Pressure mounting on Starbucks to let Ethiopia own its trademarks

International pressure on Starbucks is increasing with consumers calling on the company to release Ethiopian farmers' efforts to own their own coffee marks.

Reverend Billy, the Stop Shopping Gospel Choir, and members of their Congregation continued informing the world that Starbucks is blocking Ethiopia from trademarking its own coffee marks. According to News Blaze, Reverend Billy is arrested, while fighting for the Ethiopian farmers, for the second week in a row, and held in jail.

Before the February 11th campaign, Starbucks issued a memo to its staff, headed: "What do I do if Reverend Billy comes into my store?”

Ethiopia wants to own the trademarks for its valuable coffees Harar and Sidamo but Starbucks is working through their lobbying group National Coffee Association (NCA) to block the country’s efforts in the US.

News Blaze says, “Ownership of these trademarks could help farmers in a bottomed-out coffee market make enough money to feed their families. Right now coffee growers in Ethiopia, thought to be the birthplace of coffee, are experiencing hunger and malnutrition.”

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Read the whole article at News Blaze

Also, watch the video on Reverend Billy’s recent action here

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