The Search For Fairness

Last night canvas sponsored the premiere of Black Gold at the Huntington Cinema Arts Centre. The movie was an enlightening look at the effects dominant players in a market can have on people in developing countries. While this is an over simplification, you get the point.

We chose to sponsor this event because we felt it aligned with our values and it did.

As I talked with a number of attendees, I was told a few times how much our magazine was enjoyed and in many cases was read cover to cover. This is not the first time I’ve been told this and we’ll work hard to make sure it’s not the last.

That said, often times the conversation ends with two statements. One is that we remain true to our vision, which Matt and I know we will. The other is that we have the staying power to succeed, in other words stay in business. This second statement is more challenging because our wants and desires will only take us so far.

After the movie ended, there was a discussion on fair trade and one of the women in the audience eloquently said it begins with you. She went on to tell us the baby steps people can take to create a ground swell around fair trade products.

To that end for those that have praised canvas and told us how much you enjoy it and how you hope we have the staying power to last, we thank you and ask for you for your help in creating a ground swell for our mission. If you patron our advertisers please let them know what you think of canvas. If there are people you think that should be advertising with us tell them and tell us.
Although in no way am I suggesting we face the same struggles of those in the film. An analogy can be made that similar to the farmers in Black Gold we are trying too deliver the best quality product to the market we can, at a fair price, in an arena filled with dominant players.

If you had not planned see that movie, you may be missing out on developing a better understanding of what many people, in many places want for themselves and their families… to improve their lives through hard work, dedication and education.