The Ethiopian Herald (Addis Ababa)
February 15, 2007
Addis Ababa
Oxfam America expressed hope that Starbucks, an international coffee retailer and roaster company, would negotiate a solution with the Ethiopian government on the country's claim to its coffee trademarks as the company takes part in the 4th East African Fine Coffee Conference and Exhibition opening here today.
In an exclusive interview with The Ethiopian Herald earlier this week, Oxfam America Horn of Africa Regional Director Abera Tola and Coffee Programme Manager Seth Petchers said that Starbucks had to use the opportunity to change its position and recognize the interest of Ethiopia and its coffee farmers.
"We hope Starbucks to take the opportunity of being in Addis to sit down with the government and come to an agreement that works for both parties," Petchers said.
Alain Poncelet, Vice President and Managing Director of Starbucks Coffee Trading Company, is expected to deliver a keynote address at the conference.
It is the second Ethiopian working visit for Starbucks after Oxfam launched a campaign in October urging the company to honour its public commitments to its coffee growers by signing Ethiopia's licensing agreement to affirm the country's rights in the trademarks associated with some of its finest coffees.
Starbucks CEO Jim Donald met Prime Minister Meles Zenawi in Ethiopia in November, but the company has not yet changed its position regarding the trademark issue.
"This is another opportunity for Starbucks to do the right thing," Petchers said. "It would be very disappointing if the company goes back home without having some kinds of agreement with Ethiopia."
Starbucks has the opportunity to show leadership while other coffee companies are cooperating with Ethiopia's trademark bid, Abera said.
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, a leading roaster and distributor of specialty coffees, is one of the companies signed a letter of intent with the Ethiopian government in January this year.
Ethiopian coffee growers selling their produce to Starbucks earned between 75 cents and 1.60 USD a pound on beans that Starbucks sold at up to 26 USD a pound.
Ethiopia wants win-win situation, Abera said. "If they Starbucks recognize the trademark, the Ethiopian government can go into the commitment to keep the quality of Ethiopian coffees."
Oxfam's initiative is drawing public reaction around the world as over 90,000 people through Oxfam website have sent fax to Starbucks urging the company to live up to its commitment to coffee farmers and sign the trademark of Ethiopia since the launch of the campaign in 2006.
Friday, February 16, 2007
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
CNN Int'l Launches Weekly Program Promoting Ethiopia
The Ethiopian Herald (Addis Ababa)
February 13, 2007
By WIC
Addis Ababa
CNN International has launched broadcasting a weekly TV programme that aims at promoting Ethiopia's tourist attractions and the culture and norms of its nations and nationalities.
The transmission that started yesterday is organized in accordance with the agreement reached between Walta Information Centre and CNN International to introduce to the world the positive images of the country in the spheres of culture and tourism.
Accordingly, one of the outstanding documentary productions of WIC entitled Artaale was aired yesterday.
CNN transmitted the abridged form of the documentary film which deals with depicting one of the active volcanoes in the world.
Artaale is located in Afar State 600-kms away fromAddis.
WIC has entered an agreement with CNN for the transmission of the programme with three of its five channels namely CNN international, CNN Espanola and CNN America in prime time or convenient time.
In the upcoming weeks of transmission CNN will air programmes that deal with Ethiopian Epiphany and Dire Sheikh Hussein shrine.
February 13, 2007
By WIC
Addis Ababa
CNN International has launched broadcasting a weekly TV programme that aims at promoting Ethiopia's tourist attractions and the culture and norms of its nations and nationalities.
The transmission that started yesterday is organized in accordance with the agreement reached between Walta Information Centre and CNN International to introduce to the world the positive images of the country in the spheres of culture and tourism.
Accordingly, one of the outstanding documentary productions of WIC entitled Artaale was aired yesterday.
CNN transmitted the abridged form of the documentary film which deals with depicting one of the active volcanoes in the world.
Artaale is located in Afar State 600-kms away fromAddis.
WIC has entered an agreement with CNN for the transmission of the programme with three of its five channels namely CNN international, CNN Espanola and CNN America in prime time or convenient time.
In the upcoming weeks of transmission CNN will air programmes that deal with Ethiopian Epiphany and Dire Sheikh Hussein shrine.
People Fleeing Clan Fights Cross Into Kenya
The East African Standard (Nairobi) NEWSFebruary 14, 2007
Posted to the web February 14, 2007 By Adow Jubat
Kenya will have to contend with another wave of refugees, this time from Ethiopia where renewed clan fighting has pushed thousands onto the road to Moyale District.
The victims, most of them women and children, have been crossing into Kenya with their livestock for the past four days. Two of the Ethiopians are admitted at Moyale District Hospital with gunshot wounds.
More than 40 people were reportedly killed in the clan fighting pitting the Borana against the Gabra.
Moyale Medical Officer of Health, Dr Benedett Macharia, said one of the injured, Mr Sora Adhi Guyo, 75, who sustained three gunshot wounds had his right leg amputated.
Another victim, Dida Halake, was injured in the thigh.
Area DC, Mr Victor Okioma, said the Government would do everything to ensure the clashes do not spill into Kenya. The warring clans live on the both sides of the border and such skirmishes often come with the potential to spill across the border.
Okioma urged the clan elders at the border to initiate dialogue, saying the fights might scuttle the cross-border peace meetings brokered by Kenyan and Ethiopian governments. The peace meetings have been ongoing for the last two years.
Posted to the web February 14, 2007 By Adow Jubat
Kenya will have to contend with another wave of refugees, this time from Ethiopia where renewed clan fighting has pushed thousands onto the road to Moyale District.
The victims, most of them women and children, have been crossing into Kenya with their livestock for the past four days. Two of the Ethiopians are admitted at Moyale District Hospital with gunshot wounds.
More than 40 people were reportedly killed in the clan fighting pitting the Borana against the Gabra.
Moyale Medical Officer of Health, Dr Benedett Macharia, said one of the injured, Mr Sora Adhi Guyo, 75, who sustained three gunshot wounds had his right leg amputated.
Another victim, Dida Halake, was injured in the thigh.
Area DC, Mr Victor Okioma, said the Government would do everything to ensure the clashes do not spill into Kenya. The warring clans live on the both sides of the border and such skirmishes often come with the potential to spill across the border.
Okioma urged the clan elders at the border to initiate dialogue, saying the fights might scuttle the cross-border peace meetings brokered by Kenyan and Ethiopian governments. The peace meetings have been ongoing for the last two years.
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