OK, this has been bothering me for a day or two since I realised how many companies I use are in their list of supporters.
I've drafted this letter which - suitably tweaked - I'm going to start sending out to companies that I would be likely to use. Also will send something similar to the Ministers of all the government departmenst they list, who might be shocked to see where public money is being directed.
Dear Sir
In the past I have regularly bought (INSERT PRODUCT HERE) from your company and fully intended to continue to do so.
However, I read on the anti-car campaign group BRAKE’s website that you are/have been a donor to their coffers. Apologies if this is not the case, but you may wish to contact them to get your name/logo removed.
BRAKE is a charity, though there is a widely-held opinion that they do not deserve this status. They appear to have been started with the best intentions to offer support to road accident victims, but seem to have been taken over by people who spend all their effort campaigning against car use, with a particular thrust being a desire to make us all drive extremely slowly, despite the fact govt stats (TRL 323) show that excessive speed only causes one accident in thirteen.
I offer you a couple of choice examples of their campaigning style:
1. A couple of years back, a woman was banned from driving for seven days for driving at 10mph on the M32 in Bristol and swerving on and off the hard shoulder. BRAKE’s spokesperson Lorna Jackson’s comment was:
“This case sends out a very strange message to drivers. Mrs Cole was not breaking the speed limit or endangering anyone with her actions, yet she received a seven day ban, when we commonly see drivers caught travelling at 80 or 90mph get away with a fine and three points.”
Is she for real?
2. Here’s some choice points from their “Target Zero” manifesto:
“Compulsory road crash awareness education is in nurseries and schools for all ages, warning against driving.”
“There is a ban on overtaking free-moving traffic, except on multi-lane roads.”
“Speed limits are no higher than 40mph for single carriageway rural roads, and 20mph for narrow country lanes”
“Speed limits are no higher than 20mph for villages and towns, and lower limits on residential roads.”
BRAKE is perfectly entitled in a democracy to campaign for laws like this, but as an ordinary motorist I am not comfortable spending my money with an organisation that supports a fake charity with such sinister motives.
If, before I next plan to buy (INSERT PRODUCT HERE) from you, I check their supporters list and your name is still there, I am afraid I will be going elsewhere henceforth. I will also be encouraging friends and family to do the same.
Yours faithfully
Johnnytheboy
(links to some of the sources of my data)
http://fakecharities.org/pages/posts/brake8.phphttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/7171154.stmhttp://www.brake.org.uk/target-zerohttp://www.brake.org.uk/our-supportersI'll be checking that fakecharites link beforehand as it's currently down.