News
March 6, 2007
People around the world share a love of chocolate, one of the most delicious and pleasurable foods on earth. However, thousands of children in West Africa, especially Cote d'Ivoire, are forced to labor in the production of cocoa, the primary ingredient in chocolate. These child workers labor for long, punishing hours, using dangerous tools and facing frequent exposure to dangerous pesticides as they travel great distances in the grueling heat. Those who labor as slaves must also suffer frequent beatings and other cruel treatment.
As people across the country observe Easter Read more
As people across the country observe Easter Read more
News
February 19, 2007
Starbucks Coffee Company, the world's largest coffee store chain, said it will double its coffee purchases in East Africa by 2009.
The Seattle-based company purchases, roasts and markets whole bean coffee and a variety of pastries and confections from its 13,000 coffee houses in 39 countries around the world. In 2006, Starbucks purchased 294 million pounds of coffee globally, with 6 percent sourced from Africa.
Starbucks said it will also set up a new Farmer Support Center in East Africa, following the success of the first Farmer Support Center in Costa Rica. The Read more
The Seattle-based company purchases, roasts and markets whole bean coffee and a variety of pastries and confections from its 13,000 coffee houses in 39 countries around the world. In 2006, Starbucks purchased 294 million pounds of coffee globally, with 6 percent sourced from Africa.
Starbucks said it will also set up a new Farmer Support Center in East Africa, following the success of the first Farmer Support Center in Costa Rica. The Read more
News
January 29, 2007
A campaign by Ethiopia to get a fair price for its coffee - some of the world's finest - kicks off in London today as a spokesman for the east African country's impoverished coffee growers meets Tony Blair.
The meeting will be accompanied by a screening of the film Black Gold - a movie on the global coffee industry - to MPs at Westminster, who will also be addressed by the Ethiopian ambassador to Britain.
The spokesman, Tadesse Meskela, who is the subject of Black Gold, together with the film's English makers, brothers Nick and Marc Francis, are a serious irritant Read more
The meeting will be accompanied by a screening of the film Black Gold - a movie on the global coffee industry - to MPs at Westminster, who will also be addressed by the Ethiopian ambassador to Britain.
The spokesman, Tadesse Meskela, who is the subject of Black Gold, together with the film's English makers, brothers Nick and Marc Francis, are a serious irritant Read more
News
January 22, 2007
Web Note: Despite dairy industry misinformation (see quotes below at end of article), milk from dairy cows injected with Monsanto's controversial genetically engineered hormone, recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (or Posilac) contains significantly higher levels of a potent cancer tumor promoter, called IGF-1, that increases human risks for cancer. This is one of the main reasons why rBGH is banned in nearly every industrialized country in the world, except for the US. Bovine Growth Hormone is also banned worldwide on organic dairy farms. -- Ronnie Cummins Read more
News
January 8, 2007
At your local health food store, you can find fair trade products such as chocolate, coffee, and fruits. International fair trade in these commodities has been invaluable in building strong and prospering communities where workers are treated with dignity and respect, and are paid a fair wage that allows them to raise families in a safe and healthy environment. Consumers across the world are embracing fair trade products—in 2005 alone, retail values for fair trade products globally were $1.5 billion.
But fair trade principles should not be limited to products bought overseas. Read more
But fair trade principles should not be limited to products bought overseas. Read more
News
November 29, 2006
From CommonDreams.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Oxfam America
http://www.oxfamamerica.org/
Helen DaSilva
617-728-2409 or 617-331-2984, or
Laura Rusu
202-496-3620 or 202-459-3739
WASHINGTON - November 29 - International aid agency Oxfam welcomed Tuesday's meeting between Starbucks CEO Jim Donald and Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, but urged the international coffee giant to stop dragging its feet before the holidays, and instead recognize Ethiopia's ownership Read more
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Oxfam America
http://www.oxfamamerica.org/
Helen DaSilva
617-728-2409 or 617-331-2984, or
Laura Rusu
202-496-3620 or 202-459-3739
WASHINGTON - November 29 - International aid agency Oxfam welcomed Tuesday's meeting between Starbucks CEO Jim Donald and Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, but urged the international coffee giant to stop dragging its feet before the holidays, and instead recognize Ethiopia's ownership Read more
News
September 13, 2006
EDWARDS — All great missionary endeavors begin with a road trip.
And so it came to pass that Kyle Cureau and Jess Arnsteen climbed into a truck and drove through Mexico to Guatemala to visit coffee farmers. Now they’re helping launch an organization that will import organic coffee directly from some of those farmers.
The farmers will earn more for their crops while American coffee drinkers sip for about the same cost, or less. Everyone wins, especially the farmers who labor in some of the Third World’s most desperate conditions, Cureau said.
“No other company Read more
And so it came to pass that Kyle Cureau and Jess Arnsteen climbed into a truck and drove through Mexico to Guatemala to visit coffee farmers. Now they’re helping launch an organization that will import organic coffee directly from some of those farmers.
The farmers will earn more for their crops while American coffee drinkers sip for about the same cost, or less. Everyone wins, especially the farmers who labor in some of the Third World’s most desperate conditions, Cureau said.
“No other company Read more
News
August 15, 2006
CONTACT:
National Lawyers Guild
Heidi Boghosian,
NLG Executive Director,
212-679-5100, ext. 11
Michael Avery,
NLG President,
617-573-8551
National Lawyers Guild Condemns Starbucks Over Unlawful Termination of Union Co-Founder Daniel Gross
NLG Supports Boycott of Starbucks Until All Fired Union Members Are Reinstated
NEW YORK - August 15 - The National Lawyers Guild (NLG) strongly condemns Starbucks' retaliatory firing of Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) organizer and NLG member Daniel Gross. Mr. Gross was Read more
National Lawyers Guild
Heidi Boghosian,
NLG Executive Director,
212-679-5100, ext. 11
Michael Avery,
NLG President,
617-573-8551
National Lawyers Guild Condemns Starbucks Over Unlawful Termination of Union Co-Founder Daniel Gross
NLG Supports Boycott of Starbucks Until All Fired Union Members Are Reinstated
NEW YORK - August 15 - The National Lawyers Guild (NLG) strongly condemns Starbucks' retaliatory firing of Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) organizer and NLG member Daniel Gross. Mr. Gross was Read more
Press Release
June 26, 2006
WASHINGTON, DC Ã The Organic Consumers Association (OCA) is deeply disappointed that Starbucks continues to drag its heels on a five-year-old commitment to offer consumers an alternative to milk and dairy products derived from cows injected with Monsanto's controversial recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH). Furthermore OCA is outraged that company staff in at least one Starbucks location in Washington, DC threw numerous signed letters against rBGH from paying customers into the trash when these customers attempted to give them to the manager.
The genetically engineered Read more
The genetically engineered Read more
News
June 20, 2006
WASHINGTON - June 20 - Local and national groups across the country this week will take the following message to the streets in front of Starbucks locations in 23 cities: Stop serving hormone-laden milk to your customers. Their efforts are part of a national campaign, coordinated by the consumer group Food & Water Watch, which since March has been urging the Seattle-based coffee leader to stop buying milk made with artificial growth hormones.
Citing evidence of harm to dairy cows and questions about human health impacts, 30 groups will hand out flyers in cities ranging from Read more
Citing evidence of harm to dairy cows and questions about human health impacts, 30 groups will hand out flyers in cities ranging from Read more