June 22, 2004
NewsMax.com
The Jakarta Peace Conference -- with activists representing social movements and networks from 26 countries in Asia, Europe, Australia, Africa, Latin and North America -- came together in Jakarta, Indonesia to call for an international boycott of U.S. products on July 4, 2004.
Meanwhile:
* In South Africa, the Iraq Action Committee of South Africa has called for a boycott of American and British products to protest the bombing of Iraq, with support from the Muslim Youth Movement of South Africa.
* Almost one out of four people in the Asia-Pacific region said they have avoided purchasing American brands, according to a recent survey of 1,000 by the Leo Burnett ad agency. The agency polled consumers in India, China, South Korea, Indonesia and the Philippines.
* In Indonesia, the largest Muslim nation on earth with its 212 million, there is an ongoing movement for a boycott of Coca Cola, Pepsi Cola and KFC as well as MacDonaldís.
* In Malaysia, there is reportedly a drive to boycott U.S. products, including soft drinks and fast food chains like Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) and McDonaldís.
* The European Social Forum has called for a boycott of all U.S. oil companies.
* In Austria, Global Mothers - Women in Action for the Environment and Peace has held boycott demonstrations in front of U.S. companies, including Starbucks.
* In Britain, the ExxonMobil Corp., known as Esso in Europe, has reportedly conceded that an activist boycott has hurt its sales. The Stop Esso campaign was organized by Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and People and Planet.
* In France, an enterprising Muslim has come up with the brand name "Mecca Cola" to replace Coca-cola.
* In Hamburg, Germany, a group of French chefs have taken U.S. products off the menu to protest against the war on Iraq.
* In Greece, the Ecologist Greens called for a boycott of U.S. products, while Greek cinema directors have called for a boycott against U.S. films to protest against war in Iraq.
* In Hungary, Women for Environment and Green Women have joined a boycott against Shell, Esso, McDonald's, Pizza Hut, KFC, Pepsi and Coca Cola.
* In Portugal, there has been an ongoing boycott movement, with some of the companies targeted being Esso, Shell, BP, Coca-Cola and McDonald's. The campaign also urges consumption of products made in Portugal and staying clear of tourism in the United States, Britain and Spain.
* In Spain, the Barcelona Boycott group has targeted McDonalds, Kentucky Fried Chicken and Starbucks. .
* In Saudi Arabia, Saudi women have reportedly targeted U.S. cosmetic brands such as Estee Lauder, Aramis, Clinique, Aveda and perfumes such as Tommy Hilfiger and Kate Spade.
* In Chile, activists continue to call for a boycott of U.S. products.
* Colombian labor and human rights activists are pushing a Coca Cola boycott starting on July 22.
* In New Zealand, the Spend for Peace campaign has called for consumers to boycott specific U.S. brands -- Dow and Dupont -- and to notify the companies that they are doing so.
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