Leaks in our teapot

While we don't know if the writer and novelist Philip K. Dick was a tea lover, his phrase "We have a lot of leaks in our reality" could perfectly adapt to the tea industry if he said, "We have a lot of leaks in our teapot." Despite tea being a catalyst for many positive things, the actions of our ancestors have left a dark legacy that we continue to pay for today.

This new section, titled "The Flavor Trail," aims to reveal the reality behind a cup of tea, coffee, or any other food or drink that, when classified as "commodities," the needs and injustices faced in their production have been ignored. For the launch of "The Flavor Trail," we have the participation of Sabita Banerji, founder of THIRST, a platform of knowledge and action for civil society agents and stakeholders seeking to transform the tea industry into one that is prosperous but, more importantly: Fair.

It can be said that Sabita Banerji deeply understands the issues of the tea industry, as she was born into it: her father was a manager of a tea company in southern India. Later, when she settled in London, she developed her career at OXFAM, a global movement of people working together to fight inequality and end poverty and injustice. However, she decided to go further and focus on fair trade because, as she says, "while charity is important, achieving fair trade allows for a better quality of life." This path allowed Sabita Banerji to form what is now THIRST.

THE COLONIES OF THE 21ST CENTURY

Although the era of the British East India Company was long ago, its colonies left an impact that caused a colonial trauma. Despite having progressed as a human species, the mark they left are considerable. So much so that, in its 2021 "East and Southeast Asia" report, THIRST International and Banerji state that the migrants surveyed share the same feeling about the treatment they receive: "They treat us like slaves. We feel like we are in jail. Every day is hard to get through, and we just hope that our three years will end so we can get out of this hell."

The outlook becomes bleaker when the same report notes that some plantation workers' children work in the same plantations as their parents. Workers need their children's help to collect enough to meet their basic needs. Far from being dignified, the tea industry is often a disgrace. And it hurts more when you consider that while some meditate with a cup of tea, seeking a state of no-mind, others long to escape the constant suffering and uncertainty of "What will happen tomorrow? Will I reach the goal?" Or something as essential as "Will I have enough to eat?"

Harassment and sexual abuse, as well as gender inequality, are also present. In 2011, Van der Wal described how, despite Unilever's plantations in Kenya seeking optimal working conditions and fair treatment of nature to the point of having Rainforest Alliance certification, the findings showed the opposite: workers with fewer benefits, job insecurity, bribes, sexual harassment, and, on top of that, ethnic and gender discrimination.

 THIS IS NOT THE END, BUT THE BEGINNING OF CHANGE

Despite all the problems in the tea industry, this should not be a reason to give up. Like THIRST, we must take it as a challenge to be better. Sabita Banerji proposes a sustainability approach for the tea industry comprised of three fundamental pillars: Environmental Sustainability, Human Sustainability, and Industrial Sustainability. Far from being separate, they can be understood as a sequence.

1. Environmental Sustainability: Seeking to restore the flora removed to plant tea, remembering that each environment has an ecosystem affected by human actions. Beyond reforesting, it is being aware of the actions taken in the production, for example, the chemicals used and trying to avoid them.
2. Human Sustainability: It's not just about providing a job with a salary but a dignified job whose benefits allow people to think beyond the paycheck, that is, about their future.
3. Industrial Sustainability: More than 60 countries produce tea, but we must repair the leaks in our teapot (the industry). Lest, by trying to introduce too much tea, we end up with nothing, as in the case of Darjeeling. Despite being a highly recognized tea, almost a luxury, its production needs to be improved and is at risk of being lost, Sabita Banerji, states.

 FEWER WORDS, MORE ACTION!

Although we seek someone responsible for the tea industry's problems, we must know we all have a certain degree of responsibility. Instead of seeking culprits, we must generate a change. Sabita Banerji shares actions for us to be catalysts of positive change, regardless of whether we are a large or small company or simply a tea enthusiast.

1. See, Listen, and Tell: Before pointing out and judging a situation, let's understand its origin and how we can counterbalance in favor of common welfare.
2. Let's Learn and Teach: It is impossible to know everything, so it is crucial to be humble to learn and teach. An excellent antidote to inequity is knowledge. We must ensure to obtain and provide reliable content. Let's demand it!
3. Paying a Little More Is Worth It!: As long as the increase is to provide better conditions for all involved, especially the producers, who are the ones who risk the most but, in most cases, earn the least.
4. Directly from the Source: Although it is more complicated to find, try to buy tea directly from the producer. The fewer intermediaries there are, the more significant the profit for them.

As I mentioned in "Companies, Kingdoms & Wars Pt. 6," the Flavor Trail section would reveal how years of British exploitation have shaped a country to this day. And something that took years to mold can hardly be changed in a day, but as Karl Marx said: "Talking and doing are different things, more like opposites." It is our duty to know history and strive not to repeat the mistakes of our ancestors. Let us be catalysts of positive change by taking the example and advice of Sabita Banerji with THIRST and, if possible, supporting this cause.

What better way to close this first blog post of this section than with the Tea Wisdom of Sabita Banerji? — "Listen carefully and understand what others tell you." — Regardless of whether it is the opposite of what we think, we can only understand the whole picture by listening carefully. No wonder they say we have two ears and one mouth, so we speak less and listen more.

 Until next time!

 Satoricha ~

References

OXFAM International. (n.d.). Conócenos. Conócenos | Oxfam International. Retrieved August 1, 2024, from https://www.oxfam.org/es/que-hacemos/quienes-somos

THIRST INTERNATIONAL & Banerji, S. (2021, 7 14). Briefing: East and South East Asia. THIRST. https://thirst.international/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/THIRST-Briefing-East-and-South-East-Asia2.pdf

van der Wal, S. (2011, 10 1). Certified Unilever Tea Small Cup, Big Difference? SOMO. https://indd.adobe.com/view/aaf00c7a-8407-4ea0-982c-ca8b3555168a