Unethical addictions
Fair trade fueling consumption, complacency and idolatry
April 2, 2008
Paul Foth
There is no such thing as an ethical addiction. This sounds pretty straightforward, but I have been surprised, or at least disappointed with the overwhelming hype surrounding the opening of the new Lower Caf. I have seen countless paper coffee cups littering the campus in the last couple weeks, all from the same “ethical” locale. This frustrates me not just because it is the same old consumption and waste that is pervasive in the culture and systems of our society, but more so because fair trade coffee is often purchased out of a spirit of concern, justice or even love. Somehow I think fair trade, especially fair trade coffee, is a misguided way to show love.
Fair trade, for those who do not know, attempts to correct some of the injustices inherent in the global trade by providing higher incomes for farmers and workers, ensuring better working conditions and pursuing environmental sustainability. On the consumer side, fair trade makes people feel good and guiltless about purchasing goods, knowing that somewhere, someone is being provided a fair wage. It is a great feeling; I recommend it. The problem with fair trade is that it blinds consumers to the other, even more serious and unethical problems in global trade.
And what are these problems? We consume oil in gross amounts under very low standards to ship nearly all our food here. Export-oriented economies of “developing” nations continue to produce massive amounts of food for western consumption while people in those countries starve to death. Take Ethiopia, for example, where years of intense famine and starvation did not stop the flow of grains to other countries. Deforestation, pollution, species extinction and desertification – these are happening on an enormous scale, all driven by the same consumerist culture. Not to mention wars like the one in the Democratic Republic of the Congo where militias raise funds by razing jungles to mine coltan, a metallic ore, for our cell phones.
Let me put this in context. I am a Christian. To me this means that all of my life, allegiance and dependence should be centered on Christ and his kingdom with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. This means that I try to carefully examine what I am doing, what I am buying and what I am eating with careful regard to its impact on other people and this beautiful earth God has entrusted to humankind.
I am not saying regular, “free” trade is any better than fair trade. If I had no choice but to purchase only that which is globally traded, then fair trade is the way to go. But now I am faced with the question – is most of my purchasing really necessary? Is this global trade system really inevitable?
Perhaps the answer is yes. Perhaps all my actions have been decided for me in this economy where individuals are so far removed from their food sources and land-bases and where images, corporations and political systems demand my allegiance. But I have come to recognize the idolatry inherent in letting my life and existence, and even my purchasing, be ruled and decided for me by global consumerism.
Coffee, fairly traded or otherwise, is not something necessary for our existence, and our addiction to the drink is a problem. Stop excess consumption where you can, be careful what you throw away, learn about where your food comes from, and do not settle for easy solutions, like fair trade, which only masks deeper, darker problems.
Now you go...
One Response to “Unethical addictions”
Got something to say?
Speaking of darker problems, I probably should have mentioned chocolate; the chocolate industry is a lot worse than the coffee industry. I’m going to have to cut back on making chocolate chip cookies, but I think that’s an okay sacrifice to make.