Coffee game provides food for thought

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Ethically-inclined Christmas gifts are becoming increasingly popular and the latest offering, a board game with a fair trade theme, is also fun to use.

“Mt Kilajava” has just been released by Monsoon Games, who are based in Christchurch. The game explores the theme of coffee production, and illustrates the fickle nature of the global coffee trade from a farmer’s perspective.

“Games first and foremost have to be fun to play, but I think they can also help us to better understand and appreciate the world around us” says Justin Purser, Monsoon Games’ creator. “If you were to play a game where you traded for slaves in ancient Africa, for example, you would probably be interested to learn more about how that trade worked. But if we link that trade to the slave industry which is still alive and well today, this might get people thinking a little more about the world that they are helping to shape. Similarly, in “Mt Kilajava”, you can enjoy watching your opponent losing their coffee when the world coffee price tumbles yet again, but this may also help you to understand a little better what it must be like to be on the receiving end of such human-made disasters, and what we can all do to avoid sending millions of coffee farmers deeper into poverty”.

Monsoon Games are well qualified to comment on the pros and cons of global trade. In his day job, Purser is Trade Aid’s fair trade coffee buyer.

“Mt Kilajava” is available from Trade Aid stores nationwide and also via Monsoon Games’ website

ENDS

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