RE:amazon

[Guest guest]

Hello,

 

Off the topic of CP etc... but on the topic of amazon...

 

I work for a UK charity which promotes animal welfare (not naming cos

not sure if allowed to!). We have an affinity scheme with Amazon, and

when I learned of Amazon's sale of books promoting cock fighting and

dog fighting I wrote a report on it asking for the affinity scheme to

be reconsidered;

 

I learned the following things from research:

 

- The books available to buy from Amazon in the UK (where i am) are

also avalable to buy from WHSmiths, Borders and in fact all online

book retailors i found.

- These books were published in 1920s and are sold as " historical

documents " (according to Amazon)

-Amazon in the uk also sell Glue traps (used for killing

rodents/birds in a terribly inhumane way)

-Amazon in the US (but not outside US) also sell magazine

subscriptions which actively promote dog and cock fighting, as well

as fur products, foie-gras and pretty much anything inhumane you can

think of.

- On the topic of CP - Amazon was under extreme criticism for selling

books which promoted (on an autobiographical basis) the " love "

between adults and children. (google " boy love " if you want further

info). They ceased selling it in the UK, but i believe it is still

on their US site, along with similar books which seek to justify this

kind of " relationship " .

- Amazon pretty much refuse to remove anything which is

contraversial, claiming it is " censorship " , and (being such a massive

company) are unlikely to change this policy. Tens of thousands of

people write to them about different objectionable products, but they

make enough money that they can pretty much ignore public opinion.

- Amazon have also been involved in the shutting down of smaller

companies (in the same way that McDonalds get rid of smaller home-run

businesses by buying property next door).

 

Anyway, that's what i found out. Sorry so much info!

 

I submitted a report to management, suggesting withdrawl of the

scheme on an ethical basis, but it was denied as the link with them

was considered too tenuous (plus, the money we make from an affinity

partnership goes directly towards furthering animal welfare).

 

Anyway... that's my 2 cents worth. Make of it what you will.

 

Anna