december 2004

After the election of George Bush, it took less than a week for peace activists to reach a consensus:

"Stand and fight."

The U.S. election is simply unacceptable. No president, no matter how large the vote, has any authority to commit war crimes, to destroy cities from the air, to create inhuman prison systems beyond the rule of law, to violate the sovereignty of states. No franchise anywhere entitles any leader to subjugate foreign peoples, or to violate international law. Far from being a democratic "mandate" for Bush, the election is a mandate for world-wide resistance. As James Madison wrote: "Elective despotism is not the government we fought for."

Notwithstanding the consensus of defiance, questions of strategy remain to be addressed. How and where and by what means do we carry on the fight for peace? Do we continue to work within deformed, money-drenched elections? Or do we move into a new phase of direct, economic actions?

At the turn of the 20th century, when imperialism was in its ascendancy, British economist J.A. Hobson, wrote: "Consumption alone vitalises capital and makes it capable of yielding profits...It is idle to attack Imperialism or Militarism as political expedients or policies unless the axe is laid at the economic root of the tree."

No country is more market-driven, more intertwined with foreign commerce and trade, more dependent on the good will of workers and consumers, than the United States. Its war machine depends on parts produced in foreign countries, and there is growing feeling throughout the world that farmers, entrepreneurs, workers and consumers should do unto the U.S. what the U.S. does unto others.

As peace organizations formulate strategy and co-ordinate actions, the teachings of Arundhati Roy, the most visionary and sagacious strategist on the world stage, take on immediate significance.

In her address at the World Social Forum in Porte Allegre, Brazil, January 27th, 2003, Roy put out a call for a new strategy of non-cooperation. Steeped in the traditions of Gandhi, Roy's books and speeches emphasize the economic vulnerability of the U.S. empire.

"The U.S. economy," she writes, "is strung out across the globe. It's economic outposts are exposed and vulnerable. Our strategy must be to isolate Empire's working parts and disable them one by one. No target is too small. No victory too insignificant."

"We could reverse the idea of economic sanctions imposed on poor countries by Empire and its Allies. We could impose a regime of People's sanctions on every corporation that has been awarded a contract in post-war Iraq. Each one of them should be named, exposed and boycotted—forced out of business. It would be a great start."

Weekend protests, Roy tells us, are not enough. "What we need to discuss urgently are strategies of resistance...Gandhi's salt march was not just political theatre. In a simple act of defiance, thousands of Indians marched to the sea and made their own salt. It was a direct strike at the economic underpinning of the British Empire."

"Already the Internet is buzzing with elaborate lists of American and British government products and companies that should be boycotted...They could become a practical guide that directs and channels the amorphous but growing fury in the world."

For Roy, it is not enough to communicate ideas, to write letters to Congress. "We must make it materially impossible for the empire to achieve its aims." She does not ignore elections. But she believes that "Free elections, a free press, and independent judiciary mean little when the free market has reduced them to commodities available for sale to the highest bidder...The machinery of democracy has been effectively subverted."

The Pending World-wide Boycott

All over the world, peace and anti-globalization movements are preparing to put Roy's concepts into practice. They are calling for a new kind of strategy to end the occupation of Iraq: a well-organized, sustained boycott of U.S. and British goods. In its range and scope, the coming boycott (including divestment from U.S. corporations) could resemble the historic boycott of South African apartheid.

The theme of the boycott, unencumbered by riders or secondary demands, is clear and simple: end the heinous occupation of Iraq. The boycott will not subside until all U.S. and British troops are withdrawn from the sovereign soil of Iraq; until all U.S. military bases are dismantled; until all U.S. corporations on Iraqi soil are closed down.

Boycotts have often changed the world. The American Revolution began with the Boston Tea Party. The non-violent movement that brought down the British Empire included Gandhi's boycott against British textiles. The Montgomery bus boycott launched the civil rights movement. The United Farm Workers in the U.S., led by Caesar Chavez, were unionized through laborious national boycotts of lettuce and grapes. And of course, the international boycott of South Africa played a vital role in bringing down the system of apartheid.

Spontaneous Boycotts Are Already Happening

Sporadic and spontaneous boycotts, local in form, have been taking place in cities throughout the globe. National Public Radio (U.S.) reports that thousands of Europeans, repulsed by the election of Bush, are refusing to buy American goods. One placard in a Paris window says: "Promote peace. Don't buy American." According to Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Seymour Hersh, Europe is simmering. "You're going to see American profits disappear. American corporations are going to be in big trouble. It's going to be a mantra not to buy American. All our major manufacturers are reporting major slowdowns in Europe. You're going to see the dollar disappear."

The boycott is spreading. Greenpeace is already involved in a boycott against Exxon-Esso and Mobil Oil. Fermiamo La Guerre, a coalition of peace groups in Italy, called for a boycott of Esso when the U.S. invasion commenced. Sales of Pepsi and Coca Cola have plummeted in the Mideast during the occupation, and Islamic nations are creating alternative cola drinks called Zam Zam and Mecca Cola. Iran banned ads for U.S.-manufactured goods. South African protesters in Cape Town demanded that Denel, a South African contractor, cancel all its contracts to supply military components to the U.S. war machine. The people of South Africa are well aware of the power of boycotts. As South Africa Indymedia put it: We must "take aim at the only thing that can bring Bush to his knees—the American economy."

In the capital of Pakistan, the bustling Jehangir restaurant has taken U.S. soft drinks off the menu. "We only serve Pakistani drinks," one waiter said in an interview with Inter Press Service. "We don't serve Pepsi or Coca-Cola or any other American soft drinks anymore." Fast-food chains—Pizza Hut and Kentucky Fried Chicken—are under a boycott in Pakistan. As one member of the Islamist Party said: "We must stop buying anything American or British. We must hurt American interests as much as possible."

The Myth of U.S. Invincibility

Mussolini once said there is no greater sin than looking weak. All empires sustain themselves through a mystique of invincibility. The U.S. is no exception. Its leaders now choose their words—"Shock and Awe," "Operation Iron Hammer"—to cow the timid.

But all of its nuclear weapons, all of its attack helicopters and B-52s, its power to turn mosques, hospitals and cities into rubble; all of its tanks, cluster bombs, computers and depleted uranium, cannot protect the U.S. empire from the ubiquity and power of non-cooperation. The U.S. may post soldiers at its foreign bases. It may continue to bribe foreign officials, to blackmail foreign governments. But its economic outposts, from Starbucks to Disneyland, from Hollywood films to corporations that advertise on Fox "News," are open and vulnerable. It is the U.S. that depends on the people of the world—on their land, their oil, their skills and labor, their buying power and good will—not the people of the world who depend on the U.S. That is the key insight for peace strategists of our time.

The U.S. empire is weaker than its neo-cons dare admit. Laborers and farmers and entrepreneurs are stronger than they realize.

Spontaneous boycotts, however, are rarely effective. Without organizational support, long-range planning, creative tactics and publicity, boycotts lose momentum. Successful boycotts require leadership. They're arduous struggles that last for years. When the leaders of the peace movement are ready to seize the time, prepared to unleash the power of non-cooperation, the darkness and despondency of our post-election days will fade.

Christmas, the most commercial season of the year, will soon arrive. Under Bush, Christmas is a time to make war and shop. But for us, it is the time to make peace and boycott.

Gandhi wrote: "Non-cooperation with evil is as much a responsibility as co-operation with good."

Let the boycott begin.

Paul Rockwell is a columnist for In Motion Magazine, among other journals.
(rockyspad@hotmail.com)
    Below are companies which donate large sums of money to Israel.  Beneath each listing is an alternative company we can use which does not do so.  This can't be a complete list; I thought Campbell's Soup Company was one to avoid which is why I don't buy their products, but it is not listed here. B.M.

  Company
US brands UK brands
Altria (formerly Philip Morris)
Donations 1999-2004
$6.5 million
Contact details
Altria, 120 Park Avenue, New York, NY10017 USA
+1 212 880 5000
www.altria.com
Tobacco
Marlboro, L&M, Basic, Virginia Slims, Parliament, Merit, Benson & Hedges, Lark, Chesterfield, Cambridge
Beverages
Capri Sun, Country Time, Crystal Light, Kool-Aid, Tang
Coffee
General Foods, International Coffees, Gevalia, Maxwell House, Sanka, Starbucks, Yuban
Desserts
Baker's, Balance, Breyer's yogurt, Calumet, Certo, Cool Whip, Dream Whip, Ever-Fresh, Handi-Snacks, Jell-O, Light n' Lively low-fat yogurt, Sure-Jell
Cereals
Alpha-Bits, Banana Nut Crunch, Blueberry Morning, 100% Bran, Bran Flakes, Cranberry Almond Crunch, Cream of Wheat, Cream of Rice, Fruit & Fibre, Golden Crisp, Grape-Nuts, Great Grains, Honey Bunches of Oats, Honeycomb, Oreo O's, Pebbles, Raisin Bran, Shredded Wheat, Toasties, Waffle Crisp
Cookies and crackers
Barnum's Animals, Better Cheddars, Kraft Cheese Nips, Chips Ahoy!, Handi-Snacks, Honey Maid, Newton's, Nilla, Nutter Butter, Oreo, Premium, Ritz, SnackWell's, Stella D'Oro, Teddy Grahams, Triscuit, Wheat Thins
Snacks
Cornnuts, Planter's nuts
Pet snacks
Milk-Bone
Confectionery
Altoids, Creme Savers, Fruit Snacks, Gummi Savers, Jet-Puffed, Kraft caramels, Life Savers, Milka, Terry's, Toblerone, Trolli
Cheese
Athenos, Cheez Whiz, Churny, Cracker Barrel, Deli Deluxe, Easy Cheese, Hoffman's, Kraft, Philadelphia, Polly-O, Temptee, Velveeta
Dairy products
Breakstone's sour cream and cottage cheese, Knudsen sour cream and cottage cheese, Kraft dips, Light n' Lively low-fat cottage cheese
'Ready meals'
Fresh Prep, It's Pasta Anytime, Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, Minute, Stove Top, Taco Bell, Velveeta shells and cheese
Condiments, sauces, etc.
A.1. steak sauce, marinades and Worcestershire sauce; Bull's-Eye, Good Seasons, Grey Poupon, Kraft barbecue sauce, mayonnaise, salad dressings and mustard; Miracle Whip, Oven Fry, Seven Seas, Shake 'N Bake
Meats and meat alternatives
Louis Rich, Lunchables, Oscar Mayer, Boca
Pickles and sauerkraut
Claussen
Pizza
California Pizza Kitchen, DiGiorno, Jack's, Tombstone
Tobacco
Marlboro, Parliament

  Cheese
Dairylea, Philadelphia, Kraft singles

  Chocolate
Dime bar, Marabou, Milka, Suchard, Terry's, Toblerone
Alternatives
Ethical Consumer best buys are Green & Black's, Divine, Traidcraft and the Co-op's own brand. Cadbury's and Thornton's came out best among the more widely available brands.

  Coffee
Carte Noire, Kenco, Maxwell House

Alternatives
Choose coffee that is Fairtrade and/or organic, such as Cafédirect, Clipper, Percol, Equal Exchange and the Co-op's own brand.

Miscellaneous
Bird's custard, Kraft foods

Company
US brands UK brands AT&T
Donations 1999-2004
US$5.36 million

Contact details
One AT&T Way, Bedminster, NJ07921-0752, USA
www.att.com

AT&T provides various landline and mobile (cell) telephone services, Internet access and telephones and accessories in the USA, UK and worldwide.
AT&T
AT&T

Alternatives

Internet service providers
The Phone Co-op and GreenNet
Mobile phone services In December 2003, Ethical Consumer magazine recommended O2 as its best buy.
Landline telephone services
BT, NTL

Company
US brands UK brands Microsoft Corporation
Donations 1999-2004
$5.12 million
Contact details
Microsoft Corporation, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA98052-6399, USA
Tel: +1 425 882 8080
Fax: +1 425 706 7329
www.microsoft.com
Operating systems
Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows 1998
Alternatives
Linux (download for free from www.linux.org)

Office suite/word processor
Microsoft Office
Alternatives
Open Office (download for free from www.openoffice.org)
Operating systems
Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows 1998
Alternatives
Linux (download for free from www.linux.org)

Office suite/word processor
Microsoft Office
Alternatives
Open Office (download for free from www.openoffice.org)
Company
US brands UK brands
United Parcel Services (UPS)
Donations 1999-2004
$4.48 million
United Parcel Services is the world's largest package delivery company and a leading global provider of specialised transportation and logistics services. Its services are available in the USA, the UK and many other countries worldwide.
Contact details
UPS Corporate Headquarters
55 Glenlake Parkway, NE
Atlanta, GA30328
www.ups.com
UPS UPS

Alternatives
Parcelforce
Company
US brands UK brands MBNA
Donations 1999-2004
$4.38 million
MBNA is a leading provider of credit cards, and offers various other financial products including mortgages.
Contact details
MBNA Corporation, 11th & King Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19984-0001, USA
www.mbna.com
MBNA credit cards MBNA credit cards

Alternatives
The Co-operative Bank produces various credit cards.
Company
US brands UK brands
Citigroup
Donations 1999-2004
$3.93 million
Contact details
388 Greenwich Street, New York, NY10013-2375 USA
www.citigroup.com
Citibank - various financial products including banking services, credit cards, mortgages and loans.
Citibank products available in the UK include current and savings accounts, credit cards and Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs).

Alternatives
The Co-operative Bank offers current and savings accounts and credit cards. Savings accounts (including ISAs) are also available from Triodos and the Ecology Building Society.
Company
US brands UK brands
Pfizer
Donations 1999-2004
$3.9 million
Contact details
Pfizer Inc., 235 East 42nd Street, New York, NY 10017-5755, USA
+1 212 573 2323
www.pfizer.com
Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer is best-known for having launched Viagra. However, it also produces many non-prescription (over-the-counter) branded drugs
Actifed, Anusol, Benylin
Benadryl, BENGAY, Corn Huskers, Cortizone, Desitin, Dramamine, e.p.t,
Emetrol, Efferdent, Effergrip, Fresh 'n Brite, Gelusil, Hemorid, Kaopectate, Listerine, Listermint, Lubriderm, Luden's, Micatin, Nasalcrom, Neosporin, Nicotrol, Pacquin, Pediacare, Plax, Polysporin, Progaine, Rogaine, Rolaids, Sinutab, Sudafed, Tucks, Unisom, Visine, Wart-Off, Zantac 75
  Non-prescription medicines: Benadryl, Sudafed decongestant, Calpol, Diflucan antifungal, Feldene P gel, Rappell, TCP throat pastilles

Alternatives
Many pharmacies will stock generic versions of these products. Ask your local pharmacist for details.

Dental care:
Euthymol toothpaste, Listerine mouthwash

Alternatives
Green People, Jason Natural Products, Kingfisher, Sarakan, Tom's of Maine, Weleda

  Company
US brands UK brands
FedEx Corporation
Donations 1999-2004
$3.4 million
Contact details
FedEx Corporation, 942 South Shady Grove Road, Memphis, TN38120 USA
+1 901 369 3600
www.fedex.com
FedEx offers Federal Express postal, shipping and freight services to individuals and businesses, in many countries around the world including the USA and the UK.
FedEx offers Federal Express postal, shipping and freight services to individuals and businesses, in many countries around the world including the USA and the UK.
Alternatives
Parcelforce
Company
US brands UK brands Bristol-Myers Squibb
Donations 1999-2004
$3.4 million
Contact details
345 Park Avenue, New York, NY10154-0037, USA
+1 212 546 4000
www.bms.com
Pharmaceutical company Bristol-Myers Squibb sells many over-the-counter medicines as well as toiletries such as shampoo.
Exedrin analgesics (painkillers), Boost energy drinks, ChoiceDM diabetic snacks, skin care, oral care and footcare products; Enfamil infant formulas.


Aussie shampoo

Alternatives
The Body Shop, Faith in Nature, Green People, Lush, Weleda
Company
US brands UK brands GlaxoSmithKline
Donations 1999-2004
$3 million
Contact details
GlaxoSmithKline plc
980 Great West Road
Brentford
Middlesex
TW8 9GS
United Kingdom
+44 (0)20 8047 5000
www.gsk.com
Abreva cold sore remedy
Alluna herbal sleeping tablets, Aquafresh toothpaste
Citrucel laxative
Contac cold and 'flu remedies
Ecotrin aspirin
Gaviscon heartburn remedy Nicorette nicotine patches
Os-Cal calcium supplements
Oxy acne treatment
Tagament and Tums heartburn remedies
Non-prescription medicines
Beechams cold remedies
Contac cold and 'flu remedies
Eumovate exzema treatments
Oxy acne treatment
Panadol paracetamol
NiQuitin nicotine patches
Solpadeine painkillers
Zovirax coldsore treatment

Alternatives
Many pharmacies will stock generic versions of these products. Ask your local pharmacist for details.


Dental care
Aquafresh and Macleans toothpaste

Alternatives
Green People, Jason Natural Products, Kingfisher, Sarakan, Tom's of Maine, Weleda


Soft drinks
Ribena, Lucozade, Horlicks

Alternatives
Barr's, BB Soda, Cabana, Fentimans, Irn Bru, Kia, Mecca Cola, Qibla Cola, Simply Citrus, Tizer, Vimto, Whole Earth

Bedtime drinks
Horlick's

Alternatives
Clipper, Cocodirect, Divine, Equal Exchange, Green & Black's, Traidcraft and the Co-op's own brand.
Company
US brands UK brands
Wal-Mart

Donations 1999-2004
$2.85 million
Contact details
Wal-Mart Inc.
702 S.W. 8th Street
Bentonville, AR72716
USA
www.wal-mart.com
Wal-Mart stores ASDA supermarkets

Alternatives
Local, independently-owned shops; Budgens, the Co-op, Sainsbury's
Company
US brands UK brands
General Electric
Donations 1999-2004
$2.58 million
Contact details
General Electric Company, 3135 Easton Turnpike, Fairfield, CT06828, USA
+1 (203) 373 2211
www.ge.com
GE-branded lightbulbs, refrigerators and freezers, electric ovens, microwaves, washers and dryers, water systems, fans, air purifiers, humidifiers and other kitchen and household appliances.
Home, life and health insurance, credit cards, retail store cards, mortgages.
White goods
Hotpoint, GE

Alternatives
When Ethical Consumer magazine looked at fridges and freezers in February 2001, its recommended best buys were Miele, Candy, Hoover and Servis.
For washing machines and dryers, Ethical Consumer magazine best buys in April 2003 were Asko and Servis, Admiral, Dyson, Candy, Hoover, Maytag, and Miele.

For ovens and microwaves, Ethical Consumer magazine best buys in April 2002 were Aga-Rayburn, Flavel-Leisure, Baumatic, Candy, Belling, Stoves and New World.
For lightbulbs, Ethical Consumer magazine best buys in December 2001 were Lumin8, Sylvania and Ikea.

Retail store cards owned by GE Capital Bank Ltd., such as those offered by Monsoon, Kwik-Fit, Laura Ashley, New Look, Debenhams and House of Fraser; GE credit cards and loans.

Alternatives
The Co-operative Bank offers various credit cards. These are normally better value than store cards. It also offers loans.
Company
US brands UK brands
ExxonMobil
Donations 1999-2004
$2.35 million
Contact details
ExxonMobil Corporation, 225 East John W Carpenter Freeway, Irving TX75062-2298, USA
+1 214 444 1000
www.exxon.com
Exxon petrol and lubricants

ExxonMobil credit cards.

Alternative
Shell Esso petrol,
Esso and Mobil-branded lubricants

Alternatives
When Ethical Consumer magazine reported on petrol and diesel in February 2003, its recommended best buys were Murco followed by Shell.
Company
US brands UK brands
AOL TimeWarner
Donations 1999-2004
$2.31 million
Contact details
Time Warner Inc., Time Warner Building, 75 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY10019, USA
+1 212 484 8000
www.timewarner.com


 
 Internet service providers and browsers
AOL 9.0, AOL for Broadband, AOL Anywhere, CompuServe, AOL Instant Messenger, Netscape Navigator

Cable subscriptions
HBO Direct-Ordering, Road Runner, Time Warner Cable

Sporting events
Atlanta Hawks tickets, Atlanta Thrashers tickets
DVD
Columbia House DVD, HBO DVD, New Line Cinema Store, Warner Home Video

Home video
Columbia House, The D.A.V.E. (direct audio video express), Elektra Records Store, HBO Home Video, New Line Cinema Store, Time-Life Video, Warner Bros. Records, Warner Bros. Video Club, Warner Home Video

Services
Moviefone, Music, Music Online, Spinner, Winamp

Recorded music
Atlantic Records, The D.A.V.E. (direct audio video express), Elektra Records Store, The Reprise Store, Rhino Records, Time-Life Music, Warner Bros. Records Music Store
Printed music
SongXpress, Warner Bros. Publications Music Shop, Warner/Chappell
Books
Book-of-the-Month Club, Columbia House CD-ROMs, DC Comics comic books, Little, Brown and Company, Martha Stewart books, Oxmoor House Books, Southern Living books, Sunset Books, Time 100 Bookstore, Warner Books

Magazines
BabyTalk, Coastal Living, Cooking Light, Entertainment Weekly, Fortune, Health, Money, Parenting Magazine, People, Progressive Farmer, Southern Accents, Southern Living, Sports Illustrated, Sports Illustrated for Kids, Sunset, Teen People, This Old House, Time, Time For Kids

Online shopping
Cartoon Network, Columbia House, Shop @ AOL.com, Shop @ CompuServe, Shop @ Netscape,

Children
AcmeCity, Atlanta Braves Merchandise, Cartoon Network, Children's Book Nook, DC Comics For Kids, HBO Family, Sports Illustrated for Kids

Company Bbranded products
Atlanta Braves merchandise, Atlanta Thrashers merchandise, New Line Cinema Store, Sports Illustrated Merchandise, Time-Life, WBShop.com, Warner Bros. Studios Facilities
Internet service providers
AOL 9.0, AOL for Broadband, AOL Anywhere, CompuServe, AOL Instant Messenger

Alternatives
The Phone Co-op, GreenNet

Web browsers
Netscape Navigator

Alternative
Mozilla

Entertainment
Warner Bros. stores and cinemas

Alternatives

Toys
In October 2002, Ethical Consumer magazine best buys were Holz Toys, Green Baby, Brio, Galt Toys, Lego and Playmobil.
Visit your local independent cinema.
Company
US brands UK brands
Anheuser Busch
Donations 1999-2004
$2.23 million
Contact details
Anheuser-Busch, Inc., One Busch Place, St. Louis, MO63118, USA
1 800 342 5283 (from within US)
www.anheuser-busch.com
Beer
Budweiser, Michelob, ZiegenBock, Pacific Ridge Pale Ale, Busch, Natural
Malt liquors
Hurricane Malt Liquor, King Cobra
Malt beverages
Bacardi Silver Raz, Bacardi Silver O3, Bacardi Silver, Tequiza, "Doc's" Hard Lemon
Non-alcoholic beverages
180, O'Doul's, Busch NA
Budweiser, Michelob and Bud Ice beers

Alternatives
When Ethical Consumer magazine reported on beer in February 2002, Wadworth's and Marston's came out as best of the UK-wide brands.
Company
US brands UK brands
ChevronTexaco
Donations 1999-2004
$2.2 million
Contact details
ChevronTexaco Corporation, 6001 Bollinger Canyon Rd., San Ramon, CA 94583, USA
+1 925 842 1000
www.chevrontexaco.com
comment@chevrontexaco.com
Chevron and Texaco petrol Texaco petrol

Alternatives
When Ethical Consumer magazine reported on petrol and diesel in February 2003, its recommended best buys were Murco followed by Shell.
Company
US brands UK brands PepsiCo
Donations 1999-2004
$1.9 million
www.pepsi.com
Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Code Red, Sierra Mist, Lipton Brisk, Lipton Iced Tea, FruitWorks, AMP, Aquafina, Mr. Green, Mug Root Beer, Slice, Frappuccino, Quaker, Sugar Puffs
Soft drinks
Pepsi, 7 Up

Alternatives
Barr's, BB Soda, Cabana, Fentimans, Irn Bru, Kia, Mecca Cola, Qibla Cola, Simply Citrus, Tizer, Vimto, Whole Earth
Crisps
Doritos, Walkers

Alternatives
Tra'fo, Jonathan Crisp, Stour Valley, Kettle Chips, Highlander, Seabrook

Breakfast cereals
Quaker Oats, Sugar Puffs

Alternatives
Alara, Dove's Farm and Pertwood Organic received 'best buy' status in a recent Ethical Consumer report. Morning Foods, Dorset Cereals and the more widely available Jordans brand were also recommended.
Company
US brands UK brands
Schering Plough
Donations 1999-2004
$1.8 million
Contact details
+1 908 298 4000
www.sch-plough.com
A+D babycare products, Afrin nasal spray, Claritin allergy treatment, CoricidinHPB cold and 'flu remedy, Dr Scholl's footcare, Coppertone sun lotion, Correctol, Drixoral allergy/sinus remedy, GyneLotrimin
Coppertone sun lotion

Alternatives
Honesty Cosmetics, Weleda, Banana Boat, Delph, Malibu, The Body Shop

  Company
US brands UK brands
Archer Daniels Midland
Donations 1999-2004
$1.8 million
Contact details
Archer Daniels Midland Company, 4666 East Faries Parkway, Box 1470, Decatur, Illinois IL62526-566
+1 800 637 5843 (within US)
www.admworld.com
info@admworld.com
Novasoy calcium supplement
NutriSoy protein supplement Soy7 pasta, Natural Source supplementsa
Meat substitutes
Granose, Protoveg and Realeat meat substitutes

Alternatives
Cheatin', Goodlife, Making Waves, Vegi-Deli, Wicken Fen.

  Company
US brands UK brands
Wyeth (formerly American Home Products)
Donations 1999-2004 $1.74 million
Contact details
Wyeth, 5 Giralda Farms, Madison, NJ07940
www.wyeth.com
Advil painkillers, Alavert allergy remedy, Anbesol toothache remedy, Caltrate calcium supplement, Centrum vitamins, Chap Stick lip balm, Dimetapp cold and allergy medicine, FiberCon and Freelax laxatives, Preparation H haemorrhoid cream, Primatene asthma treatment, Robitussin cold and 'flu remedy


Anadin painkillers

Alternatives
The Aspar brand received a favourable rating in the December 2002 issue of Ethical Consumer magazine. Most pharmacies stock generic versions of popular non-prescription painkillers - ask your local pharmacist for details.
Company
US brands UK brands
Alticor Inc.
Donations 1999-2004
$1.7 million
Contact details
Alticor Inc., 7575 Fulton Street East, Ada, MI49355, USA
+1 616 787 1000
www.alticor.com
Quixtar toiletries and cleaning products, Body Series toiletries, Artistry cosmetics, Satinique shampoo, Glister toothpaste
Amway toiletries and cleaning products

Alternatives
Clear Spring, Bio-D, Ecover

Nutrilite vitamins and food supplements

Alternative
Viridian

Artistry skincare and cosmetics

Alternative
The Body Shop
Company
US brands UK brands American Airlines
Donations 1999-2004
$1.62 million
Contact details
AMR Corporation, Mail Drop 5675, P.O. Box 619616, Dallas Fort Worth Airport, TX75261-9616, USA
+1 817 963 1234
www.aa.com
American Airlines flights American Airlines flights

Alternatives
British Airways or other non-American companies (all major US airlines are big political donors).
Company
US brands UK brands Ford Motor Company
Donations 1999-2004
$1.52 million
Contact details
Ford, 1 American Road, Dearborn, MI48126-2798, USA
(within the US): 1 800 392 3673
(outside the US): +1 313 594 4857
www.ford.com
Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Mazda, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover, Aston Martin Ford, Land Rover, Range Rover, Mazda, Volvo, Jaguar

Alternatives
When Ethical Consumer magazine looked at cars in June 2003, its recommended best buys were the Volkswagen brands Seat, Skoda, VW and Audi, Peugeot Citröen and the Phoenix Consortium brands Rover and MG.
Company
US brands UK brands BP Amoco
Donations 1999-2004
$1.25 million
Contact details
BP Amoco, Britannic House, 1 Finsbury Circus EC2M 7BA, UK
+44 20 7496 4000
www.bp.com
BP, Amoco and ARCO petrol and diesel BP petrol and diesel

Alternatives
Murco, Shell.
Company
US brands UK brands
Walt Disney
Donations 1999-2004
$1.25 million
www.disney.com
Walt Disney toys, stores, publications and films.
Walt Disney toys, stores, publications and films.

Alternatives
For toys, Ethical Consumer magazine best buys in October 2002 were Holz Toys, Green Baby, Brio, Galt Toys, Lego and Playmobil.

Visit your local independent cinema.

Published on Thursday, November 18, 2004 by CommonDreams.org
FINAL PARAGRAPHS OF ARUNDHATI ROY'S SPEECH:The real tragedy is that most people in the world are trapped between the horror of a putative peace and the terror of war. Those are the two sheer cliffs we're hemmed in by. The question is: How do we climb out of this crevasse?

For those who are materially well-off, but morally uncomfortable, the first question you must ask yourself is do you really want to climb out of it? How far are you prepared to go? Has the crevasse become too comfortable?

If you really want to climb out, there's good news and bad news. The good news is that the advance party began the climb some time ago. They're already half way up. Thousands of activists across the world have been hard at work preparing footholds and securing the ropes to make it easier for the rest of us. There isn't only one path up. There are hundreds of ways of doing it. There are hundreds of battles being fought around the world that need your skills, your minds, your resources. No battle is irrelevant. No victory is too small.

The bad news is that colorful demonstrations, weekend marches and annual trips to the World Social Forum are not enough. There have to be targeted acts of real civil disobedience with real consequences. Maybe we can't flip a switch and conjure up a revolution. But there are several things we could do. For example, you could make a list of those corporations who have profited from the invasion of Iraq and have offices here in Australia. You could name them, boycott them, occupy their offices and force them out of business. If it can happen in Bolivia, it can happen in India. It can happen in Australia. Why not?

That's only a small suggestion. But remember that if the struggle were to resort to violence, it will lose vision, beauty and imagination. Most dangerous of all, it will marginalize and eventually victimize women. And a political struggle that does not have women at the heart of it, above it, below it, and within it is no struggle at all.

The point is that the battle must be joined. As the wonderful American historian Howard Zinn put it: You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train.

Arundhati Roy



We asked Joe Gurman of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, where this image is produced, what the picture shows us. This real-time ultraviolet image of the Sun measures a mid-temperature region of the Sun in a transition zone between the surface and the roughly 1-million-degree corona (the Sun's atmosphere), Gurman says. Brighter and darker features are all manifestations of the Sun's magnetic field -- the brightest areas indicating strong magnetic fields. Dark stringy areas cooler than the corona and are called filaments; when they appear outside the disk of the Sun, they're called prominences. The fuzzy glow around the disk is relatively cool material that is ionized -- collisions of particls have stripped electrons off the atoms. Mottled areas are known as the chromospheric network, where strong magnetic fields congregate. Bright spots in the background of space represent cosmic rays or charged particles that have been accelerated when a coronal mass ejection collides with the ambient, but ever-changing solar wind.