Starbucks at Guantanamo Bay (1 Viewer)

[Rimbaud]

Correspondence between Gordon Quilty and Starbucks regarding Starbucks branch at Guantanamo Bay
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1. 27 February message from Gordon Quilty to Starbucks

From: Gordon Quilty
Date: Mon, 27 Feb 200611:25:56 +0000
To: <[email protected]>
Subject: Starbucks at GuantanamoBay

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am a Starbucks customer, living in Central London. I worked as a lawyer for 5 years before embarking full-time on a Masters in Law (Human Rights) at the London School of Economics last September.

I was concerned to read recently that Starbucks has an outlet for the US military in GuantanamoBay. I would ask that you please let me know urgently whether or not this is the case. If it is I have a number of serious objections which I will set out in a further email. In brief, as I'm sure you are aware, the indefinite detention of suspects at
GuantanamoBay is, apart from anything else, a serious violation of international law. There have been numerous calls for its closure (for example, by the European Parliament:
http://www.europarl.eu.int/omk/sipade3?TYPE-DOC=TA&REF=P6-TA-2006-0070&MODE=SIP&L=EN&LSTDOC=N).

I would hope that the reports I have read about Starbucks having an outlet there are not true, as it would, in my view and in that of many others I know, seriously damage your company's reputation and lead people to reconsider your company's commitment to corporate social responsibility.

Yours faithfully,

Gordon Quilty


2. 6 March response from Starbucks to Gordon Quilty

From: UK INFO - Customer Care Inbox <[email protected]>
Date: Mon, 6 Mar 200616:36:38 -0000
To: Gordon Quilty
Subject: Customer Care E-mail Reference: 198408
Our ref: 198408

06 March 2006

Dear Mr Quilty

Thank you for sharing your feedback with us regarding the presence of a Starbucks food service account on the GuantanamoBay military base. Starbucks currently has many We Proudly Brew foodservice locations in military installations across the United States as well as internationally.

We recognize and appreciate the very personal connection customers have with Starbucks and that they may have varying opinions about the locations for our food service stores, including those associated with the U.S. government.

Many U.S. military personnel have let us know that they miss their
Starbucks Experience while serving in remote locations and we are humbled that the troops frequently request Starbucks coffee. Many of our customers and partners (employees) also believe that it is important for Starbucks to support the men and women serving their country.

We appreciate you getting in touch and look forward to welcoming you back soon to your local Starbucks.

Yours sincerely

[...]
Customer Care Specialist


3. 6 March message from Gordon Quilty to Starbucks

From: Gordon Quilty
Date: Mon, 06 Mar 200618:04:23 +0000
To: UK INFO - Customer Care Inbox <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Customer Care E-mail Reference: 198408

Dear Ms [...],

Thank you for your email of today's date. I would be grateful if you could please let me know whether Starbucks has taken a position on the detention centre at GuantanamoBay.

In particular, does Starbucks consider the detention centre to be in violation of international human rights and humanitarian law? You will no doubt be aware that many international human rights organisations, governments, NGOs, the UN and countless individuals worldwide have highlighted the human rights abuses taking place at the detention facilities at GuantanamoBay and have called for it to be closed (many of whom are no doubt Starbucks customers). The most recent UN report (from February 2006) is available on the UN website.

I note Starbucks' support for the US troops, but it does not of itself mean that Starbucks cannot take a position on such an important and serious issue. How does Starbucks regard the human rights of the detainees? I refer you to the attached article from the Business and
Human Rights website in which it appears that a business (Kroll) refused a contract involving GuantanamoBay, because of concerns about reputational damage: http://www.business-humanrights.org/Search/SearchResults?SearchableText=guantanamo+bay


I look forward to receiving your response.

Kind regards,

Gordon Quilty

 

[Rimbaud]

4. 20 March response from Starbucks to Gordon Quilty

From: UK INFO - Customer Care Inbox <[email protected]>
Date: Mon, 20 Mar 200609:38:17 -0000
To: Gordon Quilty
Subject: Customer Care E-mail Reference: 198408
Our ref: 198408

Dear Mr Quilty

Thank you for spending the time to follow up with us about Starbucks position on Human Rights. This is an issue we take very seriously and appreciate the opportunity to share the work we are doing.

Since the Company's beginning, Starbucks has been committed to operating its business in a socially responsible way and to living by a set of Guiding Principles that includes treating people with respect and dignity. We expect our business partners to do the same.

While this approach has served us well for many years, we have recognized the need to explore a more formal Human Rights policy-and we hope you'll be pleased to learn-we've been working on one.

For the past several months, a cross functional team of Starbucks senior leaders has been working to create a robust Human Rights policy that will live up to Starbucks standards of excellence and to our Guiding Principles. We're excited about this work and look forward to its completion.

Thank you again for the opportunity to talk with you. If you are interested in learning more about how Starbucks conducts its business in a socially responsible way, we'd like to invite you to take a look at our Fiscal 2005 Corporate Social Responsibility Annual report, available at www.starbucks.com/csrannualreport.

If I can be of any further or future assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely

[...]
Customer Care Manager

 

[Rimbaud]

If you get a chance, send the wankers an email, if for nothing else,
just to let them know that there business decisions have not gone
unnoticed. [email protected]

http://www.reports-and-materials.org/ This is where you can find the
information yourself. And its a great site for 'advanced' good
shopping guide information!!

 

[egg_]

But dude, this is hardly shocking - didn't we know Starbucks are evil already?

 

[Rimbaud]

But dude, this is hardly shocking - didn't we know Starbucks are evil already?

Not trying to shock anyone.
Alot of people are'nt 'we' though.

 

[egg_]

Alot of people are'nt 'we' though.

Hehe you're right. I keep having to remind myself that, to most people, I'm some sort of oddball

 

[Rimbaud]

'how is this relevent to us!?' is an answer i got when i emailed this on.
There ya go!People eh?

 

[Janer]

Interesting thread.

 

[billygannon]

The prisoners are forced to drink their coffee.