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Boycott of USA Goods"but what can I do about it?"
These pages look at the growing calls for a boycott of USA goods. |
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There are four separate reasons to boycott USA goods or services.
In democratic countries like the UK, whichever political party is in power, they seem to do whatever the USA requests regardless of the wishes of its people. In many countries with no elections (like Saudi Arabia), the government either backs USA foreign policy or keeps quiet when its population seethes with anger at what is happening. Even countries that go with their public against USA foreign policy (like France) are demonised and excluded.
Much of USA foreign policy is for economic reasons - the largest and most powerful trans-national companies are from the USA. Their products are on sale in most of the world's countries.
A boycott of USA goods is therefore a very powerful tool that hits the very USA economy that helps finance actions in other countries.
Others are directly involved in countries with dubious human rights practices (like the use of child or slave labour), oppressed populations, or lax safety rules.
A boycott of these companies and their products can therefore help people around the world.
This is beneficial to the local economy. Often, there is a local brand that can be bought instead and this helps a company in the consumers' own country.
Rather than buying goods from a large USA trans-national, it can be better to buy the goods of a poorer country, thus helping their economy. Fair Trade products are more easilly available these days; buying these directly benefits the growers or producers.
Boycotting large trans-national companies can help local economies around the world.
Other products pollute the environment or are ecologically unsound. Many have a built in obsolesence and need replacing regularly.
A final example is the consumer walking around displaying symbols and logos without payment - a form of free advertising for a company that manufactures cheaply in poorer countries and sells at a premium in the richer countries. Of course, celebreties will be paid to endorse the product.
Boycotting large trans-national companies can help increase quality of life.
© 2003 KryssTal
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Thomas Friedman from "What the World Needs Now" in the New York Times (USA) and Illustrated by an American Flag on a fist:
"For globalism to work, America can't be afraid to act like the almighty superpower that it is....The hidden hand of the market will never work without a hidden fist...McDonald's cannot flourish without McDonnell Douglas, the designer of the F-15. And the hidden fist that keeps the world safe for Silicon Valley's technologies is called the United States Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps."
USA Defence Secretary William Cohen in remarks to reporters prior to his speech at Microsoft Corporation in Seattle as reported by Associated Press:
"[T]he prosperity that companies like Microsoft now enjoy could not occur without having the strong military that we have. ... conflicts in faraway lands such as Bosnia, Korea and Iraq have a direct effect on the U.S. economy. The billions it costs to keep 100,000 American troops in South Korea and Japan, for example, makes Asia more stable--and thus better markets for U.S. goods. The military's success in holding Iraq in check ensures a continued flow of oil from the Persian Gulf."
Boycott America
One of many such sites springing up on the internet. Modest but informative
Boycott Israel
This list of brands are either Israeli or fund Israel.
Boycott for the Environment
Environmental boycotts.
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