e-mail
I just got this email from Oxfam. It looks like they got quite a few people to respond to their initial plea to put pressure on Starbucks to give Ethiopian farmers a fair price for their coffee. (My initial post is here if you missed it.)
If you haven’t yet signed and are interested in helping to improve the lives of Ethiopian coffee farmers, please click on one of the below links and add your support to this campaign.
Thanks!!
*****************
Dear Mary,
More than 70,000 Oxfam supporters like you have urged Starbucks to recognize Ethiopia’s ownership of its most famous coffee names. Public reaction has been impressive since we launched this campaign, and with your help, we hope Ethiopia can gain a more equal share in the value of its high quality coffee beans. Thank you very much for your action!
Want to do more to help Ethiopian coffee farmers? Click here and tell five friends to join with us in asking Starbucks to give Ethiopian coffee farmers their fair share!
Legal and intellectual property experts have supported Ethiopia’s approach, calling the trademark and licensing project an innovative, viable solution. If Ethiopia owned the trademarks to its coffee names, it would be able to manage its brands, bolster their value and, over the long-term, increase revenue to its coffee sector by gaining greater control over the price of its highest quality beans.
Under the current system, Ethiopia doesn’t get a fair shake.
You’re helping us put pressure on decision makers who could provide just that. Since the launch of our campaign, Oxfam has been in contact with both Starbucks and the Ethiopian government. We will update you on our discussions in the coming weeks.
Don’t forget to tell your friends to join us in taking action.
Sincerely,
Tim Fullerton
Oxfam America
