[thechat] US Elections

[Erika Meyer]

Judah wrote:
>Berkeley did try to pass a law making on Fair Trade coffee
>(http://www.globalexchange.org/economy/coffee/)

cool.  Though I think education and encouraging people to give a shit
about fellow humans is generally a preferable route.

Berkeley had the measure up for their own city, which I don't think
includes Hugh since he has trouble spelling "Berkeley."
B-E-Z-E-R-K-E-L-E-E-E

>And finally, a mirror of a pre-election coverage article by the LA Times
>(http://www.geocities.com/coffeelawinfo/LATimesArticle.htm)

I hate it when newspaper articles use descriptors like "politically
correct."   Leave it to those LA people...

>Oh, and its really difficult to find non-Fair Trade coffee in Eugene
>anymore.  Shade grown coffee tastes better and with the globabl drop in
>coffee prices, there isn't much of an economic reason to buy anything else.

Arcata, California is exactly the same way.  Local shops only offer
organic, shade grown, usually roasted on the spot... the fresh
roasting really nails it, flavor-wise.  (I've had some crappy fair
trade coffee in Portland).

It made me an ugly Californian: I go into Portland coffee shops and
ask for it and 4 out of 5 don't have it available.  I blame Seattle:
Coffee People and Starbucks and that Italian stuff Torrefazione that
have a stranglehold on this market.  But we do have Stumptown
roasters.

The coffee-culture is changing s-l-o-w-l-y, even here in ol backwards
Pabst-drinking wanna-be-Seattle Portland...  shoot, Seattle is just
LA north.  We ought to be supporting OREGON roasters.

Erika:

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