Comments on: Having the courage of your convictions, or not http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/courage-of-your-convictions/ Business Women of Opinion! Sun, 12 Feb 2012 11:12:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Carolyn http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/courage-of-your-convictions/comment-page-1/#comment-4122 Carolyn Tue, 29 Jun 2010 21:35:15 +0000 http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/?p=2672#comment-4122 Interesting and thought provoking post. It led me to wonder whether the point of a boycott is to bring the company down or to make the boycotter feel better. And is the latter wrong or pointless? I don't think so necessarily. I boycott Walmart, because I am disgusted by their labour policies. I know that Walmart will not go under because I choose not to take advantage of their cheap toilet rolls (which are very cheap I might tell you and no little personal sacrifice on my part, lol) but it's my money and I choose to give it to people I approve of. Additionally I will always try to give business to a Canadian company rather than a US conglomerate, by way of a choice. No-one's bottom line is affected by this, it just satisfies me and I think that's ok. <br><br>I don't see hurting the company as the only point, so long as we are educating people to realise that they have choices and that their custom is a gift that they have the power to withhold or bestow. A boycott of Nestle may not bring the conglomerate down but we are still supporting the alternatives, so it's only a failure if we focus on only one outcome. Interesting and thought provoking post. It led me to wonder whether the point of a boycott is to bring the company down or to make the boycotter feel better. And is the latter wrong or pointless? I don't think so necessarily. I boycott Walmart, because I am disgusted by their labour policies. I know that Walmart will not go under because I choose not to take advantage of their cheap toilet rolls (which are very cheap I might tell you and no little personal sacrifice on my part, lol) but it's my money and I choose to give it to people I approve of. Additionally I will always try to give business to a Canadian company rather than a US conglomerate, by way of a choice. No-one's bottom line is affected by this, it just satisfies me and I think that's ok.

I don't see hurting the company as the only point, so long as we are educating people to realise that they have choices and that their custom is a gift that they have the power to withhold or bestow. A boycott of Nestle may not bring the conglomerate down but we are still supporting the alternatives, so it's only a failure if we focus on only one outcome.

]]> By: Morag http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/courage-of-your-convictions/comment-page-1/#comment-4116 Morag Tue, 29 Jun 2010 20:20:05 +0000 http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/?p=2672#comment-4116 Most of my friends outside of cloth nappy world had never even HEARD of the Nestle boycott at all. Most of my friends outside of cloth nappy world had never even HEARD of the Nestle boycott at all.

]]> By: AnnGodridge http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/courage-of-your-convictions/comment-page-1/#comment-4111 AnnGodridge Tue, 29 Jun 2010 17:55:28 +0000 http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/?p=2672#comment-4111 I do think it can be very powerful - and actually gives ordinary people a voice. The days of us all being lectured from on high and accepting it meekly without discussion may be over...we expect a bit of engagement and back and forth now.<br><br>Where it will all lead, I don't know. We see China and other countries trying to control the internet - but I sometimes think that left uncontrolled there is so much noise that we do become blind. <br><br>Then there are the times that it really works - the Trafigura one being a major turning point I think. And there are some fine campaigning blogs out there on the case for libel reform and the like. <br><br>It is certainly changing the world - but it's too soon to predict how, exactly. I suppose that is up to each one of us - to make sure the change is for the better. I do think it can be very powerful – and actually gives ordinary people a voice. The days of us all being lectured from on high and accepting it meekly without discussion may be over…we expect a bit of engagement and back and forth now.

Where it will all lead, I don't know. We see China and other countries trying to control the internet – but I sometimes think that left uncontrolled there is so much noise that we do become blind.

Then there are the times that it really works – the Trafigura one being a major turning point I think. And there are some fine campaigning blogs out there on the case for libel reform and the like.

It is certainly changing the world – but it's too soon to predict how, exactly. I suppose that is up to each one of us – to make sure the change is for the better.

]]> By: Sarah Arrow http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/courage-of-your-convictions/comment-page-1/#comment-4109 Sarah Arrow Tue, 29 Jun 2010 17:44:14 +0000 http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/?p=2672#comment-4109 Is a click of support any less of an action than Obama ranting from the White House about BP? And do we get campaign blindness? have we reached saturation point when it comes to making the steps needed to make a difference?<br><br>I like to think the click or RT is the start for some people to make the change, it was for us Birds, once discussion in Sally's Corset and Curves club and 2 years later here we are. It started with a click :) Is a click of support any less of an action than Obama ranting from the White House about BP? And do we get campaign blindness? have we reached saturation point when it comes to making the steps needed to make a difference?

I like to think the click or RT is the start for some people to make the change, it was for us Birds, once discussion in Sally's Corset and Curves club and 2 years later here we are. It started with a click :)

]]> By: BabsSaul http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/courage-of-your-convictions/comment-page-1/#comment-4110 BabsSaul Tue, 29 Jun 2010 17:40:25 +0000 http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/?p=2672#comment-4110 Absolutely, Ann - the Internet makes it so easy to be heard now.<br><br>When I made the suggestion that the Nestle boycott had made little difference to the company and its methods I was lambasted for suggesting that the effort put in by determined boycotters was pointless. Absolutely, Ann – the Internet makes it so easy to be heard now.

When I made the suggestion that the Nestle boycott had made little difference to the company and its methods I was lambasted for suggesting that the effort put in by determined boycotters was pointless.
Twitter:

]]> By: BabsSaul http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/courage-of-your-convictions/comment-page-1/#comment-4106 BabsSaul Tue, 29 Jun 2010 17:36:30 +0000 http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/?p=2672#comment-4106 Sorry about that, Chris - pass on my apologies to your cats...<br><br>And yes - you either do it or don't do it. Sorry about that, Chris – pass on my apologies to your cats…

And yes – you either do it or don't do it.
Twitter:

]]> By: AnnGodridge http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/courage-of-your-convictions/comment-page-1/#comment-4107 AnnGodridge Tue, 29 Jun 2010 17:35:59 +0000 http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/?p=2672#comment-4107 Looked it up - irresistible isn't it?<br><br>'Ethical decisions that injure a firms ability to compete are actually immoral', Helmut Maucher<br><br><a href="http://www.corporatewatch.org.uk/?lid=239" rel="nofollow">http://www.corporatewatch.org.uk/?lid=239</a> Looked it up – irresistible isn't it?

'Ethical decisions that injure a firms ability to compete are actually immoral', Helmut Maucher

http://www.corporatewatch.org.uk/?lid=239

]]> By: Sarah Arrow http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/courage-of-your-convictions/comment-page-1/#comment-4104 Sarah Arrow Tue, 29 Jun 2010 17:32:35 +0000 http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/?p=2672#comment-4104 "it is morally wrong to criticise a company on ethical grounds" you couldn't make that up Chris, even if you wanted to - it's the corporate non speak that companies these days spout :) “it is morally wrong to criticise a company on ethical grounds” you couldn't make that up Chris, even if you wanted to – it's the corporate non speak that companies these days spout :)

]]> By: britesprite http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/courage-of-your-convictions/comment-page-1/#comment-4102 britesprite Tue, 29 Jun 2010 17:09:17 +0000 http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/?p=2672#comment-4102 Thanks, as ever, for such a great blog Babs. I'm a serial Nestle boycotter, and I don't think my cat will be too pleased that you've drawn Felix to my attention (sigh). It's difficult, but you are either principled or not .. there's no grey area in between.<br><br>@Morag: of course Nestle won't admit they're doing anything wrong, that would be self defeating for them! Reliable facts only come from independent investigation and analysis, not from either brands or NGOs who each have an agenda to pursue. However a few years ago the CEO said in response to the boycott "it is morally wrong to criticise a company on ethical grounds" (sorry, I can't source it, you'll have to take my word). Guess we know where their loyalties lie then. Thanks, as ever, for such a great blog Babs. I'm a serial Nestle boycotter, and I don't think my cat will be too pleased that you've drawn Felix to my attention (sigh). It's difficult, but you are either principled or not .. there's no grey area in between.

@Morag: of course Nestle won't admit they're doing anything wrong, that would be self defeating for them! Reliable facts only come from independent investigation and analysis, not from either brands or NGOs who each have an agenda to pursue. However a few years ago the CEO said in response to the boycott “it is morally wrong to criticise a company on ethical grounds” (sorry, I can't source it, you'll have to take my word). Guess we know where their loyalties lie then.

]]> By: AnnGodridge http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/courage-of-your-convictions/comment-page-1/#comment-4103 AnnGodridge Tue, 29 Jun 2010 17:08:36 +0000 http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/?p=2672#comment-4103 Interesting, Babs. It's impossible to keep up with exactly what Nestle is, isn't it? I think this highlights a real serious problem with the power that these large corporations have over all our lives - when a long and well known campaign like this one can simply be shrugged off by the company. <br><br>There are issues in the other direction too of course - an internet campaign these days could presumably do very serious damage to a smaller company, and perhaps that power can be misused. <br><br>With so many different campaigns around us all teh time, on Facebook and Twitter - I wonder how much they can actually make a difference. We all want to do something and maybe in some ways just being able to click Like here and there siphons away the will to actually DO something, to take real action. <br><br>Something to ponder... Interesting, Babs. It's impossible to keep up with exactly what Nestle is, isn't it? I think this highlights a real serious problem with the power that these large corporations have over all our lives – when a long and well known campaign like this one can simply be shrugged off by the company.

There are issues in the other direction too of course – an internet campaign these days could presumably do very serious damage to a smaller company, and perhaps that power can be misused.

With so many different campaigns around us all teh time, on Facebook and Twitter – I wonder how much they can actually make a difference. We all want to do something and maybe in some ways just being able to click Like here and there siphons away the will to actually DO something, to take real action.

Something to ponder…

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