Let's Keep the Momentum Going!

Thank you for sending a fax to Starbucks to let them know that you want them to honor their commitments to coffee farmers in Ethiopia. So far, more than 27,000 of you have taken action! Can you take one more simple, but effective action to help coffee farmers in Ethiopia. If so, today we need you to call Starbucks directly. Your quick call will help keep the pressure on. Once you've called, fill out the form below and let us know what they said. To help you make this simple call, we've developed these easy steps to help make your voice heard.

1. Call Starbucks' Retail Customer Relations line at (800) 235-2883 (between the hours of 8 am - 9 pm weekdays and 9 am - 6 pm weekends). All times are Eastern Standard Time.
2. Press "0" to talk to a customer relations representative. You don't have to wait for the whole menu of options.
3. Be friendly to any representatives on the phone. They are just employees of Starbucks; they don't actually set corporate policy.
4. Here are some talking points for your call but remember to use your own words:

* Hi, my name is [your name] and I'm calling from [your city, state]. I am a Starbucks customer.

* I am calling to ask Starbucks to sign the licensing agreement with the Ethiopian government to recognize Ethiopia's rightful ownership of its coffee names.

* This issue is very important to me. Thank you for listening to my concerns.

The Starbucks representative you speak with may respond with the official Starbucks position. Simply respond by reiterating that Starbucks should sign the licensing agreement with the Ethiopian government to recognize Ethiopia's rightful ownership of its coffee names.

We are making great strides to help coffee farmers in Ethiopia. Your voice will make a difference!

Please click here fill out the form below to tell us what they said.

Tell Starbucks to Give Ethiopian Farmers Their Fair Share

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.

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 lot 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. http://act.oxfamamerica.org/campaign/starbucks?rk=NdzDP2p1aENlW