Occupied Taste Buds

Ben & Jerry’s Backs OWS

Ben & Jerry’s, the Vermont based ice cream company, is the first corporation to back the OWS movement.

The ice cream gurus know the importance of supporting people who otherwise wouldn’t get a fair deal, (i.e. farm workers, immigrant workers, local farmers), and offers them support through its foundation.

The Ben & Jerry’s foundation strives to engage its “employees in philanthropy and social change work; to give back to our Vermont communities; and to support grassroots progressive social change organizations around the country.”

In addition, the company believes that “capitalism and the wealth it produces do not create opportunity for everyone equally,” and they recognize that “the gap between the rich and the poor is wider than at any time since the 1920′s. We strive to create economic opportunities for those who have been denied them and to advance new models of economic justice that are sustainable and replicable.”

It shouldn’t be any surprise then, that the makers of tantalizing flavor concoctions support the efforts of the Occupied movements and have dedicated a full page on their website , to show their solidarity with the protestors.

“We, the Ben & Jerry’s Board of Directors, compelled by our personal convictions and our Company’s mission and values, wish to express our deepest admiration to all of you who have initiated the non-violent Occupy Wall Street Movement and to those around the country who have joined in solidarity. [...] We have provided support to citizens’ efforts to rein in corporate money in politics, we pay a livable wage to our employees, we directly support family farms and we are working to source fairly traded ingredients for all our products. But we realize that Occupy Wall Street is calling for systemic change. We support this call to action and are honored to join you in this call to take back our nation and democracy.”

So thank you, oh flavor-tastic gurus, for supporting change. We, here at TDA, know that your company does more than provide taste bud sensations to the masses. We know that you are doing wonderful things in Uganda. And for that, we thank you.