I Am Boycotting American Products
By Alex Rosaria
One of the most democratic and powerful tools we have is deciding where and what we buy. My doctoral thesis, published in the Swiss professional journal World Competition Law and Economics Review, advocates for the informed and conscious consumer to participate in the process of change in favor of social justice – just as was the case during the fight against apartheid.
Today, more than ever, younger generations are using the concept of “politically engaged consumers” to push for change. In the past, I have used this approach to boycott Miles Café for its statement that Curaçao is an island of monkeys, Heineken for refusing to pull out of Russia like others did in protest against Russia’s aggression toward Ukraine, and Nestlé for causing immense suffering to mothers and children in Africa.
The way the White House is bullying the developing world through its trade war is reason enough for me to take action against American products – even though I’m aware of how dependent we are on them. But there are options: I can choose not to buy certain lemonades, beers, pizzas, fast food, alcoholic beverages, cars, electronic devices, vacation packages to the U.S., cell phones, and much more.
Choosing not to buy products from a specific country in the name of justice is an action I’ve always supported. In this case, the tariff bullying will no doubt make the world’s most vulnerable people even more vulnerable and impoverished.
~ Alex David Rosaria (53) is a freelance consultant active in Asia and the Pacific. He is a former Member of Parliament, Minister of Economic Affairs, State Secretary of Finance and UN Implementation Officer in Africa and Central America. He is from Curaçao and has an MBA from University of Iowa (USA). ~
