Whitechapel Knees Up against Starbucks
- Thread starter Bristly Pioneer
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editor
hiraethified
Bristly Pioneer
Anarchitect
Thanks for the write up!
Considering the absolutely freezing weather it wasn't a bad turn out. We even had a couple of trumpet players and a drummer turn up later to entertain people. And the food not bombs people from Ramparts also came along to play.
Tower Hamlets Fair Trade association came along to man the stall and we contacted Barista's united to get them involved. There should be coverage in East End Life (our local paper) and BBC London came along to film (this is planned for Mondays news).
We intend to hold more in a month or so, when the weather has improved, and fingers crossed grow it into a bigger nicer event.
Still, thanks to everyone that braved the weather, and thanks for all the fantastic cakes which were brought along.
There will be a report up on the hijacker site asap.
Considering the absolutely freezing weather it wasn't a bad turn out. We even had a couple of trumpet players and a drummer turn up later to entertain people. And the food not bombs people from Ramparts also came along to play.
Tower Hamlets Fair Trade association came along to man the stall and we contacted Barista's united to get them involved. There should be coverage in East End Life (our local paper) and BBC London came along to film (this is planned for Mondays news).
We intend to hold more in a month or so, when the weather has improved, and fingers crossed grow it into a bigger nicer event.
Still, thanks to everyone that braved the weather, and thanks for all the fantastic cakes which were brought along.
There will be a report up on the hijacker site asap.
editor
hiraethified
In case you missed it, have you seen this thread/site?Bristly Pioneer said:
http://www.urban75.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=201332
One thing that used to be true of starbucks (in the u.s.) is that they treated their employees much better that a typical fast food place.
A friend worked for them for a while and had a pretty flexible schedule, could quit one branch, show up a few days later at another place. Basically work when she wanted. This was long before starbucks came to europe, though. The company was nowhere near as big, and they knew they had to avoid a walmart-style employer reputatation. I have no idea what they're like now..
They had real competition too, Coffee People, Seattle Coffee company, etc, etc. And they were all opening stores as fast as they could, knocking out the independents and each other.
People here in barcelona wonder how two starbucks can exist within 100 metres of each other ~ ha, there'll be ten starbucks before you know it.
And another bummer is that they usually buy the property where the stores are, so they can even operate at a loss, because they're also in the real estate business.
I can understand visting starbucks when you're on a road trip in butt-fuck america because the only other option is a camping stove...
But why, oh, why do fat tourists in barcelona go to starbucks when spanish coffee is so good and available anywhere.
A friend worked for them for a while and had a pretty flexible schedule, could quit one branch, show up a few days later at another place. Basically work when she wanted. This was long before starbucks came to europe, though. The company was nowhere near as big, and they knew they had to avoid a walmart-style employer reputatation. I have no idea what they're like now..
They had real competition too, Coffee People, Seattle Coffee company, etc, etc. And they were all opening stores as fast as they could, knocking out the independents and each other.
People here in barcelona wonder how two starbucks can exist within 100 metres of each other ~ ha, there'll be ten starbucks before you know it.
And another bummer is that they usually buy the property where the stores are, so they can even operate at a loss, because they're also in the real estate business.
I can understand visting starbucks when you're on a road trip in butt-fuck america because the only other option is a camping stove...
But why, oh, why do fat tourists in barcelona go to starbucks when spanish coffee is so good and available anywhere.
Well hey People:
The whitechapel area is getting seriously gentrified at the moment:
Tower house the original badboy doss house a la Orwells "down and out in paris and london" and jack londons "people of the abyss" is literally 2 minutes from this new starbucks:
It has just open as rented yuppie flats:
After one month it is 80% full with a 1 bed flat starting at about £300 and going up to well over a grand for the penthousish ones:
Hence the arrivals of this standardised mac donaldsey coffee outlet:
The whitechapel area is getting seriously gentrified at the moment:
Tower house the original badboy doss house a la Orwells "down and out in paris and london" and jack londons "people of the abyss" is literally 2 minutes from this new starbucks:
It has just open as rented yuppie flats:
After one month it is 80% full with a 1 bed flat starting at about £300 and going up to well over a grand for the penthousish ones:
Hence the arrivals of this standardised mac donaldsey coffee outlet:
Yeah, but they're a bunch of "middle class spotty anarkids" apparentlymk12 said:
More seriously, Baristas United are an IWW industrial union who are trying to organise in coffee shops in the UK, including Starbucks. I don't think they were involved in this though, from the looks of things, no effort whatsoever was made to contact them.
Starbucks Workers Union are the US effort, though they're focussed solely on Starbucks, whereas BU are for all coffee shop workers.
I really don't want to turn this thread into a bunfight, so I'll drop it if it bothers you so much.
I'm wondering what posters think of the possibilities of working with the IWW and other local A-S/class struggle groups who've been involved with anti-Starbucks stuff. I was a part of a leaflet (I can't bring myself to call them pickets when all the workers are inside) that involved both class struggle anarchists and Liverpool Chiapas Solidarity, we leafletted, they gave away free coffee from a stall by the door, everybody wins.
I'm wondering what posters think of the possibilities of working with the IWW and other local A-S/class struggle groups who've been involved with anti-Starbucks stuff. I was a part of a leaflet (I can't bring myself to call them pickets when all the workers are inside
) that involved both class struggle anarchists and Liverpool Chiapas Solidarity, we leafletted, they gave away free coffee from a stall by the door, everybody wins.That sounds cool Bloom!
I suppose with a bit of cool free info on a variety of issues and a workers link up: add abit of music could be kinda cool
must say though given the wider context of things I dont really find a regular picket of starbucks with free cakes etc really that inspiring/appealing or havin' it!
I suppose with a bit of cool free info on a variety of issues and a workers link up: add abit of music could be kinda cool
must say though given the wider context of things I dont really find a regular picket of starbucks with free cakes etc really that inspiring/appealing or havin' it!
Johnny Canuck3
Well-Known Member
J77 said:The first in Holland will be opening soon
However, it will be in the departures lounge of Schipol
We don't want their overpriced filth!
If you don't want their overpriced filth, then why worry about one opening up: it'll be out of business soon enough.
I can't understand all this demonstrating against starbucks, like you're doing in Whitechapel. If the locals like their local cafes etc, they will stick with them, and the starbucks will do poorly. If the locals go to starbucks and make it a success, it means they've chosen to do so. Who are you to be telling average people where they should or shouldn't be buying their coffee?
Johnny Canuck3
Well-Known Member
marty21 said:
They can only do that if people buy their coffee. If they decide to do that, then it isn't your business.
We have many starbucks, but I don't like their product, and I don't go there. Luckily, there is a multitude of other places to choose from. As there will be in your city, even if starbucks is present.
Bristly Pioneer
Anarchitect
Johnny Canuck2 said:
Because that is an over simplified view of what happens, and assumes it's a level playing field. Unfortunately what tends to happen is starbucks move into an area, and operate at a loss (subsidising this by their other profitable stores) they have a marketing budget of millions and can afford to chuck on bundles of staff to give out coffee in the streets etc.
Starbucks open several stores in an area and the local's share of the pie is squeezed smaller. They have even been known to offer higher rent to independent shop's landlords to move them on, and let starbucks move in. Eventually the smaller non-chain shops can't compete and close down. Starbucks can then buy up the property, or just sit tight as they watch the other local stores go the same way.
Before you know it, there are a dozen starbucks and no local alternatives left. Not everyone is conscious about the choices they make and the effects that they can have on the area. So we thought we would try and highlight what's happening a bit.
Bristly Pioneer
Anarchitect
Exactly,
there's a BBC London report and video here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/articles/2007/03/24/starbucks_whitechapel_feature.shtml
unfortunately the hijacker quote should have read:
"A company like Starbucks is all about homogeneity, which is the total opposite to what Whitechapel has been historically,"
there's a BBC London report and video here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/articles/2007/03/24/starbucks_whitechapel_feature.shtml
unfortunately the hijacker quote should have read:
"A company like Starbucks is all about homogeneity, which is the total opposite to what Whitechapel has been historically,"
The Black Hand
Unclean
Bristly Pioneer said:
Soft Southern Shandy drinkers...
Johnny Canuck3
Well-Known Member
Bristly Pioneer said:
I think that is in itself an oversimplification. What happened here, was that Starbucks started the 'coffee industry'. Before Starbucks, you had restaurants that of course served coffee on the menu, but it was a beverage consumed with a meal, for the most part. You didn't see people walking through the streets with paper cups, or plastic mugs full of coffee.
There were some small, mostly italian run stand alone shops in certain areas of the city, that had their own clientele.
What starbucks did, was create the coffee shop as a destination, in the city at large. A number of copycat operations, both chains and individual stores, opened up. We became aware of the idea of the barista, for better or worse. And those shops on Commercial Drive, run by the italians, continued to thrive, because they produced a superior product.
Also, if you check, you'll realize that Starbucks isn't cheaper than stand alone places, or at least, it certainly isn't in the many NA cities I've visited. The little sole proprietor shops seem to be able to sell it cheaper. Also, Starbucks sells a lot of more expensive products, like the ice drinks, etc, that the small businesses don't sell.
There was a big controversy here when starbucks opened up a place on Commercial Drive, the italian coffee area. It was not to worry: all the italian places continue to do great business; the starbucks isn't hurting, but they haven't opened another store on that street. My guess is that business is ok, but not that great; otherwise they'd try saturating the street, like they've done elsewhere.
If your little shops sell a good product, they'll be just fine.
thats cool peeps well it has worked as an awareness raising activity:
At the same time the fact that a few hundred people have just moved into very expensive housing a moments walk away is the reason starbucks have moved into the area:
anyone up for picketing the root cause starbucks arrival????; the yuppie flats:
Seriously Im up for dressing up as the grim reaper and picketing these richos let them know that the ghosts of one of the biggest doss houses in the east end are going haunt them as lounge in their glistening cribs:
could be a winner
At the same time the fact that a few hundred people have just moved into very expensive housing a moments walk away is the reason starbucks have moved into the area:
anyone up for picketing the root cause starbucks arrival????; the yuppie flats:
Seriously Im up for dressing up as the grim reaper and picketing these richos let them know that the ghosts of one of the biggest doss houses in the east end are going haunt them as lounge in their glistening cribs:
could be a winner
Bristly Pioneer
Anarchitect
Ah yes, luxury flats!
we had a pop at them a little while back:
http://www.spacehijackers.co.uk/html/projects/zenith/index.html
and for the record, as far as i'm aware starbucks don't serve fair trade coffee, they serve SOME, or even A, fair trade coffee. Making everything else they sell, by definition, unfair. This has only come about after their whole "Commitments to origins" scheme which was their version of fair trade, which they monitored themselves? and soon realised didn't cover their backs.
we had a pop at them a little while back:
http://www.spacehijackers.co.uk/html/projects/zenith/index.html
and for the record, as far as i'm aware starbucks don't serve fair trade coffee, they serve SOME, or even A, fair trade coffee. Making everything else they sell, by definition, unfair. This has only come about after their whole "Commitments to origins" scheme which was their version of fair trade, which they monitored themselves? and soon realised didn't cover their backs.
editor
hiraethified
Less than 4% of the coffee they offer is Fair Trade and more often than not it's either not advertised or you have to specifically ask for it (and that's no guarantee they'll actually have any), so it looks like nothing more than an exercise in greenwashing.becky p said:
If you're in the States, their milk comes from cows injected with genetically engineered recombinant bovine growth hormone. Nice.
Marks and Spencer managed to change over to 100% Fair Trade tea and coffee a year ago, so what's Starbucks excuse?
More about Starbucks: http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=14332
editor said:
Fair enough Starbucks may only serve 4% of fair trade coffee but all their chocolate bars seem to be fair trade. They have good music,comfortable chairs and pay higher wages than independent cafe's.
What % of independent cafe's actually sell any fair trade products?
I still don't see good enough reasons for calling for a boycott?
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