Lyla Smith
There is an exploited producer at the bottom of every cup of conventional coffee. That’s the message of the Guatemalan Campesino Committee of the Highlands (CCDA).
On Nov. 19 about 120 people were treated to a moving film at the Ecole Cote du Soleil, about Guatemalan Mayan peasants working co-operatively toward agrarian independance.
After the film, committee president Leocadio Juracan Salome (pictured) explained the clear necessity for farm workers to work collectively to empower them all. The subtitle of the program, ‘For Food Security, Land Reform is Needed’ speaks directly to Guatemalan farm workers. In that country 2% of the population owns 75% of the arable land. Working on large farms, often trekking hours to and from the fields, wages typically are not high enough to cover the cost of living. For members of CCDA things are entirely different.
Ratio of land ownership in Guatemala may seem very extreme and third world. But recent BC data shows the wealthiest 10% own 54.6% of this province’s wealth. Or, seen from another angle, BC’s top 50% control 95.7% of wealth, leaving just 4.3% for the rest of us. The other half. Globally the richest 2% own half of the world’s wealth. Rather than shrinking, these gaps are growing in the developed world.
While many Canadians are clearly better off than average Guatemalans, our farmers also face huge negative legislative impacts that threaten small farms and local production.
Maybe we can all learn from each other and work together.
CCDA produces Cafe Justicia (available at l’Ecole and the Flying Yellow Bread Bowl). It’s organic, fair trade, and certifiably delicious. According to their website - ccda.galeon.com - ‘fair trade is not charity. It’s a form of north/south co-operation working together to promote a better future’.
Mr. Salome is touring Canada to continue to promote our better future. We can work collectively, locally and internationally. Go to the web site and see for yourself what fair and just trade can do to build and empower a community.
Then maybe think about how to morph their techniques to solve local land use issues.
Post new comment