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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!
# 22,000:
# 21,999:
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# 21,995:
Once again greed wins over starving children. How proud Starbucks must be.
# 21,994:
I don't know how you sleep at night, getting rich off of the starvation of others.
# 21,993:
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# 21,991:
you just lost a customer
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# 21,987:
I have an ex-boyfriend who is a General Manager of Starbucks and I love going there on occasion but, come on Starbucks, HAVE A HEART FOR THESE POOR PEOPLE AND CHILDREN!! This makes me think twice about ever going there again.
# 21,986:
# 21,985:
It is very simple, Ethiopian coffee farmers are asking for only what they deserve, the fruit of their labour. Starbucks know very well that the coffee from Harrar, and many more locations in Ethiopia is the main reasons why they secure big profit from the coffee trade. Those coffee types are the best in the whole world and to be fair, the Ethiopian farmers deserve to be paid what they deserve in proportion to the profit made by Starbucks from the sale of such coffee.
# 21,984:
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It's just not right that the Ethiopian farmers are struggling to survive while the heads of the company are thriving from their manual labor! Please take steps to change this so that we can enjoy your coffee guilt-free!
# 21,980:
# 21,979:
# 21,978:
Greed and taking advantage of poor people are not characteristics of a company most people want to do business with. You would do so much more for your image and your business if you took the lead and did the right thing for the people of Ethiopia.
# 21,977:
Do the right thing and share!
# 21,976:
The Ethiopian government, representing the coffee farmers of that country, should be shown proper respect. Ethiopia is not a giant, Starbucks-owned coffee plantation; it is a sovereign nation, and its citizens expect to be PAID for the fine coffee that they grow.
# 21,975:
I cannot believe they are being so selfish. They need a boycott of their place and I intend to tell my friends about their greedy practice. We worry if we have enough foam on our lattes and people in Ethiopia worry about where their next meal is coming from. Starbucks, this is one big world. Learn to share! Do the RIGHT thing.
# 21,974:
# 21,973:
THEY DESERVE FAIR SHARE BECAUSE OF THE BEST COFFEE IN THE WORLED THEY PRODUCE
# 21,972:
Micah in Ch 6 of the Bible says,"What does the Lord require but to do justice and walk humbly with you God"? Cheap labor is not the same as a living wage. While I do understand that your company is out to make a profit, it should not be at the expense of dehumanizing others. So do not pay them what wages standards are here in America. Nonetheless, pay them what it cost though to live above poverty. I am positive this is not what these persons are getting now.
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# 21,970:
I hope you will take this opportunity and show some integrity! Please stick to your published principles. Do the right thing and it will come back to you... but remember money is not everything, it only seems like it.....I won't buy another cup of your coffee till you right this wrong and share the wealth!
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and no plutonium bullets
# 21,965:
Please stick to your stated principles and follow through on your promises. Never kill the goose! Do the right thing and you will reap even more profit in the long by strengthening your brand identity and your customer loyalty.
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# 21,957:
Come on Starbucks! Ethiopians have a hard enough time already! SHAME ON YOU! I won't be stopping at Starbucks anytime soon. I live in a town with a population of 5600 people, Starbucks has 2 stores! Give these poor people thier fare share!
# 21,956:
How about a fair share for the peons? I'm not buying your coffee until you do!!
# 21,955:
# 21,954:
I will not buy coffee from Starbucks until Ethiopia is getting it's fair share of profits. I will seek out a charity(or charities) that benefit Ethiopians and spend my coffee dollars there. I will also encourage everyone I know(and everyone I can reach) to do the same. You are taking advantage of the poor and I consider your actions criminal.
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