Thursday, June 12, 2003


plaudits to sandy mcalpine, paging robert nelson

and today the canadians once again prove themselves better men than we! in this case, sandy mcalpine, head of the trade group for canadian commercial coffee joins with oxfam to take on the world-price depression that is the cause of much human misery, the so-called coffee crisis (adobe acrobat required).

it's just a great day when you hear a sharp-suited lobbyist express something that appears to be concern for actual human beings. the chief of the commercial association frankly calls for canada to re-join the i.c.o. which as long-time readers know, is a move i believe the u.s.a. should emulate.

further, the group also calls for governments to do more. this is all good. but what concrete things will sandy mcalpine do? or is this just a nice public relations statement made on a short break from the golf course?

i'm watching this canadian initiative with care. if it goes anywhere, then you'll find me on the phone to the u.s.a. commercial coffee group, the n.c.a. their current chief is one robert nelson.

perhaps his most (in)famous remark, when asked about oxfam's various initiatives to combat the crisis: "it is critical to the nca to have a sustainable industry and we believe in the efforts that everyone is making, but it's not helpful to spend efforts on solutions that will not make a difference."

still, robert is on record stating that the u.s.a. should return to the i.c.o. and while he said as much while testifying before congress, he also made it clear that he doesn't support increased import standards to this country to improve the quality of coffee that americans drink. (see here for the info on the issue of coffee purity.)

but the canadians seem to have more vision. what do they know that the n.c.a. doesn't? are you listening, robert? i'm sure you're more than the dapper satan your detractors make you out to be.

that's right, we here at bccy are as of this moment starting a campaign to page robert nelson's soul. . . as naropa said, "samsara is to see fault in other people."

so we consumers are combing robert nelson from his perfect silvery hair, through his hand-stitched pockets, down to the fringed kilties on his handmade loafers for that sparkling diamond within. to you this day we carry our love, big guy. . .

and i hate to blow my own horn, but i am quoted today on illy cups in the new york sun, page 18 (more normal format here)!

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