Abercrombie Pulls T-Shirts That Girls' Group Found Offensive
The Associated Press, U.S.A., Nov 4, 2005
NEW ALBANY, Ohio, U.S.A. (AP) - Abercrombie & Fitch Co. said Friday that it will stop selling several T-shirts that a group of teenage girls found offensive.
The Women & Girls Foundation of Southwest Pennsylvania objected to shirts for women emblazoned with sayings such as "Who needs brains when you have these?" and "I had a nightmare I was a brunette."
"We recognize that the shirts in question, while meant to be humorous, might be troubling to some," the company said in a statement.
The foundation said it was satisfied with the agreement.
We couldn't help noticing that on the website store of The Women & Girls Foundation, they use pictures with bigger than average breasts to sell women and girls t-shirts.
<- Actual photo of one such t-shirt for sale on their website.
Abercrombie & Fitch Statement:
A&F has reached an amicable agreement with the Women & Girls Foundation of Southwest Pennsylvania under which we will stop selling several t-shirts in our stores.
In recognition that these t-shirts might be found to be objectionable to many young women, who are among our best customers, we contacted Heather Arnet, Executive Director of the Women & Girls Foundation, and offered to discuss the issue with them. We recognize that the shirts in question, while meant to be humorous, might be troubling to some.
We look forward to meeting in person with representatives of the Girlcott action in the immediate future. We are pleased with this resolution.
From the Women & Girls Foundation of Southwest Pennsylvania
The Girlcott we launched this week got the attention of Abercrombie & Fitch. They contacted us and we reached an agreement that satisfies us. Several offensive t-shirts to which we objected are being removed from store shelves.
We look forward to meeting with Abercrombie & Fitch to discuss ways we could collaborate on Read More ..powering messages their products could be sending to their customers.
We appreciate Abercrombie's quick action.
All media inquiries should be directed to:
Cathy Renna,
Media Relations Director,
Fenton Communications,
(212) 584-5000 ext. 319
Cell (917)757-6123,
crenna@fenton.com
"We must vigilantly stand on guard within our own borders for human rights and fundamental freedoms which are our proud heritage......we cannot take for granted the continuance and maintenance of those rights and freedoms."
John Diefenbaker
(1895-1979)
About The truth
"All truth passes through three stages. First it is ridiculed, Second it is violently opposed. Third it is accepted as self-evident."
Arthur
Schopenhauer
(1788-1860)
"In a world darkened by ethnic conflicts that tear nations apart, Canada stands as a model of how people of different cultures can live and work together in peace, prosperity, and mutual respect."
Bill Clinton
(William J. Clinton)
42nd President of The United States of America
Smokers - the new deviants
The Toronto Star
Aug. 20, 2006
Smokers need not apply," ran a classified ad for a job in Ireland this past May.
"Why not?" asked Catherine Stihler, a British Labour party MEP, who posed the question on behalf of one of her constituents. Should women not apply, either? Or homosexuals? Muslims? What about high-functioning alcoholics, or fat people?
The answer, from the European Commission that oversees anti-discrimination legislation in the EU, came back to Stihler this month: Smokers are fair game for discrimination.
Canada's
national "Child Day"
November 20th
Canada's "Child Day" is held on November 20th each year as designated by the Parliament of Canada in 1993.
It commemorates the United Nations adoption of two landmark documents concerned with the human rights of all children and youths. Read More ..
Canadian appointed U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights
Louise Arbour took up her duties on July 1, 2004 as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Her term in office ended in June 2008.
Mrs. Arbour was a member of the Supreme Court of Canada immediately preceding her appointment to the UN as Commissioner for Human Rights.
Louise Arbour: a colleague we have failed
Law Times, Canada
22 September 2008
This profession - and all of us in it - have failed to protect, honour, and defend one of our most accomplished and distinguished members. We have let Louise Arbour down by our silence when she needed and deserved voices of support.
On July 1, Arbour stepped down as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, an enormously prestigious and important international position.
The gratitude and praise which greeted her at the end of her term was shamefully muted. Arbour was a courageous champion of human rights, and a bold critic of the erosion of those basic tenets in our world.
She was never timid. She was never chained to a desk, was involved, hands on, outspoken, and challenging. She breathed life into the enormous portfolio that she was asked to take on.