Our Children Our Lives Our Right to Fight Back

One of the most underused but powerful weapons the individual has to effect political and social change in this money driven world of ours is their purchasing power. It’s underused because in America’s consumer obsessed society the relationship between "shopping" and “political action” is not an immediate connection to most people. This action also requires organizational and communications resources to implement. An article in the Financial Times (London) entitled "How should Companies Respond to Boycotts" (November 16, 1998, Monday) tells us:

The use of boycotts as a coercive marketplace tactic has increased in recent years and is expected to rise further. One reason for this is that consumer protests are proving more successful than in the past, both because those who organize boycotts are adopting more sophisticated tactics and because more consumers are supporting and joining organizations with explicit social and political agendas. The prudent marketing manager no longer worries just about product and service quality. Monitoring deeper feelings towards the business and its home country may be critical in preserving customer relationships.

The single most important factor for the increasing success of consumer boycotts is the development of global communications; fax, email, satellites the proliferation of cell phones and the explosion of the internet. The internet alone has dramatically improved the opportunities for boycotts by providing individuals access to every kind of information imaginable and permitting individuals to disseminate their views world-wide through web-sites or discussion groups.
Even in the old days economic boycotts were conducted and often succeeded. Gandhi's Swadeshi campaign to boycott English textiles was the first effective demonstration of the shakiness of British rule in India. Gandhi's campaign caused a lot of suffering in Britain. Thousands were jobless and a large number of textile mills in Lancashire were closed.

The most recent demonstration of the power of economic boycotts was demonstrated in South Africa with the fall of apartheid. The boycott and international sanctions hurt the black community, nevertheless the resolve of South African blacks and their leaders never wavered. In the US, alumni and students insisted that their Universities divest their trust funds of large blocks of stock in companies doing business in South Africa. Even after Nelson Mandela was released and a number of important reforms put into place, the ANC called for the continuation of international sanctions until apartheid was completely dismantled and a transitional government was in place.

Most of the activism for Fathers Rights has been on the symbolic level: Father’s Day Marches, parades, demonstrations, law suits, Press Grabbing Civil Disobedience, etc… All these activities are important. They are powerful on a symbolic level and serve to renew the commitment to the cause. They also attract sympathy and publicity for the cause of Fathers Rights and create a greater awareness of Fathers in the world. Yet after the event members and supporters go home, put up their signs and wait for the next event to happen.

Another form of activism has been the petitioning of governments, leaders and world bodies to intercede on our behalf. All the letter writing campaigns to presidents, prime-ministers, senators, congressmen, governors, parliamentarians, are in effect forms of petitioning. Even our so called meetings with government heads, can be put in this category, as we bring no form of pressure or threats to bear in these talks. We as a group have to appeal to the other sides generosity, compassion or whatever for help. However important these efforts appear they are still passive and a form of supplication.

Its time we take a course of action that is not just symbolic or an act of supplication but a direct blow at Family Court tyranny. We must do something that causes a tangible injury, loss or disadvantage to the individual states. We must also think in terms of what causes pain to the individual states and not necessarily what gives us activists and participants satisfaction. Boycotts will empower our membership, their families and friends with an ability to strike back from their own homes. A direct action for Fathers rights and Equal Parenting. Right at this moment the States of Florida and California are incredibly sensitive to economic loss. Any type of economic injury would hurt both California and Florida. One person not buying agricultural products grown and processed in Florida or California and bypassing their Theme Parks would cause, let us say, a loss of $1000 annually to the Florida and California economy, which may not seem much. But the fact remains that it is a loss to both California and Florida. No matter how small it is at least real, tangible and quantifiable; and therefore far more valuable and effective than all the promises and assurances Fathers have received from National and State leaders, politicians and ‘experts’.

It is a solid starting point. If five thousand Families in the US refused to buy Florida or California goods we could be causing $5,000,000 loss to both of them every year, which may not seem like much, but if each of these 5000 people recruited ten friends each…? And so on?

On Fatherless Day we can move past the symbolic and begin a direct action that will empower our movement and lift us from the passive supplicate holding the beggars cup for our god given rights to be parents.

Take the next step and support the Boycott now!!

William Lake

fightingfathers@yahoo.com

www.fightingfathersofdistrict1.com

Take the next step and support the Boycott now!!