

Are you willing to put all of that effort into it? And boycotts don't succeed overnight-most take years to be successful. Does your organization have the time and resources it will take to undertake a boycott? A boycott takes a lot of time and energy-resources that could be spent on other efforts, other goals.Still, we recommend sitting down with a lawyer and being certain you understand the possible consequences of this action. Is there any possibility that an organization or business you wish to boycott might have legal recourse for damages resulting from boycott action? Could your organization be sued? Primary boycotts are legal in the United States and Canada, as well as in many other parts of the world.If so, then what? Does your organization want to go through with the boycott find other, less aggressive ways of addressing the problem or fight a different battle all together? If you go ahead with the boycott, your risk angering the group that has supported you, and being cut off from further funding. However, a larger area corporation-one that has supported your group extensively in the past-is a silent partner with the smaller group. Could a boycott alienate anyone that has supported your organization and therefore threaten your own economic interests? For example, perhaps your group wants to boycott a small local company that mistreats its workers, who are mostly recent immigrants.Answering the following questions can help you decide if the time is right to go to battle. If you are considering a boycott, be sure that you've looked at all the angles. Finally, other businesses will learn that negotiation with you is preferable to risking a boycott.In the spotlight a boycott brings, you have a good place to stand and explain your group and its position to everyone in the community. A boycott is an event that is usually considered worthy of being reported on by the local media. When people begin boycotts, others take notice. Boycotts bring a lot of attention to you and your cause.In short-a boycott encourages civic responsibility for community members. If the boycott is well organized, it allows people to stand up for their beliefs in a way that is easy and relatively painless. Boycotts offer people in the community a way to stand up for what they believe in. Boycotts let people put their money where their values are.While none of these reasons is probably enough to start a boycott, they are important benefits to be aware of. There are other advantages to using a boycott that aren't so obvious.
