The Boston based anti-poverty organization, Oxfam America, recently sent a letter to investment analysts, with a carbon copy to Starbucks’s Investor Relations department, to inform them about “a pressing dispute between Starbucks and the Government of Ethiopia” and urging them to raise the issue with company management. The following is extracted from the letter; it provides a quick synopsis of the public dispute over Ethiopia’s trademark initiative and its impact on the Starbucks brand. I think the material fits the My Starbucks Story theme , so I took the liberty of naming it accordingly. What is your Starbucks story? Email it to me at poorfarmer@gmail.com . ----------------------------- " My Starbucks Story" of Oxfam America This conflict [between Starbucks and Ethiopia over coffee trademarks] could well constitute a brand risk for Starbucks, affect employee morale, and jeopardize its relationship with key suppliers—all of which may affect long-term shareholder value. ...