Keep up the pressure on places that sell foie gras.
You can :
- Call them on the phone
Remember, always be polite when you contact these businesses - it is not against the law to telephone them as long as you remain polite.
READ THIS FIRST :
Using the telephone is an extremely effective method of protesting, but it is often overlooked in favour of less effective communication methods such as emails. Many activists, whilst committed to a campaign, rarely pick up the phone and make their voice heard, literally! There are many reasons for this such as; a lack of confidence, fear of looking like a fool or getting "caught out" by someone on the other end who knows more about the subject than them or simply confusion over the legal implications involved. This information is intended to address all these concerns and get you using the telephone both legally and effectively.
As with all forms of campaigning, our confidence grows with experience so I'd suggest that you read the following information carefully and then implement it. The personal touch of a phone call can make all the difference when it comes to foie gras, it is far more effective than an email, (which can easily be deleted unread), and is second only to attending a demonstration…although often it is actually easier to reach the decision makers and those with influence by making a phone call anyway!
There are many potential pit falls to using the telephone, but if you follow the guidance below you will be able to make the most of your phone call and ensure that your voice is heard without falling foul of the law or unnecessarily running up your phone bill.
* It is not illegal to telephone a company or organisation to complain about some practice that they are involved with, (such as selling foie gras), however it is illegal to make numerous phone calls, threats or act in an intimidatory manner…so don't do it!!!
* If everyone who is concerned by an issue picks up the telephone to complain then there should be no need for anyone to make multiple phonecalls…which is why it is so important that EVERYONE makes the effort to phone and complain!
* Arm yourself with the facts before phoning, having a few useful facts close to hand that you can use should the need arise will give you both confidence and the capacity to raise the necessary issues if the opportunity presents itself. You only have one phonecall so prepare in advance and think about what you will say before dialling.
* Always be polite and assume that the person on the other end of the phone has no idea about the issue you're calling about. You shouldn't vent your anger at them…instead express your concern, ask that your call is logged and the relevant people are informed that you have called. If you have the opportunity to educate them about the subject then do, you may well find they are as concerned as you are and supportive of the cause, if this is the case they are far more likely to pass on your message!
* When you are contacting a restaurant that serves Foie Gras don't get into a debate about meat consumption as this will dilute the message, instead focus solely on Foie Gras as this is the issue that you are telephoning about on this occasion!!!
* Remain calm, don't raise your voice and always be the "better" person. Remember that WE are the decent people, so always speak with understanding, consideration and compassion…and never assume that the person on the other end of the phone is directly responsible for the abuse of those animals!
* Calls can be recorded and your telephone number will be logged so when making a call always assume that there is a police officer standing behind you. It is not illegal to politely raise your concerns about an issue, nor would a police officer be able to prevent you from doing this…much as they'd like to, so only ever say what you'd happily say in front of a police officer and there can be no legal repercussions.
* If once you've introduced yourself and explained why you are calling, if they hang up this is NOT your cue to ring them back…you may not have had the opportunity to express your concerns or asked them to log your call, but if this happens then you can be sure they're well aware of your concerns and your call has been logged!
* Finally, NEVER make threats, mention the ALF, bombs or even mention the likelihood of demonstrations if they fail to comply with your concerns…these can all be construed as harassing and are all potentially illegal.
