Using coffee to help people

I had this idea a while ago.

I'm deeply troubled by the things in uganda. Its probably top on my list. As far as conflict areas. The 1st time I heard about it, something just hit home. I wasn't sure what I could do. There are the organizations such as one.org or the others like that. But sometimes I wonder if the money gets to the people. So my idea came from coffee. I thought about ugandan coffee after looking to the map and seeing that uganda borders kenya. I've had keynyan coffee. its pretty good. So I wondered about ugandan coffee. Which I've never seen for sale or had. But I am a fan of single origin african coffees. here are some facts about it (most of what I did not know).

Robusta coffee is indigenous to the country, and has been a part of Ugandan life for centuries. The variety of Wild Robusta Coffee still growing today in Uganda's rain forests are thought to be some of the rarest examples of naturally occurring coffee trees anywhere in the world. Uganda has the unfortunate circumstance of being landlocked, and needing good relations with its neighbors to move its coffee crop to a port city. Coffees from politically unstable regions, especially East Africa and the 10-year civil war in Uganda, bring up ethical issues. But the plain fact is this: coffee is a cash crop. It is grown by 300,000 small-holder farmers in Uganda. It is 95% of the Ugandan exports and 2,800,000 people rely on it for a livingSo here is what I thought.

Many of us are coffee drinkers, and also care about uganda. So you could support the ugandan economy by buying coffee. Which would put money into the peoples hands and help their situation and also have some good tasting and feeling coffee. Its like the whole teach a man to fish. Free money is great but it want change things.

Anyway I found this company http://www.thanksgivingcoffee.com/ they have fair trade certified (important for coffee growers) organic (important for the earth) and they offer ugandan coffee called Mirembe Kawomera "Delicious Peace" Coffee.

Thanksgiving Coffee Co. donates $1 from the sale of every package to the Mirembe Kawomera Cooperative http://www.mirembekawomera.com/coop

So thats my idea. There are probably other fair trade ugandan coffee sellers (sweet marias sells bulk green beans) So hypothetically this could Connect caring people to areas that need our help and support their economy by buying their coffee at fair prices and educating ourselves about their problems and solutions.

I'm not sure where i'm going to go with this idea, (maybe an information type website) maybe give free ugandan coffee to coffee shops and explain to them what I'm doing. But thats that. I felt the need to pass this on.

Also Desmal had an art show about Oxaca Mexico and the termoil that is going on there, so I found a seller of oxacan coffee and passed it onto him there are other conflict areas that are coffee producers.

So this is my idea to use coffee to help people in need. I guess this also goes with a new movie that I just hearsd about http://www.blackgoldmovie.com It seems to speak of the global concerns associated with coffee.

The thoughts of old

There was a nice corner lot that I passed on my way to work. It had some pines on it but it looked like a great place to have a picnic. I never got to have that picnic. It now has been sold and the tractors are there clearing the pines. I can now see the store through that lot which I used to not be able to.

The ironic thing to me is that pines are not native to georgia. so somebody planted them there. Say 100 years ago. Now they are gone again.

At what cost will progess lead our town into a surburban bypass? Why must people build new stores instead of filling the empty ones? At what point will progress change the character of this place into another booring strip mall. Theese are hard questions. I'm part of the progress. My workplace used to be a forest. We have the spiders to proove it. The trees left the spiders stayed. One day this will be gone and the spiders will probably still be here.

seeing the lot cleared I guess put me in a thinking frame of mind. Or maybe i'm a tree-hugger. lol

also Geldof in Arica, a documentary was on tv last night. I cought some of the ned of it. If your interested in africa and the human condition its a great film. This guy has been trying to help that place for 20 years. So thanks bob.

Lets Start with the Name

lanier801. When I first moved to statesboro (years ago) I lived on Lanier Drive Apt 801 in College walk. It was a studio apartment, which was about the size of a bedroom. It also had a murphy bed. I had a tv with rabbit ears and internet, but that didn't work all the time.

monologues: I like movies a ton. So I enjoy a good monologue especially in the Kevin Smith fashion.

Coffee: Its one of my passions. There is something amazing about coffee. From the local shop and how it was the muse for things such as newspapers and elections. To the global economic trends of the mnc's and local fair trade farmers.

Art: I am an artist. I keep telling myself that and one day I will believe it. I enjoy photography and I'm learning as I go. I also have vocal training and used to play Baritone Horn.


Politics: What can you say. This is a crazy world you live in. You've got to stand up for what you believe. I like reading the paper and watching the Sunday news shows.

Love: I'm engaged to Heather. I love her deeply But also I love life. There was a time where things were not so good and I had a lot of depression. These days I try and enjoy life to the fullest. I have given myself the title of a gourmet. Its part of my love what you do attitude. My grandfathers nickname was happy. I think some of that has passed onto me.

Faith: This is probably the most confusing and interesting part of my life. I fall under the Christian dogma but Its more deeper and personal than any church could teach. I am part of a small church and I enjoy going. But basically I believe in something greater than myself and I think that it (God) has a purpose for my life. I also try and follow the bible as close as possible

So that's what I try and make this thing (blog) about

I looked over the mountain

and what did I see?

Just returned today from a few days in the hills of Cherokee NC. I took many images. 3 film worth. I wen't low tech this time with 2 disposable cameras and a double exposed lomolito that i'm going to get crossed processed.

It was fun to shoot from the hip. We will have to wait for the results. Hopefully sooner than far. There were lots of conversation time with my dad and uncle jim. Also a lot of good eats and good drinks. It made me realize how much I love conversations. But more than that how much I love listening. Thats something thats hard to do on the net (listen). So my challenge is to listen more each day. Type less and talk more. And also new film is on the way. So my challenge is to produce. And stop slacking. I want to create a Long Exposure nightime black and white series. . I have a tripod now so that will be easier to do. We will see what happens. Those thoughts are in the beginning stages.

Its nice to have a bit more muse thanks to the camp trip. I hope it lingers

Hope all of you are well

JM

A new book

"Cameras take Pictures Photographers Make Pictures"

Tom grimm

Thank you Camilla

Georgia ethanol plant may be running by 2008

Camilla-based First United Ethanol LLC (FUEL), a group of agri-businessmen from South Georgia is heading this operation

I remember in Middle school we learned that Corn can grow in every county in Georgia.

I heard a blurb on the radio about this. And then I found the article. This definately something we should support. So thank you Camill and (fuel)

JM

Pacifist

pac·i·fism

1. The belief that disputes between nations should and can be settled peacefully.
2. Opposition to war or violence as a means of resolving disputes.


Peace is not a 4 letter word.

Sweet Spot

The Sweet Spot:

The ligths are warm and kind
the sky seems extra blue
the green of the grass is popping

theese are the times when I want to grab my camera and go.

Usually this occurs in the morning or before dusk. Today seems like a sweet spot day as I sit in the office and think of my next photo journey

I think I can hear my Nikon calling me........

JM

I know I said that the blog was taken a back seat, and Now I've spent a few hours tweeking it again

I guess thats how it usually works

Have a great saturday

JM

Hollah

With so many web spaces to occupy the blog has taken a back seat

so much has been said
so many ideas have been presented

thanks for making it enjoyable

till we post again

JM

Weekend:

Nice times in Sav with H. A lil' art at the EAC, family time, worked out at the Gym. a Great time.

Me and H agreed, we are both pretty traditional and faithful in our beliefs, but we agreed that the government should not be pushing a gay Marriage amendment. Its a non issue and a not the role of government.

It will not pass and is a waste of time. and it is not the governments roll to decide what marriage is or isn't

JM

Hot Zone

There seme to be some many conflict areas these days. These are the stories that rarely get covered on the nightly news. Many of them involve the genocide of children. Something I desire to help with. The following website is dedicated covering every armed conflict around the world.

I think if more people knew what was going on they would be more apt to help.

What can we do? The estimated population of america is 300 million. An estimated 63 million votes were recieved for american idol. This shows we can be a huge united force.

If every person just chose to do something about one of these conflicts, I am certain they would be quick to be brought to peace.

http://hotzone.yahoo.com

Scheduled Conflict Coverage
Afghanistan
Cambodia
Chechnya
Colombia
Congo
Haiti
Iran
Iraq
Kashmir
Korean Peninsula
Lebanon
Mideast Conflict
Myanmar (Burma)
Nepal
The Philippines
Somalia
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Syria
Uganda
Vietnam

Hot Zone Watch List
Algeria
Angola
Burundi
Chad
Ivory Coast
Liberia
Nigeria
Peru
Thailand
Uzbekistan
Zimbabwe

The process becomes closer

I picked up the slides from my most recent work, one roll of 24 E-6 from the Nikon EM. They were developed, scanned, and mounted.

I did get to do a quick preview while on break. The hopes are high. I plan on submitting some to the EAC local exhibit. Its been a while since I've had some new images to work on.

I tried some backwards lens macro. These are the favorite of the set.

I'll post them to flickr/ here as the editing proceeds.

the process continues
peace

Thank you America

There is rarely an A/B answer to what America does or doesn't do.

But while researching a bit I found the following information about humanitary aid across the world.

So I do say thank you Amercia for your generosity

This came from The American Embassy in China Website ( an odd source) from march 2002

The United States is the world leader in humanitarian assistance and food aid, providing over $3 billion combined in 2000.

The United States leads the world in charitable donations to developing countries -- $4 billion in 2000.
In total, the Administration proposes spending over $16 billion in FY 2003 to combat HIV/AIDS around the globe.

Here is the hard question. Where is the money going. Is money the answer? Than why hasn't our funding alreaddy solved the problems of genocide, death and famine in places such as Darfur, or Northern Uganda.

OBv money isn't the answer. This has bothered me for years about africa. We are constantly donating money but still things are bad over there.

I'd say People there need tangible things

There is an organizaion called Blood Water Mission They have a goal of building 1000 clean water wells in africa. a good idea

We need more good (tangible) ideas and less blank checks

Quirkx

Walmart profit rose Q1 this year from last year

I like un-sweetened iced tea

A new roll of slide film was finished and taken to the Photo-Lab

A fence is not neighborly

Its cool outside

A Cold Fury would hit the spot right now

So when I went outside the other day my pepper plants had buds on them

It has been very meditative to watch the plants grow. So far we have 1 grape tomato plant which is about 4 feet tall one peminto pepper one tobasco and a few bananna peppers. Not sure what I'm going to do with all these peppers but I'll figure that out when they get here, maybe you will be recieving a gift of them in some pickeled, state in late summer

The house has been quiet for a few days since the roomates have left for the weekend, but that is coming to a close and the hollah will return.

The camera still sits on the desk, the photo-muse hasn't been very strong lately. But I think I will purchase a book called letting go of the camera
which should bring some interesting discussions about art.

These are the "salad days " the days where things run smoothly and peacfully

JM

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

a crisp morning

a crisp cool morning

a cup of french press full city roast fair trade cafe campessino water drip decaf

awsome!

JM

FYI Gas Tax

The federal excise tax on gasoline has been 18.4 cents per gallon since 1993.

Estimates of the total current gasoline taxes (in cents per gallon) by state, including all federal, state, and local taxes, are as follows:

Georgia
31.1 (cents per gallon)
Most Expensive Tax
Hawaii 54.7 (cents per gallon)

The average price of a gallon of gasoline, exclusive of taxes, is about $1.45. This means that gas taxes as a percentage of the product price amount to about 29.5 percent

May 13, 2004
Laurence M. Vance [send him mail] is a freelance writer and an adjunct instructor in accounting and economics at Pensacola Junior College in Pensacola, FL. Visit his website.
Copyright © 2004 LewRockwell.com Laurence M. Vance Archives Back to LewRockwell.com Home Page

Since gas is higher now in 2006 the % is higher. Higher Gas price = More money for the government

So the next time the government says they care about the prices so they will lessen environmental standards (increase pollution) or stop saving for the federal reserve (saftey net) ask your representative why not lower the gas tax? (less money for them)

Of course if washington ever lowered a tax they would likely screw everything up from acting rational.


JM