Starbucks Wimps Out of Rodeo Controversy )
Tries to Ease Rejection Tears of Welfare Cowboys March 29, 2006

Dear Friends,

While endlessly touting its principles, ethics, and social responsibility, Starbucks Coffee hasn't shown it over the last six months. Those who have been involved in the campaign to stop Starbucks' rodeo sponsorships have seen a winding, twisting strategy from the company as it tried every possible way to confuse its customers and deny its rodeo involvement. We persisted, however, and now there is positive news to report.

In a meeting with Starbucks' Executive Liaison, Matthew Murray, SHARK president Steve Hindi was assured that the company will no longer give rodeos money, either as a sponsor or advertiser or any other manner. This is a very good development. Less impressive is Starbucks’ decision to continue allowing some stores to donate products to local rodeos.

As a further concession, Starbucks promised that it will not allow the rodeo mafia to use Starbucks donations as a vehicle to claim the company as a sponsor. This means that rodeos will not reap undeserved legitimacy from the Starbucks’ name or logo.

Bob C
Starbucks' Headquarters where Steve met with Starbucks' Executive Liaison, Matthew Murray.

If Starbucks wants to foster community goodwill it might support local organizations such as youth clubs, churches, homeless, women’s and animal shelters, etc. Instead Starbucks chooses to give corporate welfare to a cruel and tasteless group of freeloaders who already receive so much money from governments and corporations that they should be forever known as “Welfare Cowboys.”

We are willing to give Starbucks credit where it is deserved. We appreciate that the company has withdrawn money and the use of its name in association with rodeos. However, donating to animal abusers is just repugnant.

Some activists have suggested that Starbucks doesn’t want it to look like a pushover and this may well be true. No company wants to appear weak and thus attract more attacks from other groups or causes. But Starbucks had an opportunity to terminate its affiliation with rodeos and it declined. The company's decision to stop sponsoring rodeos was not based on concern for animal suffering, but instead out of concern for the damage it was suffering to its reputation.

An additional component to Starbucks’ refusal to stand up to rodeos is the fact that there are rodeo supporters within the company. It is my personal belief that some of those rodeo thugs may be in decisionmaking capacities in the company. So much for ethics or social responsibility at Starbucks! Rodeo people don’t know the meaning of ethics or responsibility.

Rodeo Horse

Horse abuse at rodeo event.

So where do we go from here? First, the “www.BuckStarbucks.com” website will remain up until such time as Starbucks completely rejects rodeos. Second, the Tiger Truck will soon return home for needed work after a long and grueling road trip.

Our finances have been depleted by the Starbucks campaign and the months of the Tiger prowling from Starbucks Chicago to their headquarters in Seattle, so it is time to regroup and fund raise for the next campaign. (That's a hint folks, we really need your donations to move forward.)

Meanwhile, I believe that activists should continue to avoid Starbucks like the plague, along with other corporate animal abusers such as DaimlerChrysler (maker of Dodge and Mercedes Benz autos), Coca- Cola (which also sponsors the Iditarod Dog Race and other abuses) and Campbell Soup (owner of Pace Foods). All of these companies are major rodeo sponsors, and all have refused to do the right thing. Any company that maintains a relationship with animal abusers deserves nothing but our scorn.

Horse Tripping

Head of steer slammed into the ground.

I want to thank all of you who have called and written Starbucks in the past months. I especially want to thank those of you who took to the streets, both when the Tiger Truck was coming through your town, and even more when the Tiger wasn’t around. That kind of dedication to exposing the truth nationwide and beyond really grabs even multinational corporations’ attention.

Seattle activist and Starbucks’ shareholder Barbara Birbaum’s cordial but firm presentation before the entire Starbucks’ board at the annual shareholders’ meeting in February likely cut many months off the campaign. Such dedication demonstrates that while multinational corporations may have size and fortune, we have the backbone and guts, and we stand for something they will never have or even understand – compassion and justice.

Thanks to Alicia Silverstone and Ted Dansen for calling Starbucks, and the verbal support extended by Pam Anderson via television producer Dennis Erdman.

Thanks to In Defense of Animals (IDA) for its support during this campaign. IDA’s Kristie Phelps was very helpful in sending out press releases as the Tiger went from city to city. IDA also produced some terrific protest signs that can be used in local demos or posting in areas to inform the public of Starbucks’ continued involvement with rodeos. I also want to thank PETA (especially Jackie Vergerio and Bob Chorush), as well as activists from the grassroots groups around the U.S. who took part.

Calf w/tongue hanging out

Calf being choked by rodeo animal abuser.

There is part of me that wants to continue the Starbucks campaign, to force the company to do the right thing and leave rodeos altogether. But our mission was to cut the money supply, and we have accomplished that. There are other targets that are giving money to the Rodeo Mafia, and its time for some of them to face the music. I believe if this movement continues to focus on rodeo animal abuse, that Starbucks and other companies will quietly but effectively terminate what remains of their relationships with rodeos and other forms of abusive animal entertainment.

Within a couple of weeks we will disclose the next lucky winner or winners of our attention. At this time we are eyeing a short list of three top candidates. One is an old corporate animal nemesis that we can all sink our teeth into. One is a pop princess whose career may be turned on a dime when her fans discover what she is involved in. The last one is my favorite because it is an enormous killing machine that desperately needs to discover the concept of compassion.

Calf smashed into ground

Steer's face being forced into the dirt.

Kindest Regards,
Steve Hindi and your SHARK Team

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