All tag results for 'protest'

India's Shop Owners Go On Strike!

Small business owners in India are mad as hell about the government's new foreign retail policy, so they're going on strike.

Last week the Indian Cabinet decided to increase the single brand ownership cap from 51% to 100%, which would let big name retailers like Walmart, Ikea, Tesco and Carrefour to come into the country.

Since 90% of India's retail market are mom-and-pop shops, the decision could ultimately wipe out thousands of jobs, but the government doesn't see it that way.

Rajiv Kumar, secretary general

[Image via AP Images.]

Tags: carrefour, ikea, india, protest, retailers, small business, tesco, walmart

Target Employees Protest Black Friday Hours

Target employees are up in arms over next week's super early Black Friday hours.

Employees are pissed that the retailer is kick-starting the holiday shopping season by opening their doors at midnight rather than the usual 4 or 5am because it cuts into their family time.

Anthony Hardwick, a cart attendant at a Target in Omaha, started an online petition asking the company to push back the hours, but we doubt it'll persuade Target.

According to spokeswoman Molly Snyder the time change is due to consumer desire, adding:

"We have heard from our guests that they want to shop Target following their Thanksgiving celebrations rather than only having the option of getting up in the middle of the night."

It also doesn't help that competitors like Walmart opening at 10pm, either.

What do U think of all this???

[Image via AP Images.]

Tags: angry, black friday, black friday 2011, protest, target

Jane Fonda Persona Non Grata At QVC

QVC has a very angry Jane Fonda on their hands!

The 71 year old actress was supposed to promote her new memoir Prime Time on Saturday, but was axed from the schedule because QVC feared viewer boycotts.

After getting the news, Jane immediately took to her blog to blast the shopping channel:

I was to have been on QVC today to introduce my book, “Prime Time,” about aging and the life cycle. The network said they got a lot of calls yesterday criticizing me for my opposition to the Vietnam War and threatening to boycott the show if I was allowed to appear. I am, to say the least, deeply disappointed that QVC caved to this kind of insane pressure by some well funded and organized political extremist groups. And that they did it without talking to me first. I have never shied away from talking about this as I have nothing to hide. I could have pointed out that threats of boycotts are nothing new for me and have never prevented me from having best selling books and exercise DVDs, films, and a Broadway play. Most people don’t buy into the far right lies. Many people have reached out to express how excited they were about my going onto QVC and hearing about my book.

Bottom line, this has gone on far too long, this spreading of lies about me! None of it is true. NONE OF IT! I love my country. I have never done anything to hurt my country or the men and women who have fought and continue to fight for us. I do not understand what the far right stands to gain by continuing with these myths. In this case, they denied a lot of people the chance to hear about a book that can help make life better, easier and more fulfilling. I am deeply grateful for all of the support I have been getting since this happened, including from my Vietnam Veterans friends.

QVC eventually released a statement, saying: "It’s not unusual to have a schedule change with our shows and guests with little or no notice."

Way to pussyfoot around the issue.

[Image via WENN.]

Tags: boycott, canceled, prime time by jane fonda, protest, qvc jane fonda

Women Protest At NYFW Over Essence' New Fashion Director

Back in July we told you about the controversy that erupted over Essence magazine hiring a new fashion director Ellianna Placas, who is white.

The magazine's editor-in-chief Angela Burt-Murray quickly responded to the public outcry with a statement defending her new hire and since then it's been relatively quiet — that is until last week.

On the opening day of New York Fashion week a group of black women staged a protest over Essence's hiring of a white fashion director and the lack of black fashion directors at any mainstream fashion publications.

Dressed in all black, the women carried signs that read the names of Essence' fashion directors from the past 40 years. They didn't speak one word as they made their way from Essence' Manhattan headquarters to Lincoln Center.

The event producer, Quan Lateef explains: "We chose to make this a silent demonstration because we were not angry or bitter. We didn’t need to shout or holler. We’re just over it! Whether the powers that be heard it or not, our silence spoke volumes."

Protester Bayyina Black says the problem isn't just with Essence, it's the industry as a whole, adding "On a larger scale, in the year 2010 there is only one woman of color, Nina Garcia, who is a fashion director in the entire fashion industry."

She makes a good point.

Thoughts???

[Image courtesy of Clutch Magazine.]

Tags: angela burt-murray, black fashion director, ellianna placas, essence magazine, fashion in action, new york fashion week, protest