Invitation to the Postcard Launch

BANK OF SCOTLAND Postcard Campaign Launch 30/9/04

This is the text of the invitation to the launch.......
SWAP would like to invite you to the launch of our postcard campaign which will publicise the Bank of Scotland’s investment in the pornography industry.
The launch will be held at the Quaker Meeting House, George Fourth Bridge, Edinburgh, on Thursday 30th September between 12.45 and 2pm.
You may already have read in the press or received our e-mail about the Bank of Scotland’s decision to loan 4.5 million pounds to Remnant Productions to buy part of Richard Desmond’s pornographic empire. The loan helped meet the purchase price of 45 pornographic magazines from Mr.Desmond including Asian Babes, Barely Legal and Sixty Plus.
The Bank of Scotland’s own “Equality and Diversity Strategy ” calls for its business to be underpinned by “social, moral and political” factors. Clearly the Bank of Scotland’s principles are negotiable. They also ignore the awful reality that the commercial production of pornography depends on the exploitation of women and children.
SWAP now wishes to highlight the Bank of Scotland’s investment in pornography and to apply pressure to rethink its policy. We are therefore launching a postcard campaign in September to expose the Bank’s unethical investment policy. It is vital that as many people across Scotland get involved in the campaign to register our objections as widely and effectively as possible. Current Bank of Scotland customers may wish to withdraw their custom and let the bank know of their reasons for this decision.

The Bank of Scotland's “Equality and Diversity Strategy ” explicitly states:

We are committed to equality of opportunity in all areas of employment and business.
Our employees are encouraged to reach their full potential regardless of their gender, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, age, disability, race, colour, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or political affiliation.
We are determined to treat all current and potential colleagues and customers fairly and with respect.

The fact is that pornography directly contributes to reinforcing sexist, racist attitudes which underpin violence against women and children and perpetuate inequality between the sexes. That pornography sells rape as entertainment, and the degradation and humiliation of women as ‘harmless fun’.
Research shows that adult pornography is routinely used in the grooming of children in preparation for sexual abuse, and that 60% of women in the sex industry are survivors of child sexual abuse.
SWAP asks is this the kind of business which any major scottish financial institution should be openly backing? It is hard to comprehend that the Bank of Scotland whilst promoting strategies which promote equality and diversity, can at the same time play a major role in financing Mr.Desmond’s pornography empire, which by its very nature, perpetuates and totally undermines any efforts both by individuals, organizations and the Scottish Parliament to progress the equality agenda in Scotland.