Activists to boycott corporations
Global Boycott for Peace
Is boycotting Bush campaign
contributors to ensure that
activists’ voices are heard
Aimee Rudin
City/State Politics Reporter
Money talks on a daily basis. But
during the 2000 presidential election,
money didn’t just talk—it yelled.
The Bush campaign collected
$193,088,650 in campaign contribu
tions in 2000, according to reports by
the Federal Election Commission. Of
that amount, 42.1 percent of contri
butions came from individual dona
tions of more than $200.
These contributions were made for a
variety of reasons, according to the Cen
terfor Responsive Politics. Some individ
uals may have donated because they
supported the Bush administration’s
platform, or they may have wanted to try
and influence the administration and its
work on public policy. Regardless of the
reason behind the contribution, most of
the donations were accepted.
Now, numerous activist organiza
tions around the globe are wondering
how indebted the Bush administration
is toward those contributors and what
kind of strings were attached to the
$81,260,283 worth of individual dona
tions. In the hopes of having their op
position to the war in Iraq and the ad
ministration’s policies heard, activist
groups like Be The Cause, Peace-Ac
Boifest
continued from page 1
Stitt said he was interested in ap
pearing at Boifest simply because he
loves performing.
“I don’t think I have an agenda,”
he said, laughing. “Or at least one
that I would admit to. I am in favor
of the sexuality issue not being an
issue, so I try not to make a point
of it.”
Oakland-based artists J.B.
R.A.P. and Soulnubian, who hail
from the five-member gay hip
hop group Deep Dickollective,
said they performed at Boifest
with the goal of representing “in
dependent underground queer
artists and people of color.” The
duo presented a “cornucopia of
hip-hop,” which included comedy
and dance.
“It’s important to support the on
going equal human rights move
ment,” R.A.P. said. “We are all not
free if one of us is in captivity.”
Soulnubian added that he also
became involved with the event to
connect with other artists.
Both Soulnubian and R.A.P.
work with youth service
providers in their spare time.
They said the themes of their mu
Live music featuring:
The Rag and Bone Men,
Invisiblink, and
Junk City Zero with
The Goa Constrictor DJing
between sets.
$20 Unlimited Sampling.
All ages, 21+ to sample.
Saturday May 31,2003
Two Sessions : 1-5pm / 6-10pm
Tickets: $20 advance/$25 door
At the Lane County Fairgrounds in Eugene, OR
For tickets & more info
|
Gad: 888-945-BEER
or boBrsuniniit.con)
tion
and
Do The
Right
Thing have
formed a coali
tion called Global
Boycott for Peace.
"-S ivrugel ana #w-~
op
posi
tionto
the war,”
according
to a press re
lease from Be The
Cause. “Now it’s time to
take our voice to the next level. We
GBP members believe if they boy
cott corporations that have made
significant contributions to the Bush
administration, the administration
will have little choice but to protect
the interests of the corporations that
supported them in the past. “The U.S.
administration has dismissed our vocal
will affect them where it matters most—
in their wallets.”
Be The Cause Executive Director
Sukh Chugh said now that the war in
Iraq is winding down, there will be ef
forts to team the peace movement
with the anti-globalization movement.
“We personally believe the war in
Iraq was just a symptom of a greater
problem,” Chugh said. “We’re actu
ally in talks with other peace organi
zations around the nation, and we’re
getting ready to take the movement
to the next level.”
GBP has chosen five major corpo
rations to boycott based on the
amount of contribution made to the
Bush administration: Exxon-Mobil
Esso, Pepsico Inc., United Parcel
Service, Wal-Mart stores and Kraft, a
subsidiary of Philip Morris.
A spokesman for Wal-Mart said
the company headquarters was un
aware of the boycott, but because
there are stores located in all fifty
states, it is possible that one or two
stores could be affected.
Boycotts have been a successful
operating tool in the past, according
to GBP. The group cites the success
of the consumer boycott on tuna fish
in the name of protecting dolphins as
an example of how placing economic
pressure on a market can ultimately
result in industry-wide change.
“It’s not enough, any longer, to point
the finger at unethical practitioners,” a
GBP statement read. “It is time for
people, shareholders, companies and
organizations to show they act with re
sponsibility. Your investments as a
consumer or as a shareholder does
and will affect global economies. ”
Contact the senior reporter
at aimeerudin@dailyemerald.com.
Rory Merritt Stitt,
who originally hails
from Alaska, plays
theater-inspired
"cabaret-pop."
Liz Carskadon for the
Emerald
sic and Deep Dickollective’s new
EP, “Them Niggaz Done Went and
Said,” reflects the group’s aspira
tions — to stop the spread of
AIDS and encourage the accept
ance of all people.
“There’s no rainbow if all the col
ors can’t show,” R.A.P. said.
Other Boifest performers includ
ed the Olympia rockers of Rad
Community and the glam,
Puyallup, Wash.,-based Madame
Morte. Festival sponsors included
the UO Cultural Forum, LGBTQA,
the University Bookstore and sev
eral other volunteers.
Hazard said he hopes the cele
bration will become an annual af
fair because it serves an important
function for the entire community.
“It raises awareness not only that
there are queer musicians out
there, but just what queer people
are doing in general,” he said.
Contact the Pulse editor
atjacquelynlewis@dailyemerald.com.
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