It’s especially interesting to read about a govt. where too FEW officials are selected via election, cuz at least in LA, we sorta feel that we’re expected to vote for too MANY (i.e. voting for minor positions for which it’s near-impossible to get informed about the difference between the candidates…

One of the most profound benefits of Fair Trade for farmers isn’t the fair trade price–it’s the strengthening of small farmer cooperatives who’re able to be a voice for those who were previously, as Santiago said, “4th class citizens.”

CEPICAFE has been very politically active advocating on behalf of its 6,000 + members throughout its history but especially in the last year. Recently they held a political demonstration saying that their contribution to development and exports in Peru is disproportionate to the amount of government services their area is receiving. You can read their press release here: http://www.equalexchange.com/farmer-partner/news

Here’s a note from my colleague, Tom Hanlon Wilde, commenting on these huge non-economic benefits of fair trade:

“With the CEPICAFE march and demand letter, you are seeing two waves of grassroots empowerment and democracy, one flowing on top of the other. The members of CEPICAFE are organized and vocal in demanding government services. Farmers organized in co-ops can demand better roads, better schools, and agricultural extension services. This marks a very positive development, especially in a nation with a 500-year legacy of top-down patronage (and decidedly anti-grassroots activism). We should be proud to work with any farmers so organized, but in the case of CEPICAFE we were their second ever customer and one of their co-founders Arnaldo Neira wrote in his August 2002 article, “The little window [of fair trade] was a tremendous door for the small-scale coffee producers of the Piuran Sierra . . . . Establishing relationships with importers such as GEPA of Germany and Equal Exchange of the USA, among others, importers who are known for the high quality of the coffee they sell, was a calling card for CEPICAFE. “

The second wave of democratic hopefulness imbedded in this article is the fact that there was someone to whom to send the letter CEPICAFE wrote. For 500 years all governmental decisions were made by rulers in Lima or the appointees those rules but in the field. Even when we first visited CEPICAFE in 1996, local elementary school teachers were hired by federal government appointees. One got to vote for only three elected officials – president, congressional deputy, and departmental legislative deputy. All other state and local officials were appointed – city councilors, mayors, sheriff, judges, department senators, national senators, provincial governors, watershed managers, school board-equivalent administrators, etc. In the last five years Peru has undergone a major shift to establish regional governments (each encompassing 2-5 provinces) which are led by elected governors. Local mayors and legislators are also elected positions. So that CEPICAFE could write a demand letter to the regional government and expect a response is an equally significant achievement.

We’ve seen other examples of farmers winning concrete, important benefits for their families because they were organized. We saw this happen with COCLA’s Aquilayoc Coop when they, as a coop, went to the electric company and said, “We’ll install the poles if you string the wires.” That brought light to the town years ahead of schedule.

When we pay fair trade premiums, the income is important. But more powerful is the fact that in having to sit down and democratically decide what to do with the income, cooperatives are giving small scale farmers the space to take control of their own future and build organizations that alter the socioeconomic and political landscape. To me, our small role in those efforts is not just a source of pride, but also of inspiration.”