Urgent actions
The Campaign is Underway!
In the United States, the National Labor Committee has invited a Bangladeshi factory worker from the Shah Makdhum factory to speak to students and faith groups, consumer organisations and trade unions. The response has been amazing:
- On September 28, almost 200 people gathered outside of the flagship Disney Store in Manhattan to hear testimony from these courageous young women, and to speak out against their abuse.
- Anita Roddick, founder of The Body Shop, has featured the Shah Makhdum case on her websites.
- In early August, a "www.disneysweatshops.org" banner was flown along New York's oceanfront, where it was seen by over a million beachgoers.
- Even elementary school students are taking action! In Manhattan, one class performed a play about Shah Makhdum in order to educate their parents and fellow students.
- One June 12, a large group of high school anti-sweatshop activists in Vermont phoned CEO Michael Eisner. Although Eisner was "out of town," they spoke with Ken Green in Disney's Corporate Communications office, who informed them that a meeting had taken place about the issue - that Disney has received many letters and petitions regarding Shah Makhdum, and is concerned about the situation. They gathered over 600 signatures.
- The Interfaith Committee on Worker Issues as been doing "flash actions" in front of Disney stores all over Detroit - and sending pictures of their escapades to Disney!
- On Friday, May 31, members of student groups SCALE and CAUSE joined with fellow students and concerned individuals of all ages to distribute leaflets and call attention to Disney's labor abuses. They gathered outside Disney's musical production of The Lion King, discussing the situation with theatre attendees and passers by.
- On Friday, May 17 2002, 30 high school students distributed leaflets outside the Times Square musical theatre production of "The Lion King."
Michael Eisner, CEO of Disney, pays himself $133 million a year, or about $63,000 and hour. It would take a worker in Bangladesh sewing Disney garments for 12 cents an hour 210 years to earn what Eisner does in an hour.
