Starbucks, Dell to assist in online effort to protect rainforests

“Team Earth”

The formation of “Team Earth” will be announced by campaigners on Monday. Basically this will be a social network that will consist of businesses, non-governmental organizations, students and politicians who will work towards combating tropical deforestation.

“Team Earth” will utilise popular social networking websites like Facebook and Twitter, apart from its own site, to draw support for its initiatives, which also consist of climate change, water conservation and health.

“Team Earth” will be launched in November, but its organizers are aiming to make it popular this week when world leaders get together in New York for the United Nations General Assembly.

Peter Seligmann, chief executive of Conservation International, which is leading the effort, was quoted as saying, “This is a moment when leaders around the world need to take action. We cannot afford for our representatives not to take action, so we’re mobilizing the public.”

Involvement of Starbucks

Expressing his concern for the new initiative to save the environment, Starbucks Chief Executive Howard Schultz said that he joined hands with Conservation International over mutual concerns regarding “divergent efforts of many separate parties- NGOs, corporations, politicians and individuals trying to do something in which perhaps the sum of the parts could be greater if there was collective action.”

Schultz also added that it does make business sense for companies to take some grave steps regarding issues that concern the society and the environment as it is important for employees and customers.

He was quoted as saying, “In order to make a sustainable enduring business that’s profitable, you’re also going to have to create a balance between profitability and a social conscience.”

Starbucks has planned on achieving some environmental targets. These include making all its new company-operated stores comply with green building standards starting in 2010. Apart from this, it is also aiming at having all of its cups recyclable by 2012.

Actor Harrison Ford supporting the cause

Actor Harrison Ford, a Conservation International board member and the star of the “Indiana Jones” films, is supporting the cause. He stressed that cooperation at a huge scale is the best available option right now.

“Our individual efforts have been fruitful but history shows that real change is not accomplished through individual efforts but through movements,” Ford said. He also added that governments and corporations must help in supporting the effort.