Oxfam America

Spring Breakers Return With A Purpose

11 May 2005

Student activists return from the Dominican Republic determined to fight for fair trade.

Jacy Ceccarelli and Charles Bergman spent their spring break in the Dominican Republic, where they witnessed firsthand the fight for fair trade.  Back on campus at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, the student activists set two goals: awareness and action.

“Taking a stand for social justice is in keeping with LMU’s mission and our Jesuit identity,” said Bergman.  “We wanted to brew some awareness of the issues surrounding fair trade, and then let the students act as they saw fit.”

The Global Week of Action was the perfect opportunity to do just that.  On Tuesday, Ceccarelli and Bergman staged a CAFTA graveyard in the alumni mall during the regularly scheduled convocation hour.  Fifty white crosses were displayed to represent the potential ill effects of CAFTA on farmers in poor nations.

“Fair trade and CAFTA are in direct opposition,” said Ceccarelli.  “We used the graveyard to draw students in.  Then we gave them more information and showed them how they could take action on a national scale.”

Students were encouraged to send letters to their state representatives, asking them to vote against CAFTA.  Over 150 letters were collected and mailed.

Other activities during the week included a photo display from their trip to the Dominican Republic and a “Support the Cause” Festival where fair trade products were available for sale.