Discussion forum
responses to www.boycottbush.net

Date sent: Fri, 29 Jun 2001
Subject: Boycott Bush
Just wanted to let you know that I am totally against Bush and Cheney in
their campaign. If you need a name for a petition at any time feel free
to use mine.
Hannah Roth.
Braintree, MA, USA.

Tue, 26 Jun 2001
Subject: EC site
Just bumped into your site today. Looked at the boycott list God, what the hell you motherf**kers eat?
Good to see the chicoms on there though.

Date sent: Wed, 13 Jun 2001
Subject: comments
I agree with all of the criticisms of Bush etc on this site, and I am very much concerned about the issues raised on this site. It is a very informative site and provides easily accessible information that is blatantly unavailable through the mainstream media. So, yes there is a lot of good work here. The only thing I would say is that boycotting brands is sometimes a lot more difficult than you might think, and I don't believe it is the only way to pressure for change. For example, I am sitting here at work contacting you using microsoft software. This is not through choice, but all the computers at the college I work at use Microsoft software. There is nothing I can do to change this (except leave) which is a bit extreme seen as my job is ok and i have rent/debts to pay etc. Also there is such limited choice for consumers in that multi nationals have such a monopoly, a lot of lay people would not know where to start to buy ethical products from. I personally send or e-mail concerns about ethical issues to companies or shops I buy things from, particularly if they are high street chains. I think this is also a good way to lobby corporations. I do try to buy fair trade products where possible, but inevitably I do sometimes buy products that are linked to corporate monstrosities, and think almost everyone does (not through want, but through lack of choice and necessity). It would be fantastic if there was more choice for consumers and more fair trade shopping places, but unfortunately these places are not widespread enough. If people do buy brand name products it is a good idea to voice their concerns about ethical issues, rather than ignore them. All I am saying is that there is more than one way to bake a cake and people are able to put pressure on the powers that run our lives and planet in many different ways. I think it is positive to encourage this kind of campaigning rather than demonise everyone in a pair of nike trainers, whereby a divide is created between activists and mainstream society (not saying that your website does this, but some do), as I think most people do care about the physical and social environment of our world. Anyway, thanks for listening ( if you bothered ), and keep up the positive work that you do.
from maida vale lc

Tue, 12 Jun 2001
Subject: boycottbush.net
Thank you for providing information on how to pressure President Bush. As a Texan, I knew that his election to the presidency was disaster. I formed this opinion having experienced first hand his brand of "compassionate conservatism". He will rape the earth and smile as he does it. If confronted, he will smile and deny it. The only effective way to wage war is to hit his sponsors in the wallet. Most of these guys, alas, even Disney, care only for their immediate financial interests.
Now that "Mr. Shrub" is in office, most of Gore's critics and detractors are openly saying what a dope Bush is, saying openly that he is only a figure head, or puppet controlled by oil, pharmaceutical companies, insurance companies, and other "high rollers". Foolish to long, wise too late. Were it not so sad, it'd by funny.
I will actively boycott all of the contributors listed, even Disney, and forward this information to all others I know who value the future enough to put aside immediate gain.

Nancy Conn Etter

Mon, 11 Jun 2001
Subject:

Dear ethical consumer. I though I might write you a mail with a suggestion regarding the Bush Boycott.
I wonder if rather than people simply not buying these brands products as really do not think this will have any affect until well after the summit in Bonn. Would it not be better to have people send back any product they already have to there nearest Boycott brand office? this may cause these companies more hassle.

Keep up the good work.
D. Crawford.

Date sent: Fri, 18 May 2001
Subject: Research welfare
I'm surprised that there hasn't been much debate over the scientific research end of the Bush budget plan. He has increased funding by the billions to the National Institute of Health (NIH), which is putting our hard-earned tax dollars in the hands of the most heinous drug lords of our time - the pharmaceutical empire. It is said that over half of all research funding requests are granted and about 90% of those will be renewed. It's called "research welfare" and it's a big business. No wonder so many miracle drugs are "just around the corner". And yet another prime example of Bush stroking his campaign contributors. And shame on Bush for his environmental tyranny. Shame, shame, shame! I want to move to another country...this one is making me sick.

An ashamed American,
Tina Santucci

Mon, 7 May 2001
Subject: Thank you

Hello: I just wanted to say thank you for all your work on behalf of the worlds environment. There are many times I wish I was a European instead of an American because of the lead you folks are taking on environmental issues. Please keep up the good work and please maintain your pressure on my countries' businesses to change their non-sustainable ways.
Sincerely, Harlo Lenning Mountain View, California, USA

4 May 2001
subject: brazilian supporting you

Hy,
here is Thaís and i live in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Although I'm too far away from this repressive government, I'd also like to express my displeasure.
I'm very worried about nature's future, so I must say that what your president is doing by denying Kyoto's protocol is causing damages to the whole world, including my own city...I think humanity has already ruined too much of earth's nature. It's high time for us to prevent pollution.
Thais Ulyssea Martins

Fri, 4 May 2001
Subject: Shame on us...

Thank you for beginning this site and the boycott, but shame on we Americans for allowing ourselves to be taken over by such mind-numbing twits. The Republican Party is the most repressive and regressive political manifestation in U.S. history. Its ability to rob this nation and the world of a healthy and generous future is a disgrace and Bush is nothing but one small cog in a generally disgusting machine. joe santos, virginia
Democracy is a messy beast...jms

Thu, 3 May 2001
(no subject)

What do I have to do to join. Didn't want him in anyway. He dont seem to like indians. He has broken every campaign promise he made and will put this country into starvation because of cost of food and dieing in the streets because of poor medical services.
Patricia Martin

Thu, 3 May 2001
subject: boycottbush.net

Hi,
Great idea for a site !!! Do you have a sister organisation based in Australia ? We're interested in a top 10 brands to boycott in Australia. This list would be a slightly modified version of your list as some of the brands on your list aren't available here.
If you don't have a sister organisation in Australia, would you mind letting us know where you accessed the campaign donations information.
Regards Mark Watkins

In reply: We are not aware of any similar groups in Australia but would welcome any feedback from anyone who does. We accessed our information on political donations from the Open Secrets website, brand research was done by ECRA, mostly on the internet.
ECRA

Wed, 02 May 2001
Subject: boycottbush.com

I suggest that we go further than the main companies which have supported Bush. I am going "Grassroots!" I look into our local vendors and other companies and DO NOT use any agencies or support organizations which I know supported Bush. I tell them that is my rationale.
Kathie Vice President of Marketing
multinational computer company

Wed, 02 May 2001
Subject: discussion forum

This is a great site and it saves me the trouble of doing one myself, which I was going to call FATSAM and was going to be be very much more agressive against US consumerism generally.
I note that your discussion forum isn't really a discussion forum but a set of selected replies. Not really a fair way of reflecting opinion and doesn't encouage real discussion. If you need any help getting a real forum going I can help. I have a few BBS systems on one of my customer sites at http://www.name2.org.uk.
Have a look & see if this is the sort of thing you need.
geo

In reply: It's correct that this isn't a true discussion forum at present, though we do post most of the replies we get, positive or negative.
ECRA

Wed, 2 May 2001
subject: campaign donations

hello,
on your list of companies we should boycott, I couldn't help notice that most if not all of these corporations are also major donors to the Democratic Party. Citigroup in particular gave more to the Democrats than the Republicans. Am I supposed to boycott them for making campaign donations or because they made donations to the "wrong" party? It seems to me that as long as it is still legal to make the donations, the corporations have done nothing wrong by donating to the Democratic or Republican parties. In the instance of Citigroup, what am I demonstrating with my boycott?
It seems to me you're just jealous that the Republicans get so much more money from corporations than Democrats. Ask yourself sometime why that is. America is about business and free enterprise. Corporations gift the party they believe will benefit them. In other words, Democrats are less interested in the American way than Republicans. Change your agenda- get more money. It's really simple. In the mean time, don't be such hypocrites. Spend the money MCI, Disney Citigroup etc gave you and shut up.
gundula thiel

Sun 29 Apr 2001
Subject: Global Warming is Real

Bush is clueless when it comes to science or knowing how to protect our environment. He gathered a record amount of money to just barely defeat ex-VP. Gore. He knows that he is highly indebted to those industries that contributed to his campaign. One of those industries is the coal companies who would be put out of business if carbon dioxide was regulated, as their is no way to capture the CO2 that burning this fuel emits. Rightfully, the continued use of coal should be coming to an end due to its being just plain too destructive to use any longer. Bush has put in his budget a very large amount of money to R&D making coal cleaner while at the same time cutting R&D for renewable energy. This approach is ridiculous to anyone who is up to date on the use of fuels for energy. The salivation of our own health and welfare in the century ahead requires that we switch to renewable energy ASAP and quickly embark on the new age of hydrogen as a common source of fuel. This can be done economically saving us all from the unimaginable destruction of our plant which has already begun.
David Meldrum

Fri, 27 Apr 2001
Subject: Boycotts

Boycotts are only useful if the company in question knows what you're doing. Even if we got a million people in the UK to boycott, say, Coca-Cola, they wouldn't notice it much, and would just think it's co-incidental. I suggest that we need to write to the Corporations in question and ask them what they're doing about it. If we get an unsatisfactory response, we then tell them that we will be boycotting their products, and then do so.
I would find it very helpful if the website showed e-mail addresses, as we got in the letter from Titus Alexander on the discussion page. It is very helpful to know what products the companies produce, although I shall miss my Horlicks!
Regards ...
Bob Lyons

26 Apr 2001
Subject: boycott bush

He is doing an OUTSTANDING job and I hope some of the environmental whacko laws inflicted on us by the great perpetrator from the past 8 years get outlawed. May you sleep in the cold and read by candlelight. It is about time we did drilling in Alaska. It would stop some of the oil spills from tankers coming over from Saudi Arabia. I for one would like to see us use our own resources. I conserve but I do like to drive my car without paying a fortune for gas and I do like air conditioning in the summer.
Bob Green

Wed, 18 Apr 2001
Subject: impeach 'president' bush

the refusal by bush to agree to the Kyoto agreement is an "act which is reasonably forseeable as likely to cause injury" to billioms of people in Law, any act, done knowingly, which is "reasonably forseeable as likely to cause injury to another person" is RECKLESS and as such is CRIMINAL.
Nick St.Clare

Fri, 13 Apr 2001
Get Coke to Campaign for Kyoto

This is a wonderful piece of democratic jujitsu to protect the climate. With your help, it could have a powerful and positive impact on the climate negotiations. Nigel Griffiths, Member of Parliament for my old family home in Edinburgh, Scotland, started it off with a story in the Guardian (UK). It is now spreading all over the world through the internet, radio interviews and the press. Please join this gentle act of jujitsu to turn the power of Coke against Bush-the-planet-burner. Email Thomas Long, President of Coke, cc GW Bush; get this story into your local paper, radio or TV station; and pass this message on. Let your local Coca Cola distributor and outlets know that the company is in trouble if it does not act to prevent dangerous climate change.

Coke should know that by the time the climate negotiations resume in Bonn (Germany) in July, its reputation will be on the line. Unless the Coca Cola Company act, there are likely to be demonstrations against it.

More information about the campaign Email ngriffithsmp@parliament.uk to find out more

Titus Alexander

16 Apr 2001

I heard that Azurix, a subsidiary of Enron, was a huge Bush financer. Can you give me any info about this? maureen reilly Toronto, Canada (Azurix has a goal of selling fresh water in bulk, and is a sewage sludge spreader in Ontario. They want to take over water and wastewater treatment plants all over the world)
Maureen Reilly

reply:
Dear Maureen,
thanks for the enquiry. Enron itself was certainly a large Bush funder, but I have to say I don't know about the specifics of how much of this was via Azurix. Multinational Monitor (www.essential.org) or www.opensecrets.org may be able to help.
Regards,
ECRA

Tue, 17 Apr 2001
Subject: Global Warming

Dear Ethical Consumer,
As a citizen of the United States who did not vote for George W. Bush (with the majority of the American people) I applaud your efforts to change the Bush administration's stand on global warming. I was appalled at his statement that the American economy comes first. How selfish can you get! The entire planet is threatened by man made pollution. Future generations could face disaster if we do not act now.. And we are worried about our present economy and not even our own children and grandchildren, let alone the fate of generations to come all over the world. Scientists are almost unanimous about the cost of continuing present policies, yet Bush does not consider conservation in his energy policy and wants to cut research on alternative sources of energy. It is embarrassing that a country which should be a world leader has become such a reactionary and shortsided and reluctant world follower.
Be assured that there are many of us in this country who agree with you. > If you add the votes for Ralph Nader to those for Al Gore, the American voters voted by at least 52% against the policies of the Bush > Administration. Keep up your good work.
Elizabeth Mark,
Alexandria, VA

Tue, 17 Apr 2001
Subject: boycottbush website

How about publishing the amount that each of thes companies donated to the gorp campain. Or would that have taken the wind out of your article’s sails?
Carl Schuck

reply:
Dear Carl,
thanks for the comment on the Bush boycott. The amounts that each company gave to the Gore (which is what I assume you are referring to as 'gorp') campaign are available on the 'opensecrets' and 'laundromat' sites which were clearly listed on our site. That is not, however, the point of the campaign. Gore would have been unlikely to have withdrawn from Kyoto and thus pose an even greater threat to the global environment than the USA usually does by its gross overconsumption. Bush has done exactly that. US internal politics are of little interest to us; the global environment is. These companies must be held to account for the threat they pose to that.
Regards,
ECRA

>>back to new messages

13 Apr 2001
Subject: New Boycott Bush website

Better tactically to choose 1 American company to boycott, if you want to get public support
Professor Imti Choonara
Professor in Child Health,
Academic Division of Child Health (University of Nottingham)

reply:
Dear Professor Choonara,
thanks for your comment on the BoycottBush site. The boycott is intended to provide a range of options for people - there are other boycotts, eg by the European Green Party, of US oil companies, but this would be irrelevant to those of us that don't drive, for instance. It is also designed to emphasise the wise range of companies which have supported Bush, whilst cutting down the number of companies concerned in a general 'boycott US firms' call, which is what other people have done. If people want to focus on one firm, a number of MPs have called for a boycott of Coca- Cola.
Regards,
ECRA

13 Apr 2001
Subject: Re: MBNA / BUSH

Hello ECRA,
I appreciate your efforts on behalf of the global environment, and will forward the link to your website to my list. You may be interested to know that the credit card company MBNA America was the single largest donor to the Bush campaign in the past election. Enclosed is a letter urging MBNA cardholders to close their accounts in protest of Bush administration policies. Keep up the Good Work!
Embarassed in the USA,
pj

MBNA America Bank NA is the largest credit card company in the nation. The company was also the single biggest contributor to the campaign of President George W. Bush, who is on a mission to weaken or overturn environmental protection laws that took decades to enact. Concerned citizens can send MBNA a message by terminating their accounts with the company. It is important to close the account and write a note explaining your reason. Please pass this on to your friends, even if you are not an MBNA cardholder. Let's use the power of the Internet to bring about political change.
The address: MBNA P.O. Box 15026 Wilmington, DE 19850

12 Apr 2001
Subject: New Boycott Bush website
Dear ECRA,
If you enjoy watching impending passenger train wrecks in slow motion, you might want to subscribe to:
Inside Bush Watch - www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/3750/bush.htm
It's an invaluable compilation of opinion pieces -- revised daily -- drawn from across the U.S. on the new George III.
Best,
Peter Kinder

New Boycott Bush website
12 Apr 2001,

I'm so pleased that your putting this out there and totally support your efforts. However, I'm alarmed that somehow ExxonMobil didn't make it onto your list. I know in the 1998 campaign season the company dumped $8 million into the Republican party. Has something been missed here?
Peter Altman, National Coordinator, Campaign ExxonMobil
altman@campaignexxonmobil.org

Campaign ExxonMobil is a national campaign initiated by religious shareholders dedicated to compelling ExxonMobil to take responsibility for its role in the problem of global warming and to make a serious commitment to the development of non-polluting energy sources.
Contact us at (512) 479-0335, fax (512) 479-7645 611 South Congress, Suite 200 Austin, Texas 78704 www.campaignexxonmobil.org

reply:
Dear Peter,
We are currently re-evaluating our list with a view to extending it. ExxonMobil should be here soon.
All the best,
ECRA

Subject: Boycott
Wed, 18 Apr 2001

To whom it may concern,
Congratulation for taking a positive stand on such vital issues as global warning and the Kyoto protocol. I think we need to send a clear message to the Bush administration that the environmental future of this Planet is more important that short term US economic and political interest. I will therefore be part of this boycott and I thank you for taking the initiative on behalf of all responsible citizens.
Regards Eric d'Indy

Thu, 19 Apr 2001
Subject: Good wishes

Dear Transatlantic Friends,
As a US citizen with deep roots in England and Germany, I want to say BRAVO on your decision to call for a boycott of US goods from corporations with ties to Bush & Co. What we now have is an utterly illegitimate president and cabinet, resulting from a judicial coup, and as a result of massive fraud in Florida. I hope that you will find that many American citizens (who are now demoted to being called consumers) fully support your efforts, and hope that Europe will find the moral and political vision and will to oppose mightily this government "of the oiligarchy, by the oiligarchy, for the oiligarchy" (sorry about the pun on oligarchs, it's too delicious and truthful and feisty to resist). It is my hope that there will be increasing bridges between those of us here and those of you there, to help create a network of opposition to what the great French sociologist Bourdieu called the "structural violence" of Globalization, which is the true religion of these current "leaders," who are in fact pillagers and rapists of the Public Good.
Sincerely,
Dr. Michael Bradburn-Ruster

Fri, 20 Apr 2001
Subject: Bush boycott

Greetings.
Just a quick note to express my support for your efforts to boycott companies that supported (bought) our president.
As you are no doubt aware, tens of millions of Americans, probably a majority of us, do not support President Bush. He is only in office because of a series of flukes and the splintering of the democratic and green parties here.
In short, millions of us support anything you can do to deflate Bush's misguided, arrogant and elitist environmental and social policies. SEND THIS LOSER A MESSAGE THAT HE CAN'T IGNORE!
Sincerely,
Jeff Behan Corvallis, Oregon, USA

Tue, 24 Apr 2001
Subject: Re: boycottbush.net

I LOVE your web-site and will be linking to it soon (I'm the creator of "The MILLENNIUM Matters..." web-site). BUT..., I urge you to add the state of FLORIDA to your boycott.
Afterall, were it not for the scandalous stonewalling of vote recount efforts there by the Republican-controlled state government -- not to mention efforts to nullify democratic-party ballots -- Bush would not even BE the president now.
Also, may I suggest that, when the media consortium Florida vote REcount of the 2000 U.S. election is finally published, that you promote and circulate it widely. I've noticed that here in the U.S. it is getting almost ZERO attention -- either as to progress or result.
Thank you for what you are doing....,
JC Paulson

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