PETITION FOR HERSHEY COMPANY

This is the petition that has been issued out by the Watchful Eye Foundation against the Hershey Company. Please print it out, get some signatures, mail it to the Watchful Eye Foundation / P.O. Box 574 South Sioux City, NE. 68776

For those of you that live locally and would like to assist with filling out these petitions - please call our office at 402/412-3393

TOGETHER WE CAN STOP THIS!

BOYCOTT Continues against HERSHEY COMPANY

"Our goal is to recharge growth and take advantage of all opportunities we see in the marketplace"



This is what the NEW CEO - David J. West who took over the management of the Hershey Company stated on December 1st. It looks like he really meant it when he stated "take advantage of ALL opportunities we see in the marketplace".....



Since when has illegal drug packaging become an "ADVANTAGE" in the marketplace???



I wonder about a number of reasons here - lets look at a few and then you - THE CONSUMERS - be the judge of it all....

• approximately a year ago a man by the name Kenneth Affolter was sued by the Hershey Company for selling marijuana laced illicit edibles. These "treats" were elaborately packaged to simulate legal edibles such as "Puff-a-Mint Pattie", "Rasta Reeses", "KeefKat" etc....

For a photo click on this link - http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/pubs/states/newsrel/sanfran031606_fig1_highres.jpg

Affolter was arrested by the DEA and sentenced to prison. Here is where it gets VERY INTERESTING FOLKS -

The Hershey Company sued Affolter for $100,000 dollars. The reason why? This is what they said is for TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT, TRADEMARK DILUTION, AND UNFAIR COMPETITION!!!!

Yes - they said that - unfair competition.....hmmmm ----OK - now lets go a little further -

Trademark Dilution laws as explained in the lawsuit article forbid the use of a famous trademark in any way or manner that would cause harm to the unique reputation of the company.

So basically if you were to see "Puff-a-Mint Pattie" and you knew that it was laced with marijuana - most people right away would assume the association with Peppermint Patty candy. That of course would be very harmful to the maker of Peppermint Patty - Hershey - because they have stated numerous times through out the years that they thrive on maintaining a positive image in the public.

So now all of a sudden we have numerous directors that have been asked to resign from Hershey's board, a new CEO in place, and stating that he wants to "take advantage of all opportunities in the marketplace"....

As I said before this type of fight is normally not the battle that the Watchful Eye Foundation takes on - however, when something this insane happens, you either do one or two things - do something about it or do nothing about it. We decided to do whatever we could to inform the public and to form a boycott of their products.

This I am afraid seems to go deeper than just the guy in the marketing department trying to impress his bosses with a "new, innovative idea" such as the packaging of the Pac's candy. This seems to actually be starting at the top.

Obviously what Hershey's saying is that in order to recharge growth that they must take advantage of all opportunities and that includes the market of illegal drugs.

I called yesterday to the Hershey Company. Spoke to a very kind woman who had been placed at a phone just to take calls such as all of ours pertaining to the boycott. I felt genuinely sorry for her as I am sure that not everyone had been as polite as I was to her. If I had been allowed to speak with the CEO David West, here is what I would have said....

Mr. West, first let me congratulate you on your new position of becoming the CEO of the number one Candy Company in the world. It deeply saddens me however that you have within a few days of your new post taken the road of destruction for your company by allowing the new candy Pacs to be packaged to resemble an illegal street drug such as crack or heroin.

I live in the Midwest and we battle the drug problems just as everyone else in the world. Maybe more so when it comes to methamphetamine. I am shocked Mr. West of what road you have chosen to go down and you sir should be ashamed of yourself for damaging the Hershey name in this manner.

In addition to that I simply cannot believe that you have taken an opportunity to create havoc for law enforcement officers, parents, school officials, and others just to sell candy.

What in the world were you thinking? Maybe you are listening and maybe not....however, here in the heartland we take pride in doing the right thing and protecting all that is good. You have made a mockery of the school fundraiser program as well as many of your other programs that you state are for the "good of the communities".

I am asking you to do the right thing - pull this product from the market - create a new packaging for it, and be done with it. I don't feel that this is too much to ask for. When Milton Hershey created this company I can almost flat out guarantee that he did not ever intend for this to ever take place. I am sure that he too would be disappointed as well as sickened in what you have done not only to the consumers that purchase your products but to the reputation of the Hershey Company.

Do the right thing Mr. West - pull this off the shelves and replace the packaging. That is all we are asking for. It's just that simple.

Please Everyone - call Hershey Company today!

Contact Hershey's by phone: 1-800-468-1714 Monday – Friday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET

Mark K. PogharianVice President, Investor RelationsThe Hershey Company -Phone: (800) 539-0261

BOYCOTT HERSHEY COMPANY THIS CHRISTMAS

WHAT IS The HERSHEY Company THINKING????

That was my first reaction when I found out about this newest "candy" that they just recently released.

This so called "candy" named PACS, so closely resembles the exact packaging that is used for illegal street drugs such as crack, heroin, coke etc. that the insinuation coming from the Hershey Company is to say the least appalling.

If a small child were to mistakenly get ahold of a package that they thought was the candy Pacs, they could overdose and possibly die from such a mistake.

I have always favored Hershey candies myself, however something has gone haywire there with their marketing strategy. How in the world can a company that promotes so many wonderful things for children all over the world suddenly create a candy, package it completely to resemble illegal street drugs.

I am personally disappointed in the Hershey company for feeling as if they have to somehow come up with a new method to "out-do" the other companies. They obviously have very stupid people working for them who have not pointed out that they are number one in the majority of the worlds love for chocolates.

If I were a shareholder in the Hershey Company I would demand that whoever came up with this idea be terminated immediately as well as the company immediately pull the Pac's candy from every single store shelf. In addition I would also have their public relations persons come up with a public apology for the insinuation of exploiting illegal drug packaging in hopes of benefiting the Hershey Company financially.

I have already sent in a complaint to the Children's Advertising Review Unit (CARU) in New York that handles the reviews for this. I will post the contact information below so that you can all contact them as well. I beg you to please BOMBARD them with emails, phone calls, whatever it takes to get this Pac's candy removed from the market.

In addition to contacting CARU, Please leave a comment or email me back if you would like to sign the petition to get this candy pulled from the shelves before it gains in popularity with the children. It has only been out a week. Together we might be able to convince them that this is just 100% stupid and furthermore that they should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves.

I am informing the Hershey Company that I will be gathering people to boycott their business until this candy is marketed with different packaging that is not in anyway shape or form similar or resembling illegal street drugs.

Email: watchfuleye@cableone.net send me an email if you want to sign the petition.

Children's Advertising Review Unit (CARU)

70 West 36th Street, 13th Floor New York, NY 10018

Email: caru@caru.bbb.org

Hershey Company

Call Toll-Free: 1-800-468-1714 (Weekdays 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM EST)

The Hershey Company

PO Box 810100 Crystal A Drive

Hershey, PA 17033

Investor Relations Contact

Mark K. Pogharian

Vice President, Investor Relations

The Hershey Company

100 Crystal A Drive

P.O. Box 810

Hershey, PA 17033-0810

Phone: (800) 539-0261

Kirk Saville

Public Relations Department

The Hershey CompanyPhone: (800) 468-1714

Here is what the Public Relations Director Kirk Saville stated:

"Each pouch is made by two dissolvable mint strips that bears the Ice Breakers logo.

It is not intended to simulate anything"

Look at the picture at the top for yourselves....it sure looks like illegal crack or heroin packaging to me.

Get involved and help stop the Hershey Company from profiting from illegal look-a-like drugs.

Things are difficult enough in this world that we battle to ensure the safety of children. We certainly do NOT need a multi billion dollar company - who may I remind you strongly state that they believe in children all over the world, to create a look-a-like illegal drug package to sell.

I am sickened from this. This is normally not my type of battle to take on as we have so many - however, this is just one of those things that literally turn my stomach. What were they thinking?

Gang Poll

The poll that was recently put out here on this blog asked the following question:
What do you honestly think about the gangs in your area? Is the problem getting worse?
100% of the votes that were cast all stated IT'S GETTING WORSE!

Thank you to all who took the time to vote on this. Now - lets get busy and learn to educate ourselves on the ganglife so that we can better protect our communities and our children.
Take Care and stay safe!

HOW YOU DRESS POLL

Here are the results from the poll....

THE QUESTION WAS: DOES APPEARANCE AFFECT THE WAY THAT YOU ARE TREATED?

90% VOTED YES
9% VOTED SOMETIMES

A SAFE PLACE

Published Saturday | October 27, 2007
Watchful Eye gives South Sioux City teens a safe place to go
BY DALTON WALKER
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

PLEASE CLICK THE LINK OR COPY AND PASTE IT INTO YOUR BROWSER TO READ THE COMPLETE STORY!

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10169097

VOLUNTEERS WORK KEEPS TABS ON SEX OFFENDERS

Susie Squires compiles information for the Watchful Eye Foundation which publishes Variety Variedad, a magazine that tracks child predators. (Staff photo by Jerry Mennenga)

Volunteer's work keeps tabs on sex offenders *see link bar - Sioux City Journal
By Joanne Fox, Journal staff writer

SOUTH SIOUX CITY -- Susie Squires made a promise to God following a bout with cancer four years ago.

"I told Him if he would save me, I would do something with my life," she shared.

That something resulted in the Watchful Eye Foundation, an organization dedicated to protecting children from child predators.

The specific impetus came from the abuse and murder of 5-year-old Samantha Runnion of Stanton, Calif. in 2002.

"I looked at that little girl and she so resembled one of my twin daughters when she was that age that it was eerie," Squires recalled. "I could just see that face over and over in my mind."

Squires began noticing that every time she picked up a newspaper or turned on the television, another child was suffering the same horrific fate of Samantha Runnion.

"I knew this had to stop," she insisted.

So, despite the fact that her own children were young adults, Squires set out to be the voice for kids.

Her first step was to publish Variety Variedad magazine, which printed the names, photos, descriptions and addresses for every registered sex offender living in the tri-state communities.

"I had no experience in any of this," she said gesturing to the publications. "I made up a dummy which I took to businesses, asking them to believe in me and help me by advertising in the magazine."

Enough people did believe and the bimonthly magazine came out in November 2005. In addition to the information about the predators, the magazine also includes recipes, stories, children's activities, and other general interest articles, in both English and Spanish.

"If you only speak Spanish, you have no access to information about sex offenders because you can't read English," Squires explained. "I speak Spanish so I know how important this is to the Hispanic community."

She knew her decision to go bilingual was the right one when a Hispanic woman shared that she and her husband worked hard to buy a house, only to discover later through the magazine that a convicted sex offender lived across the street, Squires said.

"All this family wanted to do was live the American dream and to put it point blank, what happened to them, that's just wrong," she added. "Now she can't let her kids out of her sight for fear of what might happen."

On the heels of the magazine, Squires established the Watchful Eye Foundation, a nonprofit corporation that provides safety education for children, such as the Detour program that provides a soccer club, the Runaway Teens program which disseminates fliers to assist in help finding a child and the Yello Dino program that teaches young children to stay safe.

"I liked the Watchful Eye idea about keeping an eye on kids, but I also liked the first two letters were 'w' and 'e' which spells 'we,'" she explained. "We, as a community, need to all be involved."

About a year ago, Squires obtained an office at 1910 Dakota Ave. for an after-school program that provides a safe place for children, 12-17, who might be at risk. In mid-October of last year, Squires discovered a number of registered sex offenders were living at a mobile home court. She organized a walk-through, distributing copies of the magazine and telling residents about the offenders.

The magazine, which is distributed free, the information, the programs are all the result of volunteers, including Squires who donates about 60 hours a week of her time and talent.

Recently, Squires organized a discussion on gangs in the tri-state area.

"We are seeing a lot of graffiti right now," she said. "We've organized some of those kids from the after-school program to help paint over the graffiti."

For as open as she was about the organization, Squires was reluctant to have her photo taken to accompany the article or to share much personal information.

"I've gotten threats," she confessed. "Remember I'm revealing information about criminals who could target me or my family."

More details on the organization can be found by visiting either the magazine's Web site at www.varietyvariedad.com or Watchful Eye's Web site at www.wefusa.com



Read Comments > | Share This Story: - What's this?

pat wrote on Jun 4, 2007 9:50 PM:

" You are our local hero believe me someone needs to speak for our kids. More need to join in how can we help and where can we find this magizine? "

LM wrote on Jun 4, 2007 10:11 AM:

" THANK YOU! As a victim myself, I am grateful to people like you who take this seriously. Molestations should be on everyone's, especially parent's, to help list. Just because this is so common, doesn't mean we should just accept it and move on...this affects the victim their whole life, sometimes RUINING their lives....Susie is an inspiration and I hope everyone who has taken her mission for granted sees that this is possibly the greatest mission! Thank you, Susie! "

COLLEEN wrote on Jun 4, 2007 3:01 AM:

" I THINK THIS A GREAT THING YOU ARE DOING. WE NEED MORE PEOPLE LIKE YOU IN SOUTH SIOUX CITY AND THE AREA AROUND US. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK "

SEXUAL PREDATORS LOGOS

CLICK THE PICTURE TO SEE IT IN A LARGER FORMAT.

Sex Abuse - It doesn't Happen to just girls

CLICK ON THE PICTURE AND IT WILL CREATE A LARGER FRAME FOR YOU TO READ THE ARTICLE. THIS STORY WAS PUBLISHED IN THE 1ST ISSUE OF OUR MAGAZINE - VARIETY/VARIEDAD. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT EVERYONE REMEMBERS THAT IT JUST DOESN'T HAPPEN TO GIRLS!

SEX OFFENDERS IN TRAILER PARK

http://www.wefusa.com

DO YOU HAVE A STORY?

Do you have a story that you would like told? Were you a victim of sexual abuse and now you would like to share how you survived?
Did someone close to you get abused? Or maybe you were in a gang and have a story to share....regardless what it is, pleae take a few miuntes and jot it down...sorry we do not offer funds to writers at this time...hopefully someday we can. For now it will need to be sent on a volunteer status.

Watchful Eye DeTour Teens Help SSC Win Award!!!

Siouxland City Given "Top Town" Award


A Siouxland city is getting top honors, and a special group of kids are getting part of the credit.

The "Nebraska Community Program" is giving South Sioux City, Nebraska the top award in its size category, for making big improvements to the community.

The program's event was held at the "Marina Inn" in South Sioux City Friday night, where cities from all over the Cornhusker state were honored by Governor Dave Heineman.

The "Watchful Eye Foundation", a local group working to keep kids safe, was named as part of the reason why South Sioux City received this great award.

Susie Squires of the "Watchful Eye Foundation" says, "I think it's an excellent opportunity for South Sioux City to proclaim, which we always have that it's a great place to live and a great to visit and it's a great place to be in general."

Dressed for success, The "Watchful Eye" kids took part in a workshop teaching them the importance and challenges of running their own business. A skill not only beneficial for them, but one that could help their entire state.

Gov. Dave Heineman says, "We have great opportunity in this area and all over the state and Nebraskans are very excited about the future because we aren't going to have a brain drain, we're going to have a brain gain."

Nearly 200 Nebraska cities were in the running for the awards.

Meanwhile, if you'd like more information about the "Watchful Eye Foundation", click on the link found here on our website. www.kcautv.com

CONGRADULATIONS TO THE DeTOUR TEENS!!! THEY WORKED VERY HARD GETTING READY FOR THIS DAY.
MANY THANKS TO ALL OF YOU WHO PLAYED FAIRY GODMOTHERS AND FAIRY GODFATHERS SO THAT WE COULD GET OUR LITTLE PRINCESSES AND PRINCES READY FOR THEIR FUN FILLED EVENING!

Nebraska Community Notebook Awards!!!!

WATCHFUL EYE FOUNDATION DeTour TEENS PICTURED WITH GOVERNOR DAVE HEINEMAN!!! NOVEMBER 2007!!!!

SEXUAL ABUSE POLL RESULTS

THE POLL ASKED THE FOLLOWING QUESTION - IT RAN FOR 6 DAYS....

"Have you or do you know of someone that has been sexually abused in their life? Was it reported"

66% - yes i was sexually abused

50% - yes i know of someone who was abused

19% - yes it was reported

66% no i kept it a secret

16% -i told but nothing was done to the abuser

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO TOOK PART IN THIS....

WHEN A PICTURE SAYS IT ALL.....

The man in the brown jacket that the teenager is leaning on is a off duty police officer who volunteers to work with the teens in DeTour getting them to trust and to respect themselves and others once again. This picture shows the bond between the two.

What is the Difference?

Look at this picture.....this is a child with a broken leg which is quite obvious.

His broken leg is of course something that is visibly seen....If it was his spirit or his heart that was broken it would not be so obvious.

Children that are sexually abused have learned to hide their "breaks" well. Children are abused all over the world every single day - whether it is physical abuse or sexual abuse. Most times people will say something like, "how sad", or "oh that is horrible"....and continue to go on with their lives thinking that it would never hit them personally and close to home....It happens - more often than you can imagine.

It is time to stop all of the "I wish there was something I could do" thoughts and ACT upon this. These children need our love and support.

Sexual abuse is not something that only affects low income or 3rd world countries. There are children of all walks of life that are being abused. In fact in the time that it has taken to read this blog there are children being tortured and suffering abuse right now, somewhere in this country. We take the time to read to our children, take them to the circus, teach them how to ride a bike etc....however do we really spend enough time talking to them about personal safety? It is something that can be done without using heavy, deep rooted words....something as simple as "never let anyone touch you where your bathing suit covers" works very well.

The day your child was born it was your responsibility to protect them. This has got to be the ultimate protection that you can offer to your child. Think of it as being no different than if someone approached your child with a gun pointed at them, threatening to kill them - most parents would jump in front of the gun to protect their child....this is no different.

Please take time to talk to a child in your life whether it is your child, your grandchild, niece, nephew etc...talk to them about personal safety.

You have absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain.

The Boldness of Sex Offenders

At a Walmart store a convicted sex offender who had in the past not complied with the sex offender registry in his state, recently posed as a police officer and told a little girl that he had to check her pockets. While checking her "pockets" he molested the child right in the crowded Walmart store.
When this story broke it just sickened me....now children are not even safe at Walmarts? In public? We have been hearing about the sex predators video taping young children at parks and then posting them on websites for other sexual predators to take pleasure in.
I know, I am supposed to feel sorry for these people who have committed the unthinkable crime of harming a child....I am supposed to feel sorry for the fact that they - the predator has now instilled a hideous memory into this innocent child?
Give me a break. I think that what needs to happen is that we need to step up the preventive measures in excess. I publish a magazine that prints pictures, names, addresses, crimes committed against children under the age of 18, and offer it for free in the Siouxland area. It is very well received - however the cost of this needs to be picked up by the County. I believe that each county in the United States needs to jump on board with this and FIND the money to get this preventive tool out to parents, schools, stores, etc.
Law Enforcement finds this extremely useful. There are articles in their that teach parents how to talk to their children, who to turn to for help....hotline numbers if you have been abused.
All of you who are reading this - let me know what you think so that we can push this forward to our County governments.
And for those of you who think that it does not happen very often - think again....what if it was your child? What would you do then.