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Phinfever Owner: Dave "Big Dave" Blake
Quinton Coples
DE UNC Senior 6'6" 284 lbs 40 @ 4.78
If the Dolphins select QB Ryan Tannehill here I will not be disappointed as I believe we have the correct coaches in place to evaluate whether Tannehill is a franchise QB or not. Let's not forget that Jeff Ireland is a Parcells disciple which means that the 4 QB rules must apply. Tannehill only passes 2 of the 4 rules (does not meet the 3 year QB starter, and has not won at least 23 games). Our new OC, Mike Sherman lost his head coaching job at his alma mater, Texas A&M, and his quarterback was Tannehill.
Quinton Coples is extremely talented but did not play consistently in 2011. NFL Network's Mike Mayock believes him to be bust-potential due to his lackluster senior year. Being from NC, I can tell you there were a lot of distractions for Coples due to all the NCAA infractions at UNC, having his coach fired, playing a lot of DT (out of position in my opinion), and this affected the whole team. I think what you saw in the senior bowl was what to expect from Coples, but that is for Miami's coaching staff to figure out. I'm pretty sold on the kid as he could be something really special in our hybrid defense. The Dolphins have an immediate need for a dominating pass rushing DE.
Trading down is not an option as far as I am concerned. I think this team needs playmakers and you are usually giving up a Pro Bowl player to draft a couple of good role players.
Apr 21
Phinfever Draft Guru: Tony Simmons
Ryan Tannehill
QB Texan A&M Senior 6'4" 221 lbs 40 @ 4.9
As we know by now, the Dolphins missed out on Peyton Manning and decided not to dole out big money to Matt Flynn, who ended up in Seattle. While the Dolphins did sign David Garrard to challenge Matt Moore, they still need their quarterback of the future. Miami will have to sweat out Cleveland at #4, but all indications are the Browns will not look to take Tannehill that high. Ryan brings experience in the West Coast offense as he played for new OC Mike Sherman, the former Texas A & M coach. Tannehill has all the physical traits you want in a quarterback, size, very good arm, nice foot work and mobility and a terrific athlete, as he played wide receiver for his 1st 2 plus years with the Aggies. There in lies the problem, as he has 19 starts as a quarterback, meaning he is raw and has work to do in regards to footwork and throwing off his back foot. These are some comments from Greg Cosell, someone I think does a good job of breaking down and evaluating players. " Tannehill better prospect than Ponder. Nice feel in pocket. Good pocket mobility re: lack of experience. Willing to make stick throws". "Tannehill needs work with progession reading but can be coached. Must learn to validate safeties after snap. Threw well outside the numbers." This is a little high to take Ryan, as he probably fits in the mid first round, but I don't see Miami taking the chance to miss out of him if he is at their slot at #8.
Last mock: no change
Apr 8
Phinfever FFL Commish JP Correia
If you have not checked out the Draft Winds staff's scouting report on Tannehill, it is a must read, (as is their Weeden write-up). There is no point in me trying to compete with that scouting report, and I agree with almost every point they make in it. One thing I do want to state regarding the Tannehill pick, however, is the perception that the pick would be a "reach." I'm going to let you in on a secret: When it comes to franchise QB's, there is no such thing as a reach. If you feel he has the mental, physical and intangible tools to be a franchise QB, than he's worth the top pick in the draft. Period. If Jeff Ireland, (who was rumored to love Tannehill during the season), Joe Philbin and Mike Sherman (Miami's Offensive Coordinator and Tannehill's coach for his 4 years at A&M) feel that Ryan will be a franchise QB, than you take him at #8 and run through the streets naked, happy as can be that you've finally found somebody to build around. Hell, if you have a conviction about him than I don't care what Mel Kiper or Brian Billick say, move up to get him. If he pans out, regardless of what you gave up for him, it will be a steal, not a reach.
Apr 12
About.com: James Alder
Jonathan Martin
OT Stanford Senior 6'5" 312 lbs 40 @ 5.3
There has been a lot of talk about Peyton Manning ending up in Miami, assuming the Colts turn him loose. If he does, the Dolphins better be ready to protect him if they want his to stay healthy.
Feb 27
Bleacher Report Alessandro Miglio
The Dolphins will likely go in one of two directions in the first round, barring free agency: offensive tackle or pass-rusher.
Coples has been rising on many scouts' draft boards after a strong Senior Bowl week, and a good Combine may raise his stock too much to fall to the Dolphins. If he is there at the eighth or ninth pick, though, he will be hard to pass up for Jeff Ireland and the Dolphins.
Coples is a bit of a polarizing prospect. On the one hand, the 6'6", 281-pound lineman is physically gifted in a Jevon Kearse kind of way.
On the other, the only reason he is not a lock for the Top 5 is because of a down senior season—though he did lead his team with 7.5 sacks—and motivational issues. Look for any team who drafts him to remedy the latter with good coaching.
Last mock: QB Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M
CBS Sportsline Rob Rang
Justin Blackmon
WR Oklahoma St Senior 6'1" 207 lbs 40 @ 4.48
For fans hoping the Dolphins will be able to replace their former No. 1 receiver Brandon Marshall with an equally dynamic pass-catcher via the draft, this would appear to be the ideal scenario. Unfortunately, with the three best quarterbacks already gone, Miami would once again have to look elsewhere for an improvement at the game's most important position.
Apr 16
Draft Academy
This makes too much sense not to happen. With Tannehill's old head coach from Texas A&M Mike Sherman now being the Offensive coordinator for Miami you would think they would make the move. Tannehill is an interesting prospect as he has a lot of upside and raw athletic talent, but he definitely needs time to learn for a year or two. Matt Moore will be a decent enough starter in the meantime until Ryan is ready to take the reigns.
Mar 27
Draft Ace
I'm tempted to move Tannehill down a few slots to Kansas City, but I'll leave him here (for now). The Dolphins are desperate for a quarterback help, and while Tannehill is not anywhere close to a top 10 talent, desperate times call for desperate measures. If they do pass on Tannehill, the decision would likely come down to Coples and Floyd.
Last mock: DE Quinton Coples, UNC
Apr 17
Draft Insiders Digest
(no comment given)
Last mock: WR Michael Floyd, Notre Dame
Apr 13
Draft Daddy
Round 1: QB Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M. After missing out on several targets, the Dolphins set their sights on Tannehill and his raw upside.
Round 2: DE Chandler Jones, Syracuse
Apr 18
Draft King
The Dolphins were spurned by Peyton Manning, embarrassed by Alex Smith (who said he only interviewed with the Dolphins to have a chance to visit South Beach), and most importantly want to finally escape from their post-Dan Marino era funk and their revolving door of unsuccessful quarterbacks.
Perhaps Tannehill will be the man to make that happen, though I am highly skeptical at this point. His completion rate of 61.6% in 2011 is troubling, particularly when you consider that QB accuracy is more important than ever in the NFL. One factor that cannot be overlooked is that Tannehill's college coach, Mike Sherman, was fired by Texas A&M in December and is now the offensive coordinator for the Dolphins.
Apr 15
Draft Season Lups
The way the Phins are working this free agency it seems like they are trying to get the number one pick next year. No matter how much they talk up Matt Moore, they know in their hearts he isn't the answer. They'll hope this former WR from Texas A&M is.
Mar 30
Draft Season Onebar
Fact is, if Miami wants to get their hands on Tannehill they might actually have to trade up. Is Tannehill a reach? Absolutely. But a reach that is overly needed at this point in the Fins franchise.
Apr 9
Draft Season Will Lomas
Melvin Ingram
DE South Carolina Senior 6'1" 264 lbs 40 @ 4.79
Ingram is a special athlete that can play OLB if the Dolphins want to show some 3-4 looks but can really find a home as a 4-3 DE.
Draft Tek
Miami GM Jeff Ireland stated that Miami's big board hasn't changed drastically since the end of the college season. His remarks also indicate that the team seems set to take a BPA approach. Most draft sites and mainstream analysts believe there are 7 "elite" prospects. Can you see the dilemma? If they're all gone, where does the team go? More than likely it's Tannehill who, while polarizing in draft circles, is raw but talented. The new staff is in the best position to mold the former Aggie too.
Apr 20
East Coast Sports
The Dolphins failed to land Manning, passed on Flynn, and now take their QB of the future who played for OC Mike Sherman at A&M.
ESPN Mel Kiper
Apr 4
ESPN Todd McShay
Apr 11
Fantasy Football Extreme
Fantasy Football Jumgle
I don't agree with this pick myself, but it's likely going to happen. Matt Moore and David Garrard are obviously not the answers for this franchise. Tannehill could be a high risk high reward type of player, but will need a few years to develop.
Last mock: WR Alshon Jeffery, South Carolina
FF Toolbox: Chritianson
Could also go with Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame
FF Toolbox: De Lima
Tannehill is rumored to go as high as No. 4 to Cleveland, but the Dolphins seem to be the only suitor for his services amongst the Top 10.
FF Toolbox: Dimon
Riley Reiffe
OT Iowa Senior 6'6" 313 lbs 40 @ 5.23
The Dolphins would obviously love to get their hands on Luck or RG3, but the team simply won too many games late in the season. Miami really needs a QB of the future, though, so it may reach just a little bit for Tannehill.
Apr 19
FF Toolbox: Standig
Hard to imagine, but apparently nobody - at least not quarterbacks - wants to play in Miami. At least the Dolphins can draft one. The quarterback wild card in the first round; some have Tannehill's value soaring into the top 5.
FF Toolbox: Warner
Matt Moore finished strong and could very well be the starting QB next season but a an upgrade is warranted. I still am not sold on Tannehill as a first rounder but not many expected Christian Ponder to go in the first round last season. Tannehill (6'4, 220) is an athletic big armed QB that would be an immediate upgrade. He began his career as a WR and is the only player in college football history to record more than 3,000 passing yards and 1,500 receiving yards in a career. Tannehill suffered a fractured bone in his foot in pre-draft workouts but he appeared close to 100% at his Pro Day. It's worth noting that Broncos WR Demaryius Thomas broke his foot around the same time as Tannehill did in 2010 and was still a top-25 selection. Miami could also look to replace recently traded WR Brandon Marshall with Michael Floyd but it might be a slight reach at #8.
Football Fan Spot
Miami fans will be ecstatic if this happens…all 100 of them. They've swung and missed on every potential franchise quarterback this offseason. They tried to trade up for Robert Griffin. That didn't happen. They tried to sign Peyton Manning. That didn't happen. Alex Smith, Matt Flynn, they went elsewhere. It's possible Tannehill doesn't even make it to them, if Cleveland takes him or someone like Philadelphia or Kansas City trades up for him, but he does here and they pull the trigger in a heartbeat.
I'm not the biggest Tannehill fan. I don't see a ton of difference between him, Brock Osweiler and Brandon Weeden (besides Weeden's age), so I wouldn't use a top 10 pick on him. However, Miami doesn't have a franchise quarterback and Tannehill has a better chance of becoming a franchise quarterback in Miami than anywhere else.
They have a better supporting cast than a team like Cleveland and they also have stopgap quarterbacks in Matt Moore and David Garrard so Tannehill won't have to play until he's ready. Finally, Miami's offensive coordinator is Mike Sherman, who was Texas A&M's Head Coach, so he won't have to learn a new system, which will significantly shorten his learning curve.
Great Blue North Draft Report
Apr 10
Heard's Football Report
This isn't a sexy pick, but Miami isn't in position to make flashy choices this early in the draft. They have to become fundamentally sound, and that will help whomever their 2012 quarterback is. It appears, at the moment, as though Matt Moore will battle David Garrard for the starting job. I had a hard time not mocking Ryan Tannehill here, especially with the Mike Sherman connection coming into play. I think Miami knows it will be a long year, and a rookie coach will get a pass. Drafting Matt Barkley or Landry Jones in 2013 might be their target.
Miami Dolphins Draft. COM
Analysis: After Peyton Manning told the Dolphins to take a hike Dol-Fans were ready to plan a mass suicide. The Dolphins have not been able to find a franchise quarterback since Dan Marino retired and the fan base has had enough. Ryan Tannehill doesn't have the hype that Andrew Luck or Robert Griffin has but he has the tools that could make him an elite quarterback at the next level. There are similarities in Tannehill's games to that of the great Aaron Rodgers. The Dolphins offensive coordinator, Mike Sherman, was Tannehill's head coach at Texas A&M and knows him better than anyone giving the Dolphins an advantage here.
National Football Post
Devon Still
DT USC Junior 6'5" 310 lbs 40 @ 5.08
(Trade Up w/Browns). The idea of Kalil pairing with Jake Long has to sound intriguing to the Miami Dolphins. Kalil isn't going to stay on the board long if he slides past the Vikings and the Dolphins could be the team willing to go up and get him.
Last mock: OT Matt Kalil, USC (trade up w/Browns)
NFL.COM Albert Breer
The Dolphins liked Tannehill even before Mike Sherman came aboard, so this makes sense. But my guess is they won't move up for him.
NFL.COM Bucky Brooks
GM Jeff Ireland could feel like he's reaching by taking Tannehill this high, given all his red flags (limited game experience and questionable big-game performances). However, the presence of offensive coordinator Mike Sherman -- Tannehill's former college coach -- could help the Dolphins navigate around those shortcomings and accelerate Tannehill's development as the team's new franchise quarterback.
Apr 2
NFL.COM Steve Wyche
Tannehill might not be ready to play from Day 1, but neither was Jake Locker when he was taken at this spot last season. Long-term projections on the Texas A&M signal caller are very positive.
NFL Network Brian Baldinger
I doubt he'll make the ghost of Dan Marino disappear, but Mike Sherman gets his former Texas A&M pupil to work with.
NFL Network Charlie Casserly
Tannehill's still a little raw, so he'll benefit from not having to play right away.
NFL Network Charles Davis
Michael Floyd
WR Notre Dame Senior 6'3" 220 lbs 40 @ 4.47
SURPRISE! (The first of a few ...) The 'Fins pass on Tannehill to select Brandon Marshall's replacement. Yes, I know Miami may RUN to the podium to select Tannehill (if they don't trade up), but you never really kno
NFL Network Chad Reuter
New Dolphins offensive coordinator Mike Sherman has inside knowledge on Tannehill's abilities from his days as the head coach at A&M. Now general manager Jeff Ireland must make the call on whether the athletic young passer is the team's quarterback of the future.
NFL Draft 101
Here is the first reach of the draft. Trannehill has limited experience at quarterback (started as a receiver at A&M), and needs some more development. But teams often reach for quarterbacks, and the Dolphins are in a desperate situation having lost out in free agency. Riley Reiff would be a great fit, and a smart pick if they don't want to reach, but unlikely they'll pass on grabbing a possible future franchise quarterback.
NFL Draft Blitz
Round 1: QB Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M
Round 2: OT Mitchell Schwartz, California
3a WR Marvin McNutt, Iowa 3b S Antonio Allen, South Carolina
NFL Draft Countdown
To say this offseason hasn't gone as planned for the Dolphins would be an understatement. Miami was rebuffed by both Peyton Manning and Matt Flynn and was forced to settle on David Garrard, who wasn't even in the league last year, as a stop-gap solution at quarterback. At this point it appears as though the Dolphins are putting all of their eggs in one basket and hoping that Texas A&M QB Ryan Tannehill is available at #8. Some may view this as a reach but there are many teams that view Tannehill has a legitimate Top 10 talent and he is a better prospect than Christian Ponder, who went #12 overall last year. Tannehill only compiled 19 career starts for the Aggies but that lack of experience could also be viewed as a positive because if he is already this good just imagine where he could be in two or three years. Physically Tannehill has all the tools, including prototypical size, above average athleticism and enough arm strength to make all the throws, Ryan Tannehill | Texas A&M Aggies plus his intangibles such as maturity, intelligence, work ethic and leadership are outstanding. Also, don't underestimate the fact that new Dolphins Offensive Coordinator Mike Sherman coached Tannehill in college. Miami could also use a pass rusher like North Carolina DE Quinton Coples, an offensive tackle like Riley Reiff of Iowa or a wide receiver such as Michael Floyd of Notre Dame. However, it's tough to envision them passing on Tannehill and they may even have to explore trading up into the Top 5 overall to ensure they get their guy.
NFL Draft Dog
Nice size at 6' 4" 200 lbs and he possesses a great arm. He can make all the throws. This is high for the inexperience Tannehill, but the Dolphins missed out on getting Peyton Manning and they desperately need a quarterback.
Last mock: DE Melvin Ingram, South Carolina
900 Football Links
No Manning, no Flynn, very few free agents attracted to the mess that is the Ross-Ireland owner-GM tandem means the Dolphins have to get their QB in the draft. Even if they wait a year, this year demonstrates that players may stay away again next year. So the draft it is, and sooner is better than later. With Moore on hand the Dolphins will not have to force feed Tannehill.
Although some may call this a reach, Miami has the pieces on offense (even after trading Marshall) to compete, all Miami needs is a quarterback. Tannehill is their guy.
PhinPhanatic Staff Mock
The Dolphins may finally select a first round quarterback. If they like him, they take him.
In the same slot that brought Jake Locker off the board sooner than anticipated in last year's draft, the Dolphins are forced to reach for a raw quarterback with first-round tools. That's because owner Stephen Ross and GM Jeff Ireland scared away Peyton Manning and head coach Joe Philbin could not recruit Matt Flynn, his No. 2 in Green Bay, to address the QB position.
Mar 26
Physically, Tannehill has the skill set to become a bonafide quarterback, even if he showed he is still a long ways away as a senior. With Matt Moore coming on late last season, Tannehill could be afforded some time to develop. He already is familiar with the offense and personality of new coordinator Mike Sherman, which could ease the transition process to the NFL, and help fill the Dolphins' most pressing area of need.
Brandon Wheeden
QB Oklahoma St Senior 6'4" 221 lbs 40 @ 4.95
When the Jets traded up to secure the services of Mark Sanchez, it surprised many around the league, who did not grade Sanchez as a top-five pick. When Jake Locker was selected in this same slot a year ago, similar questions arose, as they did when Christian Ponder was the fourth quarterback selected in the top 12 in 2011. From a talent perspective, it might seem wildly rich to draft Weeden in the top 10, but given that the 28-year-old will be signing a very modest contract by QB standards at the No. 8 slot, it's not at all unrealistic, especially if the Dolphins want to fill a glaring need and avoid their second-round QB jinx. Matt Moore came on late last season but is not built to make it through a 16-game season, and a strong reinforcement will be needed.
Real Clear Sports Mock Compilation
Common pick.
We'll see what happens, but if Miami did stay in this spot and Tannehill is off the board, Blackmon makes a nice replacement for Brandon Marshall.
Sports Fantasy Guide
The Dolphins are looking to add a QB whether that is Peyton Manning, Matt Flynn or someone in the draft so they will need to sure up their offensive line. Rieff is a beast of a tackle that will help that offensive line protect whoever is the leader of the Miami offense
Feb 12
Sports Illustrated Don Banks
If someone in the top seven wants to take Tannehill, more power to them. That should be the Dolphins' attitude. The price tag is rich enough for him at No. 8. But I still say Miami would have made a stronger move for Matt Flynn if it thought Tannehill wouldn't be available with the eighth pick.
Texas A&M QB Ryan Tannehill or UNC DE Quinton Coples
Both are needs for the Dolphins. Coples is the better player, but Tannehill is a west coast quarterback worth investing in. The decision comes down to immediate impact over investing into a possible long-term solution at quarterback. It is easy to make a strong case for both.
The Football Expert: Clearwater
The Dolphins have had an awful off season. They missed out on Matt Flynn and Peyton Manning during free agency, so they now need to look for a QB in this draft. Tannehill is extremely athletic, smart, has a ton of potential; he just doesn't have a lot of experience on his side and he has some decision making issues. I think it would be best for him to hold a clipboard for a year and learn the game behind a veteran. I thought Tannehill was very impressive this past year (I currently have a top 15 grade on him) and there is speculation that he may not even be available at number 8 when the Dolphins pick. However, in this mock he is still available so the Dolphins need to take him. They have many other needs, but I believe if Tannehill is available, they will take him.
The Miami Dolphins Spotlight: Chris Nelson
've gone back and forth so many times on this pick, and I don't think the Dolphins would do it simply to add a quarterback. But Tannehill is impressive and would have a smooth transition into the Dolphins' offense, so I think they'll end up taking him if he's on the board here.
The Phinsider Matty I
I know, I know. I'm crazy, right? How can the Dolphins not take Ryan Tannehill if he's still on the board? Let me make this clear - I would take Tannehill. However, for the first time all offseason, I'm beginning to think a first round QB is not Miami's destiny this year (yet again). And among their long list of needs, a pass rusher is towards the top if the list. We all know about the "motor" issues that Coples had. But he is an elite talent and I believe DL coach Kacy Rodgers would be able to get the most out of him and develop him into a Mario Williams type of player. He's that good - when he wants to be. Well with the new CBA, players make their big money on their second contract. So Coples will have millions and millions of reasons to be that good - at least for the first 4 or 5 years.
The Scouts Notebook
After all is said and done I believe Tannehill will actually fall to the Dolphins. Even with the inflated value put on the quarterback position – Tannehill simply isn't worth a Top 5 pick.
The Sporting News Russ Lande
With Tannehill off the board, the Dolphins make the move to add Floyd, who gives them a No. 1 receiver to replace Brandon Marshall.
Walters Footbal Matt McGuire
The Dolphins whiffed on Peyton Manning. Matt Flynn signed with the Seahawks. Even Alex Smith laughed at their efforts to sign him, claiming that the sole purpose of his trip to Miami was just to see South Beach for the first time in his life. Miami's quarterback situation is a mess, and this is its one opportunity to fix it.
Ryan Tannehill has been pushed into the top 10 because of the need at the position, but if Blaine Gabbert and Christian Ponder can be top-12 picks, so can he. He's the favorite to be chosen here, as the NFL Network's Albert Breer reported that Miami already liked Tannehill even before it hired Mike Sherman to be the offensive coordinator.
1. Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB - Ingram can be a solid pass-rusher across from Cameron Wake. He'd be a great into Miami's 4-3/3-4 flex defense.
2. Michael Floyd, WR - Brandon Marshall was traded, so the Dolphins need a new No. 1 receiver.
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These heavy-duty storage cabinets feature sturdy, welded-steel frames and durable plastic drawers. You can either mount these cabinets directly on your laboratory wall via four rear slots (see photo to the right) or stack them; four small feet on the bottom of each cabinet fit snugly into matching receptacles on the top of each cabinet.
Thorlabs' Green Initiative is aimed at reducing waste. To that end, we have begun to re-engineer our product packaging. Products listed above are now shipped in re-engineered packaging that minimizes the use of non-recyclable materials.
Over the course of a year, the re-engineered packaging across our product line is projected to reduce our CO2 footprint by more than 16,184 kg and reduce packaging by over 13,893 pounds! As we move through our product line, we will label re-engineered packages with our green Smart Pack sticker (above).

subset: commoncrawl


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I don't mean fatass 280 lesnar. I mean brock lesnar when he was fighting in the UFC at 265 lbs at 6'2.5 (real height)
Im 6'1 currently 215 and going back on a bulk, and want to get to 260 pounds, im only an inch and a half shorter than him. Im assuming his body fat is about 15% possibly heigher than that while in the ufc, so id be 260 15% 6'1, is this possible? with gear of course.
p.s. also if anyone knows what mariuz pudzianowski's body fat was when was 340 lbs? hes also only 6'1
thank you


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A bicycle can be stolen from just about any place, but simple precautions can deter would-be bike thieves. Remember, most bikes that are stolen were not locked!
Always lock you bicycle securely whether you're gone for a few minutes or a few hours. Use a U-lock, securing both wheels and the frame to a stationary object such as a post, fence, tree, or bike rack. For extra security, add a chain or cable with a good padlock.
When your bike is at home, keep it in a locked garage or room. Do not leave it in the yard or driveway.
Record the serial number of your bicycle and keep it with the sale receipt and a photograph of the bike.
Mark your bicycle with an engraver to deter thieves and to help the police in identifying and returning a stolen bike to the rightful owner. Use a unique number such as your California Driver's License number.
License your bike with the Irvine Police Department.
California Law makes it mandatory for all bikes to be licensed. An application can be obtained from the following:
Irvine Police Department 1 Civic Center Plaza Irvine, CA 92606-5208


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The Toshiba DX735-D3201 touch-screen all-in-one desktop is a midpoint in the evolutionary scale: It's a very good general-purpose all-in-one PC, but it's a middling touch-screen desktop. It's set for use today, and (hopefully) in the future when Windows 8 makes touch screens mainstream.
Automatic Renewal Program: Your subscription will continue without interruption for as long as you wish, unless you instruct us otherwise. Your subscription will automatically renew at the end of the term unless you authorize cancellation. Each year, you'll receive a notice and you authorize that your credit/debit card will be charged the annual subscription rate(s). You may cancel at any time during your subscription and receive a full refund on all unsent issues. If your credit/debit card or other billing method can not be charged, we will bill you directly instead.


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If you are a business and you are not yet on Facebook — shame on you. Facebook is a FREE opportunity knocking — answer the door! You are missing the opportunity to create brand awareness, gain SEO for your website, show off your brand's personality, establish your expertise, and gain referrals. The world of marketing is changing and even traditional retail storefronts are seeing a boost in revenue via online social media efforts.
What You Need to Know
Most people don't realize that it is against Facebook's policies to represent your business via your personal profile so it is wise to learn about how to create a business page for yourself. You wouldn't want to build your following only to have Facebook "shut you down". We recommend you set up a business page, or have a professional set one up for you.
How do Business Pages Work?
Similar to profiles, pages can use applications to communicate and engage with your audience, or capture a new audience virally through friend recommendations, newsfeed stories, Facebook events, etc. Just keep in mind that you can only add a page if you are the official representative of an organization or business.
We recommend you choose and reserve a unique username that is easy to remember and to find. Visit the Facebook section on choosing a Username here.
Now, to begin creating your page visit www.facebook.com/pages/create.php and simply follow the steps through the process.
Once you have completed all the steps, you need to populate content into the various areas of the Facebook Page. When you are satisfied, you can "publish" it so it's visible to all of your visitors.
How Do I know if My Page is Published or Not?
If your Facebook Page is "unpublished," you will see a dialog at the top of your Facebook Page indicating that it is not currently visible to users. There is a link there to publish your page. This will instantly set your Facebook Page to published and make it visible to all users. You can also set your Page to "published" from the Edit Page while editing your Facebook Page.
Setting your Facebook Page to "unpublished" will hide it from all users, including your supporters. Your Facebook Page will only be visible to the administrators of the Page while it in unpublished. Don't forget to "publish" it when you're finished making any changes.
This is the second in a series of posts written about Facebook and how you can use it for your business. Future posts will include pointers on how to manage your Facebook profiles as well as how to "spice" up your Facebook page and increase visitor engagement.
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from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
- n. Inevitable destruction or ruin.
- n. Fate, especially a tragic or ruinous one.
- n. A decision or judgment, especially an official condemnation to a severe penalty.
- n. Judgment Day.
- n. A statute or ordinance, especially one in force in Anglo-Saxon England.
- transitive v. To condemn to ruination or death. See Synonyms at condemn.
- transitive v. To destine to an unhappy end.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
- n. A law.
- n. A judgment or decision
- n. A sentence or penalty for an illegality or type of illegality.
- n. Death; an adverse or terrible fate, end.
- n. Destiny, especially adverse.
- n. An impending severe problem or danger that seems inevitable.
- n. A feeling of danger, impending danger, darkness or despair.
- n. The Last Judgment; or, an artistic representation of it.
- v. To condemn to a terrible fate or outcome
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English
- n. Judgment; judicial sentence; penal decree; condemnation.
- n. That to which one is doomed or sentenced; destiny or fate, esp. unhappy destiny; penalty.
- n. Ruin; death.
- n. Discriminating opinion or judgment; discrimination; discernment; decision.
- transitive v. To judge; to estimate or determine as a judge.
- transitive v. To pronounce sentence or judgment on; to condemn; to consign by a decree or sentence; to sentence.
- transitive v. To ordain as penalty; hence, to mulct or fine.
- transitive v. To assess a tax upon, by estimate or at discretion.
- transitive v. To destine; to fix irrevocably the destiny or fate of; to appoint, as by decree or by fate.
from The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- n. Judgment or decision; specifically, a decision determining fate or fortune; fateful decision or decree: originally in a neutral sense, but now generally implying an adverse decision; as, the court pronounced doom upon the culprits; to fall by doom of battle.
- n. Fate decreed or determined; fixed fortune; irrevocable destiny.
- n. Judgment or opinion; discernment.
- n. The last judgment. See doomsday.
- To judge; form a judgment upon.
- To condemn to punishment; consign by a decree or sentence; pronounce sentence or judgment on; destine: as, a criminal doomed to death; we are doomed to suffer for our errors.
- To ordain as a penalty; decree.
- To tax by estimate or at discretion, as on the failure of a taxpayer to make a statement of his taxable property.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- n. an unpleasant or disastrous destiny
- v. make certain of the failure or destruction of
- v. pronounce a sentence on (somebody) in a court of law
- v. decree or designate beforehand
Middle English dom, from Old English dōm, judgment.
(American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)From Old English dōm ("judgement"), cognate with Old Norse dómr, Swedish, Danish, and Norwegian "dom" (Wiktionary)
The bread and the wine had a doom,
For these were the host of the air;
He sat and played in a dream
Of her long dim hair.
- W.B. Yeats, 'The Host of the Air'. -
I am forced, against all my hopes and inclinations, to regard the history of my people here as the progress of the doom of what I value most in the world: the life and health of the earth, the peacefulness of human communities and households. Wendell Berry "A Native Hill"
goes with harbinger?
Mood in reverse.
Then, of course, there's doomsday.


text:
CANTON, Ohio (AP) -- Four linemen in their first year of eligibility, including single-season sacks record holder Michael Strahan, are among 15 modern-era finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The hall announced Friday that defensive end Strahan and defensive tackle Warren Sapp made the cut, along with tackle Jonathan Ogden and guard-tackle Larry Allen.
Other finalists are running back Jerome Bettis; receivers Cris Carter, Tim Brown and Andre Reed; LB-DEs Charles Haley and Kevin Greene; guard Will Shields; defensive back Aeneas Williams; coach Bill Parcells; and owners Edward DeBartolo Jr. and Art Modell.
The two senior nominees are defensive tackle Curley Culp and linebacker Dave Robinson.
Between four and seven new members will be selected Feb. 2, the day before the Super Bowl, in New Orleans.
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text:
He'd left his village for the first time to explain why companies like Starbucks should recognize Ethiopia's ownership of its own coffee brands.
"The names Yirgacheffe, Sidamo, and Harar are as unique to Ethiopia as the flavors of the coffees," he said. "Whoever says these names are not the property of Ethiopia is as crazy as someone who would say the name I gave my first-born son is no longer his."
Robe spoke at this coffee ceremony last December as a kind of local celebrity. His face—the gray beard, the unflinching stare—had become the iconic image of Oxfam America's Starbucks campaign. Launched in October 2006, the campaign asked that the coffee giant sign an agreement acknowledging Ethiopia's right to license and distribute its fine coffees. By recognizing Ethiopia's intellectual property rights, Starbucks could give poor farmers a chance to earn a greater share of the profits.
Aware of Starbucks' status as a global brand interested in maintaining its socially responsible reputation, Oxfam used grassroots activism and strategic media to draw attention to the issue. Though initially reluctant, Starbucks entered into serious talks with Ethiopia in May. By June, they had finalized an agreement that could change the coffee industry forever.
"The true victors of this campaign are the 1.5 million coffee farmers in Ethiopia whose lives will improve," said Abera Tola, director of Oxfam America's regional office in Ethiopia."They have given a glimmer of hope to millions more like them all over the world who deserve recognition for the quality products they generate."
At Oxfam, we feel it's important to stop and recognize a victory. But after all the celebratory emails have been sent, what comes next? For an organization interested in creating lasting solutions to poverty, the end of an effort is in many ways the beginning. This is when the real analysis comes in; just what went into this win?
Oxfam began negotiating with Starbucks in 2005 when we first learned about Ethiopia's efforts to trademark its fine coffees. After dozens of conversations between our Boston headquarters, the Seattle home of Starbucks, and Ethiopia's Intellectual Property Office in Addis Ababa, it became clear that high-level talks would not be enough. It was time to enlist the public.
At a grassroots level, Oxfam worked with a coalition of allies to organize members of the Ethiopian Diaspora, students, Starbucks employees, and our own supporter base. By the campaign's end, more than 100,000 people had gotten involved, many of them sending Robe's photo around the world on postcards, flyers, and posters. Robe's face even appeared on web sites and in newspaper ads during a series of global "days of action" in places like Seattle, Scotland, and Hong Kong. The accompanying message to Starbucks remained simple: Honor your commitments to coffee farmers.
Throughout all this work, Oxfam tested creative ways to engage our supporters. We filmed the days of action and posted the video on YouTube. We sent a petition to Starbucks that became the most popular online action in our organization's history. We had supporters participate in a photo petition on Flickr. And we promoted it all on our social networking pages on MySpace and Facebook.
Eventually Oxfam's message reached Starbucks' shareholders. A few sent letters to Starbucks supporting Ethiopia's trademark initiative. And at the Starbucks annual general meeting in April, some joined members of the Ethiopian community in asking pointed questions of both the company CEO and chairman.
With activists combining efforts around the world, Oxfam ramped up the public pressure by focusing on the press. Over the course of the campaign, major media outlets&mdsah;including NPR, the BBC, CNN, Time, Fortune, and The Wall Street Journal—featured the David-and-Goliath struggle of the Ethiopian farmers and Starbucks.
"What might have remained a little-noticed bureaucratic dispute became an international affair when Oxfam, a nonprofit relief and development group, began publicizing it in the fall," wrote The Wall Street Journal in a March 5 article.
Each aspect of the campaign had its impacts. But it just may have been the voice on the ground that resonated loudest with Starbucks. In the end, the company seemed to accept the simple truth: The campaign wasn't about a development agency, a roaster, or a government. It was about people like Robe, the coffee farmer demanding economic justice.
When the old farmer from Afursa Waro village, whose face had launched the entire campaign, made one final appearance, it was in a thank-you video for Oxfam supporters.
Sitting among his fellow farmers in a lush meadow overlooking the Yirgacheffe hills, Robe looked into the camera once again. "We know that Oxfam and many people around the globe are standing by our side in supporting us in this effort," he said. "You, our supporters, have given voice to our cause."
Then Robe stood alongside his fellow farmers and, in unison, offered a series of customary bows. "Gelatoma. Gelatoma. Gelatoma," they said in Oromifa, their region's language. "Thank you. Thank you. Thank you."
]]>Find event listings, updates on Fair Trade campaigns, shopping guides, and more from the Fair Trade Federation, Fair Trade Resource Network, TransFair, and United Students for Fair Trade.
Enter TransFair's "Connect with Fair Trade" video contest and win a trip for two to visit Fair Trade farmers in Peru. Create an ad for your favorite Fair Trade product, send a thank you video to farmers, or show how you live a Fair Trade life. Be as creative as you want!
No video camera? No problem. You can tell your Fair Trade story through TransFair's national sweepstakes. You could win a gift certificate for World of Good ethically-sourced gifts. Visit the official web site for entry details, recipes, and games.
The Fair Trade Towns campaign offers tools and resources for local, grassroots groups working to become Fair Trade Towns or Communities.
Fair Trade Towns is modeled after the European movement, recognizing communities in the US that meet five criteria: an active steering committee, an active and visible public campaign, availability of Fair Trade products in local shops, use of Fair Trade products in local organizations, and a city or town resolution supporting Fair Trade.
This Halloween, Global Exchange will transform the lives of children in cocoa-producing countries by bringing Fair Trade chocolate to thousands of households. Trick-or-treaters can help educate the public by joining schoolchildren in the US and Canada participating in "reverse trick-or-treating." Kids will give adults the treats—handing out samples of Fair Trade chocolate with a card educating recipients about poverty and child labor in the mainstream cocoa industry. Along with these young activists, hundreds of volunteers and concerned adults will distribute information door-to-door in their communities and on their campuses. Contact Global Exchange to find out how you can get involved.
All across the country USFT chapters are hosting a wide variety of events. They range from skill- building workshops and interactive sessions with Fair Trade producers to fair trade house parties and benefit concerts. Check out the event list to find all the events going on in your area.
Check out Oxfam America's Fair Trade Resource Center for more background on Fair Trade. You'll also find links to tools, resources and information about Fair Trade products and crafts.
This multi-purpose handbook engages college students in preparation for field internships in Community Agroecology Network's partner communities, as well as providing enrichment activities and follow-up resources. The handbook can also be adapted for use by anyone—from high school students to college professors—interested in teaching and learning about Fair Trade coffee, international trade, sustainable agriculture, biodiversity, and community development.
Co-op America has just released a full color "Guide to Fair Trade" to help local and national organizers spread the good word about Fair Trade. The guide features descriptions of international and domestic fair trade products with an extensive purchasing directory. It also includes a step-by-step action plan for mobilizing your organization and local producers. The guide is a useful resource to help with your Fair Trade campaign.
The Fair Trade Resource Network is launching its new Web Site during Fair Trade Month. The new site will serve as a hub for discussion and information exchange. It features the most comprehensive online library of fair trade publications, nationwide event listings, and a centralized news page.
The Fair Trade Federation is also re-launching its web site, offering resources to help consumers, vendors, entrepreneurs, and others support Fair Trade organizations.
]]>"Black Gold" will go to DVD, and air on the PBS show Independent Lens, this April. It's also still playing in theaters and at special free community screenings organized by Independent Television Service.
"Black Gold" follows Tadesse Meskela, manager of Oromia Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union, as he travels the world looking for a better price for his farmers' coffee. Oromia Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union, an Oxfam America partner organization since 2002, represents more than 100,000 farmers, who despite back-breaking work, watch their profits rise and fall depending on the fluctuating price on the world market.
"There is no coffee which is as quality as this coffee, but we are getting a low price," Meskela says in the film. "Our main aim is to bring more money into the coffee growers' pocket."
Throughout the fall and winter, Oxfam co-sponsored the promotion of "Black Gold" in more than 75 cities and towns across the country. Hundreds of volunteers turned out to support coffee farmers by handing out information at screenings and gathering thousands of signatures for the Big Noise, Oxfam's petition to Make Trade Fair.
With great candor, Meskela uses "Black Gold" as a platform to describe the situation Ethiopian coffee farmers face. When the price of coffee hit a 30-year low in 2001, farmers struggled to feed their children and send them to school. Some quit farming. Others began growing the more profitable chat, a local narcotic banned in the US and Europe. Malnourished and forced to travel long distances to accept foreign aid, some farmers saw no alternative but to bring their families to government feeding centers.
The price of coffee has risen over the last few years, but little has changed in these communities. In Ethiopia, country that depends on coffee for about 40 percent of its export revenue, farmers make as little as three cents for every cup of coffee sold in the United States or Europe. Meanwhile, multinational coffee corporations collectively rake in as much as $80 billion each year, according to the film.
British film makers Nick and Marc Frances use Meskela and the Oromia Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union tell a larger story about poor countries that struggle to benefit from global trade. The film highlights the many corners of the coffee industry, from the Ethiopian growers who cultivate the best coffee in the world, to the NY traders who set the price, to the Seattle baristas at Starbucks who try to meet the high demand.
By working with producers in Ethiopia and Central America, and by engaging in consumer education, political advocacy, and corporate engagement, Oxfam seeks to create a world where small farmers are fairly rewarded for their hard work.
"Oxfam seeks to correct the imbalances of power at the root of unfair trade. This film highlights the vulnerability of coffee farmers and the disconnect that exists between poor farmers and huge profits," said Seth Petchers, Oxfam America's coffee program manager.
"'Black Gold' illustrates the gravity of the challenges facing coffee farmers—but those challenges are not insurmountable if people get involved. We're hoping people watch the film and get inspired to take action."
]]>Speaker: Ashenafi Argaw
SHAYNA HARRIS: It is a pleasure to be sharing with you the thoughts and wisdom of a fair trade friend who can not be with us tonight. Ashenafi Argaw and I met just a few months ago in the Oromia Coffee Farmers Union office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. I was in Ethiopia with my colleagues visiting Oxfam's regional office and the partner organizations with whom we work. Sidama Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union, the organization that Ashenafi works with, is one of Oxfam's partners. Oxfam funds Sidama on various projects that the union identifies as important for its communities, ranging from coffee quality and processing, to clean water projects, to capacity building at the cooperative and union level.
Because Ashenafi can't be here himself, I want to give you a better sense of who he is. Ashenafi is an incredibly dynamic individual. Though our meeting was brief, I was immediately drawn to his spirit. He is a young, energetic, and incredibly committed individual.
Ashenafi graduated from Addis Ababa University and worked for one year with the government's Urban Development Office. After a year learning about how the Ethiopia government works, Ashenafi joined Furra College, determined to make a difference in the lives of Ethiopia's population by working on development issues. He completed a thesis on pricing and the coffee commodity, and through his studies became deeply convinced that generations of Ethiopia's farmers deserve more equity and dignity while pursuing their incredible work.
With what Ashenafi calls a "pressing conviction" he joined Sidama Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union and has been serving in different capacities. Currently, he is leading the export division.
With passion and commitment, Ashenafi is working to give a voice to Ethiopia's farmers, who have been silenced for too long.
ASHENAFI ARGAW: Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for this opportunity to share a message with you from Ethiopia's poor and unheard farmers.
The word "crisis" can not sufficiently describe what has happened in Africa. The human tragedy there is so serious, it sometimes defies description. According to the World Bank, the majority of African countries (about 36) have a per capita annual income less than $675. On a yearly basis, Ethiopians typically earn $110 each.
In the face of this bleak poverty, political crisis, and instability, I am happy to see that there are people who are willing and committed to help. Your presence here proves that you want to empower the downtrodden.
The marriage between fair trade and farmers has helped lessen the poverty for my people. Fair trade has saved the lives of poor farmers. And participating in fair trade requires that both buyers and growers are disciplined, honest, and fair.
One of the "Seven Sins" as Gandhi puts it was: "Commerce without morality." In this way, a fair price is a moral price. It should, however, be clear that paying this price is only part of the overall package that will transform humanity.
I believe we are all in the same boat. The circumstances might vary. But in the end, what touches one part of humanity sooner or later affects the rest.
It has been many decades since farmers started to grow coffee in our area. Coffee was originally discovered in Ethiopia in a place called Kaffe. Soon coffee was growing throughout East, West, and South, becoming a necessary source of income for many Ethiopian farmers. Coffee makes up more than 50 percent of Ethiopia's total exports, generating vital income for its population of 73 million, more than half of whom live on less than a dollar a day. But then the price slump began in 1998, and the crisis affected the country in general and the coffee producers in particular.
Sidama Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union was designed to find an alternative ways to get coffee farmers a market for their crops and a fair price that would allow them to maintain their farms and provide basic necessities for their families. Searching for new alternatives in the coffee market, the union empowered cooperatives by creating more direct relationships between the producer and the trader.
Fair trade guarantees a minimum of $1.26 per pound (a living wage) and access to credit at fair prices. These fair payments are invested in food, shelter, healthcare, education, environmental stewardship, and economic independence. Fair trade promotes socially and environmentally sustainable techniques and long-term relationships between producers, traders, and consumer.
But coffee isn't just about farmers. Coffee starts at the hands of producer and ends at the hands of consumer. As a representative of producers, I am close to the crop, where the story starts and as consumer you are close to the cup where the story ends. You get your coffee from supermarkets and I get my coffee from the farm. But the path from crop to cup, and from farm to supermarket is long, and there are many actors involved. Most of these actors are acting unfairly and affecting the lives of many poor and silenced farmers. Today, I kindly request you advocate for fair trade by preaching fair trade, and consuming fair trade.
Although I was unable to make it to your conference, I hope the message I have shared with you whets your activist appetite. I know we face a long winding path and it is mostly uphill. The tasks before us are among the hardest to perform. But I strongly believe that fairness, truth, and justice will shine through and help us win our battle. What it takes is a full commitment from us to the poor, downtrodden, and unheard farmers. Only then can we espouse the noblest ideals of humanity.
Thank you and God bless you!
SHAYNA HARRIS: Ashenafi represents the true spirit of a committed individual who is working on behalf of his country to bring true social and economic transformation to the lives of the over 80,000 farmers Sidama supports.
He is living proof that we all play an important role in the work for a more just world, regardless of where we were born, our social position, and the resources afforded to us. Like most of us here, Ashenafi was not born in a coffee growing community.
However he is an inspiration to us all, as he has found a way to use his education and privilege to form strong partnerships with the millions of coffee farmers of Ethiopia, and help bring their story to you.
To learn more about the Sidama coffee grower's cooperative you can visit Oxfam's website, at www.oxfamamerica.org. Ashenafi reminds us that we all play a role in transforming our world, in promoting a vision and enabling the notion that together, we can end poverty.
]]>The handbook also serves as a resource for high school students who are interested in learning more about Fair Trade coffee and sustainable farming. It provides an in-depth look at the social, economic, and environmental background of the coffee crisis, and describes the links between conservation and economic development. Professors can use the handbook as a learning curriculum for academic courses since it contains a comprehensive list of resources for further reading.
Oxfam America helped CAN develop this resource as part of our broader work with student-led Fair Trade organizations, such as the United Students for Fair Trade.
"Students have played an important role in raising the awareness and sales of Fair Trade coffee on college campuses across the country," said Elisa Arond, Oxfam?'s Coffee and Fair Trade Outreach Assistant. "The 'Field Study Handbook' is a great resource because it deepens students' understanding of the issues as well as their connections to coffee-growing communities."
Download a free, electronic copy of the "Field Study Handbook" and learn more about the internship program.
]]>The ICA serves as the operating charter of the ICO, the only forum that brings the majority of coffee producing and consuming countries together to address critical issues facing the coffee sector. When Oxfam launched its coffee campaign in 2002 with the Mugged: Poverty in Your Coffee Cup report, the ICO was identified as an important venue for Oxfam's message to Make Trade Fair.
The new ICA reflects Oxfam's advocacy work and puts many important issues on the ICO's agenda for the coming years. Most importantly, Oxfam's advocacy agenda came directly from a collaborative process with 12 other organizations—mostly small-scale farmer organizations—and was reflected in the paper Grounds for Change which launched Oxfam's efforts at the ICO in May, 2006.
The following points, included in the new version of the ICA, are victories for small-scale farmers and work across the world:
While the new ICA adds important elements to the ICO's mandate, the Agreement itself expresses intention. The true value of the new Agreement will be as good as the implementation, which means that while Oxfam welcomes this development it will continue to push ICO member countries to follow through on the promises made to small farmers and farmworkers. In particular, Oxfam continues to call on ICO members to create forums for small-scale farmer organizations to have direct channels to voice the challenges they face as farmers struggle to earn a decent living from their coffee crop.
At a meeting in Belo Horizonte, Brazil last week, Oxfam's coffee sector allies from several countries—including coffee cooperatives and think tanks—cautiously welcomed the new elements of the ICA. With high level attendees from the Brazilian government coffee companies in attendance, they noted the importance of continuing to work in their countries to ensure a seat at the table alongside big business interests, as well as the need to ensure fair prices for family farmers and commitment to International Labor Organization's labor standards for farm workers. With the ICA completed, the hard work of implementing reforms must now begin.
In response to the developments at the ICO, Oxfam's partners and allies committed to push for representation in their national dialogue on coffee and their delegations to the ICO in order to build on the gains we have worked with them to achieve.
The text of the ICA is available now in English. It will be made available in Spanish, Portuguese, and French on the ICO website in the near future.
]]>Today he is an independent cotton producer and the President of FONPA, the National Cotton Producers Forum, which has organized small cotton farmers to become an equal partner with government and industry in improving the lives of small scale cotton farmers of Mozambique.
"The formation of a national forum is important because for the first time cotton farmers are represented at a national level and taken seriously by government and the cotton companies. We are now able to put pressure on government, raise the concerns of the small cotton farmers, and begin to address the imbalance of power relations between the concessions and the cotton growers," said Malico. "By joining together in associations we have found it easier to negotiate a better price for our cotton and to help each other by working together to improve our production and harvesting."
On a warm winter July afternoon in his home area of Naicole, in the largest cotton producing province of Nampula, Mr. Malico is meeting with local farmers to discuss the latest harvest and their concerns and needs. Two representatives of Oxfam America's partner, ABIODES (the Organic Agriculture, Biodiversity and Sustainable Development Association) which steered the formation of FONPA, are attending to discuss a local pilot project introduced during the last season.
The pilot project provided seed, spraying equipment, training, and draft animals for plowing to 50 members of three local farmers associations. The aim was to increase the area of production and productivity, boost cotton quality and yield per hectare, and introduce sustainable agriculture.
ABIODES Field Coordinator, Isabel Mazive says the project has had a significant impact, "Fifty smallholder farmers were selected by their associations to cultivate one hectare (2.45 acres) for each producer, with a total area of 50 hectares. We estimate that the average yield per hectare will be 900 to 1200 kilos, in contrast to previous average yields of 300 to 600 kilos per hectare. Other farmers not directly participating in the initiative have also been able to hire the animal traction services at a reasonable cost determined by the associations. This income has been used to support the growth of the local associations."
Isora Jamal is one of the cotton farmers to have benefited from the pilot project. Standing in the family field surrounded by head-high cotton plants she is satisfied with this year's crop. "The animal traction has been a big help in preparing the land in time for planting and allowed me increase my area of cultivation. The training and services have definitely improved the amount and quality of my cotton. It also saved us women a lot of time and manual labor in the fields, which means we have been able to spend more time on the other food crops. The animals have also assisted with transportation and water collection," says Jamal.
The success of the project has also attracted the attention of the National Cotton Institute which now intends to extend the use of animal traction nationally. The Director of the Institute, Norberto Mahalambe, notes that the organization of the small-scale cotton farmers is vital for growth and stability in the industry. "Cotton has been one of the most stable cash crops in Mozambique for the last 100 years," he said. "There are over 350,000 cotton farmers supporting some 1.5 million dependents on this crop. Income from cotton pays school fees, medical bills and many other essential expenses."
Most of the small-scale cotton farmers in Mozambique are tied to contracts with the privatized cotton concession companies. Under this arrangement the companies provide seed in return for the cotton crop. However, the farmers complain that the inputs and services are of poor quality and many farmers end up owing the companies more than they receive in payment for their crops. This cycle of debt deepens every year. In response, FONPA is lobbying government for an agrarian policy that protects and improves the lives of cotton producers. They also want agriculture banks to finance cotton production and processing in order to improve the quality of cotton and the small farmers' income.
Oxfam America helped establish FONPA in 2005. Mahalambe, the director of the National Cotton Institute, said that Oxfam's support for FONPA "has been fundamental in assisting farmers to get organized into a national forum, able to negotiate with companies and the government. The farmers no longer stand alone and they are much more informed and capable."
Davie Malungisa, Oxfam America's trade and livelihoods expert said that FONPA is helping the farmers gain more power in determining how cotton is produced in Mozambique, but that they are looking to other activities as well. "In the coming months FONPA will focus on offering services such as access to finance, improved inputs, value addition and crop diversification," he said. The overall goal of this work: "To increased the income and food security of small cotton farmers."
]]>Oxfam responded by saying that Starbucks did prompt the National Coffee Association (NCA), of which it is a leading member, to file an opposition to the applications, which is the reason the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) gave for rejecting them. At a meeting held this past July at the Ethiopian Embassy, Embassy staff and advisers met with the NCA president to discuss a letter of protest filed against Ethiopia's trademark applications. Ethiopian Embassy staff asked the NCA President what had prompted the NCA to file the opposition after more than year of silence on the issue. The NCA President responded that Starbucks had just brought it to the NCA's attention.
It is therefore disingenuous for Starbucks to claim they were not responsible for the application being blocked. Ethiopian Embassy staff and Ron Layton of Light Years IP, a Washington DC-based intellectual property rights organization that is helping to advise the Ethiopian government, have gone on record with this.
Starbucks has also claimed that its investment in social development projects and micro-finance initiatives in coffee growing regions has been recognized for its leadership within the industry.
While Starbucks has taken some positive initial strides in this area, Oxfam thinks the company can do better. As a company that prides itself in such efforts, it is unclear why Starbucks would oppose Ethiopia's efforts to help its farmers realize a greater portion of the value their coffee commands on the international market.
Intellectual property ownership makes up a huge proportion of the total value of world trade but rich countries and businesses capture most of this. Ethiopia, the birthplace of coffee, and one of the poorest countries in the world, is trying to assert its rights and capture more value from its product. It should be helped, not hindered.
Oxfam continues to call on Starbucks to show leadership for other coffee companies by immediately recognizing Ethiopia's rights in this case and signing the licensing agreement that Ethiopia presented to the company in September, recognizing the country's rightful ownership of its coffee names.
]]>The companies – Novartis, Merck and Pfizer – are resisting moves by India, Thailand and the Philippines respectively to use safeguards that are written into World Trade Organization (WTO) intellectual property rules in order to protect public health. Each company is trying to impose its patent monopoly on a big-selling medicine to stop the countries from exercising their rights to trade in cheaper generic equivalents.
"The industry is fighting hard because developing country markets, especially in Asia, are vital for its future growth and these medicines under dispute are so valuable," said Celine Charveriat, head of Oxfam's Make Trade Fair campaign. "These disputes put monopolies and profits over public health, which is exactly what world leaders promised would never be allowed to happen under WTO intellectual property rules."
Pharmaceutical sales across the world's four biggest emerging markets, including India, grew by 22.3% in 2005 compared to single digit growth in the US, Europe and Japan. Of the medicines in dispute, Novartis' anti-blood-cancer drug Glivec is worth $2.1 billion in annual sales and its patent begins to expire in 2013. Pfizer's hypertension drug Norvasc is worth $4.7 billion in annual sales and it wants to extend its patent that has already begun to expire in some countries.
In a statement prepared for Oxfam, Constant Gardner author John le Carre said yesterday:
"Here is what I wrote five years ago in the Afterword to The Constant Gardener: 'As my journey through the pharmaceutical jungle progressed, I came to realize that, by comparison with the reality, my story was as tame as a holiday postcard.' The reality today is worse. By imposing one-to-one deals on individual governments, Big Pharma is dishonoring hard-won international agreements designed to allow lifesaving generic drugs to be produced and marketed in countries where there is urgent and demonstrable need. The present posture of Novartis in India is a classic example of Big Pharma's unbeautiful priorities. With unlimited legal resources Novartis is challenging India's sovereign right under international law to supply cheap, non-patented drugs in situations where the public health is at risk. If the case succeeds, Novartis will have protected the health of its account books at the expense of those who will die because they can't afford the drugs that could save them. "
"Since India is the main supplier of inexpensive medicines to the developing world, a victory for Novartis will also curtail access to affordable medicines in Africa and Asia," Charveriat said. "These three disputes show that the intellectual property system cannot work to protect public health if companies can continue to undermine developing countries from using legitimate health safeguards. In two cases, we have a legal battleground where poor people are losing out to vested interests."
Some companies, including Merck and Novartis, say they can discount prices or donate medicines to poor patients instead. Oxfam says that this is not the long-term solution to sustainable access to affordable medicines and does not cover all patients who need them.
"Donations can help poor people in specific situations, such as disease eradication programs,' said Charveriat. "However, discount programs keep all decisions about who can get medicines and for how long in the hands of the companies. A sustainable and proven way to get affordable medicines to people is by generic competition."
"The Philippines, Thailand and India have taken important steps to use public health safeguards to reduce the price of medicines and respond to serious public health problems. They should not be bullied when rightfully applying these rules," Charveriat said. "We applaud their efforts. They should remain strong against this corporate pressure and the companies should drop their lawsuits and their objections."
According to Oxfam, the agreement includes strict new intellectual property rules that would extend corporate monopoly rights and dangerously hinder Colombians' access to important life-saving drugs. Colombia's health insurance system today falls short of providing adequate access to medicines, with 20 million Colombians unable to afford the medicines they need. If this FTA is implemented, Colombia's health care system would be forced to spend an additional $900 million a year to cover the increased cost of medicines by year 2020, leaving it unable to meet existing coverage, much less expand it.
"Agreements between trading partners should offer economic opportunity and development, not the demise of a poor country's public health system," said Stephanie Burgos, trade policy advisor for Oxfam. "Unfortunately, this agreement locks in unfair trade rules that pull the rug from underneath Colombia's poor."
The agreement will also expose Colombia's farmers to unfair dumping of agricultural products, forcing them to compete with subsidized exports from the United States. This could spell economic disaster for the millions of people in Colombia who depend on agriculture for their livelihood, according to the organization.
"This free trade deal will pry open Colombia's market without consideration of the damaging effects of dumped, cheap, subsidized American products," said Burgos. "Poor farmers need viable alternatives to growing coca, but US dumping of rice and corn could undermine their livelihoods and leave them with no other option."
The FTA will have to be approved by Congress in both the US and Colombia, but opposition has been mounting, including in the US Congress. Congresswoman Linda Sánchez (D-CA) is traveling to Colombia next week to meet with civil society organizations and Colombian legislators to discuss the possible negative consequences of the trade deal.
"The Colombia FTA is a bad deal for American and Colombian working families," said Congresswoman Sánchez, "This deal will gut Colombia's farming industry and continue this Administration's practice of exporting American manufacturing jobs."
Oxfam called on the US Congress to reject the Colombia FTA and others like it, and focus its energies on extending current trade preference legislation instead. This includes the Andean Trade Preferences Act, which provides duty-free access to the US market for specific products from designated developing countries such as Colombia. Current programs are set to expire at the end of the year but Congress will consider renewing those preferences after it returns on December 4th.
"The US Congress should put a stop to free trade agreements like the one with Colombia because they threaten development priorities in poor countries," said Burgos. "The US Congress should instead encourage developing countries to utilize trade as a means of achieving sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction by extending and strengthening existing trade preference programs."
]]>The declaration states that developing countries must be able to use public health safeguards written into the World Trade Organization's (WTO) intellectual property rules (called TRIPS) in order to access cheaper generic versions of patented medicines. Generic competition is the most sustainable way to keep the price of medicines down, according to Oxfam.
"Rich countries have broken the spirit of the Doha Declaration," said Celine Charveriat, head of Oxfam's Make Trade Fair campaign. "The declaration said the right things but needed political action to work. That hasn't happened. We've gone backwards. People are still suffering or dying needlessly."
Since 2001 things have become worse for sick people in developing countries:
According to the World Health Organization, 74 percent of AIDS medicines are still under monopoly, 77 percent of Africans still have no access to AIDS treatment, and 30 percent of the world's population still does not have regular access to essential medicines.
At the same time, rich countries, especially the US, are bullying developing countries to impose stricter intellectual property rules in order to preserve pharmaceutical monopolies. This is restricting generic competition and keeping prices high.
"Global health statistics are grim but the US continues to negotiate trade deals with stricter rules that limit how a country can use public health safeguards," said Charveriat. If implemented, these deals will result in Colombia having to pay an additional $940 million per year by 2020 to cover the increased cost of medicines, affecting nearly 6 million patients. Similarly in Peru, the price of medicines could increase by 100 percent in 10 years and 162 percent in 18 years.
Other rich countries, particularly those among the European Union, have quietly consented to US actions. Pharmaceutical companies have gone even further by directly challenging countries such as India and in Philippines that have sought to use the safeguards.
In 2005, cancer patient groups in India used Indian intellectual property law to stop a patent application by the Swiss company Novartis for its anti-cancer drug, Glivec. This allowed Indian companies to continue making generic versions at $2,700 per patient a year, as opposed to Novartis having a monopoly priced version for sale at $27,000 per patient a year.
However Novartis recently appealed the court's decision in a direct challenge to India's right to interpret the TRIPS Agreement to protect public health. If Novartis is successful, it could jeopardize India's generic export industry. India is the world's leading exporter of generic medicines, with 67 percent of its exports going to developing countries.
"Novartis has told Oxfam that there is no commercial market for Glivec in India and that it is challenging India in order to align Indian intellectual property law with TRIPS," Charveriat says. "However, India is only trying to use the flexibilities rightfully available to it under TRIPS and Novartis is seeking to block that right."
Meanwhile in the Philippines, the government has conducted tests and issued regulatory approval for a cheaper patented version of Norvasc, a heart disease drug now under patent to the US company Pfizer. The government is doing this to ensure that a cheaper patented version of Norvasc that costs almost 90% less will be available immediately from when the patent expires in June 2007.
Oxfam believes that the government's action is consistent with the TRIPS Agreement and with the Philippines intellectual property law. However, Pfizer is now suing the government. If Pfizer is successful, it will severely limit the government's ability to access cheaper medicines and assert its right to enforce TRIPS safeguards.
"Developing countries have a responsibility to use the public health safeguards but when they try to do so they are put under huge pressure," Charveriat said.
In order to make the Doha Declaration work, Oxfam is calling for:
"Rich countries must live up to their commitments and stop undermining the Doha Declaration with their selfish actions," Charveriat said. "Now more than ever we need a global trading system that puts health before profit and makes medicines affordable for all."
]]>The bill would extend for one year an expiring provision of the African Growth & Opportunity Act that enables apparel manufacturers in least-developed countries in Africa to use fabric from any country. This would encourage apparel companies to continue sourcing from sub-Saharan Africa, which is vital to preserving the jobs of thousands of workers, mainly women, who lack other economic alternatives. However, after October 1, 2008, apparel manufacturers would be required to switch to a stricter rule that requires at least 50 percent African-content (such as fabric and labor), gradually increasing to 60-percent by 2015. While Africa's existing cut and sew operations could make up a certain percentage of the value-added requirement, the bulk would need to come from the new production of fabric in Africa.
"This temporary extension is critical today to ensure that the jobs upon which thousands of women depend for their livelihoods do not disappear tomorrow," said Oxfam America President Raymond C. Offenheiser. "But we are concerned that this proposal could set the bar too high in too short of a time period for the struggling African apparel sector. Building up a viable textile and apparel industry takes many years and huge amounts of capital."
The bill would also provide tax incentives to companies that invest in sub-Saharan Africa in sectors other than extractive industries and include Haiti into the grouping of developing countries that receive apparel benefits.
"Tax incentives to encourage companies to invest in sub-Saharan Africa are a welcome addition to the US' development strategy for Africa." said Offenheiser. "Extending duty-free benefits for Haitian apparel is a positive step, but we should simplify the rules to encourage sourcing from the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere."
The bill also proposes a two year extension of the Generalized System of Preferences, which provides duty-free benefits for many products to over 100 countries. However, new restrictions would exclude certain sectors in India and Brazil from duty-free treatment.
"The continuation of duty-free programs like GSP provides the vital opportunity for developing countries to use trade as a way of achieving sustained economic growth and poverty reduction." said Offenheiser. "But the exclusion of some developing countries from the GSP program is troubling, given the millions of poor people who are employed in sectors that directly benefit from duty-free benefits."
]]>The ICO is in the midst of renewing its operating charter, the International Coffee Agreement (ICA). Oxfam and other groups representing small-scale family coffee farmers say that the renewed charter will be vital in helping to level the playing field for millions of poor farming families around the world whose livelihoods are being destroyed because they can't compete in the global market due to unequal terms.
As its September meetings begin today, the ICO will have an opportunity to consider recommendations from coffee producing and consuming countries that emphasize the need to create a more sustainable coffee sector.
"A more sustainable coffee supply chain benefits everyone in it –from the largest roasters to the 25 million small-scale coffee farmers and farmworkers struggling every day to make a living," said Seth Petchers, the coffee lead for Oxfam's Make Trade Fair campaign. "The ICO is hearing this message from member countries- now it's time for action."
The ICO is the only dedicated forum for discussing coffee-related matters at the international level, bringing together coffee-producing and consuming countries around one table. It could be the focal point for international cooperation to bring about a truly sustainable coffee economy.
World coffee prices plummeted in 1999, devastating coffee farming communities around the world. Despite recent improvements, the price continues to fluctuate and the crisis for coffee farmers persists. To make matters worse, they don't have enough access to credit and information to plan and market their crops.
A paper released this year by Oxfam International and twelve allies (see below for full list) called Grounds for Change: Creating a Voice for Small Coffee Farmers and Farmworkers with the Next International Coffee Agreement, recommends the ICO:
create systems so that all parties, including farmers, have access to relevant coffee sector information;
and facilitate coordinated, well-resourced responses to the crucial issues facing small-scale farmers including: technical assistance, risk management and access to credit.
To read Grounds for Change, please visit: www.maketradefair.org/ico.
]]>According to Oxfam, the agreement, entitled US-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement, does not take into account the economic and social disparities between the two trading partners and fails to realize the potential benefits of trade as an engine for development and poverty reduction.
"The Peru free trade deal will harm thousands of Peru's small farmers, limit access to affordable new medicines by unduly extending the monopoly rights of the international pharmaceutical industry and will restrict Peru's ability to regulate foreign investment to ensure it serves national development, said Stephanie Weinberg, trade policy advisor for Oxfam America.
Although outgoing Peruvian president Alejandro Toledo has touted the benefits of the agreement which was approved by its lame-duck Congress, there is deep concern among much of Peru's population about the effects of the agreement, with a broad cross-sections of civil society actively questioning the trade agreement.
"With three quarters of the rural population of Peru living in poverty, it would be irresponsible to expose our small farmers to unfair trade because of American agricultural subsidies," Guillermo Rebosio with the National Convention of Peruvian Agriculture, who came to Washington to meet with Members of Congress. "Peruvians deserve a trade agreement with development and equity at its heart, supporting efforts to strengthen democracy and successful anti-drug policies, but this agreement will do the opposite, by threatening the income of Peruvian farmers, who will be forced to compete with highly subsidized American products like cotton, corn and wheat."
While the Peru FTA fails to take into account that the effect of US agricultural subsidies would have on Peru's small farmers, it also undermines public health efforts in the country by restricting generic competition, which will increase prices for new medicines in Peru. This will have a serious impact on half of the Peruvian population that does not have health insurance and will severely strain the already overburdened public health system.
"Peru has nothing to gain and a lot to lose from the harsh intellectual property provisions imposed by the US in this free trade agreement that far surpass currently accepted global standards already in effect in Peru," said Roberto Lopez, director of Health Action International in Peru. "As a result, the price of new medicines will increase dramatically, with the Health Ministry estimating that in each of the first five years the agreement is in effect, 700,000 Peruvians will be unable to afford the medicines they need."
"With the Doha Round now on ice, the US seems poised to continue negotiating harmful bilateral trade agreements that exacerbate existing inequities by forcing developing countries to make deeper concessions, while gaining less than they would at the WTO," continued Weinberg. "No matter the spin, this free-trade agreement will stifle opportunities for development and should be rejected."
]]>Concern and anger over unfair world trade rules and harmful EU and US trade policies will only intensify following this week's breakdown in negotiations. "The Doha round has opened people's eyes to the fact that world trade could help millions of poor farmers and workers, but rich country farm policies are working directly against that," said Celine Charveriat of Oxfam's Make Trade Fair campaign.
The EU and US farm policies are now wholly discredited and it is widely recognized that they must be reformed. Even with talks on ice, their harmful agricultural subsidies are vulnerable to a suite of legal challenges just as significant as Brazil's successful cases on cotton and sugar.
The two trading blocs will also face considerable opposition if they try to pry open developing country markets by negotiating harmful bilateral and regional free trade agreements. "The EU and the US must make amends by changing their mindset and begin meaningful reforms for development," she said.
The Backlash of Failure
The indefinite suspension of the talks means that the chances of a deal in the immediate term is unlikely because of upcoming elections in key countries and the expiry next year of the US administration's authority to negotiate a deal.
"This is a huge blow for millions of poor people, for instance cotton farmers who are struggling to make a living. If talks take years to complete, the entire West African cotton sector could be wiped out," Charveriat said. Oxfam says that the Doha suspension will:
The Doha round was primarily initiated in order to correct the rigged rules that allow rich countries to capture nearly 70% of world trade flows worth $20.6 trillion, while poor and developing countries representing 81% of the world's people – many of them living in extreme poverty – got 30%. The entire continent of Africa got just 2.6%.
"These trade talks were about fostering equitable economic growth in all countries. This is in the long-term interests of everyone, especially the US and EU. However, for the past five years, both have behaved as if the Doha development round was a sacrifice for them to make," Charveriat said.
The suspension of the Doha round could mean that the international community has lost the only diplomatic option to influence upcoming reforms of the US Farm Bill and the EU common agricultural policy through negotiation.
But the option of litigation is still open because Oxfam says the EU and the US are violating existing WTO rules. Oxfam believes that $13bn worth of present-day EU and US subsidies are illegal. Countries such as Chile, Costa Rica, Argentina, Kenya, Peru, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Egypt, Thailand and Nigeria among others could bring solid cases on rice, corn, sorghum, milk, butter, tobacco, fruit and tomato subsidies. "This is just the tip of the iceberg," Charveriat said.
Oxfam also sees a danger that the EU and the US will turn to bilateral trade agreements to get what developing countries refused to give them at the WTO: unfettered market access and intellectual property and investment rules that are damaging to development.
Why the Talks Failed
The EU and US failed to see that times had changed since the Uruguay Round and that developing countries are now key players. "Developing countries were clear about what they need from the round. They showed real strength of unity in refusing to allow development to disappear from the agenda, which would have happened had they accepted the EU and the US offers," Charveriat said.
There is also a growing public awareness about the unfairness of current world trade rules: an Oxfam petition calling for fair trade rules has 20 million signatures of citizens around the world and many more NGOs, farmers organizations, unions, workers and social movements mobilized against the current approach to trade negotiations.
National politics poisoned the Doha talks. The US Congress refused to give its negotiators the room to make meaningful reductions in US agricultural support. The EU was similarly hostage to its member states, for example France and Ireland, who refused to make meaningful reductions to its farm tariffs. "It is academic whether one was worse than the other. In the final weeks the US would not budge, but the EU is no less to blame by its earlier intransigence."
Poorer countries were expected to cut farm tariffs too steeply, despite the risk to millions of subsistence farmers. They were put under pressure to give up their ability to protect their food security and policies to fight rural poverty.
In negotiations to open up industrial markets, rich countries tried to push through a deal whereby developing countries would have had to slash their tariffs by more than twice as much as rich countries. "Developing countries were asked put jobs and industrialization under threat for the privilege of rich countries reforming their illegal agricultural policies – reforms that they had promised to make years before. This was trade negotiation at its most surreal."
A Roadmap Out
Oxfam is looking to the EU and the US to make amends. Irrespective of when talks restart, rich countries must end dumping – not only by ending export subsidies but by ending all trade-distorting subsidies that lead to dumping, especially on cotton. "The EU and US will lose all credibility if they take this suspension of trade talks as an excuse not to reform their Farm Bill and CAP," she said. "Developing countries will refuse to come back to the table to discuss cutting their tariffs if the EU and the US are still dumping."
"The cost of delay is too big and the potential for development too great for these talks to be left to wither on the vine," Charveriat said. However, restarting the talks would be difficult if rich countries continue to deny developing countries the right to use the available flexibilities as they liberalize their markets, at their own pace and scale. "The EU and the US must not try to question the development mandate of the talks and ignore the fact that there is extreme poverty in most developing countries," she said.
"The poorest countries of the world must not be made victims of this failure that is not their fault." The least-developed countries should be given full 100% duty-free quota-free access to rich country markets. This must also include reforming the "rules of origin" that allow rich countries to use other means, for example overly burdensome health and safety, to exclude poor country exports.
The EU and the US must agree to a meaningful aid-for-trade, made up of new money and with no strings attached. "There is no excuse for this package to suspended along with the Doha talks," she said.


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• 2014 Infiniti QX60 Hybrid set for world debut at upcoming New York International Auto Show
• Features Infiniti Direct Response Hybrid® one-motor / two-clutch system adapted to front-wheel drive/all-wheel drive
• Inspired design offers anticipated combined fuel economy of 26 miles per gallon, which is expected to be best-in-class for any 7-passenger luxury crossover – without any reduction in passenger or luggage space
• Offered with all-wheel drive or front-wheel drive, joins Infiniti lineup in summer 2013 with a premium over non-hybrid QX60 of about $3,000 M.S.R.P
– Infiniti Motor Company Ltd. today announced that a new gasoline electric hybrid model will join the 2014 Infiniti QX60 premium crossover lineup in the United States this summer, following its world debut at the upcoming New York International Auto Show. With the addition of the new QX60 Hybrid to the Q70 Hybrid (currently available as the M Hybrid) and previously announced Q50 Hybrid, Infiniti will have a trio of advanced Direct Response Hybrids for the 2014 model year.
The new Infiniti QX60 Hybrid is projected to realize 26 miles per gallon fuel economy (combined city/highway driving) – a 24 percent increase over non-hybrid QX60 models and is projected to have best 7-passenger fuel efficiency in the segment.* Most significantly, it does so with absolutely no compromise of performance, interior roominess or cargo space compared to non-hybrid QX60 models. The new Infiniti QX60 Hybrid is projected to be priced about $3,000 USD above the non-hybrid models, providing reduced emissions, enhanced fuel economy and extended driving range without a major price premium.
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More information about the 2014 Infiniti QX60 Hybrid will be available following its official media unveiling on March 27. The 2013 New York International Auto Show public days run from Friday March 29 through Sunday April 7 at Jacob Javits Center.