In the modern world the trading is an irreplaceable part of our daily life. It takes its origins since the dawn of times and is developing in the geometrical progression till nowadays. Modern trading has now two main concepts: the free trade and the fair trade. The main similarity between these two concepts is that they both are directed on the trading, as it is. The main difference is that the free trade’s main goal is to increase the nations’ economic growth and it is focusing on the trade policies between countries, not people. On the other hand, fair trade’s main goal is to increase and improve the quality of the people, to empower them. It focuses on the commerce between not only businesses, but also individuals. As we nay notice here, the free trade is usually more suitable for the government, as it brings more money to the country’s treasury, but impoverishes people.
Concerning the coffee trade, it is important to state that the fair trade has to be limited to high-quality coffee beans. Indeed, it affects the style of living of the people, who are working in this business for centuries, however, the world is moving on. The globalization is developing. If the fair trade is directed on people – people have natural rights to drink coffee of the high quality and only such.
Farmers don’t drink coffee as it is not a part of their culture. Another reason is that the process of the growing coffee beans – is the deal of their life, given them from their parents.
At the time of the video we may see that the only coffee shop was a Starbucks in Mexico. People did not use to drink coffee, however, as we may notice, the globalization is taking control over more and more spheres of the humans’ activity. (Morgenstern, Frontline World)
Nowadays, the coffee trading is present in almost each and every country in the world. The price of the coffee may surprise a person, who knows the way it was made. However, it can be simply explained. Indeed, the coffee growers are getting little money for their product, but its eventual price is much bigger. Such phenomena may be explained with the statement that before getting to the cup, the coffee must go through a long process of picking, roasting, grinding, packing and transferring. Each and every element of this chain needs resources and so – finances. Ironically that people, without whom we could never ever taste coffee are getting such a low salary for their work.
The globalization also touches the ethical issues. In the modern world it is impossible to imagine a person without a cup of coffee. That is an image known world – wide. The producer is dictating the rules – the consumer follows, subconsciously. That is how the consumer of a cup of coffee complicit in the type of lifestyle the producer can afford – the consumer follows and supports it.
However, even being a world – wide trading business, the coffee trading may be affected by the collapse. The consequences of such economic disaster are in the increasing migration patterns within the Americas. People are running away for the better lives to the countries that only yesterday they were providing with one of the most important drink of all times. As it was said in the video – fair trade helps people to improve the quality of their lives: children can go to school and attend universities; people can improve the coffee trading business in order to increase their financial level, etc. (Morgenstern, Frontline World)
So, it is important to state that the fair trade – is the only right decision. In this case, millions of people will gain an opportunity simply to live, without worrying for the following day. However, we must remember that the culture must be saved, despite the globalization.
Works cited:
Morgenstern, Angela, prod. "Guatemala/Mexico: Coffee Country." Frontline World. 22 May 2003. Frontline World. Web. 8 Apr. 2016. <http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/watch/player.html?pkg=202_guatemal&seg=1&mod=0>.
