To Boycott or Not to Boycott

A Talkaoke conversation from Tuesday and again today reminded me of some local and global boycotting that I have experienced and even encourage at times. A young person mentioned how in our local Woolworths young people are followed around at times as if they were about to commit a crime and it was suggested that they don't go to Woolworths anymore in protest...a very valid argument save for the fact that they then are the ones losing out on being able to use this retail outlet and begs the question, "Would Woolworths even notice?"


It made me think of Sams a newsagent where I witnessed similar prejudice towards young people. I heard the person behind the counter say to a young person who was with his friend buying something that he had to leave because he wasn't buying anything. I asked the shopkeeper if I had come in the shop to buy something with a friend who wasn't buying anything would my friend be treated the same way? He said "No". The conversation ended with me saying that I wasn't going to shop in a placeh which descriminated against people on the grounds of their age. I haven't been back since. I don't know if it has made any difference and it has caused me inconvenience at times but I would feel worse going in there. Maybe I need to do more. I tell people. People listen.

Some Boycotts I participate in...

NESTLE

UNICEF says: "Marketing practices that undermine breastfeeding are potentially hazardous wherever they are pursued: in the developing world, WHO estimates that some 1.5 million children die each year because they are not adequately breastfed. These facts are not in dispute.

Baby Milk Action says: "Reversing the decline in breastfeeding could save the lives of 1.5 million infants each year. Where water is unsafe a bottle-fed child is up to 25 times more likely to die as a result of diarrhoea than a breast fed chid. Nestle is responsible for more violations of the marketing requirement for breastmilk substitutes than any other company."

NESTLE BOYCOTT INFO
http://www.babymilkaction.org/pages/boycott.html#1


COCA COLA

Coca cola according to Ethiscore has issues to do with, pollution, the environment, animal testing and rights, opressive Regimes, workers' rights, irresponsible marketing, genetic engineering, political activities, human rights and an investigation into a bottling plant opponent’s death.

KILLER COLA: http://www.killercoke.org/

ETHISCORE:a project of ECRA a not-for-profit workers' co-operative to 'provide information on the companies behind the brand names and to promote the ethical use of consumer power.' http://www.ethiscore.org & www.ethicalconsumer.org is the website of ECRA - the Ethical Consumer Research Association.