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Buycott may be for you

Here is an effective, inexpensive "tool" to take action effectively in your own hands.....and without going into the streets, manning the barricades or marching!

"Every time a shopper tosses a tube of toothpaste or carton of orange juice in their cart, that's a decision -- conscious or not -- to support the company that makes that product.

But what if you don't want to do business with companies embroiled in ethical scandals? What if you actually want to boycott brands whose practices aren't up to your standards?

There's a new (and free) smartphone application -- "Buycott" -- that makes it easier for consumers to make sure what's in their cart is aligned with what's in their heart. Simply choose which campaigns to join, and scan items before purchasing them to determine whether they're produced by companies you wish to avoid or companies you wish to support.

Buycott includes a wide range of user-sponsored campaigns covering social issues from animal welfare to economic justice to gay rights. These campaigns specify which companies to avoid ("boycott"), and which companies to support ("buycott").

One popular campaign is called "Demand GMO Labeling," which asks consumers to avoid buying products from companies that spent $150,000 or more to oppose genetically modified organism labeling laws in California.

In their pitch, the creators of the campaign point out that a recent poll shows 93 percent of Americans favor the mandatory labeling of GMOs, but that businesses like Monsanto (MON) and DuPont (DD) have spent significant amounts to block these changes."

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