David Goodman reporting on Boycotts. The Burmese Governments’ abuse of human rights lead to an international boycott. Selective purchasing legislation of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts pressured multinationals to withdraw their operations from Burma (Myanmar). Supporting a boycott generally means finding alternative consumer products, but what if their are no alternatives? Pat Weinthal former Editor-in-Chief of The Active Window and author of editorial on Burma believes that not enough awareness exist between consumer habits and the world market place. Alisa Gravitz Executive Director Coop America discusses the long term damage of a consumer boycott on companies spending millions on advertising to improve their image. 90% of American consumers have participated in boycotts which explains why company executives surveyed believe boycotts are their number one concern. Kathy Mulvey executive director of INFACT and director of the documentary: Deadly Deception explaines how their documentary pressured GE to withdrawal from nuclear weapons industry. INFACT are also targetting Phillip Morris and RJ Reynolds to stop marketing tobacco to young people. Some companies like Gillette’s dispute the impact of consumer boycotts on sales. Ingrid Newkirk, president of PETA however believes sustained boycotts are pressuring Gillette which continues to use chemicals tested on animals.

Segment Subject: Burmar; Myanmar; Pat Weinthal; Coop America; INFACT; Deadly Deception; PETA