Baristas unite!

Things are brewing at Starbucks about whether the world’s largest chain of coffee shops is really socially responsible. Organizers of the fledgling Starbucks Workers Union plan to make a case it’s not at a rally they’re planning Wed., March 21, at the company’s annual shareholder meeting at Seattle Center.

The union, which members of the Industrial Workers of the World started in New York, has joined forces with a group called Justice from Bean to Cup to call attention to how it says Starbucks treats its baristas — many of whom are relegated to part-time positions with no benefits — and how Starbucks is blocking an effort by the Ethiopian government to get more money for its coffee farmers.

The union says Starbucks has refused to sign a licensing agreement with Ethiopia that would allow it to market its coffee at higher prices. Organizers point this out in a “2006 Starbucks Corporate Irresponsibility Report” that they plan to hand out in the doorway of McCaw Hall, where the shareholders will meet, along with parading a giant, inflatable “fat cat” crushing a uniformed Starbucks barista.

More information is online at www.starbucksunion.org.

No surge
Just as Seattle’s antiwar protest was kicking off Monday, the Seattle City Council kicked into gear, unanimously passing a resolution calling for the U.S. to get out of Iraq.

The resolution states that 61 soldiers from Washington have been killed and another 671 injured in the conflict at a cost of $357 billion to date. In addition to urging withdrawal, it also calls on Washington’s congressional delegation to cut President Bush’s funding for a troop surge.

Around 1,000 activists — and four jailbird effigies — marched on the Federal Building in downtown Seattle to mark the fourth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. Photo by Mark Sullo.

In a statement, Council President Nick Licata said the council passed the resolution to mark the fourth-anniversary protests that took place across the country over the weekend, including a March 17 march on the Pentagon.

“The council joins citizens nationwide in voicing its support for an end to the conflict,” Licata said in the statement. “We hope that this resolution will contribute to the effort to begin the orderly withdrawal of troops from Iraq.”

In the legislature, Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles and Rep. Geoff Simpson had put forward similar resolutions that died last week in the Legislature. But Kohl-Welles, sponsor of SJM 8003, says she’s working with Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown to get a resolution passed on the Senate floor.

—Cydney Gillis

Care to Africa
It’s often those working the hardest on the biggest problems who receive the least appreciation. A group of Eastside teens are working to change that.

About 50 Bellevue students spent last Friday night at Newport Covenant Church creating handwritten notes to thank African community caregivers who are working with AIDS patients.

“Thank you all so much, you are our heroes,” wrote Emily Lewis, a high school junior, in her note.

The notes will accompany resource kits containing items to aid community volunteers in caring for those with AIDS: simple but necessary things like cotton balls, washcloths, gloves, paper, pencils, and flashlights. Antibiotics donated from McKesson Pharmaceutical Services will also be included. There were supplies for 300 kits, which the teens sponsored at a cost of $30 apiece.

But it is difficult to say thank you and send resources to people halfway across the world without understanding who they are. Which is why the teen volunteers began their work by watching two 10-minute video segments designed to show the human face of AIDS.

The videos changed Lewis’ perspective. “I didn’t realize what a small, privileged part of the world we live in. The world is really not fair, and a lot of people deal with famine and things that never cross our minds every day.”

Several of the teenage volunteers also participated in a 30-hour fast and then went to Seattle area community programs to contribute to some of the pressing local needs.

“They get to see what is going on in Africa, but then realize that there is a lot to do right here in Seattle,” says Adam Anderson, the event organizer.

—Laura Peach