My Reaction to Boycott Connect

My reaction to the Boycott Connect presentation was very positive.  Boycott Connect is an app that was created to notify consumers around the world about immoral business practices that some companies have promoted.  By raising awareness to consumers, profits will decrease for every company that practices immoral acts.  I think this app is beneficial to society because it is focused on making businesses more honest in their dealings to the public and the environment.  People have a right to know all the background information regarding a company's product.  This information should include the type of materials in the product and whether or not those materials can be harmful to people or the environment.  For example, according to the presentation, many beauty products contain microbeads.  Microbeads are essential for exfoliating skin for humans, but it is harmful for the environment because they can easily get into the water supply where they are consumed by fish and other marine organisms.  The presentation pointed that this can also be harmful for humans because humans consume fish and the microbeads are likely to contaminate human through the consumption of fish.  Personally, I believe companies that harm the environment do not care about their customers and their employees because everybody is affected if the environment is polluted.  In their presentation, the group mentioned that companies produce hazardous waste that is dumped into large bodies of water and that they are also responsible for air and land pollution.  I was more surprised to learn that companies like Godiva, Hershey, and Nestle used child labor to make a profit.  Forcing someone to work without pay is slavery, and it should not be allowed in the business world.  As a business major, I understand fully that the main goal of any business is to make money and to promote the products.  However, Boycott Connect raises the question, "What is the point of making money when people are being hurt in the process?"  A customer should feel that a company has his or her best interest at heart and should not have to worry about whether or not its products will harm them or their surroundings.  I also agree with their statements that demonstrations and formal protests will not harm the company itself.  Even if one were to gain a million signatures to put a stop to corrupt CEO, the company itself would only replace person in that position or that person would be fined.  Boycotting is the best way to get a company to change its actions because the company will suffer major financial damage if customers refuse to buy its merchandise.