[orange]

I am just wondering what everyone thinks about of the boycotting of products that come from certain countries, companies, etc... I have several friends who faithfully do this but as yet I am undecided.

For example, my friends don't shop at The Gap or at Baby Gap, because apparently The Gap's clothes are manufactured in sweat shops in Third World countries, and the factories use child labour. They also buy only "fair trade coffee", that is, coffee manufactured by companies that treat their workers fairly. These friends also boycott Wal-Mart for similar reasons.

I definitely have a global conscience, but at the same time I need to buy things that I can afford! It's no problem for me to avoid The Gap, since it's so pricey, but Wal-Mart has everything I need at great prices. (Sheesh, I sound like a commercial, haha!) Plus I DO look at labels and try to buy Canadian or American made, but that's more because I want to support the North American economy. I think the one that bothers me most is coffee... I love coffee, but I do know for a fact that there are many countries where workers are exploited in the production of coffee. I wonder though, by buying only fair trade coffee, am I actually making the situation even worse for coffee workers in say, Columbia or Thailand?

Anyway it's a lot to think about, and I'm curious how others feel. Let me know!

[fredg]

Hi,
Man, this is some question... I am sure you will get LOTS of replies and comments on this one!
So here's mine.
Some years ago, a man named Ross Perot (not sure of last name spelling), made mention of the "sucking sound" of jobs going away from America, to sweat shops, other places around the world. He sure was right! I'm not saying it's bad or good, but he was on the money.
Boycott's of any kind will work; but only if there is a significant number of people involved. Just for example: if no one bought any medical prescriptions made by a certain company, something would change with the company, fast.
Exxon made more profits, during one quarter, this year, than ever in it's history... price gouging, no? If everyone buying gas would buy it from someone other than a company owned by Exxon, it would really start something big. But, again, it's not going to happen.
When Walmart decided to take the word "Christmas" out of it's banners and signs in stores, a predicted boycott changed the minds of Walmart's "higher ups". Money is the bottom line. They reversed their decision even before the boycott began.
Just a few people not buying one product or another isn't going to make much difference. As an example, China is now exporting more goods than the US! ( I think I heard that on the National TV Network news; might be wrong about that).
Many years ago, the "push" was on to boycott products made from China, and the phrase "Made in the USA", was put on products, and a boycott was started to buy only American made products. It didn't stop anything.
I think it's a very noble gesture to not buy certain products, but in the end, will not change a thing, unless a significant number of people join in.
Happy New Year.

[wizzkid89]

Fred is exactly right, one person won't make a change, it could start one(possibly), but it won't make the manufactures stop using sweat shops. I agree with you that walmart is the cheapest way around and for anyone to try and go out and find the stuff you can at walmart in one place and for that price would be extremely difficult. I understand that something's need boycotting and some don't, I think if you wanted to stop sweatshops you would try to raise more awareness for it rather than boycott the products.

[RickJ]

I know what you mean.

My family does not purchase from Abercrombe & Fitch - boycotting in opposition to their nearly pornographic (in our opinion) advertisements aimed at 12-15 year olds. We've complained to them and to the networks that buy their advertisements.

... but we're on a budget too - and could rarely afford their stuff anyway. It IS a battle, though, with the kids (we've got 6) - who want to be "fashionable"...

We also boycott Disney products. I won't go there - that's a long story.

Boycotts DO work - as much as "buying American" works.

It all adds up. And when you feel passionate about it, you tell your friends - and some of them take up the cause and they tell their friends. At each step, maybe just one person gets added, but they add up.

With a family of 8, we could easily have spent thousands of dollars between A&F and Disney stuff (movies, clothes, toys, etc.). That's thousands of dollars that I used to support someone else.

I probably can't help you on the WalMart or Coffee thing. I don't drink coffee and I my family is a huge WalMart consumer.

I can say this, though. If an American company is doing something that is viewed as criminal - then I'd think that "going after" the lawmakers would be much more effective than trying to boycott the individual companies.

... after all, if a US company is allowed to do something, then shouldn't we be more upset at the lawmakers that allow it than we are at a company who operates as it is allowed?

I know... a very complicated subject. I'm sorry :o ; I hope my rambling has added something for you to think about.

[orange]

Thanks guys... good opinions and ideas from all of you! I do have to agree with Rick though that boycotting probably would eventually work, as word spreads and more and more people do it. But I also agree that the whole legal system / law thing is a really good point too. Change the laws, and then workers will be properly treated and there won't be any need for boycotts...

The thing about Wal-Mart is that they treat their workers quite badly. Here in Canada at least, they would rather shut down their stores than unionize. In certain cities, such as Vancouver, there have been petitions to keep Wal-Mart from establishing a francise. Part of that is purely "visual" though, because the City of Vancouver doesn't want any "ugly buildings"... haha. And Wal-Mart definitely qualifies as an ugly box store. The last thing I heard on the news was that Wal-Mart was in negotiations with the City of Vancouver to build a special "tasteful" storefront that fits in with the Vancouver landscape. Anyway I digress... I also love Wal-Mart for the prices and for the great variety of products. I rarely shop anywhere else for pet food, toiletries, clothing, snacks, electronics, etc... etc...

Yes those Abercrombie and Fitch ads are "interesting"... they remind me of some of the Calvin Klein ads, actually! Definitely not for little kids. And Disney is one of those "evil empires" as I like to call them. They manufacture a lot of their toys in India and Bangladesh, use child laborers working 16 hours a day, and fire anyone who wants a day off or gets sick. Reminds me of the factories in the early days of the Industrial Revolution in North America, before labour laws were in effect.

Anyway, great discussion everyone, thanks! :)

[RickJ]

Three of my renters work for WalMart and all swear they're paid and treated better than ever at any other employer.

... so a lot of it is probably a regional issue I'm thinking.

Yeah, "interesting" that A&F is pushing thongs on 13 year olds...

[orange]

Three of my renters work for WalMart and all swear they're paid and treated better than ever at any other employer.

...so alot of it is probably a regional issue I'm thinking.

Oh that's good to hear. Maybe it is just regional then. I sure hope so because I simply have to keep shopping at Wal-Mart.

Yeah, "interesting" that A&F is pushing thongs on 13 year olds...

The thing about thongs is too, they are so impractical in a lot of ways. I don't why they ever became popular, other than so you can wear tight pants and not have the pantyline showing. I find them super uncomfortable, and my doctor says they are notorious for causing yeast infections and other problems. Not to mention seeing someone bend over and there's the thong, that's just nasty haha. Not at all attractive. Just a glorified plumber's butt really. :p

[bskinner57]

Orange, I understand where you are coming from. It is hard not to shop Walmart, due to their prices. If we all had unlimited money we could shop wherever we wanted. Big Business better start thinking ahead, who is going to be able to buy anything when we don't have jobs, or are making1/2 the money we were. The place where I work has laid off over 500 people in the last 2 years. And look what the auto companies are getting ready to do with their people.

[orange]

You make an excellent point... if people aren't paid decent wages, who will buy the products and keep the economy going? The big companies should definitely be thinking about that! And yes factories are closing all over. Two just recently in my province, and hundreds of people have lost their jobs. Both factories were the "heart" of the towns they were in, and the main economic source. People are now afraid the towns will die out, and many people have to move from their life-long homes and extended families to find jobs. It's very sad.

[lilfyre]

I have Boycotted Target after they would not let the Salvation Army ring the bells in front of their store twos years ago at Christmas, they said if they allowed it they would have to help all charities, or something along those lines, I just know I will never shop there again, I shop at the good will and the salvation army stores now. It is kind of fun and much cheaper. Brand new pair of name brand jeans $6.00, can not beat that (O:

[orange]

That's really weird... Target not allowing the Salvation Army. Their reason for not allowing it is stupid too. Actually we don't have Target in Canada... not yet, anyway.

I also like thrift shops very much! I especially like Value Village, but also the Mennonite Central Committee stores, of which we have 3 here. I would go to the Salvation Army more often too, except that it is quite far from where I live.

[lilfyre]

That's really weird... Target not allowing the Salvation Army. Their reason for not allowing it is stupid too. Actually we don't have Target in Canada... not yet, anyways.

I also like thrift shops very much! I especially like Value Village, but also the Mennonite Central Committee stores, of which we have 3 here. I would go to the Salvation Army more often too, except that it is quite far from where I live.

When I go up home I like to go to Giant tiger in Carlton place, it use to flip my husband out to by milk in a bag. (O:, he came back from the store confused, but that was 15 years back

[orange]

I remember milk in a bag haha. We just got a Giant Tiger here, it was built within the last year. Things have been changing quite rapidly in the north, lots of new box stores that we never had before.

More on Target and the Salvation Army... their excuse about having to allow all charities is VERY lame. Most of the big stores here have a charity of some kind collecting money all the time, for breast cancer research, the children's health foundation, the heart foundation, the kidney foundation, alzheimers, etc, etc... they seem to take turns. What's up with Target!? Do they even have where you donate a dollar or two at the till, to a local charity? Wal-Mart has that at least. At Christmas, the charity was the foodbank and hampers for needy families.

[lilfyre]

http://www.ashbrook.org/publicat/ope...04/target.html

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/ne...1/posts?page=1

Listed are two of the articles I found real quick, I love target, but have not set foot in them since,:mad: miss them but o'well