UH Students for Fair Trade

On June 16 we did an action with the coffee bean of justice. On June 23 we met with Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Elwyn Lee (sometimes known as the wife of U.S. Congressman Sheila Jackson Lee). Dr. Lee was not a happy camper. In fact none of the administration are too happy that we got a story in the Houston Chronicle. Anyway although the administration likes to stall, steer clear of the truth, threaten, file unfounded disciplinary charges, we like to keep focused on our goal to make the University an all fair trade campus and in doing so making our world a better place. Here’s our letter to Dr. Khator as a follow up our meeting with Lee. SFT letter to Khator 6.30.08

Inspiring achievements of 2007

• Global sales increase by 47 percent
• First South to South Fairtrade products
• Agreements are made to increase Fairtrade
• Minimum Prices for coffee
• Introduction of Fairtrade Minimum Prices for tea
• Producer Networks became full members and owners of FLO

See the full FLO Annual Report 2007!

The Houston Chronicle published a letter to the editor in their hard copy on June 23, 2008. Emily Nghiem wrote: “…These protests serve as an inspiring reminder that we all share responsibility for how we participate in a free market, where security and growth depend on educating buyers and empowering workers to build a sustainable economy.”

Read the complete letter: Letter to editor

After we whupped out the bean of justice on the president’s hopeless administrative staff all of a sudden things started rolling along again on our quest for just beans. We brought a 7 foot coffee cup to the president’s office back in March, a 4 foot coffee bean yesterday, what next? Stay tuned for the next episode. Gardner’s reply 6.17.08

We had a nice little press conference and rally with support from the Service Employees International Union, ACORN, the Houston Peace and Justice Center and UH Students Against Sweatshops.
Houston Chronicle story, part 1 | part 2