Starbucks Day of Action

[uniquelycrazyful]

i saw this video and im impressed but i still love starbucks because the coffee and pastries are soo good!!

[QUGRRL]

NO, actually, you are incorrect. When you take the time to understand trade issues- that YOU and all of us contribute to, then you should come back and post... Read the paper. Get with it. And good luck.

[justforeignpolicy]

I'm really glad somebody took a stand and did this.

[djcoral]

If I should stop drinking starbucks coffee because they are only giving $.03/cup, then I guess I'd better stop eating any of the food that is in our supermarkets, resturaunts, etc, because our own govt is pratically raping our own farmers with absolutely no remorse, let alone benefits.

[PY1ER]

how about they just sell cheap coffe for people who arent fortunate enough to buy thier yuppie coffee?

[DXTC23]

haha.........why is vador in this video???!!!!!

[pedrocamanho]

Cuz unsustanable, non-fair trade non organic coffee is EVIL! thus You are part of the DARK SIDE if you support it.

[decafeine]

Nobody mentions that Ethiopian farmers receive free Dental and Medical care from on-site doctors & dentists that are not only available to the farmers, but to their community either. Lovely.

[QUGRRL]

You need to read up on this issue and understand the facts-as you clearly don't from reading this. And btw, they SHOULD have Medical Insurance, EVERYONE SHOULD.

[decafeine]

People read "three cents" and flip out. But that is, in fact, 3 cents per cup of Ethiopian coffee sold. So look at it this way: if a single store sells 100 cups of coffee (which is nothing), then that is $3/farmer. In a developing country, such as Ethiopia, something like $3/day is a decent salary. People forget: Ethiopia ISN'T North America. they can live on $3/day.

[angeili]

and one starbucks store sells about 500 cups a day. there are about 12000 stores. you do the math.

[knightofcush]

thank you for all of your support to stop this "unfair-tradeing" system. Ethiopia is going hungry only becuae is the west is doing its free-trdae, that is unfair for all other countries. We are starting with strabucks...but we shall continue with all other counties....and this goes to Technoboi11...shut the F### up...and play your techno because obviouly you dont know shit!!!

[TechnoBoi11]

if you have a problem about the Starbucks company.. THEN GO TO ETHIOPIA AND F***ING HELP THEM YOURSELF!!! it's not just Ethiopia where coffee bean plantations are located. they're in countries around the earth's equator. Starbucks is a GREAT company to work for. They give back and they help the farmers that they get their beans from. Where did you get the 3 cents fact anyway? from someone else? get your facts right. don't just assume. make some action.. don't WHINE about it.

~lor ♥

[espressoninja]

Ok, so I should stop drinking Starbucks coffee because they don't give enough money to the people they buy their coffee from? Ummmmm...ok, maybe those farmers can find someone who will pay more...YEAH FUCKIN' RIGHT!!!!

[swooncore]

to finish my comment; i refuse to give 400% profit to somebody when i could pay so much for a cup of organic fair-trade and know that most of this money is going to support a coffee farmer's life.

[zzbullan]

or, here is an idea stop blaming starbucks and stop buying coffee. if you give two shits about poor people then put the money you spend coffee to oxfam or world vision. stop blaming the company and take some responsibility

[swooncore]

FACT: Caring sells. Has anybody been to those ethiopian clinics and schools. No.

FACT: when a company sells a $5 cup of coffee that cost them less than one cent to produce, give 3 cent to whatever charity they support, less than 1/3 of whats left goes to production costs and the rest is going straight into the company's pocket.

[angeili]

starbucks espresso ("5 dollar") cup of coffee is not even made with african coffees. get your facts straight, moron. the coffee they are talking about sells for about 1.50 per cup.

[decafeine]

Swooncore... where the hell do you live where coffee costs $5/cup? Really?

In Canada, a venti coffee (20oz) costs $2.23 (CAD). Most of that goes to the employees and in case you didn't know, all starbucks employees do in fact get benefits! By the way, it's not possible that each cup costs less than one cent to produce. The electricity alone to brew the coffee already trumps that theory. Nice try though.

[kinjol]

you people disgust me

[lexstud]

Bullshit! When I worked for Starbucks I was paid the poverty wage of $6.50 and hour and given 10 hours a week. When I started talking about unions, they fired me. Starbucks is a sham...

[PoisonOak456]

Starbucks is the best coffee in the world!

[justskate41]

no vale verga el video

[sexiboytoy77]

i work there but dont drink coffee. when youre hired they tell you that because of starbucks theres schools in all these countries and they give back to these countries. i need money though.

[Jjjegbert]

This is somewhat silly. FACT: Because of Starbucks, countries like Ethiopia now have clinics, schools, hospitals etc. to SUPPORT the communities of these farmers. FICTION: An average Starbucks store sells 3000 cups of coffe a day. Actually, this is not even close to a realistic figure. FACT: Starbucks pays thier farmers more than any other corporate coffee company in the world. FACT: Starbucks is the world's largest buyer of Fair Trade Coffee.

[Metalmanz3]

Ok you say how bad starbucks is?

How much does folgers or Maxwellhouse give?

and starbucks builds free clinics and schools fot the growers. And 3c per cup is great compared to other coffee growers.

The thing with the trademark name is for the word Sidamo. Not the whole name.

[barfinpuppy]

Uh..when you walk into a Starbucks you are buying labor not green coffee. The baristas gets $1.20 from your $4.00 cup of coffee.

[barfinpuppy]

Starbucks is the world's largest buyer of Fair Trade Coffee. The price paid by Starbucks to Ethiopian farmers exceeds the Fair Trade price.

The disupute centers on whether Ethiopian can get higher price for their coffee using geographic certification or a trademark. Kona and Jamaica Blue Mountain use geographic certification.

[OiOi1972]

Starbucks are S C U M !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[hadwer]

do you know how many cups of coffe a starbucks store sells a day? at 3cents per cup... on an average store selling 3000 a day... thats 90 dollars a day for one store. adding in the rest of the stores worldwide, over 10,000... thats over 900,000 dollars a day. i would glady take that 3 cents per cup any day.

[Dougbikes]

First of all, Starbucks doesn't sell 3,000 cups of ETHIOPIAN coffee a day. Second, the net profit from all Ethiopian coffee is divided amongst many coffee farmers.

[naomihatter]

Two arguments: 1. Starbucks is too expensive! 2: Pay coffee growers more! You can't have both, make up your fucking minds! I LOVE STARBUCKS!!!

[yeseferledge]

what is that is even mean?

[threepints]

This is technically contrary to international law under the TRIPS agreement. Ethiopia should be able to bring actions against the United States.

Starbucks is just another corporation that cares nothing for people, only for their bottom line. Everyone should go to Bridgehead, or their local fair trade shop, instead.

[jugnaw]

I think the point is not whether or not Starbucks pays fair trade, but rather Sratbucks is not allowing ETHIOPIAN farmers to have patents to their own coffee.

[ETHIOmusician4christ]

we produce a really strong coffee that some of u people hate and some aboulently love but no matter what u say about the cofffee ethiopian farmers should get more from what they produce but as always George Bush is treating most third world countries as if they r soem kind of low life people that dont know anything so he doesnt do anythign to change this

[recordwindow]

I also work for starbucks, but in the UK. Our store does have faitrade coffee, I thought that's what this is all about? Do not all stores have fairtrade? Even our shortbread is faitrade.

[pr0n3]

I really don't care about the whole fair trade and stuff, but i'll never drink starbucks coffee becuase it just plain sucks! Home Roaster 4 Life!

[Jantscho]

give them THEIR licence, starbucks. you're not interested in wellfare, it's only the image of the company that counts! and this is getting real bad at the moment. people are right with their boycott!

[winwimp]

Won't drink a drop of starbucks coffee.

I really hope that they will be brushed off the market.

Seems this will be very soon. No loss.

[druggedparadox]

But really, think about what you are saying. I work for Starbucks, and at every store, YOU GET BENEFITS AND WELL OVER MINIMUM WAGE. My partners and I all get health, dental, vision, 401(k), stock options, and more. So if Starbucks goes under, will it be you who stands up and tells all the workers why they cant go to the doctor? Why they cant pay their bills?

[poofybird]

Um, how about going to school so you can qualify for a real job? Are you planning on serving coffee forever? $8.50 an hour is nothing to brag about.

[laurenscmc]

ok 3 cents per cup of coffee. ok not much right? well how many cups of coffee do they sell, pounds of coffee for home use? ok think about that.

[hwycine]

Starbux is McDonalds with green aprons. Boycott!!

[shrouded60606]

Amazing how inhumane we can be if we think people dont know.... keep poor people and make ME rich... I dont care... disguting attitude wich lets thier bosses drive mercs and the coffee processers do with out. Lets face it the employess are min wage, who cares about someone they will never meet. Sickening.

[Tony63efc]

Well done Oxfam America, Starbucks have decided to drop its opposition to the Ethiopian government's attempts to patent their coffee brands. I look forward to seeing videos about other issues such as the drug companies taking legal action in India (Novartis) and the Philippines (Pfizer) and also the USA being the only country to oppose a small arms control treaty.

[gearzone2611]

where you get this info. pls write it for me.

[subzerodav]

I agree thats its kind of low. but as for working for starbucks. people can be a real pain int he ass they bitch complain how slow you are prices and ect. I bitch them right back that deserve it. saying if your that fucking in a hurry make it you damn self. or if you know your late dont come. Its easy to order the complex drinks. but try making one. sorry but im str8 forward. sometimes its very overwhelming and some people dont give a shit

[CoSyBob]

The ill logic and lack of economic knowledge of these people is shameful. Starbucks must be paying as much as anybody else in the world for the Ethiopian's coffee or they would sell it to someone else. Both they and Starbucks must consider it the best deal they can make.

[alexisinwonderland]

i am not drinking starbucks untill they agree to sign.

[shishoromer]

i support mmgivens, i mean, he´s right,and,i ALSO work at starbucks, and everyday people ALSO complain to me bout things WE the employees (at stores) cant change, i mean,we just serve coffe(and proud of it =D) but thats it we cant do much...so...mmgivens..i PRAISE you jaja

[OiOi1972]

I hate starbucks as a result of their pittyful morals (i.e. lack thereof)

[MMGivens]

Now, I am all for fair trade coffee, but i think people target starbucks too much... Starbucks is not the only conpany that uses questionable trade practices... but it is really easy yo walk in into a store and complain about it. I work at a Starbucks, and everyday I get harassed about things i have no control over. I would like to see some of these people go to a coca-cola bottling company or a Proctor and Gamble plant and harass them some.

[Roboticjoanne]

I do believe that 3 cents is quite low. I was really surprised by this and had no idea. Starbucks always seemed like a great company and I'm from Seattle and they've bought out Seattle's Best. I think they can afford to pay a larger sum to the farmers.

[OiOi1972]

disgusting company - I will never buy from them again that is for sure.

Please help to change the way we buy at the expense of poorer people.

[elt0123]

Yes

[leighharrison]

you could argue it is the main ingredient, but it is the smallest, a cup of coffee is 99% water. I coffee farmer doesn't have to market the product, create demand, open stores, hire employees, pay rent, brew the coffee. How can you say what the fair price is per cup of coffee, the fair price is the price decided between the farmer and Starbucks, not some random person on Youtube.

[zumutube]

yeah, and this 99% of water is worth a lot more than 1% of cofee for sure.... have you thought about the conditions, in which these people work? the fact that they absolutely depend on starbucks doesn't mean that they can be exploited like that

[staticdreams]

Africa is in poverty through trade restictions (e.g. having to sell their coffee for ridiculously cheap prices to western corporations). It is the richest continent on earth in terms of materials yet is starved of wealth by western corporations and the corrupt african governments in their pockets. fair trade is a realistic way of helping africa and we at least owe them that. It wont be able to stand up for itself until they are allowed to trade as equals.

[leighharrison]

So Starbucks is the largest supplier of fair trade coffee in North America, does not supporting starbucks help?

[cmht16]

Oxfam, can you assure me that the Ethiopian govt will not use the trademark to keep the rural coffee farmers under tight political control? The govt did this with fertilizer. Why don't you ask the Ethiopian govt to banish the coffee auction system so coffee buyers can buy directly to farmers without a fee going to the govt?

[Chumbaz]

These oxfam people, are they even thinking?!? I'm with JakeHarvey - what if they just stopped buying Ethiopian beans to stop all the ridiculous drama. They have a transparent supply chain so they see everything that goes to each person. Nobody else is doing this. How about Oxfarm show what other Ethiopian bean buyers are paying vs Starbucks.

Geesh...

[crweb1]

If I had 3 cents for every cup of coffee Starbucks sells, I'd be richer than the government of Ethiopia.

[stubles81]

I like Darth Vader in the pictures, but why wernt they're any jedi's?

[BarkingSpider]

Darth Vader IS a jedi or at least was...

[TheRealBanana]

HA, When I sell stuff, the buyer does NOT set the price. I DO. If Ethiopians really wanted more than $0.03 per cup, then they should DEMAND more than $0.03 per cup.

[arielalj]

And risk losing their livelihood? This is the status quo...and I'm sure they'd prefer $0.03 to 0.00. And Starbucks should act like the socially responsible company they claim to be and recognize that this is abusive.

[Shapeshifter48]

In comparison, how much does a wheat farmer in the US get per loaf of bread? Or how much does a corn farmer get per box of corn flakes?

thati s an excellent piont whiplash. if i could make 3 cents per loaf, i think id buy some land and start a farm. also, higher profits for the suppliers mean higher prices for us. i dont think these ppl would be too happy with that

[dgbrownnt]

The actual coffee beans are cheap. If you actually look at how many of them go into a shot, it's not that much even. I'm not entirely sure why this is such a surprise. $0.03 for *part* of the ingredients in the coffee seems right on par with most other beverages. This isn't a 20-year Scotch we're drinking here...

[macthulhu]

3 cents per cup? Let's see... The per capita GDP of Ethiopia is $900... There are roughly 9000 Starbucks outlets in North America. Every time they sell 30,000 cups of coffee, that's an average year's salary for one Ethiopian. If every store sells 3.3 cups of coffee, there's your 30,000. Now, how many cups a day do you suppose each outlet sells in a day? Find real issue. Hell, look around in your own cities. You'll find plenty of people in need of help.

[tazdev88]

Soooooo for every one million cups of coffee that are sold (easy for Starbucks) each farmer gets $30,000? OK and this is a problem how??

[nazlfrag]

All farmers get cents in the dollar of the end price for their product. There are transport costs(trucking, shipping), storage costs, import/export costs, advertising costs, R&D costs, staff costs, capital for machinery, furnishings etc. They also make a profit. None of this is unethical - that's what farmers get paid because the beans are only a fraction of the cost of the cup of coffee. Oxfam should stop going after the good guys who abide by free trade practice.

[brodalco]

First of all, if this gets posted, then thanks to the Oxfarm Youtube gods for being fair and not filtering opinions.

This sounds like a scam from Oxfarm to drive membership. Starbucks has proven itself to be a socially responsible company. Ethiopian coffee-farmers are going to have life bad simply because they live in a poor country with a corrupt government, and there's nothing SBUX can do about that.

Futhermore, poop.

[jakeharvey]

Starbucks could stop buying Ethiopian coffee. Then the Ethiopian farmers won't be exploited anymore.

[whiplash21793]

3 cents per cup of coffee to the farmers sounds like a lot to me.

In comparison, how much does a wheat farmer in the US get per loaf of bread? Or how much does a corn farmer get per box of corn flakes?

[baristaitaliano]

Starbucks pays 28% OVER market prices for Ethiopian coffee. Also, they are not a government agency and have nothing to do with the passing of trademarks. The request for trademarks to not be accepted in the US was sent by America's National Coffee Association---NOT Starbucks. Come on people. Research before you have an opinion and don't have one that is handed to you by some self-righteous organization.

[amofertorres]

Ethiopia approached Starbucks and asked the company to lead the coffee industry by example and sign an agreement recognizing Ethiopia's legal ownership of its fine coffee names. If companies like Starbucks signed such agreements, Ethiopia would occupy a stronger negotiating position with foreign buyers, capture a larger share of the market associated with its coffee names, and better protect its brands.

[Sobornost3]

We know that Starbucks is buying 25% of all the fair trade coffee that comes into the U.S., and this is a help to poor farmers all over the globe, but does that erase what Starbucks is doing to Ethiopian farmers? Why is it okay for Monsanto to patent their genetically-modified seeds and acquire properties that have evidence of the effects of these GM seeds, but poor Ethiopian coffee farmers are not able to acquire their patent for their coffee beans? Pattye

[leighharrison]

It's not a patent it is a trademark on a geographical region, it's like comparing apples and oranges

[SquiddyTheMascot]

If Ethiopia raises its prices as a result of this trademarking will it discourage other smaller companies from pruchasing from Ethiopia? Could this in the long run hurt the farmers?

[SquiddyTheMascot]

Starbucks has always had a commitment to the coffee growers and the regions they live in. The company focuses a lot of energy on developing strong relationships with its growers where they are paid an above market price for their coffee. For a company of its size, Starbucks has an amazing commitment to this world and the people in it. Try to find another large company that puts so much back into the world.

[reidwrites]

Remember the WTO riots? Similar ill-informed hysteria. Big companies make easy targets. Read Charles Wheelan's Naked Economics and learn about how the world works before you cry fowl. And learn about the issue! This trademarking issue won't give more money to the farmers-- it will give a nicer cut to their corrupt government. Get informed.

[mdbizune]

You're right, people need to understand that if Starbucks agrees to pay Ethiopian farmers, there is 0% chance that they'll get extra money. Because Ethiopia has one of the most corrupted gov in Africa.

[NeedMoreInfo]

I think it's great that Oxfam poses important questions for consumers and pushes for what's right; however, I think that pushing a company that is well known for its social responsibility is a poorly thought out plan of action. If they were really trying to create change, they would challenge the Ethiopian government and larger companies like Nestle or Kraft. The power lies in being a well educated consumer.

[brodalco]

Due dat. Why not go bother haliburton?

[Anigrey]

Starbucks purchases less coffee than all the instant coffee makers that can be found in the grocery isle. They pay more than the commodity price for all of their coffee; they do service projects in origin countries and teach farmers to grow coffee in environmentally sound ways. If Oxfam really wanted to make a difference, not just mud sling, they would go after the coffee purchasers whom purchase more than 1% of the coffee, not just go after the conveniently located coffee purchaser.

[RagnerDanneskjold]

3c for every Starbucks coffee sold goes to Ethiopian farmers. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? Questions: Does "every Starbucks coffee sold" include only drip or all coffee beverages? What % of coffee beans in "every Starbucks coffee sold" is Ethiopian? What % of cost do the coffee beans represent in "every Starbucks coffee sold"? Are you counting EVERY coffee farmer in Ethiopia or only those that sell coffee to Starbucks? What does Starbucks pay for Ethiopian coffee vs. commodities market?

[sagd3]

Maybe starbucks should just stop purchasing coffee from them and then they would see what they have really lost! I commend starbucks for providing affordable health care to their employees and opportunities for long term careers. The manager at the starbucks I frequent used to be my barista 4 years ago!

[mrpandalovesbamboo]

Yes, Starbucks treats their employees here in the States fairly--social activists such as myself wish Starbucks would apply the same fair wages and decent treatment to the coffee farmers and coffee pickers from whom they buy their coffee. Wouldn't that seem fair? Wouldn't that make sense coming from a company that prides itself in high standards?

[zombie266]

Yep isn't this the American way? As long as it is good for America screw everybody! BTW, why on earth are you going to the same Starbucks for four years? Don't you have a life?

[SinnerBOFH]

zombie: maybe saqd, like me, stops for a cup-of-joe on his way to work. Maybe saqd, like me, has a stable job and a real life. Real life includes going to work, you know...

And for the issue, 3 cents per cup is a lot of money for one of many ingredients. And an ingredient that has to be processed to be of any use.

[seattlehusker]

Starbucks purchases less than 1% of the worlds coffee supply. Companies like Nestle, Kraft and others purchase much more coffee yet pay much less for the coffee they received. Starbucks on average pays over double the coffee market price. What is Oxfam doing to protest the other aforementioned coffees?

[yoatee]

The FTC movement is aimed at the Arabica bean market to increase consumption in the gourmet market. Nestle, Kraft, Sara Lee, and other high volume purchasers buy low quality Robusta beans. Should Robusta be fair trade? Yes! But since Robusta consumers buy terrible coffee to save money; the chances of them paying more for fair trade coffee is low. We want all coffee to be fair trade, but to do so we have to start by convincing people who actually care about the quality of coffee they drink.

[ezumenpro]

The other companies are not blocking Ethiopia's right of ownership over their coffee brand

[seriouslyrelaxed]

great video!  keep up the good work!

[soulareclipse]

well done oxfam!

[surrenderinggravity]

this is great!!! i fully support all you're doing! i think it's amazing!

[Tony63efc]

Well done OxfamAmerica, I'll talk about this when I go to work in my local Oxfam shop this afternoon.