Friday, September 21, 2007

Planet Bean Worker Co-op Signs Historic Coffee Agreement With Ethiopia

Representatives from the Washington and Ottawa Ethiopian Embassies were in Guelph September 18, 2007 to sign a historic trademark agreement with Planet Bean Coffee. The agreement developed after a prolonged battle between Ethiopia and coffee giant Starbucks over the trade mark rights to use the names of coffees originating in Ethiopia. Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee.

In 2005 the Ethiopian government filed applications to trademark its most famous coffee names, Sidamo, Harar and Yirgacheffe. Securing the rights to these names would enable Ethiopia to capture more value from the trade, by controlling their use in the market and thereby enabling farmers to receive a greater share of the retail price. Starbucks attempted to squash the application. A battle ensued between the coffee giant and Ethiopia which was joined by organizations led by Oxfam. Eventually Starbucks backed down.

"It's a little like Walmart deciding what the French in Bordeaux can put on their wine labels," commented Bill Barrett from Planet Bean, " the Ethiopians have been growing and drinking coffee longer than anyone on earth, I think they should control the rights to their own coffee origins."

Planet Bean is the first Canadian coffee company to sign the new agreement with the Ethiopian government allowing the coffee roastery to use the names. The company is one of the first 100% certified fair trade coffee roasters in Canada and has been purchasing coffee from Ethiopia since 2002.

Thursday, May 24, 2007

The Workers' Revolution in Argentina

Here's the chocolate factory, but where has Willy Wonka gone?

No bosses in sight at plants taken over by ex-employees in new workers' revolution
By Rory Carroll and Oliver Balch in Buenos Aires, The Guardian
Friday May 11, 2007

From the outside it is a nondescript industrial site in a drab suburb of Buenos Aires, the firm's logo barely visible. Inside, the first thing you notice is the smell of chocolate, honey, caramel, ice cream, cakes and jam. Machines hum while cheerful men in green overalls pack crates of confectionary.

The second thing you notice is the absence of bosses. There are no people in suits giving orders. They do not exist. Nor is there an official owner. Ghelco is run as a cooperative along democratic lines, with an equal say and equal pay.

For the full article see http://www.guardian.co.uk/argentina/story/0,,2077140,00.html

Wednesday, April 04, 2007

EMES EUROPEAN RESEARCH NETWORK News Alert

The 4th Social Enterprise Research Conference will be held next July. [News in English ]

La 4ème Conférence de la recherche sur l'entreprise sociale
(Social Enterprise Research Conference) aura lieu en juillet de cette année. [News en français ]

La 4ª Conferencia de investigación sobre la empresa social
(Social Enterprise Research Conference) se celebrará el próximo mes de julio. [News en español ]

Contact/ Contacto
Rocio Nogales
EMES European Research Network
Coordination Unit
University of Liege
Sart Tilman - B33 - bte 4
4000 Liege (Belgium)
t: +32 (0) 4 366 31 37
f: +32 (0) 4 366 28 51
http://www.emes.net/

ARE YOU GETTING YOUR DISPATCH?

The Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA) launched a new e-publication this week. International Dispatch brings news, views and stories of people using co-operatives to fight global poverty to your inbox free of charge six times a year. The first issue features a commentary on the Halifax Global Microcredit Summit by CCA microfinance specialist Brett Matthews. Ingrid Fischer offers her thoughts on life and credit union rebuilding in Sri Lanka, where tensions are on the rise amidst continuing confrontations between Tamil Tiger and government forces.

To subscribe to International Dispatches go to www.CoopsCanada.coop/resources/publications/subscriptions/

RECOGNIZE A YOUNG RURAL LEADER

The federal government’s Rural Secretariat is seeking nominations of young rural Canadians (18 to 29 years old), who have demonstrated in 2005 and/or 2006 outstanding achievements and contributions to rural, remote and northern Canada, for the fourth Young Leaders in Rural Canada Awards. A commemorative Award will be presented in each of the following categories: innovation, leadership and partnership.

To be considered, submissions must be received/post-marked no later than Monday, April 16, 2007. For information, visit the rural website.