Boycotting words and actions: Dannon

By: Steve Huston

One person has been particularly adamant about this ministry calling for a boycott of Dannon. Her most recent words were short and to the point:

Bill: what about the boycott??
Helen

Dannon advertised again on “Swingtown”
https://americandecency.org/main.php?f=updates_new/2008/July/07.07.08

My answer in part to Helen:

“… We will do what we have always done and God has given us major victories. Beat the drum. Let people and other ministries know. Many are already boycotting Dannon and letting them know.

I appreciate your zeal. I share it. However, I need to share with you that realistically ministries don’t jump as quickly as individuals.”
[One further point I want to make here is this. There are so many business that are worthy of being boycotted. Is Dannon worthy of being boycotted? Absolutely. Yet, we are trying to give them even greater opportunity to do the right thing.

Your reasoned, firm but gracious letters are key.]

Here are a few examples of recent letters to Dannon:

Letter 1:

DANNON will no longer be on my grocery list since you insist on promoting raunchy TV programs such as “Swingtown”.

May God have mercy on your soul for putting money ahead of morality.

Letter 2:

Dear Lisa Moore,

This past Thursday you still had ads on during Swingtown and as long as you are going to continue to run these ads I will continue to boycott your products. Perhaps your shareholders would like to know that you are supporting a show that has open sex and open marriages as well as promoting this immorality. This is sending the wrong message to teens and adults that pornography is ok and that it enhances your sexual experience. This is completely wrong and will lead those that go down that road to harder porn and crime. Remember Ted Bundy? He started with looking at porn, then when he couldn’t get enough he would attack women and then kill them…..Is this what you really want to promote?

Please STOP advertising on Swingtown.

I will continue to boycott all of your products as long as you continue to advertise during this terrible show.

Regards,

Letter 3:

Dannon Pres & CEO Juan Carlos Dalto says Dannon’s responsibility “…goes beyond producing wholesome yogurt products. It is our privilege to be an ACTIVE PARTNER in providing FAMILIES with the tools and information they need to live HEALTHIER LIVES.” (emphasis added) Yet Dannon continues to advertise on CBS’ “Swingtown”, instead promoting SEXUALLY ACTIVE PARTNERSHIPS between multiple men & women to the DETRIMENT of FAMILIES and the DESTRUCTION of HEALTHY LIVES. As a mother of five, I buy large quantities of yogurt, but character is much more important than yogurt! I will NEVER buy yogurt from a company which blatantly disregards the values I’m teaching my children. I will choose another company’s yogurt, even if more expensive, or do without, before buying from one who undermines monogamous marriage & the family unit. Take ownership for your bad advertising decisions; STOP promoting promiscuous sex for the sake of your company & the consumer who has trusted you through the years!

Letter 4:

Dannon Consumer Affairs,

You say you share my concerns about the “…quality and appropriateness of programming. We do all that we can to ensure that it meets Dannon standards.” Yet you do not say you will pull your advertising from Swingtown and publicly denounce this program for the trash that it is.

You say, “…although we work diligently through our advertising agency to avoid inappropriate programming, on occasion our safeguards are inadequate. For us, that is an indication that we must redouble our efforts in this regard, and we will.” -but you do not say you will stop supporting the adultery, sexual promiscuity, drug use, pornography and increases in sexually transmitted diseases that Swingtown encourages.

In brief, Dannon, you promise nothing of any substance and your ads continue. Your support for this trash and cultural rotting material continues. Needless to say my refusal to purchase your products will also continue.

Mt. Airy, MD
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Contact Dannon:

The Dannon Company, Inc. – DanActive
Juan Carlos Dalto – President and CEO
100 Hillside Ave., 3rd Fl.
White Plains, NY 10603
Phone: 914-872-8400
http://www.dannon.com/contact.aspx
dannon@casupport.com

Dannon products include:
Danimals, Activia, La Creme ….
http://www.dannon.com/ourproducts.aspx

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Mark your calendar for July 25-27 (Friday through Sunday a.m.).

Spiritual conference at ADA headquarters for July 25-27

Friday, July 25. 7:00 – 8:00 pm
– a time of welcome and a lively and convicting presentation by Kenny Williams, Christian activist and one of AFA’s most faithful pro-decency chapter leaders. Kenny and his family are from St. Genevieve, Missouri.

8:00 – 9:00 pm – I’ll be leading in a time of open sharing as we discuss mutual concerns and prayer concerns – a time of prayer to close out the evening —

Saturday, July 26, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Saturday will include powerful messages for the family and for men by Steve Braun. Steve and his family have been Civil War re-enactors at major Civil War battlegrounds. Steve will challenge people young and old with his “Civil War Dads” presentation where he incorporates history with Biblical principles and Christian challenge. Steve comes to us from Canton, Michigan.

12:00 – 1:30 pm – lunch on your own —
Restaurants in the area include:
Subway, Arbys, Burger King, several pizza locations and mom and pop restaurants. [We exclude McDonalds, [Pizza Hut and Taco Bell as we still boycott Yum Brands].

1:30 – 4:00 pm – Former pastor Paul Saxton will be challenging us with the Lordship of Christ in regard to money management. Paul resides and ministers out of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

4:00 – 5:00 pm – A pastoral address —

5:00 – 6:30 pm – Dinner together and closing comments and prayer

Sunday, July 27.
Worship service. 9:30 am

Call us at ADA to register or for more information at 1-888-733-2326!

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Match Challenge of $15,000. We look for evidences of God’s continued pleasure with us and with our ministry calling and stance. The latest evidence is a very timely match grant presented by an anonymous donor whose challenge is to call out to those who care about this ministry but haven’t given for a significant period of time. Here are the details of this gracious Match Challenge.

” … a “Summer Matching Gift Pledge”. I will match all new (from anyone who has not given to ADA in 2007 or 2008) gifts received from June 1- August 31 up to a total of $15,000. Let me know if you have any questions. Thanks for all you do to uphold purity and holiness.”

Thank you for helping us stay in the battle for Truth and decency.
https://americandecency.org/folder.php?f=donate

Bill Johnson, president

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American Decency Association
Bill Johnson, President
P.O. Box 202
Fremont, MI 49412
ph: 231-924-4050
www.americandecency.org

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