Campaign against Oxfam agreement with Starbucks (Boycott Israel Campaign)

[Elisa Keisha]

source: Boycott Israel Campaign

CAMPAIGN AGAINST OXFAM AGREEMENT WITH STARBUCKS

18 October 2004

VICTORY: Oxfam Announces End Of Relations With Starbucks (28 Feb 2005)

BACKGROUND:

Innovative Minds and IHRC are calling on campaigners to contact Oxfam Great Britain and protest their decision to collaborate with multinational coffee chain Starbucks.

In an agreement announced last week[1], Starbucks has agreed to contribute £100,000 to Oxfam's rural development programme in the East Hararge coffe growing region of Ethiopia. There are a number of critical concerns regarding this partnership, outline below.



1. Starbucks pro-Israel stance



Campaigners will be aware of Starbucks pro-Israel stance, for detailed information please see our Boycott Starbucks page:

Boycott Israel Campaign


In summary. Starbucks’ chair Howard Schutltz is an active zionist whose own activities include running propaganda seminars on behalf of Israel across campuses in both North America and Israel. In recognition for his support of Israel Howard Schultz has been presented with "The Israel 50th Anniversary Tribute Award". Starbucks has sponsored the bowl4isreal event, and despite pulling its stores out of Israel has maintained that it will return in response to questions raised by the Zionist Anti-Defamation League (ADL).

We are of course concerned that a humanitarian organization is getting involved with a company that supports apartheid Israel.



2. Oxfam's double standards



Oxfam’s double standards in co-operating with Starbucks need to be brought to light. A couple of years ago Oxfam turned down a £5000 donation from Prof Honderich because he defended Palestinians right to resort to violence to fight occupation.


The reason Oxfam gave was quoted in the Guardian (9 Oct 2002):

”The charity said in a statement: "The decision to decline Prof Honderich's donation was taken for one reason alone, that Oxfam cannot accept, endorse or benefit from certain opinions given in the book. Oxfam's purpose is to overcome poverty and suffering. We believe that the lives of all human beings are of equal value. We do not endorse acts of violence... No other facts were considered in taking the decision."

Jewish Chronicle (18 Oct 20002):

”An Oxfam spokeswoman told the JC: ‘We said: No thank you,’ because you condone acts of terrorism and we can’t accept donations from someone taking that standpoint.

’Oxfam spokes-woman maintained: ”We can’t condone violence in any form.” She added that the charity would doubtless have been criticised had it accepted the money.”

At the time Bob Cartridge, head of campaigns for War on Want, when asked about this opinion said:

"It is absolutely legitimate to question the sources of donations particularly when they are associated with business or (in this case) a business deal. Accepting a donation implies a degree of endorsement. But in this case I suspect Oxfam has reacted to a vocal pro-Israeli minority and concerns about potential damage to its future fundraising. All NGOs working in Palestine are well aware of this lobby, which complains on a daily basis about any support given to the opposition."

Full articles and more information on it please see the "boycott news" page on it:

Boycott Israel News



3. Fair Trade



The Oxfam – Starbucks agreement is being heavily criticized by campaigners for Fair Trade. According to the Organic Consumers’ Association a similar agreement between Oxfam America and Starbucks was an exercise in ‘greenwashing’ i.e. Starbucks getting endorsement from a humanitarian organization in return for a minimal donation towards a project that helped its image.


For an analysis of the discrepancy between the image and the reality please visit:

Oxfam and Starbucks- Partners In Greenwashing


[1] Starbucks tastes Oxfam's brew, Alison Maitland, Financial Times, 14 October 2004



SUGGESTED ACTION

We are calling on all campaigners to write to Oxfam asking them to protest Oxfam’s decision to enter an agreement with a pro-Israeli multinational given that they previously rejected a donation from a pro-Palestinian donor on the basis that Oxfam should not be seen to “condone violence in any form…” and that by accepting it Oxfam “would doubtless have been criticised had it accepted the money.”

We also requests campaigners to raise the issue of greenwashing with Oxfam whose credentials as a promoter of Fair Trade are surely undermined by such an agreement.

Donors to Oxfam may consider these issues before making future donations, and consider charities less prone to political manipulation and lobbying.

A sample letter is provided below, although we suggest it is more effective if you write your own letters using the points mentioned above. The letter can either be posted or otherwise sent on-line via a complaints form that is available on the Oxfam website:

Contact us :: Oxfam GB

In either case please email us at boycott@inminds.co.uk with the subject line "Oxfam campaign" just to let us know that you have complained, that way we can accurately gauge the response to this campaign. Also please forward us any replies that you receive - this is very important - thank you.



SAMPLE LETTER:

Barbara Stocking
Director of Oxfam Great Britain
274 Banbury Road,
Oxford,
OX2 7DZ
United Kingdom

The Date

Dear Ms Stocking,

Oxfam Collaboration With Starbucks

I am writing to complain your recent decision to enter an agreement with the pro-israeli multinational Starbucks. As you will know Starbucks is the target of a worldwide boycott for its support of Israeli apartheid (see Boycott Israel Campaign). It is shameful that a humanitarian organisation like Oxfam can be bought out by a multinational, and that for a paltry £100,000.

Two years ago you rejected a donation of £5000 from Prof Honderich who supports the right of Palestinians to use violence to resist occupation. At the time Oxfam said

"The decision to decline Prof Honderich's donation was taken for one reason alone, that Oxfam cannot accept, endorse or benefit from certain opinions given in [Honderich's] book... Oxfam's purpose is to overcome poverty and suffering. We believe that the lives of all human beings are of equal value."

So then by accepting Starbucks money Oxfam is clearly endorsing their support for israeli apartheid. Apparently the lives of Palestinians, suffering under occupation, are worth less to Oxfam and can be bought for £100,000.

You cannot claim to help people with one hand whilst at the same time with the other hand endorse their oppression.

I am disgusted by this sell out and double standards. I will no longer support Oxfam and will urge others to do the same.

I would like an explanation for your decision in partnering with Starbucks whilst knowing that it supports apartheid Israel.

Awaiting your prompt reply.

Yours faithfully,

Your Sign

Your Name & Address

* Sample Letter (Word Format)



REPLY

One of our campaigners forwarded us the replies he received from Oxfam:

OXFAM: REPLY TO SAMPLE LETTER

Thank you very much for your message to Oxfam in which you expressed your concerns regarding the involvement of Starbucks in supporting Israeli actions in the Middle East. Your feedback is important to us as it enables us to assess how our work is being perceived.

Oxfam is an internationally established and renowned aid organisation that delivers projects in over 80 countries around the world aimed at reducing poverty and suffering. We work largely with other organisations and due to Charity Commission guidelines take great care in choosing those who we develop partnerships with. This maintains our integrity and professional reputation.

It is important to note that this collaboration with Starbucks is purely about working with coffee farmers and improving their livelihoods. We believe that by working together we can achieve a great deal for these farmers.

Independent organisations have verified that of all the specialist coffee companies Starbucks leads the way with its policy of ethical purchasing and corporate social responsibility. It consistently pays more than double the current market price for its coffee compared to other major coffee roasting companies. Nevertheless, it has pledged to increase further their purchase of Fairtrade coffee and also to develop ways to benefit coffee-growing communities.

With respect to your concerns we have found no evidence that Starbucks as an organisation is pro-Israeli. Starbucks have made it clear that any comments made by Mr. Schultz were made as a private citizen and not in his capacity as chair of Starbucks. At the time of the original allegations against Mr. Schultz, Starbucks said: "Starbucks is an international company, wherever we operate we embrace diversity and strive to be locally relevant. Starbucks has no involvement or interest in politics anywhere in the world."

We are therefore happy to enter into collaboration with them and accept a donation to fund the work in Ethiopia. Starbucks UK already has some experience of relief work in southern Ethiopia. They have been working on developing health, clean water and education schemes in Bensa Ware. However, if we feel that any of Starbucks business practices are or become inconsistent with the aims and goals of this collaboration we will review our relationship with them.

We are viewing this collaboration with Starbucks as an excellent opportunity to demonstrate the benefits that can come from non-governmental organisations working with private businesses. It will also further publicise Fairtrade practices to other organisations.

You also mentioned Oxfam's rejection of Professor Honderich's donation in 2002. The reason for that was due to the gift being from the royalties of his book in which he justified targeted violence against civilians. I hope that you appreciate that our collaboration with Starbucks is very different from the Honderich case as that would have severely compromised Oxfam's principles.

Oxfam has a considerable presence in the Palestinian Territories and is working hard to prevent humanitarian disasters and the urgent need for civilian protection.

Oxfam has been working in the Palestinian Territories (West Bank and Gaza Strip) and Israel since 1949 where we are advocating for a just and peaceful solution to the conflict.

For more information on the work that Oxfam GB does in the Palestinian territories and Israel please visit our website at:

Where we work :: Oxfam GB

I hope that this has addressed your concerns and if you have any other query please do not hesitate to contact us.

With best wishes,

Ingrid Kamikazi
Supporter Relations
Oxfam


CAMPAIGNER: 2ND LETTER TO OXFAM

Dear Ingrid,

I am disappointed by your reply. Its interesting how you so easily separate Schultz from his company in order to facilitate your business with Starbucks.

If the Chairman of a company was a proud nazi would you do business with the company if they said that their CEOs nazi activities were a private matter not related to the company even though they proudly displayed his award for best nazi on their company website?


OXFAM: 2ND REPLY

Thank you very for taking the time to get back to us. Please allow me to explain further what prompted Oxfam to enter into a partnership with Starbucks.

The initial contact between Oxfam and Starbucks was caused by the developing coffee crisis in 2001 when coffee prices slumped. This resulted in Starbucks providing information on its coffee purchasing practices for a report by Oxfam entitled 'Mugged: Poverty in your coffee cup'. A recent update has found Starbucks to be a leader in responsible coffee purchasing including Fairtrade.

Starbucks has imposed upon itself purchasing guidelines that are much more rigorous that those set out by the Common Code for the Coffee Community. Starbucks rewards suppliers who meet key quality, environmental, financial and social criteria.

Oxfam and Starbucks are both very concerned about the coffee crisis as neither organisation wants to see the production of coffee curtailed. This joint vision has under-pinned the drive towards a mutually beneficial collaboration between Oxfam and Starbucks.

During the negotiations Oxfam has remained independent from Starbucks. This is essential such that we maintain our credibility, reputation and therefore our influence as a non-governmental organisation (NGO). Oxfam remains fully independent of Starbucks, we are not spokespeople for the company and we would criticise Starbucks as we would any other company if we felt that any of their business practices were inconsistent with the goals and values of this collaboration.

Starbucks will also help Ethiopian farmers get a fairer price for their products and open up new markets for their coffee. This contributes to the economic recovery and stability of 700,000 smallholders in Ethiopia that depend upon coffee for their livelihoods. Starbucks UK already has also some experience of relief work in Southern Ethiopia.

Just to reiterate , we believe that Mr Schultz remarks were made as a private citizen, not as his capacity as CEO of Starbucks, and therefore should not affect the collaboration between the companies.As a commercial organisation they do not get involved in international or local politics.

We will continue to work with Starbucks for as long as we consider the collaboration to be contributing to the reduction of poverty and suffering, and only while we remain happy that Starbucks are continuing in their commitment to consistently improving their buying practices and making efforts to help poor farmers.

I hope that this helps understand the choice Oxfam has made when entering into this collaboration.

Please do not hesitate to contact us for further information.

With best wishes,

Ingrid Kamikazi
Supporter Relations
Oxfam

CAMPAIGNER: 3ND LETTER TO OXFAM

Dear Ingrid

You have totally ignored the two points I raised. Please answer them.

1. If Schultz was a nazi instead of a zionist would you still conveniently separate him from his company and do business with Starbucks?

2. If Schultz support for Israeli apartheid is personal and not related to Starbucks then why did Starbucks proudly display the "The Israel 50th Anniversary Friend of Zion Tribute Award" given to Schultz which "salutes leaders who have played key roles in promoting close alliance between the United States and Israel", on their Awards and Accolades page until recently?

If you think that you are still independent of Starbucks, you are deluding yourselves - the blood on their hands is now on yours - that is the price you pay for getting in to bed with such a multinational. Your credibility and reputation are gone - was the £100,000 worth it?



OXFAM DID NOT REPLY



This photo of a boycott banner was recently taken in the middle-east. It shows Oxfam's logo along side companies supporting Israel (next to Sara Lee). Interestingly Starbucks doesn't appear on the banner - perhaps this is to highlight the hurt caused by Oxfams betrayal to people who had once regarded it highly. Oxfam's reputation in tatters - all for a meagre £100,000.



SUPPORTING ORGANISATIONS:

This campaign is also being supported by the following organisations:

* Palestinian Return Centre

* Friends of Al-Aqsa

* Scottish Palestine Solidarity Camapaign

* Muslim Association of Britain



MEDIA CONTACT:

To arrange interviews regarding this campaign please contact:

Islamic Human Rights Commission
Email: info@ihrc.org
Telephone: 02089044222
Mobile: 07958522196

[G1deon]

Dear XXXXX

Thank you for your message regarding Oxfam's corporate partnership with Starbucks and your concern about the current situation in Gaza. As you rightly point out, Oxfam has partnered with Starbucks in the past, however this was a number of years ago and is no longer the case. I am pleased to be able to provide you with an up to date review of both our partnership with Starbucks and our position on the current crisis in Gaza.

Oxfam accepted a donation from Starbucks back in 2004 for a programme in Ethiopia. We worked with them for one year and have accepted no donations from them since. We do not have an active partnership with them, and we are not in discussions to receive any further donations at present. If you'd like up to date information on Oxfam corporate partnerships, please do take a look at our web site: Get involved : Corporate partners :: Oxfam GB.

More recently, in 2007, we ran an active and highly successful campaign against Starbucks and their stance on Ethiopia's attempt to trademark its own coffee growing regions. We campaigned against Starbucks in the UK and other countries, speaking out in international and national media. Due to pressure from Oxfam and nearly 100,000 supporters worldwide, Starbucks changed their position. You can see more about this campaign on our website:
Starbucks :: Oxfam GB

We are of course aware that we have an obligation to work with ethical corporations, and we have to take a number of things into consideration before working with any company or supplier. We also maintain the right to campaign against any actions taken by an organisation, or against the organisation itself regardless of any previous or current partnership that we may have with them.

Oxfam is not taking sides in the current crisis in Gaza, we do not support the governments of Israel or the Occupied Palestinian Territories. As a humanitarian agency signatory to the Red Cross Code of Conduct, Oxfam's only concern is the welfare of the innocent civilians caught in a conflict. Our only role and aim is to provide humanitarian assistance when it is needed and speak up for all people caught up in violence so they have their security concerns addressed.

This is why we are calling on both the Israeli Government and Palestinian armed groups to immediately cease all attacks against civilians because we do not believe that there is a military solution to the conflict. All the parties to the conflict need to get round the negotiation table and push, and be pushed, for a just and durable peace. This will not be easy and requires a great deal of political courage and vision on all sides. But if all the people of this troubled region are to live in lasting peace then negotiation is the only path forward. We are therefore asking all our supporters to help us push for this by signing our petition at Gaza crisis - Ceasefire now :: Oxfam GB. Please do add your voice to ours and ask your friends to add their names too, we need all the support we can get. This call was also supported by a full page appeal in the Financial Times last week.

We are also appealing for funds and donations to our Gaza appeal, so that Oxfam’s partners in the area can help provide access to clean water and food. If you would like to donate, we can do so directly at https://www.oxfam.org.uk/donate/gaza_crisis.html. We also have a page dedicated wholly to the crisis which is updated as soon as we receive new information, and also contains blogs from our staff who have remained in the region. Please have a look at Emergencies - Crisis in Gaza :: Oxfam GB for more information.

If you would like more information about our work in Israel and the occupied Palestinian Territories, where we are working with communities from both sides, please visit The Occupied Palestinian Territories and Israel :: Oxfam GB.

I hope this helps clarify Oxfam's position and you feel you can continue to support our vital work. Our priority is and always will be to assist those who are living in poverty and suffering and I hope you will feel you can support our vital work.

If you have any further questions about this or any other aspects of our work, please do get back in touch and I will be happy to help.

With best wishes

Lucy Grafton
Supporter Relations
Oxfam GB

[Elisa Keisha]

thank u very much for this updated information. where did u get it from?
as much as a dont like to trust in this kind of organization, its at least good to read they are not so openly hypocrite.

[G1deon]

I written emails and included the names of the people you originally had in your post. I don't trust it either.