Concern for earth
not brewing right
by Amanda Leduc
se news editor
Even environmentalists have bought into big business.
Across the country, environmentalists are campaigning and celebrating Earth Day, which is officially April 22.
Children in Fort Worth are coloring paper grocery bags with environmental messages.
The Keep Carrolton Beautiful organization is having a nature fest, which includes a litter-collecting contest.
The Dallas Morning News and the museums in Fair Park are sponsoring a free festival in Texas Discovery Gardens in Fair Park with organic garden tours and composting demos.
Everyone seems geared up and ready to clean up our precious planet, everyone except for the people who really count.
My heart sank and my stomach twisted when I read the Earth Day Network was proud to have Starbucks as a major partner in the Earth Day campaign.
That same Starbucks has, for more than five years, advertised its products as environmentally friendly and organic while it proudly displays the Fair Trade Coffees logo on its menus and windows. However, under 2 percent of the 100 million pounds of coffee the company purchases for resale each year is Fair Trade, and you cannot buy a cup of organic coffee at any Starbucks locations.
Starbucks’ organic coffees can be purchased only by the pound, which you then take home, grind and brew yourself.
This is the Starbucks that as recently as 2001 was still using milk with bovine growth hormones.
Starbucks repeatedly makes promises to those concerned for the environment and continually fails to keep those promises.
How can the organizers of one of the largest environmental campaigns look the other way? Perhaps it’s easier to sacrifice principles when you get a cut of Starbucks’ $11.3 million charitable donations.
Maybe that money will help activists lobby or run a campaign outreach program, but this environmentalist cannot look the other way.
You will not see me with a mocha latte in a cup that has a friendly reminder to use an energy-saving showerhead.
No amount of catchy sayings about saving energy can make up for the effects of bovine growth hormones on pubescent teens who wanted to have a hip cappuccino with their friends.
And when you toss your café latte out your car, the squirrels will not care if you buy Energy Star certified products.
The Earth Day Network is setting a negative example by working with Starbucks. It is sending the message that it is okay to lie if it makes you look good.
Last Updated: 4/21/2004
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