Starbucks Starbucks, along with its partner Delek Group of Israel, closed all six of its locations in Israel, citing "on-going operational challenges" and a "difficult business environment." The Starbucks location in the former imperial palace in Beijing closed in July 2007. The coffee shop had been a source of ongoing controversy since its opening in 2000 with protesters objecting that the presence of the American chain in this location "was trampling on Chinese culture." In July 2008, the company announced it was closing 600 underperforming company-owned stores and cutting U.S. expansion plans amid growing economic uncertainty. On July 29, 2008, Starbucks
Chain Reaction 2008 Chain Reaction 2008 Chain Reaction 2008 is an international forum on social leadership, founded in 2008. The initiative formed part of the program of the United Kingdom Prime Minister’s (Gordon Brown) Council on Social Action. Chain Reaction was established to bring people together from across the world for a multi-day event in order to explore their connections, learn how to use those connections in positive ways and how they work together to maximize their collective power to change the world. The first event was held from 17–18 November on London’s South Bank, bringing together over 500 social leaders, from all