Ben & Jerry’s, the US ice cream company, have staked a claim as an “activist company” by launching a new campaign “Get the dough out of politics”.
Teamed with a new design for the AmeriCone Dream flavor and a give away at “Scoop Shops” in the USA on 14th February from 5 – 8 pm, the company is aiming to build on the success of its involvement in the Occupy Wall Street movement. The packaging for the product features Emmyt award-winning political satirist Stephen Colbert, star of Comedy Central’s The Colbert Report and author of I Am America (And So Can You!).
Ben & Jerry’s CEO, Jostein Solheim commented on the political venture:
“We’re speaking on behalf of the 99%, using our pulpit as an activist company to highlight the fact that things are topsy-turvy.”
Big money and lobbying firms are the focus of renewed political interest in the USA, with several companies jumping on the band wagon against commercial interests in Washington.
Larry Lessig recently presenting a Google Talk to executives at the search engine giant, and promoted via its subsidiary Youtube, regarding the potential to take back Congress for the people through a limit on campaign spending and donations to political parties. Mr Lessig also has a book out on the subject, entitled, Republic, Lost: How Money Corrupts Congress – and a Plan to Stop It.
