(21/05/2004)

Tortured Iraqi prisoners start weekly protest in Belgium
Renewed call for boycott of U.S. corporate sponsors of President Bush

A large sign reminds us of a quote from George W. Bush, made on April 30, 2004: “There are no longer torture chambers or rape rooms or mass-graves in Iraq”. The text on a black coffin informs us that 1,200 civilians died during the month of April in the war in Iraq. President George W. Bush greets travellers with a machinegun outside a Belgian railway station. Hooded Iraqi prisoners stand still and confront the travellers with the gruesome reality in Iraqi prisons.

With this street-theatre, the Belgian NGO For Mother Earth renews its call to boycott Exxon-Mobil, Chevron-Texaco, Pepsico, Coca Cola Company, Altria (Kraft/Philip Morris) and McDonalds, all corporate sponsors of the George W. Bush election campaign. Flyers of the international Boycott Bush network also remind the public that no weapons of mass destruction were found in Iraq, while the U.S. possesses an estimated 10.600 nuclear warheads.

The peace campaigners denounce the western media, which rarely gives attention to the thousands of Iraqi civilian victims. According to a report from Medact, UK affiliate of IPPNW (International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War), between 7,800-9,600 Iraqi civilians have already been killed since the start of the war in March 2003. The organisation also gives a number for the total of deaths (both citizens and Iraqi soldiers) of between 21,700 and 55,000 for the first six months of the war (1). According to Iraq Body Count there are already between 9,137-10,994 civilian victims (2). According to the Associated Press news agency, in the month of April 2004 alone 1,200 Iraqi people were killed (3). On May 16 2004, the U.S. counted 777 of its troops amongst the victims of the war, according to the Center for Public Opinion and Democracy. These U.S. military victims get a lot more attention in the media.

The peace campaigners do not want to stand on the sidelines and watch the death toll rise. With their action, they want to encourage people to take part in a daily protest against the American occupation of Iraq, through a targeted boycott of six important financial supporters of President Bush’s election campaign. According to the campaign group, the boycott enables people to do something in their daily life against the brutal unilateral politics of Washington. They are part of an international network of NGOs in over 40 countries, which calls for a targeted boycott of six U.S. companies who support the election campaign with large sums of money.

The following companies, targeted for the boycott, are large financial contributors to Republican Party election funds:
Altria (Philip Morris, Marlboro, Kraft) donated $6.530.000
Exxon-Mobil (Esso) donated $2.470.000
Texaco-Chevron donated $2.200.000
Pepsico donated $1.940.000
Coca Cola Company donated $860.000
Mc Donalds donated $640.000

Figures from 2000 to April 2004
Source: Center for Responsive Politics http://www.opensecrets.org

A recent opinion poll conducted by NOP World shows that U.S. brands are currently suffering around the world due to Bush foreign policy. With the boycott, For Mother Earth wants to support, and increase, this shift away from U.S. products.

The following figures illustrate this trend (Source: De Finaciële Morgen- De Morgen p15, May 11, 2004)

1. Going to McDonalds in 2003 and 2004:

Country	2003	2004
Germany	43%	34%	-9%
India	17%	9%	-8%
Egypt	55%	38%	-17%
Canada	62%	52%	-10%

2. Buying Nike products in 2003 and 2004

Country	2003	2004
Germany	49%	28%	-21%
France	45%	38%	-7%
Russia	20%	12%	-8%
China	19%	13%	-6%

These numbers are encouraging for the international boycott campaigners who met for the first time during the World Social Forum in Mumbai, India, last January. http://www.boycottbush.org

And finally: For Mother Earth is urgently seeking financial support to continue the campaign. Money that consumers save on U.S. products are welcome at account number 001-2055174-14 of For Mother Earth with message 'Boycott Bush Campaign'

For Mother Earth started this weekly protest last 14th April 2004. They plan to meet every week between 5 and 6 pm.

(1) Report on civilian victims in Iraq, MedAct
http://www.medact.org/tbx/pages/sub.cfm?id=775
(2) Iraq Body Count
http://www.iraqbodycount.net
(3) AP report states at least 1,200 Iraq dead in April 2004
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4031177,00.html

Press contact: Pol D'Huyvetter +32 495-28 02 59

For more information: www.boycottbush.org

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