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2.What examples of boycotts are given in the text?

3.Is it a good thing for a company to accept blame for its actions?

Use of Boycotts

The boycott – refusal to buy the products or services of an offending company – is a widely used tool of the consumer movement, aimed at firms for many different reasons.

Typical boycotts in recent years were those against Kraft Foods and Nabisco for allegedly selling cigarettes to minors, Levi Strauss for moving plants abroad, and Burger King for allegedly promoting sex and violence on TV with its commercials.

The Southern Baptist Convention, representing 16 million church members, drew national attention in 1996 with a threat to boycott the Walt Disney Company’s animated films, toys, and theme parks because it believed that Disney was promoting homosexuality over family values. The convention was especially disturbed about Disney’s decision to extend health benefits to same sex partners of homosexual employees.

Although the convention’s resolution did not set a deadline for enforcing the boycott, many individual members said that they would start obeying it immediately.

In the private sector, the nationwide network of Better Business Bureaus provides machinery through which wronged consumers may seek satisfaction. Nader’s* operations in Washington continue to publicize defective products and services. Other consumer organizations do similar work. Consumer Reports is widely read.

Corporate willingness to accept blame when justified softens consumer anger. The PECO Energy Company received favorable reaction when it did so. An explosion caused by a reported but unrepaired gas leak in a company line killed two people. The utility’s chief executive quickly apologized publicly, stating , “PECO Energy takes full responsibility.”

(Wilcox, Dennis L., et al. Essentials of Public Relations. New York: Longman., 2001. P. 247)

Match the words (1-10) with the definitions (a-j).

1.

cutback

a.

a customer treated in an unfair or unacceptable way

2.

philanthropy

b.

methods by which something works

3.

to donate

c.

a person who is below the age at which he or she legally becomes an

 

 

 

adult

4.

bill

d.

a reduction in something made in order to save money

5.

boycott

e.

generosity towards other people and a sincere wish to help them

6.

minor

f.

to admit that you have done something wrong

7.

to set a deadline

g.

to give without wanting anything in exchange

 

 

 

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