Thursday: Get the Un-Sugarcoated Truth on Justice for Sugar Workers

Evening Special Event at Chicago's Fair Trade Museum Features Leading Experts

For the most part, American consumers are so used to such a bounty of all kinds of food that many seldom give much thought to how farm workers are treated, both here and abroad.

The Fair Trade Movement exists to inform people and encourage them to buy imported products that are raised and made with fairness and justice for workers in mind. And on Thursday, the world's first Fair Trade Museum, located at 4704 N. Broadway in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood, is shining a bright light on how sugar worker communities are organizing to fight injustice.

Here is how the organizers describe the event:

Following the huge success of last year's We're Bananas For Justice event about the historic Chiquita banana case ruling, we're excited to be partnering with our friends at Corporate Accountability Lab once more for an in-depth discussion of another fascinating labor rights case: that of the Central Romana sugar workers in the Dominican Republic.

More than 60% of products in U.S. grocery stores contain added sugar – but the truth behind the controversial crop is often hard to swallow. In the Dominican Republic today, many sugarcane workers suffer astounding abuses at the hands of the billion-dollar company Central Romana. These workers are continuing to fight for their rights despite all odds, even since U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reversed a decision blocking the company’s sugar from entering the U.S., despite clear evidence that forced labor is ongoing.

This event will spotlight Corporate Accountability Lab’s work on the Central Romana case and explore what needs to be done to transform the sugar industry to ensure it protects workers and the planet - and because we're Chicago Fair Trade, we will end with an ethical rum tasting courtesy of Chicago Cane Cooperative!

About Our Panelists

Moderator: Jerome McDonnell, Longtime host of Worldview on WBEZ and board member of Chicago Fair Trade

Panelist: Charity Ryerson, Executive Director and Founder at Corporate Accountability Lab

Panelist: Dr. Howard Rosing, Executive Director at DePaul University's Steans Center

Panelist: Daniel Regueira, Founder of Chicago Cane Cooperative, a local, ethical, worker-owned rum distillery

Admission costs $10 (includes a rum cocktail/soft drink and the post-panel rum tasting) or FREE for Chicago Fair Trade Members (members: check your inbox or email Nancy for the code). Not a member yet? Learn more about membership!

Click the button below to register for this enlightening event.

GET THE UN-SUGARCOATED TRUTH

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