For just one example.
I think boycotts have often been extremely effective, historically.
Here are some more examples: http://www.ethicalconsumer.org/boycotts/successfulboycotts.aspx
. . . Nestlé gave in to pressure from Greenpeace and promised a zero deforestation policy in its palm oil supply chain. After just 8 weeks of intense campaigning and meetings with the company Nestle came come up with what Greenpeace described as a comprehensive policy that will be monitored by the Forest Trust.
Nearly 1.5m saw Greenpeaces spoof Kit Kat advert, over 200,000 emails were sent and activists demonstrated at Nestlé HQs worldwide. Greenpeace said We didnt expect Nestlé to come up with this policy so quickly.
Fruit of the Loom crumbled in the face of pressure from the largest ever student boycott. In an incredible about-face the company re-opened a Honduran factory it had closed after workers had unionised. Furthermore, it also gave all 1,200 employees their jobs back, awarded them $2.5 million in compensation and restored all union rights.
The campaign started in 2009 when United Students Against Sweatshops started a campaign that led to 96 US colleges severing their contracts with the company. Ten British universities followed suit. The campaign was estimated to have cost the company $50million.
Reyna Dominguez, who worked at the factory, told New Internationalist that without this pressure the company would never have come to the negotiating table. There has never been an agreement like this in Honduras or the world.
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