Did you know that "Nestle chairman Peter Brabeck said that water needs to be privatized"? (link)
Here's a video if you want to see for yourself.
There are plenty of things that I already detest about Nestle. But this is just... this is absurd.
Here is some info taken from Wikipedia about the national boycott of Nestle:
Groups such as the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) and Save the Children claim that the promotion of infant formula over breastfeeding has led to health problems and deaths among infants in less economically developed countries.[2][3] There are four problems that can arise when poor mothers in developing countries switch to formula:
- Formula must normally be mixed with water, which is often contaminated in poor countries, leading to disease in vulnerable infants.[4] Because of the low literacy rates in developing nations, many mothers are not aware of the sanitation methods needed in the preparation of bottles. Even mothers able to read in their native tongue may be unable to read the language in which sterilization directions are written.
- Although some mothers can understand the sanitation standards required, they often do not have the means to perform them: fuel to boil water, electric (or other reliable) light to enable sterilisation at night. UNICEF estimates that a formula-fed child living in disease-ridden and unhygienic conditions is between 6 and 25 times more likely to die of diarrhea and four times more likely to die of pneumonia than a breastfed child.[5]
- Many poor mothers use less formula powder than is necessary, in order to make a container of formula last longer. As a result, some infants receive inadequate nutrition from weak solutions of formula.[6]
- Breast milk has many natural benefits lacking in formula. Nutrients and antibodies are passed to the baby while hormones are released into the mother's body.[7] Breastfed babies are protected, in varying degrees, from a number of illnesses, including diarrhea, bacterial meningitis,gastroenteritis, ear infection, and respiratory infection.[8][9][10] Breast milk contains the right amount of the nutrients essential for neuronal (brain and nerve) development.[11] The bond between baby and mother can be strengthened during breastfeeding.[9] Frequent and exclusive breastfeeding can also delay the return of fertility, which can help women in developing countries to space their births.[12] The World Health Organization recommends that, in the majority of cases, babies should be exclusively breast fed for the first six months.[13]
Advocacy groups and charities have accused Nestlé of unethical methods of promoting infant formula over breast milk to poor mothers in developing countries.[14][15] For example, IBFAN claim that Nestlé distributes free formula samples to hospitals and maternity wards; after leaving the hospital, the formula is no longer free, but because the supplementation has interfered with lactation, the family must continue to buy the formula. IBFAN also allege that Nestlé uses "humanitarian aid" to create markets, does not label its products in a language appropriate to the countries where they are sold, and offers gifts and sponsorship to influence health workers to promote its products.[16]
I really like this post at phdinparenting.com.
But overall my point is that do you know where your money goes? Where you spend your money says A LOT about you and says a lot to the people you're giving it to.
As best I can I spend money locally when it comes to food or I spend it on smaller companies with good ethics and good agricultural principals. Those things are very important to me. I also prefer local/small because I would much rather support individual people than large corporations whose top employees make a lot, low end employees don't, and most of their money is spent on absurd marketing and likely on lobbying in the federal government. Your money speaks... but do you know what it's saying? When possible I try to be very careful where I spend money on fuel. Do you know how terrible most oil companies are? Exxon sold fuel to the Nazi's. They have pipeline spills constantly. They really really really don't care about you or the planet or anyone... profit is the number one motivator of almost every larger company, even if they're trying to sell you something "safe", "healthy", or "green".
If any of this stuff about Nestle bothered you but you don't buy much candy... did you know that Nestle owns: Gerber, Juicy Juice, San Pellegrino, Poland Springs, Fancy Feast, L'Oreal, and Power Bar... just to name A FEW.
Do the world a favor and do a little research and think about what your money goes. In my opinion, these days, where you spend your money is even more important than who you vote for. After all, the money you're spending is probably being used to influence the very politicians who promised to do things they haven't.. via lobbying.
This is kind of ranty. So I'll stop. Just please pay attention to what you're doing with your money. And if you already are - thank you!!!! :)
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