Starbucks... boo hiss!

[Gareth]

Link: http://abcnews.go.com/International/...2608013&page=1 [go.com]

Originally Posted by ABC News

It is hard to imagine the high-rolling world of global economics spilling into that morning cup of your favorite blend. But there is a potentially titanic trademark battle brewing between multinational giant Starbucks and Ethiopia, the home of coffee, and an impoverished nation on the horn of Africa.

The Ethiopian government filed for copyright last year to trademark its coffees. Names like Harar and Sidamo are familiar to Starbucks clients around the world.

Securing trademark rights to those names would mean a spectacular rise in Ethiopia's coffee revenues � a jump in the neighborhood of $88 million. The most critical dividend would go to Ethiopia's struggling coffee farmers � 15 million people, many of whom live on less than a dollar a day.
...
"Starbucks is using its influence on the National Coffee Association to block this application in the U.S.," said Gwenllian Griffiths at Oxfam's London office.

Griffiths says the "official" objection to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office came from the coffee association, but she says Oxfam has proof that Starbucks is behind the action.

That's it - no more Starbucks for me... well actually, I don't like coffee so I don't go there anyway - despite having one on-site at work - but if I did, this would be enough to put me off going there again.

[TheDaddy]

Originally Posted by Gareth

Link: http://abcnews.go.com/International/...2608013&page=1 [go.com]



That's it - no more Starbucks for me... well actually, I don't like coffee so I don't go there anyway - despite having one on-site at work - but if I did, this would be enough to put me off going there again.

Well said

[AndrewJ]

I like my espresso's from there but not anymore.

Perhaps a letter to them is in order too.

[Hugh]

http://www.starbucks.com/aboutus/pre...712&rumor=true
Starbucks has never filed an opposition to the Ethiopian government’s trademark application, nor claimed ownership to any regional names used to describe the origin of our coffees.

According to the National Coffee Association of America, which represents the major coffee roasters in the United States, the trademark application is not based upon sound economic advice and that the proposal as it stands would hurt Ethiopian coffee farmers economically.

On Oct. 25, Starbucks sent a letter to representatives of the Ethiopian government, offering to enter into an agreement with the Ethiopian government that would support and assist the government in developing and implementing a certification program.

Starbucks is committed to paying premium prices for all our coffee. This is part of our integrated approach to coffee sourcing which includes C.A.F.E. Practices, (Coffee And Farmer Equity Practices), a set of socially responsible coffee buying guidelines.

Specifically in fiscal 2005, Starbucks paid an average price of US $1.28 per pound, which was 23 percent above the average New York “C” price during the same time period, for all of its coffees. Our approach to coffee purchasing, investment in social development projects and microfinance initiatives in coffee growing regions, has been recognized for its leadership within the industry.

And no, I don't work for Starbucks - and rarely go in there.

Here's an interesting web-page
http://www.inminds.co.uk/boycott-oxfam.html
In an agreement announced last week[1], Starbucks has agreed to contribute £100,000 to Oxfam's rural development programme in the East Hararge coffe growing region of Ethiopia.

And it stopped, why - because (apparently) Starbucks are part of the Zionist conspiracy.
We are proud to announce that, following a series of discussions with Oxfam regarding its agreement with pro-Zionist multinational coffee chain Starbucks, Oxfam has decided, just 4 months into the contract, that it will not be renewing its 1 year contract with Starbucks, which terminates this September.

And if you read the Oxfam web-page, there is not actually a lot of evidence against Starbucks
http://www.oxfam.org/en/news/pressre...1026_starbucks
besides
"According to staffers, when asked why after a year of doing nothing the NCA had decided to take action, the president of the NCA told them Starbucks had just brought it to the NCA’s attention." Oh goody, hearsay evidence.
and
"The Ethiopian government presented an agreement for Starbucks to sign in September, recognizing the country’s rights to the names Sidamo, Harar and Yirgacheffe and stating that additional benefits generated would go to small-scale coffee farmers who are currently living on the brink of survival. However, Starbucks has yet to respond affirmatively." It's a multi-billion dollar company - nothing gets signed in a month.

[Cobbydaler]

Originally Posted by Gareth

I don't agree with Starbucks' actions, but if anyone thinks the additional revenues would find their way to the coffee farmers they must be extremely naive...

[Xaccers]

Don't starbucks pay their staff quite well and give them all healthcare, something quite important in the US.

[greencreeper]

Well it always has had a dodgy labour rights record - up there with Microsoft. And it's domination of the high street the world over - contributing to that "everywhere you go, the streets look the same" effect. I prefer a hot chocolate with cream. Tend to end up with a wet nose, but it's yummy

[kronas]

Originally Posted by Cobbydaler

I don't agree with Starbucks' actions, but if anyone thinks the additional revenues would find their way to the coffee farmers they must be extremely naive...

true, i hard my first starbucks a few months ago, it was the ice coffee, forgot the name of it, it was bloody disgusting, made me want to puke after the first few sips, even if starbucks is behind the stopping of the patent and ethiopia wins how will we know the farmers will get anything ?

starbucks revenue is about $6.8billion from october last year till october this year if i remember correctly....

[Caff]

[even if starbucks is behind the stopping of the patent and ethiopia wins how will we know the farmers will get anything ? [/quote]

Good point.
It seems to be that way in too many 'Let's be fair' issues.

[marky]

Wake up and have a coffee, we all use pc's that are made for pennies in sweatshops

[AntiSilence]

Originally Posted by marky

Wake up and have a coffee, we all use pc's that are made for pennies in sweatshops

Well, my PC was built by me but the parts probably were!

[Gareth]

Originally Posted by kronas

even if starbucks is behind the stopping of the patent and ethiopia wins how will we know the farmers will get anything ?

Well, I think that's what Oxfam are monitoring by liaising directly with the coffee farmers, as opposed to assuming the Ethiopian government are gonna be a reliable source of information. They've been doing this since 2001, so I'd hope they know what they're talking about

[Chris]

Originally Posted by Gareth

Well, I think that's what Oxfam are monitoring by liaising directly with the coffee farmers, as opposed to assuming the Ethiopian government are gonna be a reliable source of information. They've been doing this since 2001, so I'd hope they know what they're talking about

Me too, but I can't help thinking that a new gold-plated presidential limo is higher on the Ethiopian government priority list than more money for farmers.

Did anyone hear the news earlier in the week, that there is now a cash prize competition to see who can be the least corrupt leader in Africa? It would be hilarious if it wasn't actually a serious problem.

[Damien]

Starbucks make nice hot chocolate! I will continue to go there because I like hot chocolate

[ADd]

Not a starbucks fan, but as they are a business nothing surprises me these days.

Their bars of chocolate are horrendous, and the coffee isn't too good either IMO, my advice eat Green & Blacks