Do you boycott any brands ?

[Answerprancer]

If so why ?

I am not a fanatical boycotter but here's a selection of brands I avoid :

Nestle (for promoting their milk products in 3rd world/developing countries over breast milk).
Shell (for allowing a teacher/campaigner to be murdered amongst other things)
McDonalds (for being a revolting globalising, greedy, lying evil business)
Coca Cola (ditto)
Procter and Gamble (suspected animal abuse)

I'm not 'holier than thou' about it but I do try to avoid buying into any products/services that I believe go against my humanitarian beliefs.

[boxtops]

Good post, AP

[askyourgran]

I think the main one is Primark, M&S support Fairtrade and at least their clothes and food are edible. We had a Ford Escort a million years ago and it never let us down. I go for the reliability of an item I buy. MacD is not nice and I've heard they have shady dealings, but what do I know.

[boxtops]

I'm not convinced about anywhere that sells cheap clothing, but some cite economies of scale of purchasing rather than cheap labour. I'm afraid I don't buy Fair Trade, not at the moment, it usually costs more.

[mike11111]

Two things have been mentioned which I know nothing about, but can understand the reason for them.

1) Breastfeeding in under-developed countries. A milk substitute may be more beneficial to the infant than breastmilk if the mother is not fully nourished.

2) Child labour. Though it grieves me to say this, the stark choice for some children in the world is either work long hours for slave wages or die of starvation. Would that we all had a magic wand and could cure these inequalities, allowing everone to live in comfort amd dignity.

(Flipping heck, I'm starting to sound like a Commie!) Please don't report me to Tory Central Office or they'll chuck me out of the party.

[Answerprancer]

Oi - AOG / R1 ! ...check this out ^

[NazNomad]

"Though it grieves me to say this, the stark choice for some children in the world is either work long hours for slave wages or die of starvation".

I do have to agree with this statement. It's a saddening situation.

[Buenchico]

Being in the Conservative Party doesn't prove anything, AP. I'm probably one of the very few people who can honestly say that they've been in the Conservative Party while also holding Sinn Fein membership!

[sherrardk]

Mike1111 - I think the problem with powdered milk for babies is that mothers in third world countries water-it down (to save money) so the babies are under-nourished.

[mike11111]

Blimey Chris, I've heard of contortionism, but for that double act you should have been on the stage!

[society]

Not all mothers are able to breast-feed for quite a few different reasons.
One example - my sister could not produce milk regardless of how much liquid she drank. Oh another, some babies just refuse to nurse.

[micmak]

Many many years ago my wife did home work for a Christmas card company, Paid a pittance, but you do what you have to do to get by. Whilst I appreciate a pittance is paid to workers in the third world at least it keeps them fed. Better that than nothing. Years ago we sent children down the coal mines. We have leaned this is not right. They will in time, when you are desperate you take desperate measures.

[Answerprancer]

My question was not intended to have a party political leaning Chris.
I'm sure many Conservatives boycott things too for whatever ethical reason.

[Buenchico]

An explanation, Mike:
My only problem with Maggie was that she was too 'left wing' for me. But at the same time I believed in a united Ireland. I was prepared to ignore the fact that Sinn Fein sought a socialist republic, in favour of the idea of a unified Ireland (and letting the electorate then decide whether they liked socialism or not). For that reason I joined Sinn Fein and engaged in fund-raising for 'The Cause'.

[pastafreak]

saxy jag said-"I won't see a penny of my money go into M&S and BHS tills if I can help it. They use cheap labour from third world countries so that they can make a fatter profit for themselves. "
Actually-BHS at least-uses very cheap labour in THIS country. There was a program on last week about the manufacture of cheap clothing in Leicester......people in sweatshops are paid as little as £2.50 per hour.......and supply clothes to BHS,Jane Norman and New Look among others....I doubt I will use any of those shops now.

[Buenchico]

AP:
I apologise for bringing part politics into things but I thought that your reference to the views of AOG and R1G was effectively doing that anyway ;-)

Butch:
I regarded Maggie as a 'legitimate target' but I didn't necessarily want to see her dead. (If a friend of mine had joined the RUC, or served in the Army in NI, I'd have also regarded him regarded him as a 'legitimate target').

[starone]

I'd rather have you when you were a vampire Chico. And please stop signing yourself Chris - it spoils the illusion.

[starone]

I try to avoid buying products made by firms who have taken their factories to other countries. This includes Cadbury's and that bloke who keeps inventing new ways to clean the house - sorry forgotten his name.

[mightyWBA]

HP sauce because they closed the factory in Birmingham and moved production to Holland...They can stick it!
I'll never buy a Dyson vacuum cleaner again either because they stopped making them in Swindon and moved to Malaysia.
Support British manufacturing!