Excerpts from the Peanut Gallery

Renewed vigour demands an outlet

I know I have blogged about this ad nauseum, but renewed vigour demands an outlet. I went to a lecture at Trinity this week with my reinstated roommate alum, Sarah. It was put on by the social justice club (why the heck was I not in on the ground floor with that when I was there??). The speaker was Stacey, one of the founders of Level Ground. We discussed the ethics of fair trade; the complexity of the fair trade system; the connections of trade with other industries such as the transportation industry and its connections with environmental sustainability; One of the finer points was the need for a complete disassembly of the north American consumer-driven lifestyle. One of the guys there asked a question that finished with a pause and a cautious clarifier, not necessarily opposed, but still somewhat surprised: “what it sounds like you are asking for something that can only happen if the American way of life is completely destroyed…?” Stacey’s answer was something to the effect of “Yes, I hope so.”
Man! I love this stuff. Every day since, I have been seriously rethinking every purchase. I wanted pizza on Friday night, but went home because I knew I had food in the pantry that should be eaten up before I go recklessly spending money on something else. I even rethink the fair trade purchases I want to make. I was shopping online at the people tree, but realised that I don’t need any of these clothes just yet. When I do, I may very well go there, but until I do, what is the sense?
The thing about fair trade that is so incredible is that it isn’t just that we are concerned about where our products come from and how they arrive on our kitchen counters or in our closets. This is the primary and most immediate concern, but the real underlying concern was well stated by this speaker this week. We need to be more content with living simply and when we do buy, to buy that which is ethical. This then connects in my mind back with Mark’s sermon from two weeks ago on fair trade, justice and slavery. I am convinced that on the things such as coffee, sugar etc, where there is an alternative we certainly should make the sacrifice of other needless consumables in order to afford those just alternatives. Especially since the coffee and sugar industries are so ubiquitous. How many people do you know that do not consume certainly the latter, if not both, every day?
The demise of the American way of life will come one purchase at a time not made; one craving not satisfied each day. While there are four or five consumables that I have turned down there are probably another four or five that I have not, but it starts small. I just don’t see how we as people can justify the slavery or oppression of another person or group of people. I can see though, how easy it is for us in North America to assume it isn’t happening, and that we have nothing to worry about. I even caught myself when Mark stated his sermon on slavery thinking, “what modern day equivalent could there be??” HA! I spent years studying the modern day equivalent in my economics classes, but it still comes so slowly. Out of sight, out of mind.
The lecture finished and I had a great talk with the husband of one of my professors, who is working on starting up some fair trade co-op and initiatives in Kenya. Hearing someone talk about what they are doing and what is going on in an area that you are passionate about is incredible. I think on my bad days I would be jealous, but in my best moment, I was overjoyed by the fact that all this was taking place. Just knowing that it is moving forward is fantastic, who cares that I am not the one to spearhead it. One day, I will be in on it, but until then I just want to know that it’s getting done and I can’t wait to join. I left on a cloud.

posted by Kiki @ 2:32 p.m.