Скачать или смотреть Christina Tobin Interviews Ben & Jerry (Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream) | Free & Equal Network

Christina Tobin, Founder and Chair of the Free & Equal Elections Foundation, interviewed the ice cream & social justice pioneers on the Free & Equal Network, one of the foundation’s many initiatives.

The three discussed the humble origins of Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream and the era of social justice Ben & Jerry grew up with in the ‘60s. They talked about some of the reasons for the anti-war movement dying down since then, such as the two-party system co-opting the energy of peace movements, and the dire need to continue to grow the principled peace movement that exists right now - a movement no longer fooled by establishment politics. Ben & Jerry stated that they supported Dennis Kucinich for President, and all three contend that he is a truly honest and principled man who gave voters a real choice to end the wars. Ben & Jerry have routinely lobbied Congress to significantly reduce military spending and plan to continue to do so.

Also discussed were Ben & Jerry’s plans to support the GMO labeling initiative in Oregon this fall and their victories in states like Connecticut and Vermont. In response to questions regarding Unilever, Ben & Jerry’s parent company, they stated that their successful activism for no-strings-attached GMO labeling laws cancels out Unilever’s backing of anti-labeling efforts. Tobin agreed and encouraged people to look for the good in their noteworthy actions for social justice and to judge Ben & Jerry as individuals.

Next, the three discussed how the Democratic Party serves the war machine by directing the energy of the peace movement into a dead end direction by supporting the current two-party system. Since election reform is an issue that Ben & Jerry have been fairly quiet about, Tobin felt compelled to ask them about their views on election reform, the two-party system, the Commission on Presidential Debates and more. Here’s what they had to say on voting and elections:

"The idea that the Commission on Presidential Debates only allows Democrats and Republicans is a disservice to the country, and it's just another example of how the Republicans and the Democrats are running the show." - Ben Cohen

"People are getting less excited about voting, whether their vote matters, if the candidates running are going to represent me. It's astounding that we can only get 50% of eligible voters out to vote, it's a statement on how people do not think the system is working." - Jerry Greenfield

Video produced by Delano Samuels.

Free & Equal Elections Foundation is an election reform organization dedicated to the idea that all citizens should enjoy an equal share of the rights and responsibilities of our nation's governance. We strive to create a system in which all citizens are equal in their ability to participate.