From: Melissa Schweisguth (melissa@globalexchange.org)
Date: Thu Nov 29 2001 - 13:13:33 EST
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**Ames Holiday Boycott** **Please distribute widely**
Dear Friends of Burma,
Last time you took a moment to strike you a blow for justice we succeeded in
getting goods made in Burma out of Pottery Barn stores! Now, please let
Ames Department stores know that you have joined the boycott against them
for selling goods from Burma. Burma's military regime gets only richer
because of these deals and Ames ought not help keep them in power. Let them
them know you will do your shopping elsewhere this holiday season and remind
them that.
Email Ames at amesinetfeedback@ameshome.com, tell them you are boycotting
them this holiday season and until they stop sourcing goods from Burma.
Don't forget to remind them that even Wal-Mart and K-Mart don't sell goods
from Burma.
Thanks, and please distribute this as widely as possible!
Jeremy Woodrum
Free Burma Coalition
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Why Ames?
Ames is a major retailer of garments from Burma – a Southeast Asian country
ruled by a brutal military dictatorship. But Ames should know better: the
garment industry in Burma is closely tied to a modern form of slave labor.
Garment companies in Burma are controlled completely by the dictators, whom
have been criticized by the U.S. State Department, the United Nations,
Amnesty International, and others for brutal violations of human rights --
killing, torture, a modern form of slave labor, and rape.
Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi is among the many democracy
supporters in Burma who have called for foreign businesses to stay away from
Burma until there is democracy and rule of law. It is bad enough that
companies like Ames prop up Burma's military dictators, but Burma's garment
sweatshops are especially destructive. "Industrial parks" and infrastructure
have been built with forced labor, and since these sweatshops are always
controlled by the military –the profits from Burma's sweatshop products and
taxes allow the junta to further their oppression.
Why does Ames sell goods from Burma when it has been informed that people
suffer as a result and over 25 other companies, including Ames’ main
competitors, refuse to do so? We've tried to figure this out. In May 2001,
over twenty human rights groups and labor unions, including the Lawyers
Committee for Human Rights, Global Exchange, UNITE!, and others sent a
letter to Ames CEO Joseph Ettore asking that Ames clean up its act and stop
importing from Burma. Six months later, Ames has not replied.
Given Ames' lack of response, the one possible reason they continue the
despicable practice is simple: profits. Ames may be making millions of
dollars off goods from Burma, while helping Burma's dictators reap millions
more.
What YOU can DO:
Ø Boycott Ames Department Stores THIS HOLIDAY SEASON until Ames stops
importing and retailing from Burma!
Ø Send an email to CEO Joe Ettore and let him know you are boycotting
Ames
until they stop selling goods from Burma: amesinetfeedback@ameshome.com. Be
sure to mention:
1). That you are outraged that Ames is having their own products made in
Burma
2). You are outraged that Ames retails such huge quantities of other
products made in Burma,
3). You won’t shop at Ames until they clean up their act and cut ties to
Burma, and
4). You will encourage your family and friends to also boycott Ames
For more info. on the Ames Holiday Boycott: www.freeburmacoalition.org
202-547-5985
USAS webpage: http://www.usasnet.org
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