A cup of joe a day might be funding the next suicide bomber.
June 11, 2002 5:17 PM   Subscribe

A cup of joe a day might be funding the next suicide bomber. Caribou coffee is owned in majority by an Islamic bank. A bit of every sip goes to opposing "the illegal occupation of Palestine".
posted by clevershark (50 comments total)
 
how credible
posted by Satapher at 5:21 PM on June 11, 2002


I've been meaning to say:

MONEY SUPPORTS TERRORISM
posted by fuq at 5:26 PM on June 11, 2002


"A bit of every sip goes to opposing "the illegal occupation of Palestine".

How do you go from some guy being both on the board of the bank that finances Caribou Cofee and on the advisory comitee of a Palestinian relief organization to that statement?

To say nothing of the inflammatory non sequitur in the opening line...
posted by signal at 5:44 PM on June 11, 2002


slightly off topic:

What I have wondered for a while is why 'snopes' is considered so credible and why it is 'pulled out of the hat' so to speak, when trying to establish fact. Anyone familiar with the site to enlighten me?
posted by bittennails at 5:53 PM on June 11, 2002


Thanks for the tip. Not that I've ever heard of such a coffee.
posted by ParisParamus at 5:54 PM on June 11, 2002


There's nothing illegal about Israel being in Palestine. That's why it's a sequitur.
posted by ParisParamus at 5:54 PM on June 11, 2002


Wouldn't it make more sense to boycott gas stations and petroleum products instead?

I thought it was the government's job to step in and shut down organizations that support violent or criminal activities.
posted by sheauga at 5:56 PM on June 11, 2002


slightly off topic:

What I have wondered for a while is why 'snopes' is considered so credible and why it is 'pulled out of the hat' so to speak, when trying to establish fact. Anyone familiar with the site to enlighten me?
posted by bittennails at 5:56 PM on June 11, 2002


Sorry, as you have learned by now I have just installed OS X...please allow for cockups in the future...bear with me they were a 100 and something comments loving macs recently...
posted by bittennails at 6:08 PM on June 11, 2002


I believe the reason snopes is so credible is that the sites creators [Barbara and David Mikkelson] are the longtime maintainers of the alt.folklore.urban.legends [sic?] FAQ and then they took their work over to snopes.com. they show their work -- a total rarity in web research -- and they have no vested interest in any of the stuff they write. I generally like them, though ocasionally I find stuff that I do not 100% agree with. They have a fairly large readership and a message board that allows people to discuss the topics presented. they're pretty credible, but not 100% infallible, I'd say.
posted by jessamyn at 6:11 PM on June 11, 2002


Ok, Caribou supported by terrorists --- in the Twin City Metro, that leaves what, Starbucks for chains? I'd much rather buy terrorist coffee than Starbucks when not near Dinkytown.
posted by nathan_teske at 6:44 PM on June 11, 2002


While the original post is on the inflammatory side, I thought the link was quite good, and about as objective as one can get. The only thing that seemed a little odd to me was that, with all the links they posted, there was no link to Crescent Capital, the U.S.-based subsidiary of First Islamic (though admittedly, it is easy enough to get to their site by clicking through the link on the First Islamic site).
posted by Bixby23 at 7:02 PM on June 11, 2002


Thanks, jessamyn...always wondered...
posted by bittennails at 7:06 PM on June 11, 2002


it's like if you bet on war emblem you're betting on terrorism :)
posted by kliuless at 7:09 PM on June 11, 2002


jessamyn, that's alt.folklore.urban {a venue even more acerbic and idiosyncratic than MeFi}. David and Barbara don't maintain the FAQ for that group -- it's at urbanlegends.com -- but they have participated in it since the 1980s: in fact they met there. They've run Snopes.com since the mid-90s and their reputation rests solely on its shoulders.

On the one hand, they're just two people who like researching urban legends. On the other hand, they are supported by the thousands of people who read their site and contribute alternate versions of hoaxes and legends and factual confirmation or debunking materials.

Certainly the money supporting objectionable activities -- from political lobbying, to supporting bombers' families, to actually funding terror -- that may, in some fashion, pass through the First Islamic Bank is much smaller than the money that comes from all the people driving their cars and burning oil to get TO the Caribou Coffee store. But I believe we can expect to see more of this selective purchasing as Americans continue to look critically at the situation. It's just as valid as people seeking disinvestment in South Africa -- or Israel, for that matter.
posted by dhartung at 7:23 PM on June 11, 2002


Not to completely derail things any further, but I've never heard of "Caribou Coffee". Is it a store? Or is the complete lack of name recognition because it's a part of the grower or wholesaler infrastructure and not something the public would have heard of?
posted by majick at 7:53 PM on June 11, 2002


Caribou is a chain of coffee shops...very similar to starbuck's.
posted by kickingtheground at 8:04 PM on June 11, 2002


majick, Caribou is basically Starbucks with antlers. I've seen them in Chicago and (if memory serves) Denver; don't think they're nationwide though.
posted by ook at 8:09 PM on June 11, 2002


And if they're smart, they'll get nowhere near NYC: it would me mediacide for them.
posted by ParisParamus at 8:16 PM on June 11, 2002


Good thing I'm a Tim Horton's addict. Mmmm.... Tim Hortons....
posted by punkrockrat at 8:29 PM on June 11, 2002


That's "Timortons" to you, bud.
posted by kindall at 9:32 PM on June 11, 2002


If you buy Canadian coffee, the terrorists have already won.
posted by shagoth at 10:01 PM on June 11, 2002


And if they're smart, they'll get nowhere near NYC: it would me mediacide for them.

Oh please. Saudis also hold major investments in American Express, Disney and Apple. Who gives a fuck?
posted by donkeyschlong at 11:42 PM on June 11, 2002


And I should add, Saudis also hold major investments in Bush and Cheney Inc. Snark.
posted by donkeyschlong at 11:43 PM on June 11, 2002


Oh please. Saudis also hold major investments in American Express, Disney and Apple. Who gives a fuck?

The difference is that there are other places to get coffee--without sacrifice. Also, it's the kind of story talk radio and the NYPost and the local tv channels would run with (feeding the national media). I hope they arrive! Let me at'm!
posted by ParisParamus at 3:35 AM on June 12, 2002


By the way, the Palestinians are more loathed than the Saudis.
posted by ParisParamus at 3:36 AM on June 12, 2002


Plus, the joint has a cheap, clever, but knockoff name. New Yorkers don't go for that!
posted by ParisParamus at 3:38 AM on June 12, 2002


(Saudis, however deserve to be loathed more. By a factor of at least 10x)
posted by ParisParamus at 4:06 AM on June 12, 2002


Paris,

In a city clad for years in nothing but old navy and gap clothing, and a starbucks every 5 feet, I don't believe for a second that new yorkers won't go for something "cheap".

: )

ds
posted by das_2099 at 6:03 AM on June 12, 2002


Plus, i hadn't seen those numbers regarding the loathing scale. Here i was only hating the palestinians 6x more than the saudis
posted by das_2099 at 6:05 AM on June 12, 2002


and getting coffee without sacrifice? ever talked to a cofee grower paris? i mean grower. not buyer, exporter, importer, retailer. but grower. without sacrifice my ass. you are sacrificing the living quality of another person, who could be getting a fair price for their labor (fair trade coffee...look into it)
posted by das_2099 at 6:06 AM on June 12, 2002


also, doesn't posting a bunch of short, snippy comments in a row make me look like an ass?
posted by das_2099 at 6:07 AM on June 12, 2002


No it doesn't. Re grower exploitation, there's an equally valid argument that without out fat, affluent society, the poor peasant would be worse off. Actually, I've been buying Equal Exchange coffee recently out of concern.
posted by ParisParamus at 6:27 AM on June 12, 2002


Caribou also, unlike Starbucks, actually understands tea. Meaning that if I want a cup of tea, I can select from one of several kinds (just as coffee drinkers expect to, and do, at all these chains), and they'll pour actual boiling water over tea leaves, giving me a drinkable cup of tea. Even at the airport branches.
posted by rosvicl at 6:54 AM on June 12, 2002


Paris:
ah yes, there we go again with the "they are better than when we found them" argument...where have i heard rhetoric like that before?...oh yes...

"The freeman only has a right to starve to death. With slavery, both the master and the slave are always provided for; the slave always has a home and food, while the master always has his lands worked upon" --"Southern Thought" by George Fitzhugh

rosvicl:
Why is it that one has to ask for boiling water for tea around here? I mean, "hot" just doesn't get it.
I had no idea caribou did it right. i am stopping there this afternoon.
: )
posted by das_2099 at 7:11 AM on June 12, 2002


paris:
kudos for the actual equal exchange purchases though. I can't argue with something I do myself.
posted by das_2099 at 7:12 AM on June 12, 2002


Just let me know when ParisParamus underwrites a coffeeshop, and I'll be happy to boycott it.
posted by riviera at 7:24 AM on June 12, 2002


I'm just curious how you manage to eat, drive, or drink anything when you are always worrying about the politics, backgrounds, labor practices and what not of every single company you deal with?
posted by jodic at 8:00 AM on June 12, 2002


OMG rosvicl, there's actually a company that knows how to make tea correctly? In this country? Seriously, I've been considering opening a tea shop, just because damn it, it's impossible to get a good cuppa tea in Texas, I swear.

Mmmmm...high tea...scones....devon cream...ye gods I miss England. :)
posted by dejah420 at 8:40 AM on June 12, 2002


Ahhh your ruinin' all the fun jodic! Thread-killer! Thread-killer! ;)

Seriously though, it gives me a freakin' headache. I need a chart to keep track of all these secret alliances that the big trendy corporations have so I don't accidently support the building of a nuke or something.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 8:41 AM on June 12, 2002


Paris just jumped the shark.
posted by five fresh fish at 8:41 AM on June 12, 2002


Seriously though, it gives me a freakin' headache. I need a chart to keep track of all these secret alliances that the big trendy corporations have so I don't accidently support the building of a nuke or something.

that's exactly my point. you're going to have go naked and live in some old-growth forest eating berrries and weaving a blanket of leaves to avoid supporting something abhorent.
posted by jodic at 9:10 AM on June 12, 2002


jodic: I think the point is to make an attempt at making things better. Y'know, a journey of 1,000 miles starts with the first step 'n' all that.

Or, if I had a choice between

a. jodic punching me in the face, or
b. jodic punching me in the face, kicking me down 7 flights of stairs and then beating me to within an inch of my life with an iron bar;

I'd choose a. Yes, definitely a.

Maybe when we're all perfect we won't have to worry about not being perfect or how we get to be perfect? Or maybe we shouldn't worry in the first place & just get on with it?

Disclaimer: We would like to point out that in the quiz above, jodic was used as an example only. There is no implication that jodic, or any subsidiaries or affiliates thereof, engage(s) in violent conduct of any kind whatsoever. Your consumer rights remain unaffected.
posted by i_cola at 9:53 AM on June 12, 2002


I support anyone who knows how to make tea. If you make a proper tea shop I will invest moolah. Build it and they will come. Good strong tea boiling water, leaves not dust.
posted by goneill at 11:18 AM on June 12, 2002


There is, in fact, a retail coffee outlet which knows how to make tea and goes so far as to have a lovely selection of the stuff. Good ol' Peet's. The company, however, has been slow to grow.

"...I will invest moolah"

You can. Peet's is publicly traded on NASDAQ.

No, I'm not a Peet's shill, though I do have a vested interest in the company's success in that I'm very, very happy with giving them my business. And the store across the street from my office gives me, as a regular, lots of free stuff.
posted by majick at 11:30 AM on June 12, 2002


I'd much rather buy terrorist coffee than Starbucks when not near Dinkytown.

I like the name "Terrorist Coffee" much better than Purple Onion.

posted by esch at 1:44 PM on June 12, 2002


Sorry, Charlie, I never jump sharks. Only fish.
posted by ParisParamus at 3:09 PM on June 12, 2002


We discussed ethical coffee back in March and some good suggestions were provided. I am completely hooked on the Costa Rican beans that Equal Exchange pushes.

As far a tea goes, my fiancee is the expert. She orders from the incredible Upton Tea Imports. This place is absolutely mind boggling. Click on "Information" and read about "Tea as a Philosophy of Life." They run other great historical articles about tea also. And the best part, when the tins are shipped to our house they have my fiancee's name on them.

rosvicl and das--depending on what kind of tea you drink, watch out for boiling water:

Correct water temperature is essential as well. Black teas should be brewed with water that has just come to a rolling boil. Oolongs are often best when steeped with water near the boiling point. For green and white teas, always use water that is less than boiling to avoid a bitter infusion.

Similar for coffee.
posted by anathema at 6:28 PM on June 12, 2002


Sorry, that was way off topic.
posted by anathema at 6:59 PM on June 12, 2002


a good cuppa tea in Texas

I treasure this phrase.

posted by ook at 7:33 PM on June 12, 2002


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