Oxfam launches 'Coffee Rescue' plan

BBC News
Wednesday, 18 September, 2002, 00:48 GMT 01:48 UK

Corporate giants that make huge profits from selling coffee should be forced to pay farmers a decent price, according to the latest campaign from Oxfam.

They know there is terrible human suffering at the heart of their business and yet they do virtually nothing to help

The charity claims that with coffee prices now at a 30-year low, as many as 25 million people who depend on the crop for a living are being forced into poverty.

Oxfam is launching a "Coffee Rescue Plan" urging political and business leaders to take immediate action, such as destroying surplus stocks and guaranteeing a fair price for farmers.

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