As a Starbucks customer, I'm concerned about your opposition to Ethiopia's right to own its coffee names. I am asking Starbucks to honor its commitment to farmers by signing an agreement with Ethiopia that recognizes the country's rights to the names of its coffees. If Starbucks and other companies sign such agreements, estimates suggest that Ethiopian's could see up to $88 million of extra income a year.
Ethiopia ranks among the poorest countries in the world; more than 25 percent of its population lives on less than $1 per day. About 15 million people in Ethiopia depend on coffee to make a living, the majority of them growing their crop on small plots of about two and a half acres.
Meanwhile, coffee lovers pay up to $26 per pound for fine Ethiopian coffees because they're willing to pay for high quality and great taste. Ethiopian farmers, however, often earn just 5-10 percent of the retail value.
With this disparity in mind, the Ethiopian government launched a project to get legal ownership of its fine coffee names - Sidamo, Yirgacheffe, and Harar. By owning the names, Ethiopia will be able to occupy a stronger negotiating position with foreign buyers, capture a larger share of the market value associated with those names, and protect the reputations of its brand names. In a country with a per capita income of around $100 per year, that amount of money could have a profound impact on the lives of millions of Ethiopians.
As you know, Ethiopia approached Starbucks more than a year ago asking the company to lead by example and to discuss an agreement that would acknowledge Ethiopia's ownership of these names. So far, Starbucks has refused to sign the agreement, or even talk seriously about it with the Ethiopian government.
I want to see Starbucks do the right thing by the poor farmers who grow its coffee. I urge you to sign the licensing agreement and recognize Ethiopia's rightful ownership of its coffee names.
Signed by:
[Your name]
[Your address]
Please sign the petition
News and views on Ethiopia's finest specialty coffees - Sidamo, Harar, Yirgacheffe and Others
Tell Starbucks to Give Ethiopian Farmers Their Fair Share (Media Rights)
Each year, coffee companies make billions of dollars. Starbucks alone earned almost $5.8 billion in net revenues during the first three quarters of 2006.
With as many as 15 million Ethiopians dependent on coffee, Ethiopia has decided to get its farmers more of what they deserve. The country's government has asked Starbucks to sign a licensing agreement that will allow Ethiopia to control the names of its coffees. That way, Ethiopia can help determine an export price that makes sure farmers see a larger share of the profits enabling them to feed their children, send them to school and get them better healthcare.
Oxfam and a coalition of allies are asking Starbucks to sign this agreement. According to one coalition member, control of the name brands could increase Ethiopia's coffee export income by $88 million annually. This money could go a long way to help lift millions of Ethiopians out of poverty.
So please, help us convince Starbucks to sign this agreement with Ethiopia. Poor farmers deserve a fair share of the profits.
http://act.oxfamamerica.org/campaign/starbucks_petition
Starts
Ends
Issues
Economic Justice, International, Labor, Agriculture, Africa
Homepage
act.oxfamamerica.org
Contact
Posted on December 5, 2006 in Event / Call to action by leahs
With as many as 15 million Ethiopians dependent on coffee, Ethiopia has decided to get its farmers more of what they deserve. The country's government has asked Starbucks to sign a licensing agreement that will allow Ethiopia to control the names of its coffees. That way, Ethiopia can help determine an export price that makes sure farmers see a larger share of the profits enabling them to feed their children, send them to school and get them better healthcare.
Oxfam and a coalition of allies are asking Starbucks to sign this agreement. According to one coalition member, control of the name brands could increase Ethiopia's coffee export income by $88 million annually. This money could go a long way to help lift millions of Ethiopians out of poverty.
So please, help us convince Starbucks to sign this agreement with Ethiopia. Poor farmers deserve a fair share of the profits.
http://act.oxfamamerica.org/campaign/starbucks_petition
Starts
Ends
Issues
Economic Justice, International, Labor, Agriculture, Africa
Homepage
act.oxfamamerica.org
Contact
Posted on December 5, 2006 in Event / Call to action by leahs
Talks between Starbucks and the Ethiopian Government Positive and Ongoing (CSR Wire)
(CSRwire) SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 30, 2006--This week Starbucks ceo Jim Donald and his executive team had positive meetings with African coffee farmers, producers and government officials in Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Ethiopia. In particular during the meetings in Ethiopia, Starbucks and government officials discussed the government's initiative to protect its specialty coffee names. The parties used these meetings as the first step in developing a solution. Starbucks fully supports the premise that any protection of specialty coffee names in Ethiopia should benefit Ethiopian coffee farmers.
"We were grateful for the opportunity to meet with the Ethiopian Prime Minister Melese Zenawi to talk about how we can work together on initiatives that will benefit coffee farmers," said Jim Donald, Starbucks president and ceo. "We believe the meeting was very cooperative and productive and we are committed to working with the Ethiopian government to find a solution that supports the Ethiopian coffee farmer."
As stated in the press release issued on Nov. 29, 2006 by the Ethiopian Intellectual Property Office, "both parties agreed to cooperate and work together in the protection and use of the Intellectual Property Rights of Ethiopia's specialty coffee names and for Starbucks to promote high quality Ethiopian coffees."
For more detailed information about Starbucks relationship with Ethiopian coffee farmers, please visit http://www.starbucks.com/aboutus/pressdesc.asp?id=713.http://www.businesswire.com/cnn/sbux.shtml
"We were grateful for the opportunity to meet with the Ethiopian Prime Minister Melese Zenawi to talk about how we can work together on initiatives that will benefit coffee farmers," said Jim Donald, Starbucks president and ceo. "We believe the meeting was very cooperative and productive and we are committed to working with the Ethiopian government to find a solution that supports the Ethiopian coffee farmer."
As stated in the press release issued on Nov. 29, 2006 by the Ethiopian Intellectual Property Office, "both parties agreed to cooperate and work together in the protection and use of the Intellectual Property Rights of Ethiopia's specialty coffee names and for Starbucks to promote high quality Ethiopian coffees."
For more detailed information about Starbucks relationship with Ethiopian coffee farmers, please visit http://www.starbucks.com/aboutus/pressdesc.asp?id=713.http://www.businesswire.com/cnn/sbux.shtml
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)