Jasmine Owens

Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Co-Editor, Writer and Researcher at Ethical Consumer

Journalist at Freelance

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Articles

Are boycotts effective?

3 weeks ago | ethicalconsumer.org | Jasmine Owens

One of the earliest examples of a successful campaign was the boycott in Britain of sugar produced by slaves. In 1791, after Parliament refused to abolish slavery, activists printed thousands of pamphlets encouraging the boycott. Sales of sugar dropped by between a third and a half. By contrast sales of Indian sugar, which were not linked to slavery, rose tenfold in two years.
Palestine boycott list

Dec 27, 2024 | ethicalconsumer.org | Jasmine Owens

Palestinian activists are calling for boycotts of companies linked to the Israeli state and human rights abuses. Here we give the official list of brands and products to avoid. Boycott campaigns are pressuring brands to end their relationships with the Israeli state, and have ramped up pressure since the latest war against Gaza began in 2023.
Who's boycotting Twitter/X and Tesla?

Oct 30, 2024 | ethicalconsumer.org | Jasmine Owens

Here we discuss why Twitter is being boycotted by advertisers and some individuals, emerging calls to boycott Tesla, and the demise of Twitter as a tool for campaigning and journalism. It’s hard to know whether to support X/Twitter's downfall or rail against it. How Musk changed TwitterWhile Twitter has a long history of criticism for misinformation and toxicity, it seems to have grown significantly since Elon Musk's takeover.
Olympic scale tax avoidance

May 21, 2024 | ethicalconsumer.org | Jasmine Owens

Jasmine Owens explains how brands sponsoring the Olympic Games in Paris 2024 are coming in last place for tax conduct. Only 15 brands have bagged the title “Worldwide Olympics Sponsors” – the highest level of Olympic sponsorship. This select few have exposure and advertising rights that few companies could dream of, and collectively provide around 30% of the games’ revenue.
Groundbreaking workers' rights model to be explored in Spain

Mar 29, 2024 | ethicalconsumer.org | Jasmine Owens

When it comes to improving working conditions in global supply chains, the Worker-driven Social Responsibility (WSR) model has achieved unparalleled success. We are pleased to announce that funding has been secured to explore WSR in UK supermarkets’ Spanish supply chains. Lee este artículo en español / read this article in Spanish.
Ethical alternatives: brands to buy from if you boycott Israeli apartheid

Mar 6, 2024 | ethicalconsumer.org | Jasmine Owens

Boycotting brands that are complicit in Palestinian human rights violations is a powerful form of consumer activism, but how ethical is the product you buy instead? “At least do us no harm”, says founder of the Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, Omar Barghouti. Part of what he means by this is for everyone to stop making purchases from or investing in companies that actively support Palestinian human rights abuses.
Which boycotts for Palestine are legitimate?

Feb 21, 2024 | ethicalconsumer.org | Jasmine Owens

Many people want to boycott brands complicit with abuses of Palestinian human rights. Here we explore ways to distinguish between impactful campaigns against Israeli apartheid, and social media crazes. We discuss three types of boycotts related to Palestine and Israel: boycotts led by Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaigners in Palestine, boycotts that follow the BDS principles, and boycotts that go wildly viral without much organisation involved.
Diversity, equity, and inclusivity ratings trial

Oct 6, 2023 | ethicalconsumer.org | Jasmine Owens

Companies are increasingly speaking the language of diversity, equity and inclusivity (DEI), but should it form part of Ethical Consumer's rating system for shopping guides? Jasmine Owens explores the issues and applies a potential DEI rating to some brands in a trial.
How could the UK government’s latest anti-boycott bill be defeated?

Jul 20, 2023 | ethicalconsumer.org | Jasmine Owens

You are in: Home How could the UK government’s latest anti-boycott bill be defeated? As this ill-informed bill makes its way through UK Parliament, civil society has an opportunity to unravel it from all angles. The “Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill”, otherwise known as the "anti-boycott bill", is slowly making its way through Parliament, and had its second reading in July.
Migrants ask Sainsbury’s, IKEA, and Bravissimo to boycott Mitie

Jun 14, 2023 | ethicalconsumer.org | Jasmine Owens

You are in: Home Retailers Migrants ask Sainsbury’s, IKEA, and Bravissimo to boycott Mitie Women with experience of detention are calling for a boycott of facilities management company Mitie, which props up the UK’s immigration detention centres The UK government’s appalling treatment of migrants in recent years has left some charities and activists feeling like trying to influence government policy is less of an uphill struggle and more of a brick wall.