i just finished watching a documentary called "Black Gold."  and no, it's not about "Texas Tea" -- it's about coffee.  specifically, fair trade practices and coffee-farming cooperative issues in Ethiopia.

i'm not going to sit here and lecture anyone about what coffee they drink or what type of products they buy at the grocery store or local cafe, but i AM going to assume that almost everyone reading this drinks coffee.

so i suggest to you, if you're not going to seek out this documentary ("Black Gold") and watch it for yourself on DVD, perhaps consider purchasing a Free Trade category of coffee next time you buy it.  it's right on the shelf with the rest of the coffee.  perhaps one of several types of coffee at Starbucks will be Free Trade.  perhaps one kind will also be produced in Ethiopia.

all i'm saying is, if you watched this film you'd probably feel a little bit of obligation to buy Free Trade products where possible, whether it's your bananas or your coffee beans.

that's all i wanted to say.  next time you buy a bag or can of coffee at the grocery store, or a bag of beans to grind from Starbucks, or order a cup of joe at your local cafe, pick one marked "Free Trade." 

just check it out -- the DVD, or the coffee -- or both.