Uncaged Campaigns Action Alert
Global Boycott Procter & Gamble Day: 22nd May 2004

People across the world are invited to participate in the annual Global Boycott Procter & Gamble Day VIII on Saturday 22nd May 2004 - one of the most popular and successful boycott campaigns in the world. Yet one in which there is a role for everyone “from the armchair campaigner to experienced groups of activists. You can help spread the boycott of P&G “ due to their unrepentant animal testing for new cosmetic and household cleaning and ˜pet™ food products and chemical ingredients “ in many ways. These range from letter writing and raising petitions, to staging town centre campaign stalls and protests at supermarkets and P&G sites.

Background
Boycotts of companies that have unacceptable policies are the one way in which consumers can bring direct pressure to bear “ the politicians are too cowardly to do the right thing (often due to intense lobbying from these companies). It may seem like one person changing their shopping habits cannot make a difference. But you can when joined in global solidarity by hundreds of thousands of other individuals across the world - all making the same statement and witholding money from companies.

Indeed, according to the annual Ethical Purchasing Index 2003 (published by the Cooperative Bank), boycotts by ethically-minded consumers are costing big brands £2.6 billion a year. Sales of ethically-marketed goods and services totalled £19.9 billion “ a 13% increase on 2001. The report also revealed that 52% of consumers say they have boycotted at least one product in the previous 12 months and, significantly, two-thirds of consumers say they will not to return to a brand once they have boycotted it.

This is the direct result of campaigns like the Global Boycott of Procter & Gamble - campaigns that the figures quoted above show have a huge influence on the market place. The head of P&G UK, Christopher de Lapuente, recently claimed in a newspaper interview that 'We stand for election every time people stand in front of the shelf.'

Global Boycott P&G Day
Now in its 8th year, Global Boycott P&G Day is the centrepiece of a tenacious year-round campaign to spread the boycott of all P&G products until the company permanently ceases harming and killing animals cruel and unnecessary research.

The Day of Action has grown to include actions in over 25 different nations around the world, including over 85 in every corner of the UK - from Cornwall in the South of England to the Scottish Highlands. The P&G boycott is now one of the most widespread consumer
boycotts, and the Day of Action one of the largest of its type in the world. We know we have had a huge impact on the success of their Iams/Eukanuba and Sunny Delight subsidiaries. For example, after a concerted campaign against the ˜enriched juice drink™ that included:
distribution of tens of thousands of leaflets; opposition to Sunny Delight™s child-orientated marketing and promotional activities; and highlighting it on our Days of Action, its sales have slumped to such an extent that P&G are now seeking (unsuccessfully) to sell what was
once hailed as a marketing miracle. The campaign against IAMS/Eukanuba has reached millions of 'pet' owners worldwide and turned them off not only the 'pet' food, but also P&G's other consumer and cosmetic products.

ACTION!

P&G persists in routinely poisoning and killing animals in cruel and unnecessary research. They secretly harm and kill animals in research for IAMS/Eukanuba 'pet' food. They have even lobbied European Union member states against a ban on testing on animals for cosmetics, and they constantly try every PR tactic imaginable to mislead the public about their animal testing policies.

Email max@uncaged.co.uk to register your participation in Global Boycott P&G Day VIII and to order campaign materials.

www.uncaged.co.uk