Ever wonder what's behind your favorite cup of coffee? Equita cordially invites you to a screening of Black Gold, a compelling documentary film that deconstructs the cut-throat international coffee industry: from the hands of farmers in Ethiopia--the birthplace of coffee--to the shelves and counters of your local supermarkets and coffee shops.

Why is this important? The world coffee market is worth over $80 billion, making it the most valuable trading commodity after oil. A few multinational companies control the industry and reap most of the wealth generated by this increasingly robust market, while an overwhelming number of farming communities in developing countries are left at the mercy of an unjust commodity exchange, whose low and unpredictable prices have devastating consequences to their economies.

The film also explores the real impact of Fair Trade, a burgeoning alternative form of trade designed to level the playing field. Fair Trade brings to the table distributors and democratically organized cooperatives around an idea that states that a fair price be paid for quality and labor. These longterm, equal partnerships afford producers a living wage and supply cooperatives the funds needed to invest in educational, health and social projects.

Consumers play a pivotal role in this experiment, for it is up to us in the end to choose between two starkly opposing trading systems. It is an ethical decision that puts your purchasing power to real use.

The EVENT
Program: Screening of Black Gold @ 8 p.m. The film will be followed by a Q & A session led by John Soluri, board member of Building New Hope and CMU history professor, whose research combines cultural, economic, environmental and social history in Latin America.

Date: Saturday, January 20, 2007
Venue: Melwood Screening Room. 477 Melwood Ave., Pittsburgh. See map>>

Also: Equita will have an information table with Fair Trade fact sheets and a display of innovative products. Sign up at our table and win a Fair Trade gift basket.

Equita collaborated with Coco's Cupcakes, a hip cafe in Pittsburgh, to create special Fair Trade cupcakes for tasting. Equita provided Fair Trade ingredients (Ethiopia Yirgacheffe coffee, Dulce de Leche, organic cocoa powder and organic chocolate drops), and Coco's chefs did their delicious magic. Learn more about Coco's>>

Coffee will be provided by Building New Hope, a Pittsburgh-based project that distributes fairly traded coffee from cooperatives in Nicaragua and El Salvador.

For more info on BLACK GOLD, visit www.blackgoldmovie.com

About Equita
Equita specializes in Fair Trade, organic and green essentials for the body and home. We proudly source quality designed, functional products from over 40 countries, as well as Native American enterprises, women's initiatives, family farms & unionized businesses in North America. Learn more about us>>