Why Coffee

Which human rights violations need be stopped first? Oppression of speech? Genocide? Starvation?

Which so many issues on the table choosing one is a tough task. The point of studying coffee is not about the coffee, but about learning how rights are prioritized and by whom. Conveniently, I love drinking coffee, but that's not why I'm here.

After the first month my impressions on Fair Trade haven't changed much: it's a decent movement attempting to provide market-based incentives for the protection of certain "universal" economic rights that are determined primarily by concerned Westerners. Those most affected (the small coffee producers) see some benefits in many cases, but most individuals are unaware of what "fair trade" means let alone have the capacity to influence the policies which most affect them.

Ultimately, he who has the most money can set the rules of the game. Starbucks, a much despised company created with the commodification and destruction of coffeehouse culture, recently became the world's largest buyer of fair trade coffee. Some are concerned about the effect this will have on the balance of power in the construction of the policies. Time will tell. In the Fall I will begin research on the consumer-side of the discussion and see what 'fair trade' means there and what influence consumers and vendors have on setting the agenda of which rights are protected and how.

For now, I am working with (not on) a few coffee cooperatives here. Hopefully I can generate some sound research in the process of helping others.

Community Library Organizations in Nicaragua

"If you have a library and a garden, you have everything you need," Darrell starts out. I'm reminded of Marlon's comment about campesino life. Marlon's love of reading would be well matched with a community library, but it's not a priority in an area where there is not electricity or running water. I have been wondering about information as a right and who's responsibility it is to provide access.

For Love and the Game

Gato stares at me as he slowly tips off of his horse, saddle and all. "Ayudame!" he yells.

What can I do? How can I help?

I stare helplessly at my trusty steed I've named Carrot.

Carrot is easily the best horse in our brigade. Being the largest of the group, I was offered the largest horse to take us to the baseball game. This hardly healthy animal is still the fastest of the crowd despite the fact my feet could touch the ground if I dare try. It's my first time riding a horse, but certainly not my last.

Our group decided to go to the local baseball game to support the team we've been playing with at night. The game was a spirited event where our tragic heroes unfortunately met their defeat in a hard fought battle that continued despite the cattle walking around the outfield. To celebrate the event we decided a couple bottles of rum would be a great way to pass the time of the hour and a half ride we had to get back to the community.

"Regalame un poco" an old campesino asked me a few kilometers back. "Give me a little". After taking a swig the old man warned me not to drink too much otherwise I will fall off my horse. A fear I definitely had given my level of experience.

We continued down the trail laughing and joking. About ten of us: Darwin, Juan Pablo, Gato, and the rest of the team.


We talked of justice, campesino life, baseball, and love.

"Is Aria your girlfriend?" Darwin asked me. We stared at each other. The question had never come up before. "I don't know. Are we together?" Aria asked me. "Of course,"I replied. Five days later we would be engaged.

The trip was going really well as I debated with a couple of fellows about the differences between our cultures when we came across the rest of the group helping the old campesino back onto his horse. Apparently he had fallen off.

"Ayudame!" Gato yells again. I snap back. I can't believe he is still falling.

Campesino Life

"Eso es la vida campesino," Marlon says as the countryside of the Miraflor reserve races past us. Taking a sip from a bottle of rum he looks out from our post on top of an old school bus (the words "Baptist United Church of Chapel Hill" are barely painted over on the side) at the pastoral mountains pocked with small herd of cattle surrounding us. "Ese no es un acedente".

Campesino life is tough –long days toiling in the fierce Nicaraguan sun, limited access to modern conveniences such as running water and electricity, all the while trying to provide for one's family– but given the freedom and peace inherent to the lifestyle, Marlon would not give it up for anything. We are returning from Estelí, the nearest city and a Sandinista stronghold in Nicaragua, to check email, pick up supplies, and talk with local and international organizations about collaborations. While walking the streets of Estelí, the theme of dreams came up.

"Tranquilidad y liberdad" was all Marlon said. Tranquility and liberty.

Love

I'm engaged. We dated for 5 days but our history is longer. Here's a love letter I wrote Aria two years ago to the day of our engagement 6/6/07.

"There exists in some of us the desire to create problems for ourselves
when the ones life dishes us dont seem like enough. Large eyes for the
gluttons of punishment.

As with any problems, the primal choice of flight or fight instantly
presents itself.

While flight is the more cowardly of the two, the true coward never
looks back. Reflects. Even the shadow of the fight is too frightening.

The flight has given me plenty of time to look back. Reflect.

It´s also given me time to catch up on some reports and writing Ive
been putting off. I also started my novel on the corporate wars of the
future.

But I digress.

I have written this in the field before reading any messages you may
or may not have sent. I need not read your words to read your
thoughts. I have the same ones.

That said, I´ll head to the coast to procure a vessel (a 15-footer
aught to be a fine enough start) and you load up on the reading
materials (obviously a good selection of the classics, but dont shy
away from the trashy romance novels as well) and Ill meet up with you
at the to be agreed upon location shortly.

Take care,
Tim"