Boycotting

Here's a post from Yahoo's Deeplistening group:

"People have asked for a list of companies to boycott. Here are some excellent web sites to get started with that show, among other things, the major campaign contributors to both Bush and the Republican party. http://www.boycottbush.net/consumers.htm

Most of them are British or Canadian, but I think one is American.

Here's a list of sites.

http://www.boycottbush.net
http://www.boycottamerica.org
http://www.whitehouseforsale.org
http://www.opensecrets.org
http://www.enough.org.uk/ This one has good info on consumerism.
http://www.adbusters.org
http://www.adbusters.org/campaigns/boycott_america/
http://www.ethicalconsumer.org
http://www.corpwatch.org
http://www.stopesso.com this one is specific to esso/exxon/mobil.

There are many other specific boycott sites for McDonalds, etc.

http://www.boycottbush.net/consumers.htm will give you a list of the specific product names that fall under large corporate companies. There are so many that I think it's far easier to just buy everything either locally made or from a health food or Whole Foods store and check if it's made by small organic companies. If you've ever seen an ad for the product, there's a pretty good chance it's owned by a mega corporation. But there are exceptions. I don't think Stoneyfield Yogurt has been bought out yet. They have good politics. But Ben and Jerry's sold out. They don't own Ben and Jerry's any more. Although Ben is doing great political work. Just as well. Ice cream tastes great, but it's really pretty unhealthy.

You should get all the info you need from these sites. Boycotting has been having an impact in Great Britain, France, and Germany. I don't think it's really even started in the America yet. There have been a lot of campaigns to boycott French products though. And the media showed congressmen pouring French wine into the streets. But, so far, the American corporations have been pretty safe from a home grown boycott. And, if you look at some of the writing in enough.org.uk, you'll see what kind of damage these mega corporations, like Walmart, have done to the American landscape, its communities, small businesses, and quality of life. It's pretty hideous. In America, we like to call it the inevitability of progress and "pro-growth".

What it really means is massive profits for fewer and fewer massive corporations, and increased alienation, stress, anger, fear, and depression in the American people. Plus other nasty things like loss of jobs, loss of downtown communities and neighborhoods, and a lower standard of living. It's not really as inevitable as we think it is. The malls and Walmarts could become gardens and neighborhoods again. It all depends on how we and our neighbors spend our money. Thanks for helping out with this. Every dollar we spend is a vote. Vote wisely. And encourage your family, friends, and neighbors to do likewise. We really can help relieve some of the suffering in this country. It's clear we can't rely on the politicians to do it. But that's ok, because we can.

These huge corporations are far more vulnerable than any of us think. The law and regulations can't touch them. They've bought that world. But, by not buying their products, we can touch them. If enough of us realize this and take action, or inaction (just don't buy anything), massive boycotts will send such a powerful political message that changes will happen and fast. For one thing it will change the direction of the next presidential election. For another it will weaken the power of the mega-corporations to influence politics if they're struggling to stay in business. And if the boycotts keep up beyond the the election, it will change the entire political, economic, and social landscape, both in America and around the world. Very likely, by reducing the oppressive power of America, it will even end terrorism. The corporate push to privatize everything around the world will slow down, and people will once again come before greed and profit, the planet will begin to heal. That's a lot more power than any of us thought we had. Let's use it. And help others use it. "