Tucson is the home of some very fine activists, and I am looking forward to seeing them. Still, I have to restrain myself from the urge to just head for Seattle, as I so badly want to confront Starbucks headquarters with our rodeo video footage. But it is important to expose Starbucks on the way, so I’ll just have to keep a lid on it.

The company that fooled so many people into thinking it was ethical and socially responsible is revealing itself to be cruel, cowardly, rude and unprofessional. The latest volley involves animal and human rights activist William McMullin, who sent Starbucks Senior Safety Analyst Bill Jividan an E-mail raising the point that rodeos are not safe for the animal victims involved. Mr. Jividan initially promised to look into the situation. Then, and without explanation, Mr. Jividan followed up with an E-mail that was so accusatory and rude that it just has everyone who has read it shaking their heads.

Dear Mr. McMullin,

I found a lot out, most of it about you. Please do not contact me in the future, if you have any questions please correspond with Starbucks public affairs office. Have a nice day.

Bill

Dear Mr. Jividan,

I am the president of Showing Animals Respect & Kindness (SHARK), one of the organizations involved in the campaign to persuade Starbucks to stop sponsoring rodeo animal abuse. Although Starbucks is inexplicably denying any rodeo sponsorship, we are aware of such activity in four states, and expect to find more.

Mr. William McMullin recently exchanged some E-mail with you regarding that sponsorship, and he forwarded your latest response to me. Although it claims to be an “ethical” and “socially responsible” company, Starbucks, and now its staff, appears to be having a very difficult time living up to those high ideals.

Your E-mail to Mr. McMullin suggests there is something negative about either him and/or what he is involved in, but you fail to provide any foundation for your accusation/insult. If you have something to say, say it. If your statement is baseless, then you are simply being extremely rude and profoundly unprofessional, and you owe Mr. McMullin a full and sincere apology.

Surely you are aware that directing Mr. McMullin to the public affairs office is tantamount to telling him to go squat. Why is there no one in Starbucks who has the ethics, social responsibility, integrity or guts to talk about the rodeo issue? What's the big deal?

Your response to Mr. McMullin has been forwarded to other individuals and organizations involved in this campaign. Your response, such as it is, is now the Starbucks response, and it does not put the company in a positive light. Starbucks’ carefully crafted, thoroughly green washed image is already starting to fade, and it is very early in the campaign.

Sincerely,

Steve Hindi, President SHARK

The apparent policy is, don’t discuss it, and just let the phone drones in public relations read their false statement to the public. That statement still denies Starbucks is sponsoring rodeos, and only refers to the Starbucks ad in the rodeo program for the Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo last July. The company refuses to even admit to the rodeo events it sponsored in Belton, Texas, in Kansas City, Missouri and in Washington State.

Although some have you have called Starbucks a few times, it would be a good idea to call again and just ask if there is any progress on the rodeo issue. Those of you who have not yet called certainly should. Starbucks needs to hear from the public. Please go to BuckStarbucks .com for Starbucks contact information.

In Defense of Animals, who is now also involved in the Starbucks campaign, is working on some great looking posters for the Starbucks campaign, and they will hopefully be ready soon for this growing campaign. Starbucks management is truly foolish to allow this snowball to keep gathering momentum.

As the Tiger continues its course to Starbucks headquarters in Seattle, we need local activists along the route in order for this campaign to succeed.

If you live in a potential target city or any city near the Tiger's route, speak up! We want to stop in as many areas as possible, but won't waste valuable Tiger time and money going to cities that don't have local activists to help organize efforts there.

The Tiger Tour potentially includes these cities:

• Las Vegas
• Salt Lake City
• San Diego
• Los Angeles
• San Francisco
• Portland
• Seattle

If you can help out in any of these ways:

• Seeking out optimal Starbucks locations
• Sending out press releases to local media
• Handing out Buck Starbucks flyers or holding signs

then please contact SHARK at shark.central@sbcglobal.net:

If this campaign is to succeed, people across the US and beyond need to get out and demo at their local Starbucks to spread the word. THIS IS VITAL! Please download our flyer at BuckStarbucks.com and put them into the hands of caring people who are patronizing Starbucks under the false belief that it is a good company.