This is news I receive form Grain, a Spanish NGO.

http://www.addisfortune.com/Vol%208%20No%20381%
20Archive/ecconomic_commentary.htm

Why did Ethiopia sign an agreement critics say is favoring Starbucks? Wondwossen Mezlekia, an Ethiopian working and living in Seattle,Washington — where Starbucks is also headquartered — has been following the trademark dispute through his well-read blog, http://www.poorfarmer.blogspot.com. In his contribution to a series of articles that appeared on this newspaper, Wondowssen sheds some light on the issue.

ETHIOPIA’S LOSS IN THE STARBUCKS AFFAIR Ethiopia, one of the ancient civilisations in the world, collided with a symbol of globalisation and, to some extent, challenged the status-quo without success. The outcome should serve third-world countries as a reminder of the harsh reality that they have a long way to go to get control of their intellectual property rights.

All standing forests throughout the world are imperiled by Globalization through supposed “free trade agreements”. Alaska’s Tongass National Forest, a world-class coastal temperate rainforest is managed by the United States Forest Service, currently under the direction of Mark Rey, a former timber industry lobbyist.

Until the people everywhere demand that these practices stop, this tragedy will be replayed until there is nothing left.

I hope that all indigenos people worldwide can work together through podcasts, internet, blogs, photography and film one day. Greater access to wide communication for all Indigenous people is the new way forward, this untapped and transforming power of technology is part of the future for indigenous people, they are best placed to confront these issues on their own behalf and have the intimate daily knowledge of the impact of environmental degradation and the experience of how to best manage the lands for a viable sustainable future – this needs to be heard and seen by the world.