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<DIV>Dear colleagues,</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Within the Mobilization Task Force, we have begun a discussion about a
potential partnership between GCAP and The Body Shop. The invitation has
come from The Body Shop to a member of the MTF and now the issue is going before
the IFT in June (details at end of message). We are preparing a note from
the FTF, but in the meanwhile I wanted to send comments sent today by colleagues
on the MTF. Please note the comment from our colleague in Europe who
writes in opposition to the collaboration:</DIV>
<DIV> [ ...The
Body Shop International is wholly owned by L'Oreal which is well known for
its<BR> policy on animal testing
and its undermining and shallow portrayal
of<BR> women. This last point
needs to be seriously considered when we
are<BR> supporting a campaign
claiming Gender Equality. ]</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Kudos to Julien! Also are comments from the Trade Unions and Latin
America. Any other comments are welcome. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Best regards,</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Rosa </DIV>
<DIV><BR>Sent: 15 May 2007 14:05<BR>To:
mobilizationmonth@whiteband.org<BR>Subject: [GCAP mobilizationmonth] BODY
SHOP<BR>Importance: High<BR><BR>Dear all,<BR><BR>To be sure that we all have got
a clear and complete understanding of what<BR>Body Shop is before becoming
involved with another partnership I would<BR>like you to read carefully the
following note.<BR><BR>As emphasised at the end of the document circulated by
Ben, The Body Shop<BR>International is wholly owned by L'Oreal which is well
known for its<BR>policy on animal testing and its undermining and shallow
portrayal of<BR>women. This last point needs to be seriously considered when we
are<BR>supporting a campaign claiming Gender Equality.<BR><BR>To deepen the
investigation and I will congratulate once again the<BR>document for being so
transparent, L'Oreal is indeed linked with Nestlé,<BR>which owns 28.8% of
L'Oreal and whose CEO, Peter Brabeck (who considers<BR>water as being a good of
consumption and criticizes NGOs for their<BR>"radical point of view" for
considering water as a universal good), is<BR>also Vice Chairman of
L'Oreal.<BR><BR>Nestlé as you are all aware has attracted much criticism for its
baby milk<BR>marketing policies in developing countries since the 70s;
demanded<BR>millions of dollars in compensation from Ethiopia (Oxfam, December
2002);<BR>made use of forced labour in the production of their chocolate in
West<BR>Africa (Forbes, April 2004); sold thousands of tons of contaminated
animal<BR>feed in Venezuela in 2005; opposed a Swiss ban on GMOs still in 2005,
etc,<BR>etc...<BR><BR>Lastly in order to finish this email I would like us to
never forget that<BR>GCAP is a Civil Society Campaign and should not work with
profit/business<BR>companies which I consider would critically damage our
credibility if we<BR>are calling for change.<BR><BR>Talk to you
soon.<BR><BR>Julien<BR><BR>Julien Vaissier<BR>GCAP Europe Secretariat<BR>10
Square Ambiorix, 1050, Brussels, Belgium</DIV>
<DIV>********************************************************</DIV>
<DIV>Dear all,<BR><BR>I fully support Julian's views and would like to add that
before engaging<BR>with any company (especially multinationals like the body
shop or<BR>L'Oreal,)we, as workers' movement, demand that the behaviour of
these<BR>companies vis-à-vis their employees & trade unions be fully
investigated.<BR><BR>In the spirit of transparency and accountability I would
suggest that the<BR>principle of initiating partnerships with private firms
(bodyshop or any<BR>other) must be discussed at the IFT level. Should the IFT
accept the<BR>principle, then guidelines will have to be democratically drawn to
clearly<BR>define the kind of engagement we are ready to support.<BR><BR>Ben: I
appreciate your enthusiasm and you make a great contribution to GCAP<BR>&
its mobilization, but here there are very serious political
implications<BR>involved for several constituencies. I'm sure you'll
understand.<BR><BR>Best<BR><BR>Claire Courteille<BR>Economic and Social Policy
Department<BR>International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)<BR>5, Boulevard du
Roi Albert II, 1210 Brussels,
Belgium<BR>*************************************************************</DIV>
<DIV>Dear all,<BR><BR>I fully agree with Claire and Julien. Besides all comments
already <BR>done in Brazil we have millions of problems
because of Body Shop <BR>agreements with the indigenous people, using
their images and gaining <BR>profits without benefits to the indigenous
people. It is a big <BR>trouble for us.<BR><BR>Iara</DIV>
<DIV>*****************************************************************</DIV>
<DIV>
<H1 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>GCAP and Body Shop International---(excerpts only)</FONT></SPAN></H1>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<H1 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>Proposal </FONT></SPAN></H1>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>A 1-5 year strategic partnership between GCAP and
Body Shop International to include a line of products in Body Shop stores in 55
countries in the North and South, distribution of GCAP literature in those
countries and major fundraising potential.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3></FONT></SPAN> </P><SPAN lang=EN-GB>
<H1 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>Purpose</FONT></SPAN></H1>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>To strengthen the voice of civil society in the
fight against poverty and suffering</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>To strengthen the global awareness of GCAP and of
national coalitions</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>To raise money for certain GCAP national
coalitions and for the GCAP globally</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3></FONT></SPAN> </P><SPAN lang=EN-GB>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B><SPAN lang=EN-GB><FONT
size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Partnership
proposal<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>That GCAP and Body Shop International begin now
(May 2007) to explore a partnership likely to last from between one and five
years. Due to the lead time of both organisations, initial implementation will
be achieved by May 2008.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>The proposal is that Body Shop International
becomes a key strategic partner for GCAP. This would enable GCAP to promote
their global brand and serve to enhance its ability to overcome poverty and
suffering around the world.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Initial discussions suggest a possibility for
exploring the concept of ‘white’.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>The white band is the current global connector for
GCAP and white is the recognised symbol of peace and justice. GCAP believes that
poverty and inequality are injustices which can and must be
overcome.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Using the colour white and the symbol of the White
Band, GCAP and the Body Shop will work together to produce a product or range of
products to sell in Body Shop stores in 55 countries. A branding and coherent
image for the project will be developed by Body Shop International and agreed in
a small working group made up of representatives of Body Shop International and
GCAP. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Point of Sale and other promotional spaces will
also be utilised to promote this collaboration and awareness of GCAP and the
white band.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<H1 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>Time line</FONT></SPAN></H1>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>This is a huge international project so we would
hope to launch in around one year in time for the Day of the African Child, the
Japan G8 and other significant global dates.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-GB><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Therefore, GCAP must be ready to agree to this
principle or otherwise by the end of May 2007. </FONT></SPAN></P></SPAN>
<P class=MsoNormal
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