Corporate Boycotts: Brainstorming thread

[Bruce Dazzling]

It occurred to me recently that we (the U.S., at minimum) need a centralized web space to organize bipartisan corporate boycotts, concentrating on bridging the gap between people who identify themselves as Republicans AND Democrats in order to focus pressure on the forces that control both of those parties, and thus, screw ALL OF US.

The message would be that unless you're a banker, a CEO/COO/CFO, or sit on a corporate board, we're all in this together, and we need to get back to empowering the ordinary people who do the bulk of the working, buying, living and dying.

Since this is the place where the magic happens, let's put our thinking caps on and figure out a way to make this happen.

Ok, go...

[Canadian_watcher]

I like this idea Bruce, and I firmly believe that it's the only way. Hit them in the wallet. I also think that once the people get one victory under their belts convincing them to pull off another would be like convincing a fat kid to eat another piece of cake.

Max Keiser always recommends Coca-Cola. Since there's a teensy bit of momentum behind that one already.. plus a big name, maybe that would be a place to start.

How? That's harder... fighting apathy is unbelievably difficult. Most people I know wouldn't even respond if I emailed them something or posted it on social networking sites.

[justdrew]

well, I've talked before about an android/iphone app that let's you take a picture of a product and tell you if it's on the boycott list or not.

one could also make a version of AdBlock plus that only blocks ads from blacklisted companies.

Would be nice if the web hub offered up alternative sources.

[Saurian Tail]

Along these lines, John Robb at Global Guerrillas has been doing a great deal of thinking about Open Sourced Ventures and his 3/28/11 post has good info about getting one started:

OSV: The Foco, and Starting an Open Source Venture

Here's a quick update on picture this, the open source venture we are trying to build.

We've been working on it for a couple of months now, and have learned some valuable lessons. The most important lesson is that starting an open source venture is just like starting an open source insurgency. You need a foco and an example (that provides a plausible promise).

A foco is small team, a vanguard if you will, that initiates the effort. In this case, since we are building a company that generates revenue, the foco is a group of people that can write the business plan and do the initial exploration of the venture space (both technical and business sectors).

An example is something that ignites the imagination. In conflict, the example is an attack (Iraq, Nigeria, etc.) or protest (Tunisia, Egypt, or Libya) that ignites the imagination. It says: we can do this. In business ventures, its a business plan and a demo/mock-up of the product. It shows that this venture can be built.

Here's one way the foco and example combine to start an open source venture:

1. The foco launches the effort by publicly announcing the effort. The business plan is released (wikified?). Call for volunteers/entrepreneurs is made. Release of technical demonstration of the product (if technical/etc.).

2. The foco raises money for the project via crowd-funding vehicles.

3. A people bank is created for the project. Skills/availability/area of interest.

4. A project bank is created for the project -- both internal and external. Internal projects are those help move forward the main objective of the venture. External projects are those that create/move forward complimentary ventures.

5. The business plan serves as a living document that provides structure to the venture. It demarcates the ways complimentary ventures can interact with it (it's business/technical API).

For those that have been involved with the picture this venture to date, it's obvious that we fell short of the mark in our early efforts. That's being corrected through the development of the "picture this" business plan (it's looking very slick and doable).

http://globalguerrillas.typepad.com/glo ... nture.html

[Nordic]

Nice idea. I like the motivation behind it.

But ....

Not to harsh the mellow, but I think this kind of thing falls into a certain kind of trap, which is "we can consume our way out of our problems".

We live in a consumer culture, so this type of thinking is inevitable. We're not even called "citizens" any more, but "consumers".

But hey, why not, go for it.

(personally I have so little money to spend beyond food and shelter that it seems moot)

[Canadian_watcher]

Nice idea. I like the motivation behind it.

But ....

Not to harsh the mellow, but I think this kind of thing falls into a certain kind of trap, which is "we can consume our way out of our problems".

We live in a consumer culture, so this type of thinking is inevitable. We're not even called "citizens" any more, but "consumers".

But hey, why not, go for it.

(personally I have so little money to spend beyond food and shelter that it seems moot)

it's the opposite of consuming our way out of problems though. it's flexing the ONLY muscle we have that they give a shit about which is: where are they putting their dollars?

the real mellow-harsher is the reality that taking down a big conglomerate would also take down one or more pension funds. So don't expect mom and dad to participate.

[Nordic]

it's flexing the ONLY muscle we have

If the Egyptians thought that they'd still be living under the iron butt cheeks of Mubarek.

I'll shut up now because I don't want to derail it, but I think the Egyptian model is the only thing that has any chance of working at all.

[WakeUpAndLive]

well, I've talked before about an android/iphone app that let's you take a picture of a product and tell you if it's on the boycott list or not.

one could also make a version of AdBlock plus that only blocks ads from blacklisted companies.

Would be nice if the web hub offered up alternative sources.

From my little use of the company I've really come to like the website http://www.goodguide.com in determining which products I wish to purchase.

I like the idea of that phone app, would be much easier to code if you just did a text based search instead of creating an algorithm for picture identification. The adblock plus seems like a decent idea too.



And nordic, I don't think it is about enhancing our identity as a consumer, but moreso letting these companies who feel invincible know that we are the ones who truly fill the pockets of all their employees, not their own egotistical notions of superiority.

[Bruce Dazzling]

Nice idea. I like the motivation behind it.

But ....

Not to harsh the mellow, but I think this kind of thing falls into a certain kind of trap, which is "we can consume our way out of our problems".

We live in a consumer culture, so this type of thinking is inevitable. We're not even called "citizens" any more, but "consumers".

But hey, why not, go for it.

(personally I have so little money to spend beyond food and shelter that it seems moot)

You (sort of) hit the nail right on the head, Nordic.

Although I DESPISE the "consumer" label, the reality is that the vast majority of us have had our power reduced to such an extent that selectively withholding our consumption is the best arrow we have left in our ever-shrinking quiver.

Keep the ideas coming!

[Bruce Dazzling]

Nice idea. I like the motivation behind it.

But ....

Not to harsh the mellow, but I think this kind of thing falls into a certain kind of trap, which is "we can consume our way out of our problems".

We live in a consumer culture, so this type of thinking is inevitable. We're not even called "citizens" any more, but "consumers".

But hey, why not, go for it.

(personally I have so little money to spend beyond food and shelter that it seems moot)

it's the opposite of consuming our way out of problems though. it's flexing the ONLY muscle we have that they give a shit about which is: where are they putting their dollars?

the real mellow-harsher is the reality that taking down a big conglomerate would also take down one or more pension funds. So don't expect mom and dad to participate

Yes, CW, that has occurred to me, but I should be clear that the long-term goal is to use this as a tool to pressure for reforms and legislation that would eventually lead the way back towards strong unions and better wages/pension funds, etc. (as well as addressing environmental and human rights concerns). There's no silver bullet, obviously, and any action we take that can possibly produce results will also require some pain and sacrifice, but I believe we're at the point where we have more to win than to lose.

[Canadian_watcher]

Yes, CW, that has occurred to me, but I should be clear that the long-term goal is to use this as a tool to pressure for reforms and legislation that would eventually lead the way back towards strong unions and better wages/pension funds, etc. (as well as addressing environmental and human rights concerns). There's no silver bullet, obviously, and any action we take that can possibly produce results will also require some pain and sacrifice, but I believe we're at the point where we have more to win than to lose.

I'm with you. bring it! I'll sacrifice.. at this point I have ZERO confidence that I'll be able to rely on 'the system' for $, medical, transport, food, etc by the time I'm 65 anyway. We're under the influence of mighty Pluto right now.. destroy and rebuild.

[Canadian_watcher]

it's flexing the ONLY muscle we have

If the Egyptians thought that they'd still be living under the iron butt cheeks of Mubarek.

I'll shut up now because I don't want to derail it, but I think the Egyptian model is the only thing that has any chance of working at all.

egypt isn't here. totally different story there.

Sustained mass demonstrations aren't even possible in Canada, anyway. Have you seen our population dispersal? we're a different beast too. Last time we tried it (oh how soon they forget the G20) we got slammed, hard. The powers flexed one of their muscles and we were completely ineffective. Mass demonstrations only work when TPTB are behind them, as they were in Egypt. (I do believe it was an organic uprising to a degree but NO WAY would it have lasted had the police-state stepped in. Since they didn't step in I can only assume that they didn't want to.)

No.. the only thing that would work in our society is to economically cripple a company. Then another company. Then another one.

[Cedars of Overburden]

Coca Cola deserves it, but AT&T might be better for the simple reason that no one -- I think no one -- is addicted to AT&T.

[Nordic]

Yeah, okay, I'm sure all those iPhone users will give that up.

Go after the banks. That's the key.

Everybody make a run on the banks. Default on your credit cards and your loans. Just do what Ecuador did and say "FUCK YOU" to the banks.

[Cedars of Overburden]

Coca Cola deserves it, but AT&T might be better for the simple reason that no one -- I think no one -- is addicted to AT&T.

It took me five minutes to realize cutting off AT&T would cut off a lot of rural people. I withdraw that.

If we chose Coke to boycott, could we use, err, tea parties as organizing events?