General Mills in bed with extremists

[Nick(Ia)]

We recently had a thread about the Humane Society of the United States and its anti-hunting/fishing activity. The WLFA issued an alert that General Mills has become a corporate supporter of the HSUS. I went to the General Mills web-site and confirmed that they have been "sucked in" by the HSUS facade regarding pets and animal welfare. General Mills is a Minnesota based corporation that needs to hear from all of the dedicated sportsmen and women that use their products (General Mills cereals, Betty Croker, Green Giant, etc). The more money these organizations raise from their corporate sponsors the harder it will be for us to keep our fishing and hunting privileges. General Mills has a comment section on their web site @ www.generalmills.com.

[rock2me]

I searched both sites and did not find any information. Please, attach a hyperlink to what it is you refer. I will not just jump on a bandwagon without confirming the source first.

I'm not bashing you, I just need accurate information first.

Good Luck!

[Bad Finger]

I agree we should bombard GM with our messages. However, Minnesotans don't have to fear loosing our hunting and fishing priviledges. As of the last election, voters radified the Minnesota constitution to guarantee those rights forever!!

[Cangl]

Well what better purpose can all the General Mills products in this house serve, just about ready to donate it all to our local food kitchen. Possibly could be just be a rumour, but that chocalate lab with the boy makes for a good hunting breed and they really consume the "chow" Something does not sound right here. But then it is not impossible to shoot ones own foot, though it seems as though it would be a head shot to them ;)

No more Wheaties what would we do?

Grill a carrot?

[Nick(Ia)]

http://www.generalmills.com/corporate/media/news/story.asp?storyID=793

[Al Toqueville]

Nothing to fear?

Forever?

[eye_guide]

North Dakota did the same. Just remember that as times change the issue to repeal that part of the constitution can always be put back on the ballot. I do not believe for a second that it guarenteed my rights here and I won't sit back but will keep on doing my part to make sure they are safe.

[Bad Finger]

That's the way it stands today.... At least the political lobbying has moved elsewhere.

I feel a lot better having the RIGHT rather than the PRIVILEDGE. States that don't have the rights should get on the ball and look to Minnesota as an example. The politicians here won't touch this one with a ten foot pole. (Meaning it's here to stay, at least for the forseable future)

[Eyez]

This is a copy of the letter I just finished sending to General Mills.


Dear sir or Madam,

I have to say first off that I don't normally involve myself in the political affiliations of large corporations, but your assoction with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is something that I had to comment on. The HSUS is little more than an offshoot of PETA that masquerades itself as a moderate group of concerned citizens. The HSUS is a 200 employee organization with a 40 million dollar income, whose executive officers are paid rediculous amounts of money, and actually does little to promote the well-being of animals and wildlife. HSUS CEO John Hoyt was paid $238,000 in salary in 1995, and HSUS purchased a $300,000 house for him. HSUS President Paul Irwin owns 5 houses, one of them being an $800,000 residence in Maryland. Is that typical of a tax exempt non profit organization? The HSUS calls itself a moderate animal welfare organization, but what they really are is a group of animal activists who are using their organization to get rich, and promote their ideological rhetoric. Any trained wildlife biologist can tell you that wild animal populations are no longer self regulating due to Human interference, and that they need to be managed properly to ensure that they remain healthy. Wildlife management costs money, and lots of it. Right now, the vast majority of wildlife conservation dollars come from hunters, fisherman, and other outdoors groups. The HSUS helped pay for anti-hunting ballot initiatives in Oregon, California, Washington state, Michigan, Idaho and Massachusetts in 1996.

Be wary, the HSUS is not what they make themselves out to be. The American Humane society is a moderate organization with good intentions, the HSUS is a radical activist group closely linked to PETA.

As of right now, my family is boycotting General Mills and General Mills products, and I will encourage other right thinking, intelligent people to do the same, until General Mills is no longer donating money or affiliated with HSUS or any other animal activist group.


Thank you for your time,
Dusty Wilkens
Watertown, SD

[Bad Finger]

Dusty, well done!

Mind if I use a slightly edited version of your letter?

[1775prov]

Dusty, could you please post where you found those facts that you are using in you letter. I'm not a big boycott fan, but it appears as if I might have to change my thinking. Thanks Eric

[Eyez]

Help yourself!

Eyes

[Eyez]

This is the URL where I got most of it from. It's from a website owned by one of the organizations that HSUS lobbies against.

http://pages.infinit.net/paww/hsus2.html


Eyez

[vetspet(ind)]

i quit using general mills long ago because of their pro-abortion stand....they are blatantly pro-abortion...and they survive via selling food..seems weird to me...more people=more food...politics!!! at any rate i called their toll free number and just wanted to chat with personal about why they support planned parenthood and other abortion groups and not pro-life groups...this seemed polically biased and i stated that for me to continue to purchase their label they would have to cease support of pro-abortion groups or at least do an equal amount of support to pro-life groups....the person i spoke with just stated that they are very happy to continue the support they did at the time and had no intention of supporting pro-life groups... that was the last time i ever bought betty crocker/general mills products..and i really liked some of them...generally these groups are affiliated with animal rights groups...it makes more sense to them to kill a kid in utero than a sea turtle egg...they would have you incur a penalty if you destroy an eagle egg/turtle egg...incl jail time...but it is perfectly ok to abort a baby the day before it's due date...as long as the baby has not taken its first breath...go figure..steve

[OMNIVORE FAMILY]

---GENERAL MILLS PRODUCTS---

DO ANY OF THESE PRODUCTS LOOK FAMILIAR TO THIS AUDIENCE?:

GOLDEN GRAHAMS
BETTY CROCKER
PILLSBURY (PLUS THEIR PRODUCTS)
YOPLAIT
HAAGEN DAS
BISQUICK
OLD EL PASO
CHEERIOS
FRUIT SNACKS
CHEX
POP SECRET
WHEATIES
BUGLES
LLOYD'S BBQ
NATURE VALLEY
TRIX
JENOS
PROGRESSO
TOTAL
LUCKY CHARMS
GARDETTO'S
COLUMBO
TOTINOS
GOLD MEDAL

[Eyez]

dang, I'm gonna miss my pizza rolls. Oh well, I guess we all gotta stand up for something. The only way to influence GM is via their pocketbook, I guess that's what I'll do.


Eyez

[rock2me]

I stand corrected! Thank you.

Good Luck!

[1775prov]

http://www.generalmills.com/corporate/comments/



Thanks for the heads up on this, I printed a copy of the products list to take home with me so I can pin it up on the fridge.

[TONY THE TIGER]

I've never been worked up over this sort of thing but this one hit home being a Cheerio's buff.

I responded by calling the GENERAL MILLS customer service # at:

1 800-328-1144

Overly polite girl who expediently answered seemed indifferent (which is likely her duty).

Anyway...

No more big G.

KELLOGG'S from now on!

[Tom (mich)]

I just sent a message to their corporate center. Do not let this lie. It should prove quite interesting just how many of us receive responses.

[FAUX PAS]

BRING THIS ARTICLE WITH YOU TO OTHER BOARDS.

THIS IS MINNESOTA!

OUCH!!!!!!!!!!

[Skis]

I got on their website and sent a letter in their little comment box as well. We all need to do this! Numbers speak volumes!!

[Fish-on]

Boy it burns me when corporations use profits I provided to them to use against those things I hold dear. Here's a copy of the letter I wrote to them.

I am amazed that General Mills has agreed to partner with the largest animal rights extremist organization in the world. HSUS is a group of greed-motivated money launderers with a long history of intimidation, blackmail, terrorism and provider of libelous propaganda. For Pete's sake, the organization believes it should be illegal to MILK A COW! Whoever made this decision should be drug by the ear to the front door and kicked out as hard as possible. I for one will walk right by General Mills products everywehere they are found and encourage my readers to do the same. Nothing short of a public apology to all General Mills customers will right this terrible wrong.

Go get 'em boys.

[Trojan Horse]

After reading the General Mills products list previously posted,...I can actually visualize many of them; where they sit in my cupboards, my fridge, my guts! I've been consuming these goods all of my life. WOW- really hits a nerve! Now I'm going to have to go grocery shopping tonight.

[curt quesnell]

Well done,

I have registered my opposition as well

curt quesnell

[Holy wa!]

Ya, I can picture some of them too. But some of them not. I tossed the few things we had in the trash. I felt guilty about wasting food, so I went and bought an equal amount of food, non GM, and took it to the local food pantry. I replaced my food with non GM products. But as my post says, most of their stuff is just too expensive with no measurable increase in quality.
Here is my email to GM, off their site.
[ Hello, and good bye.

My garbage can is now full of General Mills cerials. No more Cheerios, no more Trix no more Kix. No more green giant canned goods or Betty crocker products.

They will remain in the garbage. And they will not be stocked back in my kitchen again. Until such time that you reverse your position on supporting an animal rights/terrorist group. You actions in supporting an extremist organization have sealed your fate, in the form of lost sales to the hundreds of millions of anglers, hunters and the like.

There is a strong movement underway right now. Outdoorsmen are spreading the word, as I type this. Be prepaired to be swamped with e mails such as this.

My kids will get over it. Besides, there are other similar brands out there, with products similar to yours. And they are more affordable anyway.]
Na na na na, na na na na, heyyy heyy hey, goood bye!!!!

[Holy wa again]

oh yeah, I sent this whole thread link to them. Everyone should do it too.

[Roger Mayer]

Here's the letter that I sent.

I regret to inform you that I have to discontinue purchasing your products due to your affiliation with the Humane Society of the United States.

The H.S.U.S. is in discordance with my ideals and beliefs.

Roger Mayer.

[Holy wa]

alright, the copy and paste dealy didnt work. But I basically told them they were done in my house and I tossed their stuff in the garbage. It was to be replaced by non General Mills products. This product list would also be distributed at all the area sportshops and to all my friends both at childrens school and all over the net. I have sent 100 plus e mails with this thread, and am spreading out to cover every hunting and fishing site I can find. Time to get busy people.

[Fshngyd]

I serve many of the products in my lodge that were mentioned in the post above, however due to this info, I will discontinue use until further notice that GM has withdrawn support of the HSUS organization, There are many other great products that I can substitute for their's. Thanks for the info.

[Cangl]

Us Michganders should GO Kellogs!

Nick the hunting bulletin board on the

www.greatmich.com/fishrep/report.htm

has just now been brought back on line this would be a good bit of info for the hunting and political forums.

[River_eye]

C'mon Steve, there are no such thing as pro-abortion groups, only pro-choice.

[bluelund]

Nick,

Thanks for the heads up on this issue. I just sent them an email expressing my disappointment in their company. No more General Mills in my cupboards until they withdraw their support for HSUS. We have a strong heritage for hunting and fishing in the upper midwest but I guess we have to remain carefull and somewhat suspicious at the same time. General Mills, who would have thunk it.

Good fishing everybody
Bob M

[WAeyes]

Yea, "illegal to milk a cow", but yet what the ##### are we suppose to put on our Wheaties? Boy, if that ain't talking out of both sides of their mouth!

[GJN]

The Founding Fathers also guaranteed your right to keep and bear arms with the Second Amendment "forever". Unfortunately forever didn't last that long. It only lasts as long as your willing to fight for it.
A citizen of the Peoples Republic of New Jersey

[delgue]

Nick great job, GM is big here in Iowa, im gonna give em ##### in Cedar Rapids

[Joe]

Nothing is forever! Except a dirt nap.

[vetspet(ind)]

what would you term it when a scared, teen aged kid comes into planned parenthood office, concerned about being pregnant, and they all but lead her to the abortionists office?....they do not even want to inform her about the little human inside of her...instead, refer to "it" as a product of conception, being very careful not to make reference to "baby"..yet the very same people, when they get pregnant call their doctor exams "baby" exams..and the very same doctors (in some instances) call the fetus a baby when future parents are coming in for their baby exams, yet call the fetus a "product of conception" when a prospective abortion patient is examined?....weird how our school system cannot dispense their students an aspirin, yet may send their students who get "in trouble" to abortion mills...ie planned parenthood....without parental knowledge....somethin fishy here??

[vetspet(ind)]

dont use any of these products anymore....not on any of my shelves.. for both reasons...anti hunting/fishing....anti-life...steve

[BradB]

I read this thread and sent my thoughts to Mills as well.

This question occured to me. Are there any outdoor groups that as a part of their operations watch corporate behaviors like this? DU, Pheasants Forever, Isaak Walton League, whom?

It would be very useful if one of these organizations would post regular reports (web based or otherwise) that inform its members when companies like General Mills support extremest organizations like HSUS or PETA.

Does anyone know of a link that covers this information?

Brad

[Fish-on]

You can get e-mail alerts from www.WLFA.org. Everyone should be a member of this organization.

[FAUX PAS]

ANOTHER CASE STUDY/ SHORTFALL OF A BUREAUCRATICALLY GOVERNED BUSINESS WITH ITS ONE HAND OBLIVIOUS TO WHAT THE OTHER IS DOING.


DEAR GENERAL MILLS,

see "ROBBING PETER TO PAY PAUL". YOU PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CAUGHT RED-HANDED USING MY MONEY AND MY LOYALTY TO PAY FOR MY ADVERSARIES' POLITICAL AMMUNITION. CONSIDER NOT BEING SO OBVIOUS NEXT TIME.

I SUGGEST RECOMMENDING WHOEVER GAVE THE NOD FOR THE GOLDEN GRAHAMS/HSUS MARRIAGE A TATTOO ON HIS/HER FOREHEAD THAT INVERSELY READS:

"WHAT GOES AROUND, GOES AROUND".

GOOD JUDGEMENT RELIES ON A FUNDAMENTAL UNDERSTANDING OF RIGHT AND WRONG. COMPROMISING TO MAKE EVERYONE HAPPY MUST EVENTUALLY BE AT THE EXPENSE OF EITHER WHAT IS RIGHT AND WHAT IS NOT RIGHT. THIS IS EVIDENCE THAT SUCH THINKING HAS RUN ITS COURSE.

THERE IS A PRICE: ME or THEM?
ie. EARNEST, ABLE, SELF-RELIANT, CHEERIOS-EATING AMERICANS WHO MIND THEIR OWN BUSINESS AND PERPETUATE GOOD CITIZENSHIP (producers AND consumers!)
-or-
ENVY-BURDENED EGALITARIAN, SECULAR, FANATICAL IDEALISTS WHO SEE IT AS THEIR DUTY TO COUNTER-DOMINATE AND REDUCE (eliminate) THE VALUE OF LIFE THAT BUILT THE LEGACIES OF GENERAL MILLS AND PILLSBURY. I CAN IMAGINE IT'S QUITE AN UNDERTAKING FOR SUCH AN ENTITY AS YOUR'S. IT ISN'T CONVENIENT ANYMORE TO HAVE A CUSTOMER BASE OF GOOD FOLKS. TIMES ARE DIFFFERENT.

THINK!:
HOW MANY WALLEYE FILLETS WERE EVER ROLLED IN BISQUICK BY HSUS MEMBERS?
OR
WHEN DOES A BOWL OF GOLDEN GRAHAMS TASTE GOOD WITHOUT MILK?

TOUGH DECISION?

-Brian

[FAUX PAS]

DEAR GENERAL MILLS,

I INTENDED TO WORD THE PREVIOUSLY NOTED QUOTE AS THE FAMOUSLY KNOWN: "WHAT GOES AROUND, COMES AROUND." BUT.. OBVIOUS IN THIS CASE, SOME AT GENERAL MILLS ARE BLINDED BY EUPHORIC THINKING.

HOWEVER, MAYBE CONSIDER KEEPING "...GOES AROUND X2" (WHICH IS ALSO TRUE IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT) AND NOT INVERSING THE LETTERS. THAT WAY STRANGERS ON THE STREET CAN REMIND YOUR MARKETING GENIUS WHEREVER IT GOES OF THE ERROR. JUST A THOUGHT.

[River_eye]

Sorry, don't know enough about the specific groups to have a debate with you. All I know is that it's a much hotter issue in the US than up here in Canada.

[Al]

Wouldn't it be nice to own stock in them, have a group of folks who own stock in them, and raise ##### at shareholder meeting? Heston did that with Warner Bros. He read at the annual shareholders' meeting the lyrics to some PuffDaddyIceTeaScumBag in front of the whole group. Think he didn't get some attention?

One more thought....isn't it great that Miller and Anheiser support outdoor/sportmen conservation groups?

[Nipigon Kid]

Thanks for the heads-up.Spreading the word north of the border.Anyone know of a WLFA type site in Canada?

[Shopping Tips]

I went grocery shopping this recent weekend and was able to avoid the GENERAL MILLS and PILLSBURY products-- all General Mills (who's logo is easy to recognize if you are LOOKING TO AVOID IT- big blue "G").

Learned a few things to help with shopping where BIG BLUE G is dominant:

Cereal-- look for POST and/or KELLOGG'S, others...
Baking-- DUNCAN HINES, NESTLE, KEEBLER, others...



CHECKED OUT THE GOLDEN GRAHAMS deal with HSUS: there is a HSUS "Celebtrity Calendar" sealed behind the box.

Have to admit that this may have been my first step into activism (knowingly- I used to support General Mills). Kind of fun choosing products based on what NOT to buy PLUS won't HARM ME.

[TM]

I have sent my comments to GM. We need to keep this at the top of the page. All sportsmen need to read.

[Hawgeye]

I too have left a comment on the website knocking there affiliation with the organization of HSUS. How sweet, the wonderful actors with their doggies, blaahhghh. I am so sick and tired of how Hollywood is so liberal it pukes radicalism. I am not against rational liberal beleifs but they take it too a new level. General Mills is no better by their actions. All I can do is hope that they did not realize that HSUS is as radical as it actually is and change their stance on this action.

[PW]

I sent them my two cents worth also. Someone should resend this entire post to them again.

[AquaMan]

This is a very compelling argument and your positions on this issue are very well researched.

If you really want to make a statement with deep rippling effects that hurt more then a small boycott from this board, scoot over to their headquarters in Golden Valley and picket the front door. Contact your buddies, the hunting and fishing groups you are affiliated with and any other group you feel will be harmed or adversly affected by the affiliation General Mills has with HSUS and get down to the front doors. Then notify the media. Publicly embarrassing General Mills for that alignment is what you really want to do. The rest, as they say, will be history.

If you are not willing to put that emotion into motion, then that is where PETA, HSUS and the rest have you beat. That is what they do and you sit here and write letters of boycott????? Get involved or sit back and eat your wheaties 'cuz private letters will just be that, private! Don't get me wrong, this is a start, but if you want a "shot heard 'round the world", make a big gun and pull the trigger.

AquaMan~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It all begins and ends at the water's edge...

[waterfowler]

Anybody tried writing the Star Tribs outdoor writers?? I think I'll send off a letter to ol' Dennis Anderson. That paper is such a bunch of liberal #### usually, I'll be surprised if I get a response.

[Nick(Ia)]

Aquaman, you make a very interesting point. Is it our objective to publicly embarrass General Mills? I would like to think that our objective would be to convince them to discontinue their support for these extremist organizations. It certainly can be said that public embarrassment may be a tactic used to convince the corporation but I believe that corporations are driven by one thing...money. I think the only way to make a corporation change its policy would be the loss of profit. It may be that the "potential" for monetary loss would be sufficient to sway their thinking but it is certain that a loss of dollars would lead to uncomfortable discussions in the board room, between the board and the operating officers, between the officers and their promotions people. Boycotts are tough to pull off. We, as outdoor enthusiasts, need to understand that it will take a large number of people that continue to avoid General Mills products for a period of time before we will see results. The results that we look for would be slower sales growth, flat sales in our geographic areas of strength(wherever that may be). General Mills is a good company with sophisticated professionals running their organization. They will quickly explore and remedy any cause for a failure to meet their projections. Boycotts will work.

Further, picketing and manipulation of the press makes me somewhat uncomfortable because it is the favored tactic of several of the extremist organizations that we seek to stop. I don't want to be like them! Many bridges are burned when such overt tactics are employed. There may be a time and a place for such measures but I don't believe this is such a case. Again, I think that the promotions people at General Mills got "sucked in" by the HSUS and didn't fully understand what they stood for or what message their association with this group would send. Maybe this is the time for us to discuss when and how we want to use more aggessive means to target the corporate sponsors of the extremist organizations. I've got a General Mills plant in my town and the thought of picketing crossed my mind? Is this the time and issue?

[AquaMan]

Very eloquent in your rebuttal. However, I feel that you are not fully vested in the knowledge that General Mills was, or was not, aware of the "type" of organization HSUS truly is. Selection of a box cover partner is very thorough and I am sure they expect some heat on this. (Like the heat they encountered when on of the B.A.S.S. Champs was pictured.)

The article about the HSUS is well written but lacks references and documentation. Where are the writer's sources for the facts that were purported? I would not take that article at face value without some back up. Shocking as it was, there are two sides to every story. Did these guys (The CEO and President of HSUS) come from money in the first place? Hypocrisy takes many forms and who is to say what is blacker, the kettle or the pot.

Although I referred to the demonstration as a possible embarrassment, the results would be far greater then emotional. Embarrassment is simply an immediate effect and mere by-product, the potential financial ramifications would far outstrip the short lived demonstration.

Neither action would make front page until Osama Bin Hiddin' is under glass, but the idea of a boycott just seems too passive and "couch potato" for any quick accurate effect. Additionally, the general public would like to know what a company like GM stands for. Some will weigh in for HSUS and others will not. I mean, how can you effectively portray your resentment of a puppy on the box? I call them "Heart-string terrorists"

True, I don't want to "be like Mike" either and not suggesting a riot or running through the store cutting boxes open and setting the Wheaties free, but sometimes you can use the tools of the opposition in your favor. Besides, we were doing this long before they were. Think about it. It is they that are using our tactics against us. A counter measure must be just that, counter or wiser. If anything less you are wastin' time and money. So boycott all you want, the ones at the gate will get the results and there are there every day. What do you think 100 or 200 boxes of Wheaties a month will amount to? Do you really think a small collection of walleye fisherman will make General Mills dismember the affiliation it has with HSUS or do you think a crowd of concerned consumers at the front door and on a million TVs will get the job done? At what point do you stand up for your belief and say ENOUGH BULL S**T!

The tools are there use them to your advantage or sit by and watch your (MY) precious Wheaties support a group that opposes hunting and fishing.

caveat - This could also be an attempt to appease the same group that had the Pro B.A.S.S. tourney winner's pictures removed a year ago.??????


AquaMan~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It all begins and ends at the water's edge...

[River_eye]

Nick. I understand your position, you don't want to stoop to the level of other extreme activist groups, unfortunately, this puts you and your cause at a huge disadvantage. You are right in that if you hit a company in it's pocketbook it will hurt them the most. The only problem is, you don't have to power to hit them as hard as it would take to make any difference.

The fact is, like Aquaman said, the way to get results is to get vocal, be heard and be seen. A couple truths of this world are, talk is cheap and actions speak louder than words. A few people picketing are worth a thousand letters.

HSUS and PETA along with similar large scale activist groups definately were not born yesterday. They were working hard for their cause long before you even heard of them. You have to give them credit, they know how to get results, and don't think that they never tried the noble and subtle approach first, because they have. You cannot discredit them simply because what you think they are doing is wrong. They are very intelligent and have learned how to get results, mainly through trial and error. They have found that writing letters and boycotting products doesn't work, but being outrageous in their promotions and exploits does work.

What it comes down to is that, in the society that we have created, you must get your hands dirty to get some results. HSUS and PETA may be getting their hands dirty, which isn't so attractive, but they are getting results.

[JAK]

Bump

I have been gone for a few days and just found this. I also sent my comments to GM. I believe that it is required if we want to let it be known how WE all feel!