lives in that one ugly apartment at least one time in their lives, but it doesn’t have to be all bad. You can do little things to make it yours and cover up some of the ugliness in the mean time.

Poetry

(Most of this has never been seen by anyone but me) There are no titles here, and no dates.

#1
As years go by
We will live and grow,
We will make friends,
Lose loved ones,
And gain partners.
We will struggle through
Bad times,
and glide through
Good Times.
In the end,
It will all be worthwhile.
Just to say
That you have lived.

#2
Sitting in her garden,
Sun shinning brightly,
A soft breeze moves through
the gentle clouds in the sky.
Delicate hands work the earth,
Planting roses, lilys, and pansies.
She creates a beautiful world,
She creates a world she can love.
It is her joy, her happiness,

#3 (Dads favorite)
Far away, in another land,
I see a world I cannot touch,
I see a world I cannot smell
I see a world I cannot taste
I see a world I cannot hear.
I see a world I can only dream about.
In this world, you can float and fly,
High above the clouds and
Almost touch the sky.
This world is serene, tranquil,
And gives you a sense of harmony.
In this world, "hate" and "war"
Are never said,
In this world, everyone has
Family and Friends surrounding them.
This world has no abuse.
There is only love, peace, and faith.

~A Nichole

Life Published

Hello Everyone and Welcome!

This is life published! The first big step to chasing dreams! I hope you enjoy the content you find here.

~Apryl Nichole