What Target Says.
Dear Talya Strader,
Thanks for writing back about the vendors we use. I'm sorry but our vendor information is
proprietary and won't be able to share this with you.
Target has formed the Target Corporation Corporate Compliance organization. You can read more about
this organization and vendor standards we require manufacturers to follow. Just log onto the
Internet and go to http://sites.target.com/site/en/corporate/page.jsp?contentId=PRD03-001092.
We always welcome your questions, so if we can assist you in the future, please contact our Target
Guest Relations team at (800) 440-0680. You can also speak with a team member at the Guest Services
Desk at your local Target store, or visit us on Target.com. Either way, we're here to help!
Thanks for shopping with us. I hope we'll see you again soon at Target.
Sincerely,
Dan
Target Executive Office
Don't be discouraged about Target just yet... I am writing them once more warning
that standards don't do anything!
What Starbucks Says.
Dear Ms. Strader,
Thank you for your comments regarding Fair Trade CertifiedT coffee. I was happy to pass on your feedback and suggestions
to our Corporate and Social Responsibility department. Here is some additional information about our efforts.
Starbucks is committed to brewing Fair Trade CertifiedT coffee as "Coffee of the Day", our brewed coffee program that helps
us educate customers about our different whole bean offerings, on a monthly basis. We also sell whole bean Fair Trade
CertifiedT coffee throughout the year in our Company-operated stores. The coffee is also available to our wholesale accounts
such as colleges, universities and hotels.Starbucks and the Fair Trade movement share common goals - to ensure that coffee
farmers receive a fair price for their beans, and to ensure they can sustain their farms in the future. Starbucks is one of the Fair
Trade movement's biggest customers, and we are licensed to sell Fair Trade CertifiedT coffee in 21 countries around the world.
You may not realize that less than three percent of the world's coffee farmers participate in the Fair Trade certification system,
which does not include the majority of producers from whom Starbucks purchases coffee. But we are committed to paying a fair
price to farmers for all of our coffee, including Fair Trade Certified. In fiscal 2004, Starbucks paid an average verified price of
$1.20 per pound ($2.64 per kilogram), significantly above the world prices for coffee. In addition, we look for opportunities to
have long-term contracts so that farmers have the security of knowing they will have a buyer for future crops, and we establish
direct buying relationships with farmers and cooperatives when possible. We also work with organizations that assist farmers
with affordable loans and agricultural techniques that improve quality and result in higher incomes for farmers, and invest in
social development programs in coffee producing countries. To further underscore our commitment to equitable and
sustainable relationships with farmers, Starbucks developed global coffee buying guidelines. The guidelines encourage a
sustainable approach to high-quality coffee production, including social, environmental and economic criteria. Starbucks
will give purchasing preference to farmers who adopt sustainable practices such as paying and treating employees fairly,
providing access to housing, medical and other resources, and protecting the environment. We appreciate your interest in
Starbucks Fair Trade CertifiedT coffee and the livelihood of coffee farmers. We encourage you to support the Fair Trade
system by your future purchases of Starbucks Fair Trade Blend and by becoming familiar with all the others ways that you
and Starbucks can support coffee farmers. Please feel free to visit our web site at www.starbucks.com/csr for more information
about Starbucks efforts and to read our latest Corporate Social Responsibility Annual Report.
Arrgh!
Do you ever look back on a day, and while it wasn't all that bad, you realize you had one of the worst days ever? I feel like that today... I want to explain... but if you don't want to hear it... don't read... I know how hard it is to hear someone complain sometimes.
First I woke up late... when I was going to wake up early. I was already five minutes late for work, so I couldn't shower, even though I didn't shower yesterday. So you can already imagine that my internal temperature system has been messed all day.
The money bag was not located where it should have been when I got to work, so that just complicated everything.
I went to class and found that not only do I really dislike my group members... but I want to murder them. Mostly one of them... she complains about everything... maybe I am a hypocrite.
Then I wrote a paper... we'll come back to this.
I went to class... and watched a great movie... then got my other paper back that was much like the one I just spoke about... I am pretty sure now that I have seen my grade on this one... I will not get an impressive grade on the one I turned in today.
I then tried to finish my homework for my next class and realized in my rush I left my book at home... great.
I went to class and found that we had to re-do all of the homework that I stressed about not having my book for.
Now... Morgan Spurlock (speaker) is canceled.
I still feel gross... and at least the coat people have left.
I am ok though.
Love
Talya
A Little More Faith
Some of you have heard about the horribleness of the Library these days... it basically adds up to me doing a great deal of extra extra work to get or find the things I want and need. That's not what I want to talk about right now... What I want to talk about is how I have started to like, maybe love, the library. Did you know they re-did the 2nd floor? They have a cafe there now which isn't fabulous but it's certainly comfortable. Ok so that's the start of the awesomeness... I can sit in the library in between classes. It's not that I don't have love for the front room any more... it's that the library makes more sense sometimes. Not as many interruptions, computer use is limitless, I am always checking out books, and it's right beside both buildings that I go to for class. Did you know that you can check-out lap tops? Yes you sure can. I have three times in three days. So, I can then sit in one of those comfy booths (like right now) in the coffee shop. You may think that's the end, but it just isn't. Today I had to talk to this one girl three times to ask about computer misunderstanding... she was great. She was so helpful every freaking time... and faith has been restored.
I am in a class right now called Issues in Feminism... it's awesome. Well I mean it's an interesting topic and a good mix of discussion... I don't think I like the teacher all that much though...
That's probably the class that will stimulate the conversations I have here with you, the most this quarter.
Until those conversations happen... see you.
Recap
Let me start by saying that Chris doesn't remember that I also gave him a book for Christmas... nice going jerk. He has also informed me that he left out a book that Jessica Meyer gave him for Christmas... double jerkiness.
A lot has happened since we last spoke. I went to Seattle. It was great other than the flying part. I have never had a particular fear of flying, nor do I have a lot of experience with planes. I thought I was going to die. It rained every day that I was in Seattle, but that didn't even begin to ruin the greatness that is that city. It felt like home.
I am back in school. This will hopefully be the last quarter... I guess I need to apply for graduation.
I am still at the Coffee Cup and I am back at the Front Room.
To everyone who ever thinks about the status of Chris and my relationship... we are going at our own pace and while it is normal to think and talk about marriage we aren't there yet nor is anything completely clear about being there. Thanks for all of those people who are rooting for us to work out, we appreciate that.
I like New Years. I am the only one that I know of who likes New Years. That's ok. I had a great New Years. I hope everyone had a great start to their new year.
