Activists up in arms over nuclear chocolate

["Sandy Perle" <sandyfl@earthlink.net>]

Oh well!!!!

Monday June 29 8:07 AM EDT 

Activists up in arms over nuclear chocolate

By Nick Madigan 

HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - A new candy bar tied in with the upcoming release of 
the doomsday action-thriller "Armageddon"
has sparked a mushroom cloud of outrage from anti-nuclear activists. 

The "Nuclear Chocolate" candy bar, made by Nestle, bears the phrase "The 
Chocolate Chain Reaction" surrounding a symbol
that resembles an exploding planet. The black-and-green wrapper also features 
the "Armageddon" logo. 

"It desensitizes not only children but adults to the horrors of nuclear danger," 
said Jerry Rubin, director of the Los Angeles
chapter of Alliance for Survival, who attended a demonstration Thursday outside 
Nestle's offices in Glendale, Calif. 

In his hand was a sign that said: "Don't Sugarcoat the Nuclear Issue." 

"I find this very, very offensive," Rubin said. "The nuclear issue is really serious, 
especially now." 

The marketing for the candy bar is "tasteless," said Polly Perlman, 
environmental chairwoman of the Women's Intl. League for
Peace & Freedom, L.A. chapter, and the children who buy it "are going to be 
inured to the fact that nuclear weapons are
horrific." 

Although Nestle officials declined to meet with the demonstrators, the company 
issued a statement saying it "in no way is
attempting to offend or desensitize the issue." 

"The word 'nuclear' is used in a fun, 'cool' manner to communicate the product's 
'energy,"' wrote spokeswoman Tricia Bowles,
who explained that the chocolate bar contains "popping candy that reacts or 
pops" in the mouth when eaten. 

"'Nuclear' is an expression, a common synonym among today's youth for words 
like 'electric' and 'awesome,"' she said, adding
that the product is "intended to deliver fun and excitement." 

A Disney spokeswoman did not return a phone call seeking comment. 


------------------
Sandy Perle
Technical Director
ICN Dosimetry Division
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Office: (800) 548-5100 x2306 
Fax:    (714) 668-3111
  
sandyfl@earthlink.net
sperle@icnpharm.com

ICN Dosimetry Website:
http://www.dosimetry.com

Personal Website:
http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/1205

"The object of opening the mind, as of opening 
the mouth, is to close it again on something solid"
              - G. K. Chesterton -

The opinions expressed are solely, absolutely, positively, definitely those of the author, and NOT my employer