Our Progress and Strategies

San Diego County Community Coalition

Introductions, Overview, Tactics and Strategies, Television Production, Funding

Overview

●Our single issue is unity●We see to unify various groups for more effective action

Introductions● Each group will get an opportunity to

introduce themselves● State their mission● Make important announcements● Distribute schedules and

Membership Forms

Members

Activist San DiegoVeterans for Peace

A New PATHDrug Policy Alliance

All of US or NoneCenter for Policy Initiatives

Women's Caucus for Art San DiegoSan Diegans for 911 Truth

Bi-Lateral Safety Corridor Coalition

Issues

The EnvironmentHuman Rights

Peace911 Investigations

PovertyUnity

Citizen EmpowermentPrison and Drug Policy

VeteransGender Neutrality

BlackwaterPolitical Corruption

Health Care

Television Shows

Why each organization needs their own show on Public Access and how they can do it.

Producer Training

2-3 October 2009Reservations

must

be made on 22 September 2009

by calling 619-596-3292

Our Shows

Community IssuesProgress in San DiegoCommunity Artist ConnectionTruth to PowerCitizens' Internet TV Network

The Present Situation

●Small gatherings all over county●Small victories●Underdeveloped National Movement●Conservative Political Victories in County●Grant money not being claimed●Young people under represented

Development up to present

●Development made up to the current situation●Important background information●Original forecasts which turned out to be wrong●Original forecasts which turned out to be true

Long-term goal

●Reverse policies of ruling class●Obtain Universal Health Care●Divert funding from military/prison industrial complex and into community investment●Combat poverty/outsourcing/slave trade●Stop false flag attacks/Support Veterans●Focus on Human Rights●Environmental Concerns

Strategy Concerns

● Public Service Announcements

● Boycott procedures

● Who should be targeted for boycotts

● How do we select targets

● Information sources

● Common adversaries and how we can coordinate

OpenSecrets.org

Top Contributors

Health Care Industry Money

Brian Bilbray

$1,474,872 From the Medical Industry

Darrell Issa

$829,025 From Medical Industry

Susan Davis

$520,008 From Medical Industry

Bob Filner

$1,045,083 From Medical Industry

Potential Alternatives

●Discuss alternative strategies●What are pros and cons of each strategy●Give a forecast of costs

Recommendation

●Develop own media outlets●Identify common adversaries●Target vulnerable financial institutions●Gather Information

Boycotts

The Strategy has been around for centuriesThe Strategy has been around for centuries

Charles Stewart Parnell coined the actual term Charles Stewart Parnell coined the actual term "boycott" in 1880 when describing the ostracism "boycott" in 1880 when describing the ostracism of Captain Charles Cunningham Boycott by his of Captain Charles Cunningham Boycott by his Irish neighbors.Irish neighbors.

Such tactics were effective in the struggle of Irish Such tactics were effective in the struggle of Irish peasants against English landlords.peasants against English landlords.

Tenants faced barriers to ownership and paid Tenants faced barriers to ownership and paid increasingly high rents that left them destitute.increasingly high rents that left them destitute.

One year earlier, Parnell and Michael Davitt had One year earlier, Parnell and Michael Davitt had founded the Land League to fight for just treatment in founded the Land League to fight for just treatment in housing and land.housing and land.

The League began Ireland's first peaceful widespread The League began Ireland's first peaceful widespread peasant rebellion.peasant rebellion.

Success in South Africa

TThe highly successful strategies of India's he highly successful strategies of India's Mahatma Gandhi and America's Martin Luther Mahatma Gandhi and America's Martin Luther King, Jr., were employed to bring change to King, Jr., were employed to bring change to South Africa.South Africa.

BBoycotts of white-owned businesses, legal oycotts of white-owned businesses, legal actions challenging racist laws, rent boycotts, actions challenging racist laws, rent boycotts, and mass demonstrations became and mass demonstrations became commonplace.commonplace.

Apartheid Regime Failed

International boycotts by governments and International boycotts by governments and corporations alike, including an end to foreign corporations alike, including an end to foreign investment, were unquestionably too much for investment, were unquestionably too much for the apartheid regime to bear.the apartheid regime to bear.

Successful Economic Boycotts

Nuclear WeaponsNuclear Weapons

Infact, a group that uses the slogan "Challenging Infact, a group that uses the slogan "Challenging Corporate Abuse, Building Grassroots Power," Corporate Abuse, Building Grassroots Power," boycotted General Electric for its involvement in boycotted General Electric for its involvement in making nuclear weapons.making nuclear weapons.

The Human Rights Campaign called for a boycott of The Human Rights Campaign called for a boycott of ExxonMobil because the company refused to offer ExxonMobil because the company refused to offer domestic partner benefits and include sexual domestic partner benefits and include sexual orientation in its anti-discrimination policies.orientation in its anti-discrimination policies.

Success Against Daishowa

A boycott against Daishowa began when the A boycott against Daishowa began when the paper company started logging on land claimed paper company started logging on land claimed by Canada's Lubicon Cree natives. Companies by Canada's Lubicon Cree natives. Companies using Daishowa products were asked to change using Daishowa products were asked to change suppliers and 48 did so, costing the boycott suppliers and 48 did so, costing the boycott target $14 million.target $14 million.

Success Against Monsanto

Consumer, animal welfare, and environmental groups Consumer, animal welfare, and environmental groups joined The Foundation on Economic Trends in a joined The Foundation on Economic Trends in a boycott of Monsanto because it manufactured the boycott of Monsanto because it manufactured the Bovine Growth Hormone. Several supermarket chains Bovine Growth Hormone. Several supermarket chains were convinced to not sell milk from cows that received were convinced to not sell milk from cows that received the hormone supplement. Other corporations such as the hormone supplement. Other corporations such as Kraft USA, Borden's, and Ben & Jerry's Homemade, Kraft USA, Borden's, and Ben & Jerry's Homemade, agreed to not use it in their dairy products.agreed to not use it in their dairy products.

Success In Arizona

People of Arizona called for a boycott of the People of Arizona called for a boycott of the state after voters decided against making Martin state after voters decided against making Martin Luther King, Jr.'s, birthday a paid state holiday. Luther King, Jr.'s, birthday a paid state holiday. Voters quickly relented after charges of racism.Voters quickly relented after charges of racism.

The AFL-CIO boycotted Wells Fargo to protest The AFL-CIO boycotted Wells Fargo to protest the bank lending money to Oregon Steel for the bank lending money to Oregon Steel for "union busting activities.""union busting activities."

Success Against Verizon

Naral Pro-Choice forced Verizon to drop Naral Pro-Choice forced Verizon to drop censorship of pro-choice text messages.censorship of pro-choice text messages.

Success Against United Airlines

United Airlines was boycotted after it challenged United Airlines was boycotted after it challenged a San Francisco law that requires the city to a San Francisco law that requires the city to contract only with companies that offer domestic contract only with companies that offer domestic partner benefits. A federal court upheld the partner benefits. A federal court upheld the ordinance and forced the airline to comply.ordinance and forced the airline to comply.

Do Boycotts Work?

"Economic boycotts have a long tradition," "Economic boycotts have a long tradition," reads an article in reads an article in South Coast TodaySouth Coast Today. "There . "There were those who argued that the many economic were those who argued that the many economic boycotts of South Africa would never work--until boycotts of South Africa would never work--until apartheid was toppled and the boycotts were apartheid was toppled and the boycotts were given much of the credit."given much of the credit."

Why They Work

Boycotting can bring about two of the most detrimental Boycotting can bring about two of the most detrimental problems that any corporate executive would prefer to problems that any corporate executive would prefer to avoid:avoid:

Bad publicity and loss of revenue (in that order).Bad publicity and loss of revenue (in that order).

Boycotts succeed in part by "putting a corporation on a Boycotts succeed in part by "putting a corporation on a defensive footing, generating potentially damaging defensive footing, generating potentially damaging publicity, and giving its competitors an unearned publicity, and giving its competitors an unearned opportunity," writes Dale D. Buss in "Ethics and opportunity," writes Dale D. Buss in "Ethics and Economics: Holding Corporate America Accountable."Economics: Holding Corporate America Accountable."

Percent of Success

One poll showed that 78 percent of consumers One poll showed that 78 percent of consumers avoided or refused to buy from certain avoided or refused to buy from certain companies because of negative perceptions.companies because of negative perceptions.

In another survey 48 percent said unethical or In another survey 48 percent said unethical or unlawful business practices played a role in unlawful business practices played a role in those decisions, reports Buss in those decisions, reports Buss in Christianity Christianity TodayToday..

More Effective Than Class Action

Marshall Glickman writes that, "A nationwide Marshall Glickman writes that, "A nationwide survey of business executives indicated that survey of business executives indicated that they consider boycotts more effective than they consider boycotts more effective than class-action suits, lobbying and standalone class-action suits, lobbying and standalone letter writing campaigns. Companies hate the letter writing campaigns. Companies hate the loss of sales and negative publicity these loss of sales and negative publicity these campaigns bring--an image problem that...can campaigns bring--an image problem that...can dog them for decades, even after they've dog them for decades, even after they've reformed."reformed."

A Boycott will Fail When:

It has unfocused leadershipIt has unfocused leadership

Employs inconsistent pressureEmploys inconsistent pressure

Has insufficient organization and Has insufficient organization and planningplanning

Makes unreasonable demandsMakes unreasonable demands

Or when those who support the cause Or when those who support the cause behind the boycott will not participate.behind the boycott will not participate.

Corporate Leaders Expect

Corporate leaders expect consumers to be Corporate leaders expect consumers to be apathetic and they believe any boycott will be a apathetic and they believe any boycott will be a short-term irritation at the very worst.short-term irritation at the very worst.

Corporate leaders also may count on human Corporate leaders also may count on human weakness and they weakness and they far too oftenfar too often are not are not disappointed.disappointed.

But when a boycott is done well, their initial But when a boycott is done well, their initial hopes fade and they begin to pay attention to hopes fade and they begin to pay attention to the boycotters.the boycotters.

Just the Threat of a Boycott is Enough

Activists need to think twice before calling for a boycott.Activists need to think twice before calling for a boycott.

"A boycott should not be utilized on a whim," said Douglas R. "A boycott should not be utilized on a whim," said Douglas R. Scott, who as president of Life Decisions International (LDI) has Scott, who as president of Life Decisions International (LDI) has managed a boycott of Planned Parenthood's corporate managed a boycott of Planned Parenthood's corporate supporters for more than 14 years.supporters for more than 14 years.

"It should also not be the tool of first resort."It should also not be the tool of first resort.

A boycott needs to be well-thought-out and corporate leaders A boycott needs to be well-thought-out and corporate leaders must have been given ample information and opportunity to must have been given ample information and opportunity to change the offensive practice" before an economic sanction change the offensive practice" before an economic sanction commences.commences.

Other ProblemsAnother key problem that can greatly hinder the success of a Another key problem that can greatly hinder the success of a

boycott is second-guessing by participantsboycott is second-guessing by participants..

Boycott leaders must be trusted to decide when the economic Boycott leaders must be trusted to decide when the economic action should cease and what demands the offending action should cease and what demands the offending corporation must meet before this can occur. \corporation must meet before this can occur. \

If every individual decides what sufficient grounds to end the If every individual decides what sufficient grounds to end the action are, the corporation may ignore boycott leaders.action are, the corporation may ignore boycott leaders.

Unity is essential.Unity is essential.

If boycott leaders are ignored, corporations can effectively If boycott leaders are ignored, corporations can effectively disregard the economic action itself.disregard the economic action itself.

This is only possible if the corporation is able to undermine This is only possible if the corporation is able to undermine boycott leaders and divide the loyalty of those who should boycott leaders and divide the loyalty of those who should naturally support the effort.naturally support the effort.

The Center for Responsive PoliticsThe Center for Responsive PoliticsOpenSecrets.orgOpenSecrets.org

Databases of where the money comes from and Databases of where the money comes from and goes togoes to

Corporate lobbying informationCorporate lobbying information

Largest Campaign ContributorsLargest Campaign Contributors

Summary

● Summary of meeting and important points● Final inputs● Development of next immediate actions ● Conclusion of meeting

San Diego Can Become the Model