Two from the Show

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tescopoly Jungle Capitalists

I’ve just finished a panel here at the Edinburgh International Book Festival with two exceptionally thought-provoking authors who have also been picking over the international food system, past and present. Andrew Simms’ Tescopoly is a punchy, thoughtful and entertaining romp through the aisles and annals of the UK’s largest supermarket chain: Tescos. Andrew is also part of the team putting together ‘Interdependence Day’ later on this year in London, an event designed to move us towards a better and more sustainable economics. More news about that as it comes in.

The second book is by Peter Chapman, a journalist at the Financial Times, who has written
Jungle Capitalists, an examination of the world’s first food system mega-corporations: The United Fruit Company. Drawing on his deep familiarity with central America, and through a gripping narrative, Peter’s book pulls us through the history and misdeeds of the company known locally as ‘el pulpo’ – the Octopus. Although the company itself is now no longer with us, Peter’s is a searing indictment of a kind of capitalism that persists in the Global South’s agricultural economy.

Highly recommended, both of these books.

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Posted on 27 August, 2007 - 07:37

fairtrade - I spoke to you at the signing on Sunday

Submitted by Lorna Logan (not verified) on 28 August, 2007 - 09:02.

I've had a quick look through the book now and it is clear to me that you and Andrew Simms, don't actually know much about the fairtrade movement. You appeared patronising and .. well .. ignorant. Surely even 7% of the market and growing is not to be sniffed at. Traidcraft is the best UK based orgaisation.http://www.traidcraft.co.uk/template2.asp?pageID=1643&fromID=1275 is their about us page. Do you realise that fairtrade kept out of South Africa till recently for political reasons? This could explain why you don't seem to know about it.

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On fair trade

Submitted by Raj on 28 August, 2007 - 14:04.

Thanks for writing Lorna. I'm not quite sure where you're getting my analysis of fair trade from - in the book I'm very clear that it's important to do, but also that it is woefully inadequate.

There's plenty of evidence to back that up, from the patterns of exploitation that persist in Fair Trade Coffee plantations in Central America (citations for which are in the book), to the exclusion and marginalisation of farmers' voices in certain certification schemes.

I'm particularly struck by the fact that Fair Trade is now in South Africa. Since the end of apartheid, barely 6% of the land has changed hands. In almost every way that matters, the situation facing farm workers in South Africa remains utterly parlous. So, well done fair trade for not endorsing apartheid, but the moment I'll be impressed with fair trade as a genuine engine of social change (as opposed to the palliative that it is) is when the fair trade movement starts campaigning hard for agrarian reform.

You can find more about what this entails (and why fair trade is a part, but only a small part of genuine systemic change) at the Global Campaign for Agrarian Reform, hosted online at FIAN.

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replying about fairtrade

Submitted by Lorna Logan (not verified) on 1 September, 2007 - 10:43.

"I'll be impressed with fair trade as a genuine engine of social change (as opposed to the palliative that it is) is when the fair trade movement starts campaigning hard for agrarian reform. "
I speak as one of the many British who support fairtrade because they believe it is a way of starting agrarian reform. I have a friend working for Traidcraft and know she personally contacts and supports small communities throughout the world. (though not personally in the wine growing and flower seed businesses they support in S.A.) If this isn't reform what is? At least it's a start. I see Traidcraft DOING agrarian reform, not just talking about it. And I do have an inkling what you mean - I visited the farming area of Taung in NW province four years ago- There are NO quick'neasy solutions there. I cite Traidcraft not other Fairtrade organisations which I don't know about. Candles in the dark can spread.

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