ECPAT [End Child Prostitution in Asian Tourism] estimates that there are 200,000 child sex slaves in Thailand, a fact that the Thai Tourism Bureau uses as an advertisement to child molesters worldwide. "You don't fight beasts with blandishments," said Vachss. "Maybe we can't change morals, but we can sure change behavior. If Thailand sells its babies for cash, then the only way to free the children is to strangle Thailand's cash flow. And only a boycott will do that."
Besides publishing comic books, Dark Horse also produces model kits and painted figures, as well as films like The Mask, TimeCop, and the forthcoming Barb Wire. "In the past, we've manufactured figurines in Thailand," said Dark Horse president Mike Richardson. "That stops now; we've moved that manufacturing to other parts of the Far East. Furthermore, we will structure all future licensing deals so that licensees will be restricted from producing any Dark Horse-associated products in Thailand." That change takes effect with the licensing for Barb Wire, Pamela Anderson's first major motion picture, due out next year.
"This isn't just lip service," said Dark Horse executive vice president Neil Hankerson. "We refuse to put any Dark Horse dollars in the Thailand coffers, and as diverse as our company is, that involves considerable personnel hours -- checking licenses, watching money market funds, investigating goods coming from outside sources. But we're doing it, because it's simply right."
"We've heard of their crimes, and refuse to support it with our dollars," said Richardson. "How anybody could continue to do business with such a nation is beyond my understanding."