The future for Consumers Union:

Thanks to the Internet, a new breed of consumer activists is rising up. The buzz of this burgeoning consumer movement grows louder and louder everyday, as people push for change from the privacy of their home computers.

The Internet allows us to dish up a grassroots campaign like never imagined. We provide information to over 20,000 online visitors everyday regarding your health, money, food safety, phones and media, and many other issues. Videos, animation, and the Consumer Scribbler are a few examples of how we are developing e-advocacy and directing interested consumers to take action. In March 2005, our Internet animation "The Drugs I Need" prompted 75,000 letters to Congress to make drug study results public.

With all the changes that have happened over the past few years, our expressed goals remain the same. For nearly 70 years, we have reported on issues of concern to consumers, in order to inform and protect the public.

Food safety and disease prevention:

THEN:	In 1940, CU ran several articles about a deadly disease called Trichinosis. Hog raisers feeding their animals uncooked garbage were introducing the parasites to the public, and CU pushed to enact federal and state laws to stop them in their tracks.
NOW:	Sounds like the mad cow scare of the past few years... With three confirmed cases in Canada, CU demands that the Canadian border remain closed to live cattle until significant improvements are made in mad cow prevention programs. For more information visit www.notinmyfood.org.

Disclosure of all drug side effects:

THEN:	In 1940, CU voiced concern about narcotic drugs and proper labels. There was a time when the Tincture Opium Camphorated label did not bear the words "WARNING: May be Habit Forming," even though opium was known for some time to be hazardous for consumers.
NOW:	Sounds like the dangerous side effects associated with Vioxx, Merck that were kept secret... CU calls on Congress to require prescription drug companies to make public all results of clinical trials, so that we'll know about harmful drug effects before it's too late. For more information visit www.prescriptionforchange.org.

Phones and media:

THEN:	In 1940, many consumers thought they paid too much for telephone services at an average of $64 a year. Farmers and town residents of Jefferson, Iowa instituted a telephone strike to protest, ordering their houses disconnected and using boys on bicycles for communication--at a nickel a trip.
NOW:	Sounds like the complaints about the rising cost of cable... CU proposes a system of cable a la carte that would lower monthly bills and allow consumers to pick and choose which channels they want, giving us more diverse programming. For more information visit www.hearusnow.org.