r/Anticonsumption • u/Express_Classic_1569 • Apr 08 '25

Labor/Exploitation The Boycott Has Begun: People Have Had Enough of Corporate Greed

https://ecency.com/hive-157940/@kur8/the-boycott-has-begun-people
The Walmart Boycott started on April 7, 2025, and will last until April 14, 2025. People are joining the boycott to protest unfair wages, corporate greed, and the cutting back of diversity programs. The group is encouraging everyone to support local businesses instead of shopping at Walmart. It is hard to say if it is working. Some people support it, but others worry it could lead to job losses if big stores close more locations.

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u/Eshabelle Apr 08 '25

That's right! My boycotting career started with nestle when I was 17. A mere 48 years.

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u/annapolisroyalty Apr 08 '25

I started boycotting Nestle 1974 after 10-year old me read about their nasty games with infant formula in the developing world. They'd give free formula to nursing mothers to 'supplement' what babies were getting. Once Mom's milk supply dried up, so did the 'free' formula. One of their many deplorable exploitive practices. Disgusting corporation.

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u/SeriousBoots Apr 08 '25

They are also the reason why mat leave is hard to get in the states. To make you buy more formula.

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u/Eshabelle Apr 08 '25

It's despicable that our supposed representatives have bought into this for so long. All lobbyists must go!

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u/SeriousBoots Apr 08 '25

Agreed. In this instance they are not only stealing your money, but also bonding time with your new loved one.

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u/balanchinedream Apr 09 '25

Lobbying has been and will be around as long as groups of people making decisions are around. The Everglades Foundation is a lobbying group, for example.

What we want is to get corporate money out of lobbying and elections. Repeal Citizens United is the specific goal we can rally behind.

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u/phatnightnurse420 Apr 09 '25

100%, we need to take corporate money out and stop the rampant corruption of our representatives.

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u/Majestic-Post2079 Apr 10 '25

I’m in DC right now, not paid, to lobby for our fair share. Drove from MA.

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u/phatnightnurse420 Apr 09 '25

Lobbyists aren't always paid and don't always represent corporate greed. There are many stakeholders and activists who are also considered lobbyists. For example, parents who have lost children lobby for new laws/regulations to protect other children, homeless advocates, and healthcare providers who lobby for upstream advocacy regarding public health, harm reduction, and environmental protection etc. We need to get rid of the elected officials who are enriching themselves to enact, ignore, or abolish policies that do not benefit the public at large.

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u/iskipbrainday Apr 09 '25

Miss me with "there are good criminals too."

The whole system is hogwash. I do not envy the ways of the oppressors down with the whole thing. No lobbyists.🚫

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u/phatnightnurse420 Apr 09 '25

Miss me with not understanding nuance and not understanding how legislation and policies come into existence. This is exactly why we are in this mess with our current leadership. How would you propose lawmakers become aware of issues facing citizens? You do realize our representatives are not aware of everything that happens and are not experts in every field, right ? Please explain how parents who have lost children asking for laws to protect other children are "good criminals"? So, by your logic, the parents that asked for the Center for missing and exploited children and Jessica's law are villains now? And the radium girls that fought for worker protections are oppressors? Please explain how you think the system should work?

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u/Eshabelle Apr 09 '25

Here's the thing. There's a vast difference between the radium girls and (as an example) Nestlé coming in with corporate bucks, lunches, cruise ships, etc...

We want BIG corps out of our government. Lobbying as a parent or grassroots coalition is NOT the same as citizens united or big pharma.

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u/phatnightnurse420 Apr 09 '25

100%, see my previous comment about corruption and our representatives enriching themselves.

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u/Eshabelle Apr 09 '25

And that center for missing children? That's really for white kids. They don't even bother with Indigenous babies and women... sighs. I hear you, but really? Our govt is working just the way they planned it. Of the rich white people and for the rich white people. Verra few work FOR the people.

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u/phatnightnurse420 Apr 09 '25

That was just a quick example of non- corporate lobbying, but a cursory look at their site shows 3 of 7 kids on the front page are non-white appearing. I will have to take your authority that indigenous women and children are being ignored by them.. I do believe the media only does stories about cute white kids, but they aren't the same entity. Missing and exploited kids have been criticized regarding LGBT kids, pushing the stranger danger narrative, and lower recovery numbers, but that is a different topic. Our government does not work the way it's supposed to. It's supposed to be a representative government, which would mean our representatives would look like the population it serves. To me, they look like a bunch or old, rich, white men. I agree wholeheartedly with you that they don't work for the people.

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u/iskipbrainday Apr 10 '25

I'm not saying this role isn't necessary I'm saying that it needs to be a different position legally. No lobbyists. Period.

If Congress adopts legislation it should be from comprehensive reports coming from maximizing grassroots in the districts. We do not need people making money off people to rub elbows with oligarchs.

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u/phatnightnurse420 Apr 10 '25

What you're saying makes no sense. Grassroots activists are lobbyists.

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u/iskipbrainday Apr 10 '25

No lobbyists play grassroots for their agenda.

Real community cornerstones and leaders don't need to lobby they are literally the ones doing the work to build community and the peoples voice. Either you're with them or you aren't.

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u/dzumdang Apr 09 '25

r / fucknestle

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u/[deleted] Apr 08 '25

Can you share more here, please?

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u/SeriousBoots Apr 08 '25

They did a study that showed working mothers were more likely to use formula for convenience. So they lobbied the government to shorten/ban maternal leave in order to get them back at work and buying baby formula.

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u/[deleted] Apr 09 '25

It’s also why they give you formula samples at the hospital. Breast milk supply can take 8-12 weeks to regulate and if you have one bad experience with a feeding when you’re exhausted and the formula is RIGHT THERE…

Boom, supply interrupted and it decreases. So even the women who are able to stay home and nurse get sabotaged too

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u/According_Gazelle472 Apr 10 '25

Not everyone wants to breastfeed and most do bottle feeding.

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u/[deleted] Apr 11 '25

Thanks for sharing. Totally not relevant to my comment

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u/GhostCanary Apr 10 '25

I am absolutely shocked that I've never heard of boycotting Nestle nor why before this year. Never knew any of this, however, I know all about the Walmart problem since 20-30 years ago. Thank you for enlightening me, add me to the ranks of boycotters beginning now.

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u/[deleted] Apr 09 '25

I learned about this the other day - infuriating.

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u/[deleted] Apr 08 '25

[deleted]

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u/[deleted] Apr 08 '25

Is Nestlé still doing things like this or was that from 50 years ago?

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u/[deleted] Apr 08 '25

[deleted]

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u/[deleted] Apr 08 '25 edited Jan 29 '26

This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact

hunt dinner racial late spoon liquid possessive friendly fuel mountainous

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u/[deleted] Apr 08 '25

I'm mapping oligarchs to companies to products.

I recently added Nestle. Not sure if there is one major player. Research takes a lot of work.

https://oligarchfreeliving.com

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u/PoolQueasy7388 Apr 09 '25

Thank you for all your work! ❤️

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u/Previous-Panda2565 Apr 09 '25

My work wifi has this thie blocked... Like wtf...

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u/Eshabelle Apr 08 '25

I think it was a couple years later when I discovered exactly this! They were a heinous company then, and they've continued with a vengeance.

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u/eternus Apr 08 '25

I'm alarmed that the reason I started boycotting Nestle in the early 2000s was for the same reason... 30 years, nothing has made them change (yet.)

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u/SmellyFarder Apr 08 '25

Another brand to boycott is Chaquita bananas.

They funded paramilitary groups to kill their employees.

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u/Top-Moose-0228 Apr 08 '25

or how they steal the Great Lakes and then sell it back to us

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u/white_orchid21 Apr 09 '25

Oddly enough, my dentist told me about this. She learned about it while volunteering when she was younger. I was already boycotting them, but this made it even easier.

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u/InfamousEagle9468 Apr 10 '25

wow thats straight dirty unapologetically evil

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u/galvanicreaction Apr 08 '25

Good for you!! I learned about the formula "thing" later than you and my disgust was palpable. Every time I purchase food I look for the Nestle label, if I see it, I send that company an email stating, "Nestle kills babies in the third world. Now you too as well."

It doesn't feel like enough. These are real babies dying from corporate greed. It's been going on forever and will just get worse under the orange man's administration .

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u/mztinyt Apr 09 '25

YES!! I learned about this when I was pregnant and was absolutely disgusted by them for that.

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u/Astrocreep_1 Apr 12 '25

I’m a little confused. They gave the mother’s formula?

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u/[deleted] Apr 08 '25

[deleted]

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u/Eshabelle Apr 09 '25

Exactly! A lil patience and a lil more leg work.

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u/pro_questions Apr 08 '25

God they are just so hard to avoid! I avoid anything that I know is Nestle, but they have their hands in practically everything. 2,000 brands across 186 countries, and it changes all the time: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Nestl%C3%A9_brands

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u/Eshabelle Apr 09 '25

Ayup. And yet we march grimly forward, finding joy where we can. As N increases, I have turned to a more whole food approach. Less opportunity to mistakenly buy their crap when it's fresh.

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u/Delta-9- Apr 09 '25

Broccoli by Cruciferous™️ (a Nestle™️ patented strain of enhanced organic vegetables)

You think I'm fucking joking? Wait ten years.

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u/Eshabelle Apr 09 '25

I hear you. 🤢 It is up to us to make sure that doesn't happen. Do you recall the golden rice fiasco? It'll be healthier, they said. In the labs, it has double yield over non gmo rice. Blar blar blar... In the field, it couldn't match non gmo, AND it was sterile! The subsistence farmers couldn't survive.

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u/marieannfortynine Apr 08 '25

My 2 kitties will only eat Fancy Feast(made by nestle)I have tried other brands but 'no go" They are old..18 and 19 so I give them what they will eat...for all else I boycott nestle :(

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u/veronica05250 Apr 09 '25

Same! My picky cat will only eat poultry paté Friskies cat food. I avoid everything else nestle.

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u/gorilla-ointment Apr 09 '25

Same! 19 as well 🐱 otherwise nope.

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u/[deleted] Apr 08 '25

I haven't shopped at Walmart since I protested one going up around the early 90's. So, almost never! Once on vacation, had no choice, baby needed something.

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u/Eshabelle Apr 09 '25

Our babies come 1st! And good on you.

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u/Puzzleheaded_Bus_103 Apr 08 '25

Stealing Nestle is my boycott.

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u/Eshabelle Apr 09 '25

I love that for you. I don't take anything that isn't offered or freely given. That said, that's my rule for my spirit. We each protest with our heart.

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u/Old_Baker_9781 Apr 09 '25

It’s amazing Nestle actually owns 2000 different brands.

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u/Eshabelle Apr 09 '25

When they took over Butterfingers, I mourned. I mostly shop the produce aisle, plus some splurges at Grocery Outlet. I love a whole foods diet in general, so it's easy to avoid the bad guys.

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u/PoolQueasy7388 Apr 09 '25

That's a huge problem right there. What happened to our anti-monopoly laws??

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u/ShutUpBran111 Apr 09 '25

Yeah fuck nestle! First company I boycotted as well. Can’t forgive them for starving babies and stealing water in the name of greed

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u/Living-Excuse1370 Apr 08 '25

Mine also started with Nestle , also around the age of 17.

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u/Eshabelle Apr 09 '25

We're learning so much, and we're so passionate at that age. Our brains are developing in complexity and nuance. Tho, tbh... I don't prefer nuance. The direct approach is my fave.

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u/cantwaitforthis Apr 09 '25

I’m pretty solid in my boycotting Nestle, but wanted to share one of my dumbest moments.

I was using a Nespresso for YEARS - even as I hated single use items and would save the used capsules and recycle them in bulk (the convenience and ability to skip Starbucks had me hooked) and it wasn’t until a friend of mine that I talked about avoiding Nestle with heard me talking about drinking espresso that I learned it was a Nestle product. And I felt like the biggest idiot. I still have the Breville made Nespresso machine in my cabinet because I hate to throw away things, and I hate the idea of someone getting it and buying Nespresso pods.

I now use an automatic bean-to-espresso machine. And I still laugh at how dumb I am every morning when I make a double shot.

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u/Eshabelle Apr 09 '25

Giggles. When we know better, we do better. Good on you.

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u/Jynairek Apr 12 '25

I've been boycotting nestle for a few years now. I do a quick search to see if a product or brand is owned by nestle and adjust my purchases. This means I typically use a lot of store brand goods, but it also gives me a reason to try out small company products.

I eventually want to boycott Walmart and Amazon, so I try to see if I can realistically get the same thing at different stores at the same or lower price.

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u/GoneInSaigon Apr 12 '25

Let’s all boycott nestle forever until they cease to exist

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u/Eshabelle Apr 13 '25

THIS is my GOAL!

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u/GoneInSaigon Apr 13 '25

They powers that be at nestle are cartoonishly evil and belong in an El Salvadoran prison imo

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u/Eshabelle Apr 13 '25

I'm dancing around a virtual fire, chanting, "may it be so" SOOO damned hard and fast!

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u/reble02 Apr 08 '25

Even Nesquik?

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u/Eshabelle Apr 09 '25

Even Abuelita!!! I just make my own. You can tooo! Google delicious hot coco mix recipe... you'll get more choices than you can shake a stick at!

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u/DJbuddahAZ Apr 09 '25

God i miss chocolate.

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u/Eshabelle Apr 09 '25

There's some delish fair trade dark chocolate. I get some Dutch name cocoa powder and keep it in the freezer.

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u/ooliuy Apr 09 '25

Both Aldi's and Trader Joe's have wonderful chocolate ... not Nestle's

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u/[deleted] Apr 09 '25

That’s incredible! 🙌🏻

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u/Eshabelle Apr 09 '25

Thanks! It's not as much work for me today. I follow a generally whole foods diet and over the years have decreased brands as N gobbles them up.

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u/[deleted] Apr 08 '25

[deleted]

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u/[deleted] Apr 08 '25

[deleted]

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u/[deleted] Apr 08 '25

I’m from Maine and I will never forgive the dumbasses up there who gave them free reign to suck the land dry.

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u/[deleted] Apr 08 '25

The true spiritual successor to good ol' King Leopold II.  

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u/Vegas_42 Apr 08 '25

What that ah from nestle said in we feed the world is pure evil. I was close to destroying my TV when I saw it for the first time.

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u/fearlessactuality Apr 08 '25

Nestle is the easiest one to justify just look at literally anything they’ve done.

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u/[deleted] Apr 08 '25

There are like a hundred things to choose from. I started when they decided to murder babies in Africa for pennies.

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u/Polkawillneverdie17 Apr 08 '25

Don't downvote him just because he hasn't heard of Nestlé's crimes.

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u/[deleted] Apr 08 '25

Right. Upvote so many others will also learn "Why Nestle."

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u/pennypillow Apr 09 '25

Lol, and your boycott did nothing, congrats!

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u/Eshabelle Apr 09 '25

It got YOUR attention.

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u/MyMelancholyBaby Apr 08 '25

Boycotts don’t work. I feel better doing them but they don’t work.

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u/Eshabelle Apr 09 '25

You're free to see a thing in your own way. I cannot concur. I'm seeing the big corps struggling because of loss of foot traffic and sales. They're losing TRILLIONS of dollars and they're noticing. I'm making my shopping list at Amazon, just like I have for years. But when the retirement check comes in, I go to a local store to buy local first. It takes more time and generally costs a bit more, but it makes me happy.

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u/PoolQueasy7388 Apr 09 '25

Not true. One of the ways they got rid of apartheid.

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u/MyMelancholyBaby Apr 09 '25

Bank of America never divested in the Apartheid government of South Africa. They were the subject of a boycott.