Tomorrow’s morning eye-opener might be just that. While you’re trying to sip your double-latte, full-caff mocha in peace, activists from the Organic Consumers Association (OCA), Friends of the Earth, Center for Food Safety, and Sustain will be clamoring for your attention. March 20 is the big day for eco-nannies who have nothing better to do than pester Starbucks about genetically improved beans, organic dairy products, and Guatamalan coffee growers.
It’s interesting to note that OCA is urging Starbucks to buy “shade-grown” beans from Peace Coffee, which was set up by Mark Ritchie of the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy. IATP is a noted anti-corporate, anti-agribusiness organization.
It’s also curious that the protesters plan to go through with their 100-city event, even though Starbucks has formally responded by crying “uncle,” and is telling the Associated Press that it already plans to go with 100% organic dairy products. Saturday’s Seattle Post-Intelligencer got it dead-right: “What the Organic Consumers Association really wants from Starbucks is a piece of the spotlight.” The cause du jour may change, but some things will always be the same.
