Oxfam Tells Starbucks: Honor Your Commitments to Ethiopian Coffee Farmers
October 31st, 2006 at 2:30 pm | posted by Tim Fullerton, Oxfam America, eAdvocacy Coordinator
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.
Click here to tell Starbucks to honor its commitments to coffee farmers
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 more than 25 percent -
or $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.
To learn more about the campaign, click here.
Thank you for supporting coffee farmers in Ethiopia.
Tim Fullerton
Oxfam America
