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APRIL 22nd IS EARTH DAY

On Earth Day, take a few minutes of your time to do a non-violent action against the military regime of Burma (Myanmar), one of the world's most brutal dictatorships.

Call Boutique Jacob (514) 731-8877 to demand that they stop selling goods "Made in Myanmar".

Environmental degradation and human rights abuses are closely connected in Burma, as the military regime forces the exploitation of natural resources, in collaboration with multinational corporations, on the back of the civilian population, which suffers forced labour, rape, and forced relocations (see http://www.earthrights.org for detailed reports).

The benefits of international trade in Burma mostly accrue to the military elite. The democratically elected leaders of Burma, which have been refused power since the elections held in 1990, demand that the international community refrain from investing in Burma until respect for human rights and democracy return in their country. This call has been answered by the Canadian government, which discourages Canadian companies from doing business with the regime.

Boutique Jacob, based in Montreal, still refuses to stop selling goods made in Burma.

CALL BOUTIQUE JACOB and demand an end to the selling of clothes "Made in Myanmar", which benefit dictatorship and human rights abuses.

Here are a few points you can mention:

Although Boutique Jacob's Southeast Asian agent, Colby International, has an ethical code of conduct, this does not prevent the company from funding a military dictatorship, and indirectly contributing to severe human rights abuses. It is part of a company's responsibility to evaluate the impact of its investments.
More than 40 companies, including Levi Strauss, and most recently Sports Expert, have ended their association with Burma. Last week the American Apparel & Footwear Association, which includes many leading US brands, called for a ban on imports from Burma.
You will not buy products from Jacob until it stops selling goods "Made in Myanmar", and will recommend this measure to family and friends.
Please e-mail us at free...@hotmail.com to let us know you called, so that we may evaluate the efficiency of this action.

You can consult http://ssmu.mcgill.ca/freeburmamcgill or http://www.cfob.org for more information on Burma and the Jacob campaign.

For more information on Earthday, consult http://www.earthday.net.

Thank you,

Olivier Girard

Free Burma Coalition

Students' Society of McGill University
http://ssmu.mcgill.ca/freeburmamcgill
free...@hotmail.com

"Please use your freedom to help promote ours" - Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate