As I said, this really was a work trip. We were learning about challenges to conserving biodiversity in Guatemala. And we were learning about how The Nature Conservancy and partners, like Vivamos Mejor (www.vivamosmejor.org.gt/).12 April 2008 I'm just getting back to this page after several weeks and the death of Alex. What did I want to say then? I don't remember entirely, but here's a few of the lessons that I'm trying to apply to my life:
1. don't buy cheap coffee - because cheap coffee means that the farmer who grew the beans isn't making a living, even in a country like Guatemala where it doesn't cost much to live.
2. don't buy coffee that comes from Vietnam - because the coffee industry in that country is driving down world-wide prices. This is typically where the large coffee companies like Folgers and Maxwell house get their product (see lesson #1).
3. buy fair-trade coffee -if it doesn't have such a label, it may mean the farmer didn't get his fair share.
4. buy organic and/or shade-grown - the coffee will have been grown in a manner that is better for the native species and people in the area where the coffee came from.
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