The commercialisation of childhood, the production of more affordable medicines for poorer countries, and calls for Shell to use its profits to clear up pollution, are the campaigns for the first Briefing of 2007.
Commercialisation of childhood
Left-leaning campaign group and think tank Compass has launched a campaign on the commercialisation of childhood, revealing that children are being groomed by marketing experts for a lifetime of consumerism. A report found that 70% of three-year-olds recognise the McDonalds symbol, while only half of them know their own surname. People can support the campaign by lobbying their MP to sign the Early Day Motion, which has been tabled in support of the campaign. www.compassonline.org.uk
Email Novartis about patent law
Oxfam is urging campaigners to send emails to the drug company Novartis, which is challenging Indian patent law in the courts. If the company wins, India’s ability to produce and export cheaper drugs to other developing countries will be limited. This will affect, amongst others, some of the 7m people suffering from HIV in poor countries who rely on cheaper medicine, made in India, to survive. www.oxfam.org.uk/what_you_can_do/campaign/mft/actions/novartis
How should Shell use its profits?
A campaign by Friends of the Earth calls on Shell to use its profits to clean up pollution. On February 1, when Shell announces its annual profits for 2006, an advert in The Guardian will ask Shell to use its profits to counteract its actions and effects on the environment. Campaigners are able to make a donation towards the cost of the advert to support the action. www.shelladvert.org
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