What's the best way to help exploited peoples...

[driftingblizzard]

I recently discovered this article and petition dealing with exploitation by Corporations of workers.  What is the best type of way to help those in that situation?


FOR EXAMPLE:
Each year, coffee companies make billions of dollars. Starbucks
alone earned almost $5.8 billion in net revenues during the
first three quarters of 2006.

Yet, for every cup of coffee Starbucks sells, poor farmers in
coffee-growing countries like Ethiopia earn only about $.03.
Even worse, while Ethiopian farmers grow some of the finest
name-brand coffees in the world - think Harar, Yirgacheffe, and
Sidamo - they don't see the premium profits those names command
among consumers.

Oxfam and a coalition of allies are asking Starbucks to sign
this agreement. According to one coalition member, control of
the name brands could increase Ethiopia's coffee export income
by more than 25 percent - or $88 million annually. This money
could go a long way to help lift millions of Ethiopians out of
poverty.

So please, help us convince Starbucks to sign this agreement
with Ethiopia. Poor farmers deserve a fair share of the profits.
http://act.oxfamamerica.org/campaign/starbucks_petition?rk=b1APf6S15SW-W

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[McGiver]

every worker deserves a FAIR portion of what they produce.

besides, starbucks will only have to raise their prices by ten cents to break even (what they currently make).  but of course they will raise their prices by twenty five cents.

[Teejay]

The only way the living standards of the world will improve is that free markets, democracy and the rule of law spread to those corners of the world which have none right now. The lesson of the last century show us that only liberal democracy and free market capitalism will bring prosperity to the world.

Don't diss me, but I want to help the world's poor, however I am a rationalist and realist, who has no time for the antics of the trendy.

[driftingblizzard]

The only way the living standards of the world will improve is that free markets, democracy and the rule of law spread to those corners of the world which have none right now. The lesson of the last century show us that only liberal democracy and free market capitalism will bring prosperity to the world.

Don't diss me, but I want to help the world's poor, however I am a rationalist and realist, who has no time for the antics of the trendy.

I too, am a realist so we probably have a lot of other things in common too!  Although I am usually accused of being a pessimist, I find that's what people think because I'm not a flaming optomist. 

[McGiver]

the best way is to not shop at places that have a reputation for selling products produced by exploited people.
like walmart and target.

[Scrapheap]

Don't buy ANYTHING!! Capitalisim will colapse and we'll go back to a barter system and live in caves.

[driftingblizzard]

I'd like to live in a cave.

[Litigious]

If I just could defend myself and get food, water and wood to always have a nice fire burning, I think it'd be OK. And a woman, of course. 

[McGiver]

If I just could defend myself and get food, water and wood to always have a nice fire burning, I think it'd be OK. And a woman, of course. 

wish granted, but your woman is the inflatable type.

[driftingblizzard]

If I just could defend myself and get food, water and wood to always have a nice fire burning, I think it'd be OK. And a woman, of course. 

If you live in a cave, you defend youself by giving in to the desires of whoever is tresspassing at the time, then they will leave...

[Litigious]

Dammit. No cage life for me. 

[driftingblizzard]

Dammit. No cage life for me. 

cave life or cage life, it could make a slight difference to someone with AS reading this....

[Litigious]

Oops, miswrote again. 

[McGiver]

Oops, miswrote again. 

you get used to it after a while.

[Tom/Mutate]

Been reading "no logo" and wondering this myself.  Even Oxfam and the Body shop they say are screwing us over.   Maybe all we can do is try to live our lives as normal, if we can't be sure of the human rights on everything we buy, at least try our best and boycott what we can?