Morning Perk: Fair Trade Transit Victory

Published October 13, 2008 @ 07:41AM PT

Something as simple as our morning routine can make a huge impact on the planet and the people living on it. By choosing to make your morning java to be Fair Trade Certified or by taking public transportation to work, those simple choices can have a positive effect on the environment and to small farmers all over the world.

Last month, TransFair USA, the Bay Area Fair Trade Coalition (BAFTC), Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), and Tully's joined dozens of volunteers (me included) to thank those choosing a sustainable with some free Fair Trade Certified coffee.

We braved the early morning hours talking to people and increasing awareness about Fair Trade and to thank riders for choosing a sustainable commute. People were flocking to the coupons, happy to hear the words "free" "cup" and "coffee" uttered in the same sentence. They walked away eager to claim their coffee with the knowledge that the cup they are drinking is fair to the farmers and friendly to the earth.

We managed to pass out 50,000 coupons for Fair Trade Certified coffee and with those 50,000 coupons, we were able to achieve some big goals:

1. 50,000 BART riders prevent 1,150,000 pounds of greenhouse gases and harmful air pollutants from emitting into the atmosphere each day.

2. 50,000 compostable coffee cups reduce petrochemical plastic use by 12,500 pounds.

3. 50,000 cups of Fair Trade Certified coffee help provide approximately $16,000 of additional income to small-scale farmers, supporting more sustainable livelihoods.

Make you think twice about your morning routine? A few simple choices you make in the morning can make the world of difference. So hop on the train, get on your bike and brew yourself some Fair Trade coffee to get your day started. While you're at it, you can check out the photo set of the event or see it in action!

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Author

Zarah is the Operations Manager for the Global Exchange Fair Trade Online Store, a project of the international human rights organization, Global Exchange. Alongside her work with marginalized communities from all over the world to get their products into the international market, Zarah serves to educate and inform the public about a more just and sustainable trading system.