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Tell Starbucks to Honor Their Commitments to Coffee Farmers
Target: Jim Donald, Starbucks CEOSponsored by: Oxfam America
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.
Yet, for every cup of coffee Starbucks sells, poor farmers in coffee-growing countries like Ethiopia earn only about $.03. Even worse, while Ethiopian farmers grow some of the finest name-brand coffees in the world think Harar, Yirgacheffe, and Sidamo they don't see the premium profits those names command among consumers.
With as many as 15 million Ethiopians dependent on coffee, Ethiopia wants 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 coffee. 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.
Ask Starbucks to sign the agreement giving Ethiopian farmers their fair share of coffee profits.
Yet, for every cup of coffee Starbucks sells, poor farmers in coffee-growing countries like Ethiopia earn only about $.03. Even worse, while Ethiopian farmers grow some of the finest name-brand coffees in the world think Harar, Yirgacheffe, and Sidamo they don't see the premium profits those names command among consumers.
With as many as 15 million Ethiopians dependent on coffee, Ethiopia wants 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 coffee. 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.
Sign Petition! see who signed this
We signed the “Tell Starbucks to Honor Their Commitments to Coffee Farmers” petition!
# 21,750:
12:51 pm PST, Nov 20,
Ashu Dege, Netherlands
# 21,749:
12:50 pm PST, Nov 20,
Kimberly Nicosia, Illinois
# 21,748:
12:47 pm PST, Nov 20,
Mekonnen Gebreslasie, Belgium
Please stop being selfish and give ethiopian coffee farmers the share that they deserve!!! They are not asking for aid!!!!!
Please stop being selfish and give ethiopian coffee farmers the share that they deserve!!! They are not asking for aid!!!!!
# 21,747:
12:36 pm PST, Nov 20,
Mary Proteau, California
# 21,746:
12:18 pm PST, Nov 20,
Name not displayed, Oregon
# 21,745:
12:15 pm PST, Nov 20,
Katrina A. Delk-Flamer, Georgia
Please do what is right!!! with all the billions of dollars starbucks makes, your company can surley give more than $0.3 to country where people are living in poverty.
Please do what is right!!! with all the billions of dollars starbucks makes, your company can surley give more than $0.3 to country where people are living in poverty.
# 21,744:
12:14 pm PST, Nov 20,
Yonas Asrat, Maryland
These farmers are contributing to the success of Starbucks; hence, it's worth paying these poor farmers back, as their abscence in the market might affect Starbucks.
These farmers are contributing to the success of Starbucks; hence, it's worth paying these poor farmers back, as their abscence in the market might affect Starbucks.
# 21,743:
12:11 pm PST, Nov 20,
Vedia Counts, South Carolina
# 21,742:
12:07 pm PST, Nov 20,
Name not displayed, France
Please do the right thing and give Ethiopian farmers their fair share of the huge profits your company is making, Starbucks. As a frequent customer, I'd hate...but will...take my business elsewhere until I hear that you have made this matter right.
Please do the right thing and give Ethiopian farmers their fair share of the huge profits your company is making, Starbucks. As a frequent customer, I'd hate...but will...take my business elsewhere until I hear that you have made this matter right.
# 21,741:
12:06 pm PST, Nov 20,
Dorothy A amare, Illinois
Theirs is the best coffee in the world, but it is a communist country and the dictator Meles Zenawi will take the profits unless others ensure the farmers get their fair share -- since the state ownes the land, etc.
Theirs is the best coffee in the world, but it is a communist country and the dictator Meles Zenawi will take the profits unless others ensure the farmers get their fair share -- since the state ownes the land, etc.
# 21,740:
12:06 pm PST, Nov 20,
Ruchi Gupta, India
# 21,738:
11:52 am PST, Nov 20,
L.j Sechache, Sudan
# 21,737:
11:42 am PST, Nov 20,
Kurt W. Hunt, Texas
# 21,736:
11:29 am PST, Nov 20,
Linda Robshaw, California
# 21,735:
11:29 am PST, Nov 20,
DANIEL ASSEFA, Washington D.C.
# 21,734:
11:24 am PST, Nov 20,
C Monty, Connecticut
It's ridiculous enough that you charge so much for one cup of coffee. But the fact that the people who grow the coffee get so little of the money is even more ridiculous. Do the right thing and give the people of Ethiopia the money they deserve
It's ridiculous enough that you charge so much for one cup of coffee. But the fact that the people who grow the coffee get so little of the money is even more ridiculous. Do the right thing and give the people of Ethiopia the money they deserve
# 21,733:
11:21 am PST, Nov 20,
Name not displayed, Ethiopia
Please give Ethiopian farmers their fair share of coffee profits, because they are very poor, and work very hard to grow coffe.
Please give Ethiopian farmers their fair share of coffee profits, because they are very poor, and work very hard to grow coffe.
# 21,732:
11:19 am PST, Nov 20,
Kaia Zawadi, Illinois
they need to stop robbing and give the people their fair share. how dare you make billions off their coffee beans and don't give them their share? it's highway robbery! just like you pay your employees their fair share when they don't really do anything all day and then you turn around and insult the farmers in a country that has always been devastated by famine and destitution you think they are not good enough for their fair share? give me a break.i hope this petition goes somewhere.
they need to stop robbing and give the people their fair share. how dare you make billions off their coffee beans and don't give them their share? it's highway robbery! just like you pay your employees their fair share when they don't really do anything all day and then you turn around and insult the farmers in a country that has always been devastated by famine and destitution you think they are not good enough for their fair share? give me a break.i hope this petition goes somewhere.
# 21,731:
11:15 am PST, Nov 20,
Name not displayed, Pennsylvania
# 21,730:
11:10 am PST, Nov 20,
Name not displayed, Washington
# 21,729:
11:01 am PST, Nov 20,
Logan Woods, California
# 21,728:
10:58 am PST, Nov 20,
Name not displayed, United Kingdom
# 21,727:
10:55 am PST, Nov 20,
Laura Selken, Iowa
# 21,726:
10:54 am PST, Nov 20,
Stacie Townsend, Massachusetts
# 21,725:
10:51 am PST, Nov 20,
Name not displayed, Illinois
Please do the right thing and give Ethiopian farmers their fair share of the huge profits your company is making, Starbucks. As a frequent customer, I'd hate...but will...take my business elsewhere until I hear that you have made this matter right.
Please do the right thing and give Ethiopian farmers their fair share of the huge profits your company is making, Starbucks. As a frequent customer, I'd hate...but will...take my business elsewhere until I hear that you have made this matter right.
# 21,724:
10:51 am PST, Nov 20,
Greta Alvarado, Texas
# 21,723:
10:50 am PST, Nov 20,
Glenna Caserta, California
I love your ethiopian coffee and buy it by the pound for use at home all the time. Please make this experience a positive one by sharing the profits. Even if you raise your price to do this, I will gladly pay the extra amount knowing the farmers can eat. Thank you.
I love your ethiopian coffee and buy it by the pound for use at home all the time. Please make this experience a positive one by sharing the profits. Even if you raise your price to do this, I will gladly pay the extra amount knowing the farmers can eat. Thank you.
# 21,722:
10:47 am PST, Nov 20,
Name not displayed, New Jersey
# 21,721:
10:47 am PST, Nov 20,
Oskar Sarasky, New York
Shame on you. I would love to continue to buy stuff from you, your coffee is really good... but taking advantage of poor farmers... save up on advertisment, you don't need it.. and give them their rightftul share of the profits!
Shame on you. I would love to continue to buy stuff from you, your coffee is really good... but taking advantage of poor farmers... save up on advertisment, you don't need it.. and give them their rightftul share of the profits!
# 21,720:
10:38 am PST, Nov 20,
Frank Summers, Ph.D., Illinois
# 21,719:
10:29 am PST, Nov 20,
Elizabeth Palit, Texas
I have been enjoying fine coffee for years, and I want the farmers who create such wonderful ambrosia to be compnesated greatly . A coffee barista should not make more than a coffee farmer. I will boycott Starbucks, until I am aware that this issue has been addressed properly.
I have been enjoying fine coffee for years, and I want the farmers who create such wonderful ambrosia to be compnesated greatly . A coffee barista should not make more than a coffee farmer. I will boycott Starbucks, until I am aware that this issue has been addressed properly.
# 21,718:
10:28 am PST, Nov 20,
Wubeshet Mehari, Virginia
# 21,717:
10:12 am PST, Nov 20,
Gail Ross, Washington
I have been buying coffee from Starbucks because of the changes I have seen. I will have to reconsider with this unresolved issue.
I have been buying coffee from Starbucks because of the changes I have seen. I will have to reconsider with this unresolved issue.
# 21,716:
10:08 am PST, Nov 20,
Henok Mikre, Tennessee
Starbucks' profile says, "We always figured that putting people before products just made good common sense." The farmers of Ethiopia are people too. If we as consumers value them to be worthy of that, then Starbucks should too. Because in the long run, it will decide the company's future in an ever self-conscious world.
Starbucks' profile says, "We always figured that putting people before products just made good common sense." The farmers of Ethiopia are people too. If we as consumers value them to be worthy of that, then Starbucks should too. Because in the long run, it will decide the company's future in an ever self-conscious world.
# 21,715:
10:01 am PST, Nov 20,
Pat Genereux, Iowa
I will no longer buy my coffee at Starbucks until you start to give a fair share to the coffee growers in Ethiopia or elsewhere. The West has to stop its economic rape and pillage of the under-developed nations!
I will no longer buy my coffee at Starbucks until you start to give a fair share to the coffee growers in Ethiopia or elsewhere. The West has to stop its economic rape and pillage of the under-developed nations!
# 21,714:
9:53 am PST, Nov 20,
Abel Feleke, Minnesota
starbucks you don't have to take the poor ethiopian farmers money, be fair, be rational.
starbucks you don't have to take the poor ethiopian farmers money, be fair, be rational.
# 21,713:
9:42 am PST, Nov 20,
Aisha Shah, California
# 21,712:
9:35 am PST, Nov 20,
Seyoum Woldegebriel, Illinois
Starbucks!! please do the right thing. I am sure you can afford giving this poor people a fair share of what they diserve. Every other day I spend $3.60 for a grande macchiato at the starbucs here in Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville but yet all you pay this poor farmers is 3 cents. This amounts to the collonial thivery that plunder africa's resources. The devasteting economic consequence which is still obvious today. And now you Starbucks posing as a community friendly, fun, and modern establishment is indirectly collonising this poor people. I, as a customer who patornize your establisment on a regular basses can not help feeling that i am enabling you to commit modern day collonialsim. Shame on you starbucks, today I official begain to boycot any of your product until you start doing the right thing.
Starbucks!! please do the right thing. I am sure you can afford giving this poor people a fair share of what they diserve. Every other day I spend $3.60 for a grande macchiato at the starbucs here in Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville but yet all you pay this poor farmers is 3 cents. This amounts to the collonial thivery that plunder africa's resources. The devasteting economic consequence which is still obvious today. And now you Starbucks posing as a community friendly, fun, and modern establishment is indirectly collonising this poor people. I, as a customer who patornize your establisment on a regular basses can not help feeling that i am enabling you to commit modern day collonialsim. Shame on you starbucks, today I official begain to boycot any of your product until you start doing the right thing.
# 21,711:
9:24 am PST, Nov 20,
Name not displayed, California
Heah ... at $4.10/venti frap ... I think Starbucks can be fair to the farmers.
Heah ... at $4.10/venti frap ... I think Starbucks can be fair to the farmers.
# 21,710:
9:23 am PST, Nov 20,
Paula Mcfall, Tennessee
Give them their share! Doesn't it make you feel bad to know how bad you are treating them. They are straving while you all get rich!! Give Back!!!!!!!!
Give them their share! Doesn't it make you feel bad to know how bad you are treating them. They are straving while you all get rich!! Give Back!!!!!!!!
# 21,709:
9:22 am PST, Nov 20,
Corinne De Ciofalo Guell, California
# 21,708:
9:21 am PST, Nov 20,
Kendra Crenshaw, California
Come on Starbucks!! You have an empire. Share the wealth, treat people fairly. Don't be another corporation that exploits and abuses people throughout the world just so you can be a bazillionaire. It is a sickness in this nation. Don't perpetuate it.
Come on Starbucks!! You have an empire. Share the wealth, treat people fairly. Don't be another corporation that exploits and abuses people throughout the world just so you can be a bazillionaire. It is a sickness in this nation. Don't perpetuate it.
# 21,707:
9:16 am PST, Nov 20,
Sansia Richardson, North Carolina
Why is such a loved company cheating the farmers. Starbucks needs to go work the farm for a while then re-look at the fair market value again.
Why is such a loved company cheating the farmers. Starbucks needs to go work the farm for a while then re-look at the fair market value again.
# 21,706:
9:16 am PST, Nov 20,
B.surrey Surrey, Utah
It's called being ethical with humanity. Show some integrity - that is, doing what is RIGHT EVEN WHEN NO ONE IS LOOKING!!!
It's called being ethical with humanity. Show some integrity - that is, doing what is RIGHT EVEN WHEN NO ONE IS LOOKING!!!
# 21,705:
9:12 am PST, Nov 20,
Andreas Seipelt, Germany
# 21,704:
9:00 am PST, Nov 20,
Name not displayed, Germany
# 21,703:
8:57 am PST, Nov 20,
Robin L. Burkowski, West Virginia
# 21,702:
8:54 am PST, Nov 20,
Zeleke Ewnetu, Oregon
For your customers to enjoy their morning cup of coffee and for you to continue enjoying your pofits, the poor coffee farmers must be enabled to grow and supply you the coffee.
For your customers to enjoy their morning cup of coffee and for you to continue enjoying your pofits, the poor coffee farmers must be enabled to grow and supply you the coffee.
# 21,701:
8:49 am PST, Nov 20,
Susan Downhower, Ohio
Making so much money and giving the farmers so little is not only obscene, but it prevents development in parts of the world that want to be independent.
Making so much money and giving the farmers so little is not only obscene, but it prevents development in parts of the world that want to be independent.