In the upcoming Canadian general election scheduled for October 21, 2019, we commit to vote for candidates and parties that: • Support Palestinian human and national rights including the inalienable right to self-determination. • Oppose Israeli ethnic cleansing, war crimes and apartheid. • Recognize the fundamental rights of the Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel to full equality. • Respect, protect and promote the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties as stipulated in UN resolution 194. • Support ending Israeli occupation and colonization of all Arab lands and dismantling the Wall. • Oppose Canadian tax-deductible status for the Jewish National Fund JNF, HESEG Foundation and all Zionist organizations that are disguised as charities while supporting the Israeli military and settlements. • Recognize the rights of Canadians to support the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions BDS movement as a non-violent strategy to force Israel to abide by UN resolutions and all international humanitarian laws, and • Oppose condemning or criminalizing people or organizations who support the BDS Movement.
JE VOTE POUR LA LIBERTÉ, LA JUSTICE ET L’ÉGALITÉ REJOIGNEZ CETTE PAGE D’ÉVÉNEMENT FB ET PRENEZ UN ENGAGEMENT #IVotePalestine Lors des prochaines élections générales au Canada, prévues pour le 21 octobre 2019, nous nous engageons à voter pour les candidats et les partis qui: • Soutiennent les droits de l’homme et les droits nationaux des Palestiniens, y compris le droit inaliénable à l’autodétermination. • S’opposent au nettoyage ethnique israélien, aux crimes de guerre et à l’apartheid. • Reconnaissent les droits fondamentaux des citoyens et citoyennes arabo-palestiniens d’Israël à la pleine égalité. • Respectent, protègent et promeuvent le droit de retour des réfugiés palestiniens et la repossession de leurs propriétés, conformément à la résolution 194 des Nations Unies. • Supportent la fin de l’occupation israélienne et de la colonisation de toutes les terres arabes ainsi que le démantèlement du mur. • S’opposent au statut d’organisme de bienfaisance, déductible d’ impôts au Canada, pour le Fonds national juif ( FNJ), la Fondation HESEG, et toutes les organisations sionistes déguisées en œuvres de charité qui soutiennent l’armée israélienne et les colonies de peuplement. • Reconnaissent le droit des Canadiens d’appuyer le mouvement BDS (Boycott Désinvestissement et Sanctions) en tant que stratégie non violente pour forcer Israël à se conformer aux résolutions de l’ONU et à l’ensemble du droit international humanitaire, et • S’opposent à la condamnation ou à la criminalisation des personnes ou des organisations qui soutiennent le mouvement BDS.
Here are the hosts and endorsers of the campaign
Alliance of Concerned Jewish Canadians
APAC – Association of Palestinian Arab Canadians
Canada Palestine Association
Canadian BDS Coalition
Canadian Unitarians for Social Justice
Coalition against Israeli Apartheid, Victoria
Independent Jewish Voices
Independent Jewish Voices – Winnipeg
Just Peace Advocates/Mouvement Pour Une Paix Juste
Justice for Palestinians, Calgary
Mid-Islanders for Justice and Peace in the Middle East
Oakville Palestinian Rights Association OPRA
OPIRG Guelph
Palestine Just Trade
Palestine Solidarity Working Group (Sudbury)
Palestinian and Jewish Unity (Montreal)
Palestinian Canadian Congress
Peace Alliance Winnipeg
Regina Peace Council
Socialist Action
St. John’s Solidarity with Palestine
United for Palestine – Toronto/GTA
This event page will update voters on the positions of individual candidates and parties regarding these issues.
PRINT to provide to candidates seeking your vote. Let them know what is important to securing your vote.
Write to your local candidates. CLICK HERE to download letter which you can customize.
To find your candidates check out Election Canada and then in order to find candidate info for your riding go to specific political parties through the links provided.
You can also find candidates for the following parties at the links:
In the upcoming Canadian general election scheduled for October 21, 2019, we commit to vote for candidates and parties that: • Support Palestinian human and national rights including the inalienable right to self-determination. • Oppose Israeli ethnic cleansing, war crimes and apartheid. • Recognize the fundamental rights of the Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel to full equality. • Respect, protect and promote the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties as stipulated in UN resolution 194. • Support ending Israeli occupation and colonization of all Arab lands and dismantling the Wall. • Oppose Canadian tax-deductible status for the Jewish National Fund JNF, HESEG Foundation and all Zionist organizations that are disguised as charities while supporting the Israeli military and settlements. • Recognize the rights of Canadians to support the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions BDS movement as a non-violent strategy to force Israel to abide by UN resolutions and all international humanitarian laws, and • Oppose condemning or criminalizing people or organizations who support the BDS Movement.
JE VOTE POUR LA LIBERTÉ, LA JUSTICE ET L’ÉGALITÉ REJOIGNEZ CETTE PAGE D’ÉVÉNEMENT FB ET PRENEZ UN ENGAGEMENT #IVotePalestine Lors des prochaines élections générales au Canada, prévues pour le 21 octobre 2019, nous nous engageons à voter pour les candidats et les partis qui: • Soutiennent les droits de l’homme et les droits nationaux des Palestiniens, y compris le droit inaliénable à l’autodétermination. • S’opposent au nettoyage ethnique israélien, aux crimes de guerre et à l’apartheid. • Reconnaissent les droits fondamentaux des citoyens et citoyennes arabo-palestiniens d’Israël à la pleine égalité. • Respectent, protègent et promeuvent le droit de retour des réfugiés palestiniens et la repossession de leurs propriétés, conformément à la résolution 194 des Nations Unies. • Supportent la fin de l’occupation israélienne et de la colonisation de toutes les terres arabes ainsi que le démantèlement du mur. • S’opposent au statut d’organisme de bienfaisance, déductible d’ impôts au Canada, pour le Fonds national juif ( FNJ), la Fondation HESEG, et toutes les organisations sionistes déguisées en œuvres de charité qui soutiennent l’armée israélienne et les colonies de peuplement. • Reconnaissent le droit des Canadiens d’appuyer le mouvement BDS (Boycott Désinvestissement et Sanctions) en tant que stratégie non violente pour forcer Israël à se conformer aux résolutions de l’ONU et à l’ensemble du droit international humanitaire, et • S’opposent à la condamnation ou à la criminalisation des personnes ou des organisations qui soutiennent le mouvement BDS.
Alliance of Concerned Jewish Canadians
APAC – Association of Palestinian Arab Canadians
Canada Palestine Association
Canadian BDS Coalition
Canadian Unitarians for Social Justice
Coalition against Israeli Apartheid, Victoria
Independent Jewish Voices
Independent Jewish Voices – Winnipeg
Just Peace Advocates/Mouvement Pour Une Paix Juste
Justice for Palestinians, Calgary
Mid-Islanders for Justice and Peace in the Middle East
Oakville Palestinian Rights Association OPRA
OPIRG Guelph
Palestine Just Trade
Palestine Solidarity Working Group (Sudbury)
Palestinian and Jewish Unity (Montreal)
Palestinian Canadian Congress
Peace Alliance Winnipeg
Regina Peace Council
Socialist Action
St. John’s Solidarity with Palestine
United for Palestine – Toronto/GTA
This event page will update voters on the positions of individual candidates and parties regarding these issues.
PRINT to provide to candidates seeking your vote. Let them know what is important to securing your vote.
Write to your local candidates. CLICK HERE to download letter which you can customize.
To find your candidates check out Election Canada and then in order to find candidate info for your riding go to specific political parties through the links provided.
You can also find candidates for the following parties at the links:
The Coalition BDS Québec has announced that Hydro-Québec has declined to renew an agreement with its Israeli counterpart, Israel Electric.
“This victory is important for us in Quebec,” John Philpot, an international lawyer and a member of the Coalition BDS Québec, told The Electronic Intifada. Check out full article in Electronic Intifada.
The Coalition BDS Québec reports that “During the summer of 2019, in response to a request for a meeting with Hydro-Québec’s new Board Chair, Ms. Côté, when we were warned of an upcoming hearing at the Commission d’accès à la information, the Executive Vice-President – Corporate and Legal Affairs and Head of Corporate Governance wrote to us , “without commenting in any way on the point of view expressed in [our] correspondence,” that the HQ-IEC agreement , due May 22, 2019, has not been renewed !” In addition, the entire content of the agreement is finally communicated to the Coaliton, and the hearing at the CAI is therefore canceled.
On August 27, the Coalition BDS Québec published a press release. Hydro Quebec immediately sent a letter , signed by its chief – Public Affairs and Media, stating that the decision not to renew the HQ-IEC agreement had no political impact, which we doubt strongly.
The Rest of the Country
The Canadian BDS Coalition has been in touch with the approximately 40 electric companies across Canada, and has heard from some they do NOT have any working agreements with Israel Electric, but are waiting to hear from others. Follow up with take places with those who have not confirmed that they are not in relationship with Israel Electric.
Photo: Israeli warplanes make a ceremonial flyby of the Israel Electric Corporation’s Orot Rabin coal-fired generating station, to mark what Israel calls its Independence Day, May 2017. The power company is deeply complicit in Israel’s violations of Palestinian rights. (via Facebook) Electronic Intifada
The Canadian BDS Coalition joins in the BDS Vancouver campaign Boycott TEVA-Apartheid is Bad Medicine. LIKE the FACEBOOK PAGE to follow the campaign.
Boycott TEVA, the Israeli pharmaceutical company that is one of the largest generic drug manufacturers in the world.
Order a strip of our “No TEVA” stickers for free by clicking on the Send Message button at the top right of this page and letting us know where to send your Boycott TEVA kit. Or just tell your regular pharmacy to put a permanent “No TEVA” note on your file!
Who Profits provides the following information regarding Teva, a global pharmaceutical company and the world’s largest generic drug manufacturer. The company develops, produces and markets generic, innovative and branded drugs. Teva currently operates in approximately 60 countries with an estimated 45,000 employees worldwide.
Teva is the largest commercial (and industrial) company on the Israeli market by equity, net profit, operating income and market value. The company is also the largest provider of healthcare products and services in the Israeli market, by sales volume. Teva distributes healthcare products and services, including consumer healthcare products, hospital supplies, dialysis equipment and disposables, diagnostics and home care services. An Israeli subsidiary – Salomon, Levin and Elstein, provides logistical support for Teva’s sales and distribution activities in Israel, including the distribution of third parties of several multinational pharmaceutical companies. READ MORE on WHO PROFITS about TEVA.
“Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. agreed to pay $85 million to settle an Oklahoma lawsuit…Oklahoma said J&J and Teva helped create a public-health crisis from opioid abuse that killed thousands of its residents.” Read more HERE.
TEVA is also BigPharma and has been recently named in an anti-trust lawsuit in the U.S., as helping to “mastermind a sweeping conspiracy among generic drugmakers to raise the price of medicines” Read more HERE.
Tell TripAdvisor to pull out of illegal Israeli settlements in occupied Palestine
The Canadian BDS Coalition stands in solidarity with Amnesty International TripAdvisor campaign to
Ask Stephen Kaufer, CEO of TripAdvisor Inc. to stop listing or promoting properties, activities and attractions located in illegal Israeli settlements or run by settlers in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
TripAdvisor lists more than 70 different properties, activities and attractions in illegal Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT). By doing so, TripAdvisor is boosting the settlement economy and contributing to settlement expansion. The company’s promotion of settlements as a tourist destination helps to “normalise” and legitimise them to the public. Settlements are illegal under international law – their creation amounts to a war crime. Settlements are on stolen Palestinian land. They should not be tourist destinations.
We are Israeli citizens, active against the occupation, apartheid, and colonialism policies of successive Israeli governments towards the Palestinian people [1]. Many of us are basketball and NBA fans. We note that some of you have already spoken out in favor of turning down an invitation to the White House under the racist President Donald Trump. We congratulate you for making the right decision.
However, we are alarmed by reports about your team’s visit to Israel. We believe such a visit would serve the Israeli government in its attempts to whitewash its racist policies. We therefore call on you not to take part in it.
The Palestinian people have been facing Israel’s colonial brutality for decades. Hundreds of thousands of them were violently driven out of their homes in Palestine in 1948, in a catastrophe known as the Nakba [2]. As of now, millions of Palestinians are living under Israel’s military occupation or siege in the Gaza strip and the West Bank. Gaza is the world’s largest open-air prison, with appalling human rights conditions. Israel has inflicted death or horrific injuries on tens of thousands of civilian protesters in the past 15 months [3]. The West Bank is home to hundreds of thousands of Israeli settlers living at the expense of millions of Palestinians whose land is being robbed [4]. Inside Israel, Palestinian citizens are facing growing explicit racism, as manifested recently by the enactment of the so-called “Nation-State law”, which denies them equality and legitimizes discrimination against them in everyday life.
We note that numerous athletes have said no to invitations to propaganda junkets in Israel. One example occurred in February 2017, when over half of a delegation of NFL players pulled out of an all-expense paid trip to Israel, following comments by the Israeli tourism minister claiming they would become “ambassadors of goodwill for Israel”. Michael Bennett, the first player to withdraw, noted in a public statement:
“I will not be used in such a matter…I want to be a ‘voice for the voiceless,’ and I cannot do that by going on this kind of trip to Israel.” [6]
We call on Raptors players to stand with the oppressed, from North America to Palestine. Please join millions of people worldwide in the struggle for justice and equality for the Palestinian people. Please say no to Donald Trump and his racist policies, and to Benjamin Netanyahu and his racist policies. Please say no to a Raptors junket to Israel!
We will gladly address any questions or comments you may have
Sincerely,
Boycott! Supporting the Palestinian BDS Call from Within (aka Boycott from Within)
Roger Waters sends a personal message about the proposed trip to Israel for the Toronto Raptors.
Michael Bennett, when he turned down Brand Israel sports washing, quoted 1968 Olympian John Carlos saying “There is no partial commitment to justice, you are either in or you are out.” Michael Bennettt said I am in.
Roger Waters asks the Toronto Raptors players to join the commitment to justice, and say no to going to their co-owners offer of a Brand Israel trip.
Roger Water speaks to Toronto Raptor fans and all people concerned about justice to join him in the call to the Raptors players to say no to sports-washing and say no to the proposed brand Israel trip offer by Raptor co-owner Larry Tanenbaum.
Join with Roger and let the Raptors know you are on the side of justice. Sign the petition.
The Canadian BDS Coalition calls on each of the Raptors to say NO to this offer by Tanenbaum. Say no to being used as an ambassador to sports-wash an aggressive ongoing colonization complete with apartheid, genocide and war crimes.
NOTE: June 27, 2019: The Canadian BDS Coalition earlier this week officially requested clarification from all the owners of Maple Leaf Sports Entertainment (MLSE), the parent body of the Toronto Raptors, as to whether a trip to Israel for the team was under consideration or had already been approved. To date, no response has been received, but we will post any answer from them when available. In the absence of a reply confirming that such a trip will NOT be happening, we will continue our campaign to say #RaptorsDontGo to Israel.
Owners of MLSE are Bell 37.5%, Rogers 37.5% and Kilmer Sports (holding company of Larry Tanenbaum) 25%.
Our campaign #SayNo#SkipTheTrip is gaining momentum with CodePink & Jewish Voices for Peace on board. And more media covering it, including Quds News Network and the Palestine Chronicle.
The Raptors billionaire co-owner, Larry Tanenbaum, said he would bring @Raptors to visit if they win the @NBA title, according to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
Tanebaum a founder of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs is the chairman of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd., which is the parent company of the Raptors as well as the National Hockey League’s Toronto Maple Leafs, Major League Soccer’s Toronto FC, the CFL Toronto Argonauts. He also currently serves as the board chairman of the NBA, and as a member of the board of governors of the NHL and Major League Soccer.
Israel’s Sport 5 reported last week that during a low-key visit to Israel in April, Tanenbaum told several people he met that “If we win the NBA championship, I will come with the Toronto Raptors to visit the Holy Land.”
The Call
The Canadian BDS Coalition calls on each of the Raptors players to say NO to this offer by Tanenbaum. Say no to being used as an ambassador to sports-wash an aggressive ongoing colonization complete with apartheid, genocide and war crimes.
Learn about cultural including sports boycott check the Palestinian Campaign for Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel guidelines.
We are writing to you as long-time fans to urge you to uphold Palestinian human rights and not to travel to Israel. Since 2004 Palestinian civil society organizations have called for the academic and cultural boycott of Israel until such a time as Israel recognizes the Right of Return of over 5 million Palestinian refugees and their descendants displaced in the process of Israeli colonization and occupation of Palestine; ends its occupation and colonization of the West Bank and its siege of Gaza; and dismantles the Apartheid system of racial discrimination and segregation for Palestinian citizens of Israel.
Around the world poor and oppressed people have embraced basketball as a sport of the people, and basketball players, many of whom come from poor and struggling backgrounds, have an important history of taking progressive positions and giving back to their communities. From Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Bill Russel’s stand with Mohammed Ali against the draft and the Vietnam War to public and collective statements against police brutality against Black people in America, NBA players have stood on the side of social and racial justice.
Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, its settlements and its Apartheid Wall are a war crime. The siege of Gaza, and the death and misery meted out on an effectively jailed civilian population, is a crime against humanity. And its system of racial discrimination and segregation is a form of Apartheid, as articulated by survivors of South African Apartheid including Desmond Tutu and Mandla Mandela (grandson of the great freedom fighter Nelson Mandela).
As NBA Champions, you have the opportunity to use your stature and influence to make the world a better place for the young people all over the world who admire you. Please take this opportunity to stand with Palestinians in their struggle for freedom and liberation, and do not travel to Israel.
Let Puma know you will respect the call from Palestinian athletes to #BoycottPuma until it ends support for illegal Israeli settlements pushing Palestinian families off their land.
JOIN INTERNATIONAL DAY: JUNE 15th–Give PUMA the Boot!
Breaking NEWS as RAPTORS Go Into Game 5! and NOW WIN the NBA championship!
Let Puma know you will respect the call from Palestinian athletes to #BoycottPuma until it ends support for illegal Israeli settlements pushing Palestinian families off their land.
Puma is the only international sponsor of the Israel Football Association (IFA), which includes teams in illegal Israeli settlements on occupied Palestinian land.
Puma’s endorsement gives legitimacy to Israel’s illegal settlements pushing Palestinian families off their land and its attacks on Palestinian sports. Israeli snipers ended the careers of dozens of Palestinian athletes in Gaza in 2018 alone.
Palestinian teams and athletes are calling for a boycott of Puma until it ends its sponsorship of the IFA.
Puma’s own assessment of its human rights track record identified “sponsorship activities” as one of its “weak spots.”
Give Puma the boot! Join social media actions or write to Puma today!
Tweet the image above and post on Facebook and Instagram
TAKE THE PLEDGE:
Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) campaign: on the BDS National Committee website: https://bdsmovement.net/boot-puma
In Canada we have sent the following letter:
Attention : Mark Maguire, Senior Vice President Sales & Country Lead Puma Canada
PUMA Canada
Attention: Senior Management
355 Admiral Blvd, Unit 4 Mississauga, ON L5T 2N1
copies to: Communication Executives, Kerstin Neuber and Rober Bartunek, Berk Communications, and Customer Service. Please ensure copy goes to Mr. Maguire, & the Canadian team of PUMA.
Dear Mr. Maguire, PUMA Canada
We write to your as Canadians concerned that Puma sponsors the Israel Football Association (IFA), which includes teams in illegal Israeli settlements on occupied Palestinian land in violation of international law.
Puma’s endorsement of the IFA gives legitimacy to Israel’s illegal settlements pushing Palestinian families off their land.
As long as Puma sponsors teams in illegal Israeli settlements, we will respect the call from Palestinian athletes to boycott Puma. We ask you to do the same. We ask Puma Canada to recognize that the majority of Canadians are calling for boycotts, divestment and sanctions related to the illegal acts of Israel. The 2017 EKOS poll showed
Canadians believe overwhelmingly that sanctions are a reasonable way for Canada to censure countries violating international law and human rights,
Given the UN Security Council’s recent condemnation of illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian territory, a strong majority of Canadians believe that government sanctions on Israel would be reasonable
In the context of Israel’s ongoing violations of international law, a very strong majority of Canadians believe that the Palestinians’ call for a boycott of Israel is reasonable, and
Far more Canadians oppose than support Parliament’s February, 2016 decision to condemn individuals and groups who promote the Palestinian call for a boycott of Israel.
Surely removing PUMA’s support for IFA is not only the ethical, moral and legal step to take, but also good for business.
We expect that people across Canada, along with those around the world will be making this very clear to Puma as we move towards International #BoycottPuma Day of Action, June 15, 2019.
We would be pleased to meet with you and members of your team here in Canada to discuss.
On behalf of the Canadian BDS Coalition (over 30 member groups across Canada)
Collective action works! Earlier this month, thanks to thousands of you, UNICEF announced it does not support the EuroAsia Interconnector electricity cable plugging Europe into Israel’s illegal settlements. Let’s do this again!
Let’s convince Puma to live up to its claim of supporting equality and social justice!
FOLLOW UP WITH PUMA:
We received response from Mr. Maguire and also from PUMA communications in Germany on June 11th saying:
Thank you for reaching out to PUMA.
PUMA supplies the Israeli National Teams via a local distribution partner to compete in international competitions, and the football club Hapoel Beer Sheva through the end of the 2018/19 season. To claim we have any other official connection or association be it to the Israel Premier League, the Japanika League, or any other Israeli club team is incorrect.
Broadly speaking, PUMA continues to support and outfit athletes from all backgrounds, regardless of race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation and national origin. As a brand concerned only with the power that Sport has to bring people together, PUMA does not support any political direction, political parties or governments. Our devotion to universal equality is aligned with the fundamental principles of our #REFORM platform.
We welcome the opportunity to help everyone compete in sports no matter who they are or where they are from.
We responded with the following and await response:
Thank you Kristina and Mark for your timely response.
Would you please clarify your response. Are you saying that there is no support of any kind that goes to the Israel Football Association (IFA)? You mention that support does go to Israeli National Teams. Which teams are these? You also mention support to football club Hapoel Beer Sheva. As well, you mention NO support goes to the Israeli Premier/Japanika League. . Would you please clarify and make a definitive statement that NO support has gone to the Israel Football Association.
The Israel Football Association has teams in Israeli settlement in occupied Palestine, which is part of the territory of the Palestinian affiliate. This is occupied territory under international humanitarian law (the Fourth Geneva Convention). The international call to PUMA is to withdraw support to the Israeli Football Association until it withdraws teams from these illegally occupied land. If there has been no support to the Israel Football Association in any form from PUMA including through local distribution partners we would welcome that news. It is not clear in your message that this is the case, so we would appreciate further information in this regard. If PUMA is announcing its withdraw of funding from the Israel Football Association through your correspondence would you please make this clear, and also indicate if you will be making a public notification in this regard.
Tweet to Raptors, and NBA as well. Include messages on those tweeting/ posting about Raptors! including @JohnTory #JustinTrudeau @Raptors @NBA #WeTheNorth
Be sure to tag @BDS_Coalition @BDSMovement #BoycottPuma Retweet from @BDS_Coalition
Further Actions:
1. What Athletes and Other Sports Figures in Canada, professional, amateur or local can you be in touch with who will publicly support BDS? Who in your own community that is involved in sports (or other leadership, cultural roles)?
2. Canadian figures that have or have had PUMA sponsorship.
Tweet, FB, email them. Make it clear they are supporting a company that aid war crimes. Tweet to them!
Graham DeLaet
@GrahamDeLaet
Andre De Grass
@De6rasse
Goat lord
@the weeknd
If you can find others be sure to let us know to include
The following release has been provided to South Africa BDS
Release, May 27, 2019
The Canadian BDS Coalition, a coalition of over 30 national and regional groups across Canada, congratulates the government of South Africa on their resolve for justice for the Palestinian people in their decision to downgrade diplomatic relations with Israel.
To the government of South Africa and the brave BDS South African people, who stand tall for justice for the Palestinians, in spite of all the difficulties and back lash which it entails, we say thank you. We are aware of your tireless stand and work for so many years. We commend you for for taking a stand to support human rights and international law, in saying no to Israel’s apartheid regime.
We have the same aspirations here in Canada, but unfortunately it is very difficult to have the politicians of all levels in North America to overcome their fear, their politics and have the courage to stand for what is right. This is despite an EKOS poll in 2017, shows that two-third of Canadians support Sanctions on Israel. A more recent EKOS poll showed 58% of Canadian Jewish people felt Sanctions on Israel would be reasonable.
Saturday, May 18 people joined together from Victoria, British Columbia to St. John’s, Newfoundland to mark a Cross Country Day of Action to name Canadian complicity in regard to war crimes and apartheid by the state of Israel on the people of Palestine. #Nakba71 #BDS
A few pictures and sharing of events:
Victoria saw a successful rally of about 100 people with massive banners, music, speeches and chants at the BC Legislature. Several cruise ships were in port and visitors had a chance to learn about Palestine and BDS.
Vancouver Nakba 71 seminar and BDS wine picket with Gaza born journalist and author Ramzy Baroud and Palestinian filmmaker Sobhi Al-Zobaidi. See HERE for more details.
St. John’s Newfoundland. Remembering # Nakba71. Standing in solidarity with the people of Palestine. Calling for #BDS. Calling for end of Canadian complicity with war crimes and apartheid of the state of Israeli. A reading of the destroyed towns & cities of historic Palestine during Nakba 1948.
Winnipeg: Film Screening of 1948 Creation & Catastrophe, followed by peaceful action. Winnipeg sumud as they zionists came into the theatre and had counter action.
Montreal. May 12, in solidarity with the mothers of Palestine. About 300 people joined.
Saint Johns New Brunswick saw a gathering which provided leaflets/information, and speeches at the Old City Market.
Toronto about 400 people joined to commemorate Nakba Day and denounce ongoing Zionist crimes against the Palestinian people. Starting at Dundas/Yonge and moving up Yonge to Israeli consulate where action closed off Yonge/Bloor in front of Israeli consulate for about 30 minutes.
Tomorrow, Saturday, May 18 people will join together from Victoria, British Columbia to St. John’s, Newfoundland to mark a Cross Country Day of Action to name Canadian complicity in regard to war crimes and apartheid by the state of Israel on the people of Palestine.
These events commemorate seventy-one years since the original Nakba which saw the expulsion of over 700,000 Palestinians from their homeland and recognize the ongoing colonization of remaining Palestine in similar pattern of Judaization of the West Bank including East Jerusalem and the total siege and destruction of Gaza.
Events have happened during the week including a vigil last Sunday in Montreal. Tomorrow, street actions and other events are planned across the country including for Victoria, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Toronto, Saint John and St. John’s.
The Day of Action enjoys the support of dozens of labour unions, anti-war, social justice, faith, community and political organizations. The day of action supports boycott, divestment and sanctions against the Israeli state and economy, until: the occupation with its associated war crimes is ended; the apartheid regime is replaced with equal rights for all citizens within Israel and Palestine; and the right of return is realized for Palestinian.
The majority of Canadians agree that Canada needs to take action under its responsibility under Article 1 of the Fourth Geneva Convention. In this regard, a 2017 EKOS poll showed that two-thirds of Canadians support sanctions being placed by Canada on Israel in regard to international law and human rights violations.
The Canadian BDS Coalition includes national, regional and local groups from across the country.
Join Cross Canada Call Against Canadian Complicity with Israeli War Crimes & Apartheid.
When: Noon on Saturday May 18
Where: at the War Memorial in downtown St. John’s on Duckworth Street
Join as to read the names of the Palestinian villages destroyed in 1947-1949.
Join us and bring friends.
We will have a petition to the Government of Canada with respect to the three demands of BDS:
1. The Government of Israel ends the occupation and colonization of all Arab lands and dismantles the Wall 2. The Government of Israel recognizes the fundamental rights of the Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel to full equality; and 3. The Government of Israel respects, protects, and promotes the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties as stipulated in UN resolution 194.
Step 1, check the label, and if it says product of Israel, do NOT buy.
Fruit and vegetables are one of Israel’s biggest exports and all Israeli agricultural exporters are complicit in Israel’s violations of international law as they operate on stolen Palestinian land.
In case of Medjoul the products are from the Jordan Valley in occupied Palestine, and therefore from an illegal settlement on stolen land. These are not from Israel, these are from illegal settlements.
Step 2, check the label and see if it includes a country of origin. The product must have a country of origin but many do NOT. Do NOT buy if it does not have country of origin listed on the package.
Some products from NBF do say “Product of Israel” but others especially in stores where Arabs and/or Muslims shop have NO country of origin listed. The product simply says “imported by NFB.” This seems to be illegal under Canadian legislation and regulations, and this has been reported to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. In many cases these products also do not include the other mandatory labeling information such as a “nutrition fact table” or health & nutrition information, and also don’t include mandatory information in both bilingual languages.
In several cases product was found to have “Product of Jordan” on the shelf, but the boxes the bulk product was coming from was labeled NBF with no indication of country. When asked verification was not provided, and no indication that there is any organization from Jordan providing this product.
Step 3: Print & provide this letter to the owner and/or manager of the store. Indicate the product and concerns in the template.
Step 4: provide pictures of the product including the labels (all sides of the box, and shelf labels), along with the store name/address and if possible website, to bdscoalition@gmail.com. We will use this information for further follow up with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and/or with the store.
Step 5: tell your friends and your family what you have found, and make them aware of what to look for in regard both product of Israel (dates, other fresh fruits & vegetables, other products). For more info check out Economic Boycott Resource.
Final Step: look for appropriate alternative ideally from Palestine. Labels you can trust are Lara (their product of Palestine), Green World (just arrived May 2019, indicates from Palestinian Authority), Alard, Palestine Just Trade, Jericho Delights (via USA). Do you know others? If not from Palestine, then verify that from Jordan or USA if Medjoul, or consider another source from country of origin you are comfortable with.
Product you should avoid as they are packaged by Hadiklaim include:
BOMAJA BLUE
GOLDEN VALLEY
JORDAN RIVER
LA PALMA
KING SOLOMON
These are some products that have been seen in the last few weeks:
Sold by National Best Food. Seen labelled as “Product of Israel”
Jordan River from National Best Foods. Sold without country of Origin. No it is not from Jordan. It is from the occupied Palestinian Jordan valley. More Jordan River from National Best Foods without country of origin. Don’t be fooled into thinking it is from Jordan.Golden Valley from National Best Food/NBF. No country of origin Packaged by Hadiklaim. Sold in 5 KG and bulk. Store owners/managers report having been told it is from Jordan & thus, label from Jordan on their shelf. No country of origin. From NBF. Don’t be fooled into thinking this is from Jordan–ask for specifics about grower & exporter if you are told from Jordan.
Golden Valley from Hadiklaim via NBF. No country of origin indicated in a number of cases. Sometimes have label saying “Product of Israel.” These do have bilingual info.Medjoul “Product of Israel” label from CostcoAmeri Premium Dates by National Best Foods, no country of origin Oriental dates, no country of origin National Best Food, Golden Valley, no country of originImported by National Best Foods. La Palma is brand of Hadiklaim in Israel. No country of origin.
We have written to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) asking them to look into several concerns.
Concerns Raised with Canadian Food Inspection Agency:
Country of Origin
Our
understanding of the requirement for fresh fruits and vegetables, which would
include dates is that “Product
of [Name the country of origin]” needs to be included.
We take
this information from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) website;
The
country of origin represents the country in which the fresh fruits or
vegetables were grown. The country of origin must be shown on the principal
display panel (definition) of imported prepackaged fresh fruits or vegetables and
in close proximity to the declaration of net quantity or the grade name. The
country of origin declaration must be shown in boldface type in the same size
characters as those prescribed for the grade name [269(1), 270(1), 271, SFCR].
What we have seen includes: i) indicating from Israel when in fact from settlements in occupied Palestine; ii) no country of origin; iii) indication on shelf that is from Jordan based on verbal but not verified information; iv) possibly other countries being listed on product.
Nutrition Labeling, Nutrition & Health Claims
We understand that specific requirements
in regard to Nutrition labeling including the Nutrition Fact Table are required,
with serving sizes and daily intake.
What we noticed was that in many cases under various brands this information was completely missing. The one exception seemed to be the Organic brand.
Bilingual Requirements
Our understanding is that the CFIA requirements
are than mandatory information including country origin, sizes, business name,
nutritional information, nutrition and health claims, and best before dates
need to be included in both English and French.
What we noticed is this information is
missing on essentially all the products observed.
Request to Canadian Food Inspection made indicating we would appreciate your attention to as quickly as possible addressing this, especially since Ramadan 2019 is underway, and people are purchasing dates for breaking fast/Iftar and Eid.
The letter was sent by registered mail as well as email to CFIA. A follow up letter has been sent by email on May 27, 2019, asking for information on when we would expect to receive a response.
Letters have been sent to several stores including Arz in Scarborough, Rabba Foods and Al Quds Market in Mississauga. Responses are awaited.
The Coalition BDS Québec has announced that Hydro-Québec has declined to renew an agreement with its Israeli counterpart, Israel Electric.
“This victory is important for us in Quebec,” John Philpot, an international lawyer and a member of the Coalition BDS Québec, told The Electronic Intifada. Check out full article in Electronic Intifada.
The Coalition BDS Québec reports that “During the summer of 2019, in response to a request for a meeting with Hydro-Québec’s new Board Chair, Ms. Côté, when we were warned of an upcoming hearing at the Commission d’accès à la information, the Executive Vice-President – Corporate and Legal Affairs and Head of Corporate Governance wrote to us , “without commenting in any way on the point of view expressed in [our] correspondence,” that the HQ-IEC agreement , due May 22, 2019, has not been renewed !” In addition, the entire content of the agreement is finally communicated to the Coaliton, and the hearing at the CAI is therefore canceled.
On August 27, the Coalition BDS Québec published a press release. Hydro Quebec immediately sent a letter , signed by its chief – Public Affairs and Media, stating that the decision not to renew the HQ-IEC agreement had no political impact, which we doubt strongly.
The Rest of the Country
The Canadian BDS Coalition has been in touch with the approximately 40 electric companies across Canada, and has heard from some they do NOT have any working agreements with Israel Electric, but are waiting to hear from others. Follow up with take places with those who have not confirmed that they are not in relationship with Israel Electric.
Photo: Israeli warplanes make a ceremonial flyby of the Israel Electric Corporation’s Orot Rabin coal-fired generating station, to mark what Israel calls its Independence Day, May 2017. The power company is deeply complicit in Israel’s violations of Palestinian rights. (via Facebook) Electronic Intifada
Sign the petition to demand that Hydro-Québec terminate its agreement to cooperate on cyber security with Israel Electric Corporation signed May 22, 2017.
This memorandum of understanding is acontract between two states: Quebec and Israel.
The cooperation agreement was signed as part of the May 2017 economic mission to Israel and Palestine by Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard, in his presence. Hydro-Québec refuses to disclose the content of its partnership agreement with IEC in contravention of the Act respecting access to documents held by public bodies and the protection of personal information to which it is subject.
Why this is important
IEC is working closely with the National Cyber Security Authority on military cyber defenses (IDF), intelligence services (Mossad) and the Water Authority. IEC’s security IS Mossad.
A “partnership” in cyber security with Israel means “apact with the Mossad and a pact with Israel’s apartheid regime”.
Israel Electric Corporation (IEC) – a state-owned corporation – shares responsibility for the State of Israel’s abuses towards the Palestinian population:
IEC regularly cuts electricity in Gaza.
IEC frequently cuts electricity in the West Bank.
IEC electrifies the separation wall between Israel and Palestine.
IEC has supplied electricity to illegal settlements in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967.
IEC supplies the Israeli army with electricity.
Since 1948, Israel has repeatedly violated with impunity resolutions adopted by the United Nations and the United Nations Security Council and continues to ignore the International Court of Justice’s condemnation of its policies.
Gaza has been under an illegal blockade for 10 years. In recent weeks Israel has adopted the official policy of ‘shoot-to-kill’ in Gaza, targeting and shooting Palestinian demonstrators seeking to improve their living conditions and to end the blockade:
Bullets and targeting were aimed to kill and maim as hollow bullets exploded on penetrating bodies: 112 killed, 13, 500 wounded (1029 women), 7,618 by gunshots, with 32 amputations and more coming.
Israeli snipers have targeted and killed journalists wearing identifiable press jackets
Israeli snipers have targeted and killed medical personnel, both doctors and paramedics
No Israeli was killed
In signing its memorandum of understanding with Israel Electric Corporation, Hydro-Quebec – and the Quebec state – makes themselves complicit in these crimes. Pleasesign the petition demanding that Hydro-Quebec cancel its partnership with Israel Electric Corporation!
To learn more about the cooperation of Canada’s energy industry read this IT World Canadaarticle that provides details about Toronto Hydro, IESO (Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator), and the Canadian Electric Association, as well as Canadian energy sector.
Israel enjoys a close relationship with Canada’s electricity sector. Last year, a delegation of Canadian electricity companies, government officials, and regulators visited Israel.
Accessibility Tour to a State that Inflicts Disability and Violates International Law
Join in sending a letter to Holland-Bloorview, March of Dimes, and AODA saying SHAME on ACCESSIBILITY WASHING.
It only takes a minute or two, and you can customize if you wish.
CLICK HERE to send your letter saying NO to accessibility washing!
Israel is responsible for disabling and murdering countless Palestinians. In the past few months alone, Israeli snipers have targeted journalists, paramedics, people with disabilities, women and children with fatal sniper shots during the Great March of Return. Over 200 Palestinians have been killed, and tens of thousands have been injured, often with non-fatal shots to the chest, back, or legs, ending in disability.
Still that is where Holland-Bloorview (Canada’s leading children hospital for rehabilitation), March of Dimes, Ontario government accessibility leadership went to learn about accessibility. SHAME.
Across the world, fans of fair play and sports for everyone are joining the call from Palestinian teams and athletes to boycott sportswear manufacturer Puma until it ends support for Israel’s illegal military occupation and denial of Palestinian human rights.
Puma is the main sponsor of the Israel Football Association (IFA), which proudly includes and advocates on behalf of teams in Israeli settlements pushing Palestinian families off their land. Israeli settlements are illegal and constitute a war crime under international law.
Last June, theCanada BDS Coalition joined groups in more than 20 countries joined the first Global #BoycottPuma Day of Action, with protests at Puma shops and offices and at Puma-sponsored teams. On social media, #BoycottPuma was THE most tweeted Puma-related hashtag that day.
We’re back for round two.
The Canadian BDS Coalition has been in touch with Puma Canada HQ during Round 1
Round 1:
Registered Mail
June 7, 2019 (along with emails)
PUMA Canada
Mark Mcquire
355 Admiral Blvd, Unit 4 Mississauga, ON L5T 2N1
copies to: Communication Executives, Kerstin Neuber and Rober Bartunek,Berek Communications, and Customer Service.
Dear Mr. Maquire, PUMA Canada
We write to your as Canadians concerned that Puma sponsors the Israel Football Association (IFA), which includes teams in illegal Israeli settlements on occupied Palestinian land in violation of international law.
Puma’s endorsement of the IFA gives legitimacy to Israel’s illegal settlements pushing Palestinian families off their land.
As long as Puma sponsors teams in illegal Israeli settlements, we will respect the call from Palestinian athletes to boycott Puma. We ask you to do the same.
We ask Puma Canada to recognize that the majority of Canadians are calling for boycotts, divestment and sanctions related to the illegal acts of Israel.
Canadians believe overwhelmingly that sanctions are a reasonable way for Canada to censure countries violating international law and human rights,
Given the UN Security Council’s recent condemnation of illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian territory, a strong majority of Canadians believe that government sanctions on Israel would be reasonable
In the context of Israel’s ongoing violations of international law, a very strong majority of Canadians believe that the Palestinians’ call for a boycott of Israel is reasonable, and
Far more Canadians oppose than support Parliament’s February, 2016 decision to condemn individuals and groups who promote the Palestinian call for a boycott of Israel.
Surely removing PUMA’s support for IFA is not only the ethical, moral and legal step to take, but also good for business.
We expect that people across Canada, along with those around the world will be making this very clear to Puma as we move towards International #BoycottPuma Day of Action, June 15, 2019.
We would be pleased to meet with you and members of your team here in Canada to discuss.
PUMA supplies the Israeli National Teams via a local distribution partner to compete in international competitions, and the football club Hapoel Beer Sheva through the end of the 2018/19 season. To claim we have any other official connection or association be it to the Israel Premier League, the Japanika League, or any other Israeli club team is incorrect.
Broadly speaking, PUMA continues to support and outfit athletes from all backgrounds, regardless of race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation and national origin. As a brand concerned only with the power that Sport has to bring people together, PUMA does not support any political direction, political parties or governments. Our devotion to universal equality is aligned with the fundamental principles of our #REFORM platform.
We welcome the opportunity to help everyone compete in sports no matter who they are or where they are from.
Request for clarification from the Canadian BDS Coaliiton
Thank you Kristina and Mark for your timely response.
Would you please clarify your response. Are you saying that there is no support of any kind that goes to the Israel Football Association (IFA)? You mention that support does go to Israeli National Teams. Which teams are these? You also mention support to football club Hapoel Beer Sheva. As well, you mention NO support goes to the Israeli Premier/Japanika League. . Would you please clarify and make a definitive statement that NO support has gone to the Israel Football Association.
The Israel Football Association has teams in Israeli settlement in occupied Palestine, which is part of the territory of the Palestinian affiliate. This is occupied territory under international humanitarian law (the Fourth Geneva Convention). The international call to PUMA is to withdraw support to the Israeli Football Association until it withdraws teams from these illegally occupied land. If there has been no support to the Israel Football Association in any form from PUMA including through local distribution partners we would welcome that news. It is not clear in your message that this is the case, so we would appreciate further information in this regard. If PUMA is announcing its withdraw of funding from the Israel Football Association through your correspondence would you please make this clear, and also indicate if you will be making a public notification in this regard.
The Canadian BDS Coalition has registered, but individual groups are also encouraged to register their own actions
Share Facebook post from @BDSCoalition.
Share tweets from @Canadian_BDS
Write Mark Mcquire the Head of Puma Canada at mark.maguire@puma.com
Let Puma Feel the Pressure
Puma is feeling the pressure. To sideline criticism, Puma is resorting to ridiculous claims, including a “devotion to universal equality.”
A “devotion to universal equality” must mean not sporting with apartheid! It requires Puma to end its:
complicity in whitewashing Israel’s illegal land grabs that rob Palestinians of territory and natural resources.
support for Israel’s occupation infrastructure that denies Palestinian athletes their rights to freedom of movement and to practice sports.
sponsorship of the Israel Football Association.
This year’s Palestine Football Cup has been postponed indefinitely because Israel has denied permits for virtually all players from the winning team of the Gaza League to travel to the occupied West Bank for the finals. Just last week, Israeli forces raided a family football tournament in occupied East Jerusalem, preventing it from going ahead.
Puma’s iconic leaping cat is profiting from Israel’s ever-expanding illegal settlement enterprise and its denial of basic Palestinian human rights.
Join us as we step up pressure on Puma to live up to its claim of promoting social justice.
Response received from NDP leader Jagmeet Singh to letter sent by Canada Palestine Association.
In an encouraging move, NDP has responded to #IVotePalestine questions by noting they oppose all human rights abuses committed by Israel, stand for full equality for Arab Israelis, fully support UN resolutions, including 194, right of return, and recognize the rights of Canadians to support BDS.
HP-branded corporations play key roles in Israel’s oppression of Palestinians. They are complicit in Israel’s occupation, settler-colonialism and apartheid regime. They provide computer hardware to the Israeli army and maintain data centers through their servers for the Israeli police. They provide the Itanium servers to operate the Aviv System, the computerized database of Israel’s Population and Immigration Authority. This forms the backbone of Israel’s racial segregation and apartheid. BDS. Read more
Organizations, Workplaces, Unions, Faith Groups
Declare your organization, your workplace, your union, your faith group, or your home HP Free.
You can declare your organization HP-Free by either:
i) having NO HP equipment & pledging to NOT buy any HP equipement
ii) by pledging to not buy HP equipment, and marking the equipment you presently as “THIS IS MY LAST HP”
BDS includes: Boycott of Israeli goods and institutions. Divesting from corporations profiting from Israel’s oppression of Palestinians, and Sanctions against Israel like those against South African apartheid. Palestinians demand their rights:
The call includes: • An end to 50+years of military occupation. • Equal rights for Palestinians in historic Palestine • Respect for right of return
A printable brochure you can use to share information about Palestine, and the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions call
The following letter has been sent by email and registered mail to Mary Anne Yule, President & CEO, HP Canada
Mary Anne Yule, President/CEO
HP
Canada
5150 Spectrum Way #600
Mississauga, ON L4W 5G1
Sent by
email & registered mail
15 July 2019
Dear Ms. Yule
We are writing to you to demand that Hewlett Packard
Enterprise and HP Inc. end your involvement in Israel’s grave violations of
Palestinian rights and system of military occupation, racial segregation and
oppression.
We write as to you Ms. Yule as the CEO and President
of HP Canada asking you to take leadership. We ask HP Canada to
Listen Up. We remind you that:
The International Court of Justice
(ICJ) issued an advisory opinion fifteen years ago on July
9, 2004 ruled that Israel’s building of a barrier in the occupied Palestinian
territory is illegal and said construction must stop immediately and Israel
should make reparations for any damage caused.
June 9, 2004: The International
Court of Justice (ICJ) issued an advisory opinion today that Israel’s
building of a barrier in the occupied Palestinian territory is illegal and said
construction must stop immediately and Israel should make reparations for any
damage caused.
Just as many companies profited in the past from the
South African apartheid regime, HP companies are today profiting from Israeli
apartheid. Increasingly around the world, HP stands for harming Palestinians
among churches and unions representing millions from India to the UK and from
the US to Malaysia. In Canada, organizations are declaring themselves HP
Free, and individuals pledging to not buy HP going forward.
Today marks a year since the Israeli parliament
adopted the Jewish Nation-State Law, conveying constitutional status to its
apartheid regime against Palestinian citizens of Israel. We are marking this occasion
by strengthening the struggle against Israel’s apartheid, occupation and colonization
against Palestinians and against complicit corporations, like yours, that
enable this system of oppression to continue.
Both HP Inc. and HPE have ongoing
ties with Israel that entrench its daily human rights violations. HPE provides
the exclusive Itanium servers for the Aviv System of Israel’s Population and
Immigration Authority. This system is the backbone of the apartheid regime that
racially discriminates against Palestinians and other non-Jewish citizens of
Israel, treated as second-class citizens.
This apartheid is at its worst when it comes to
Palestinian ‘residents’ of occupied Palestinian East Jerusalem, whose basic
rights can be revoked arbitrarily.
HP Inc. provides computer hardware to the Israeli
army, that maintains the illegal occupation of Gaza and the West Bank,
including East Jerusalem.
HPE also maintains the Yesha database, which compiles
information on Israeli citizens in illegal settlements in the occupied
Palestinian West Bank, which are condemned under international law as war
crimes.
Both companies, in their communication, mention human
rights as a core value to their work. And yet, they maintain these criminal
ties and profit from Israel’s racism and violent denial of Palestinian human
rights.
Until HP-branded companies convincingly end their ties
in Israel’s crimes and respect their own commitment to the essential values of
human rights and international law, we shall continue to boycott and divest
from them. This is part of our moral obligation to support the Palestinian
struggle for freedom, justice and equality.
In Canada, the legislation, the War Crimes and Crimes
Against Humanity Legislation provides a direct accountability of the Rome Statues
and International Humanitarian Law to the Canadian law including the Criminal
Code. We trust you will consider your
accountability under international law as well as domestic law, regarding the
Fourth Geneva Convention within the context of HP in Canada
We would welcome the opportunity to talk with you and
your Canadian management team, Ms. Yule.
We did write to you in March 2017, but you provided no response. The letter is attached for your
information. We continue to look to you
to take leadership within HP Canada; leadership to speak out against violations
of International Humanitarian Law and abuses of human rights associated with HP
technology infrastructure that Israel uses to maintain its system of apartheid
and settler colonization over the Palestinian people.
Mary Anne Yule,
President and CEO at HP Canada
5150 Spectrum Way #600,
Mississauga, Ontario L4W 5G1
Meg Whitman,
President and CEO, HPE
Canadian HPE HQ
5150 Spectrum Way, Floor 4-5
Mississauga, Ontario L4W 5G1
Delivered by Registered Mail
Dear Ms. Yule and Ms. Whitman,
Canadian citizens concerned about International Humanitarian Law
violations and human right abuses are among the more than 1.8 million people
who have signed a petition calling on Hewlett Packard (HP) and Hewlett Packard
Enterprises (HPE) to end its role in Israeli apartheid and settler colonialism.
We write to you, as the Presidents and CEOs at HP Canada and HPE
to let you know that we are concerned, and look to you to take leadership
within HP Canada and HEP; leadership to speak out against the violations of
International Humanitarian Law and abuses of human rights associated with
HP/HPE technology infrastructure that Israel uses to maintain its system of
apartheid and settler colonialism over the Palestinian people.
From November 25 to December 3, 2016, a Global Week of Action
took place that led to over 150 actions in over 100 cities on six continents.
These actions highlighted HP/HPE’s provision of key services and technology
infrastructure that enables the Israeli military occupation of Palestinian
lands and suppression of Palestinian human rights.
We write to make you aware that Canadians took part in these
actions in several cities across the country, as well as through social media
actions. We are hearing from consumers that they are concerned about the social
actions of HP/HPE.
Canadians like people across the world will continue this
action, with the hope they can show you, that enabling Israeli apartheid is bad
for business. Just as companies like Veolia and G4S have stepped away from
Israeli contracts following worldwide BDS campaigns, so too can the HP
companies — especially if HP/HPE wants to begin to live up to its stated
principles of global citizenship that fulfills its “responsibility to society
by being an economic, intellectual and social asset to each country and
community where they do business.”
The campaign against HP was launched quite recently but has
already achieved some important successes.
South African Nobel laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu wrote,
“I have been to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and I have witnessed the
racially segregated roads and housing that reminded me so much of the
conditions we experienced in South Africa under the racist system of
Apartheid.”
In the 1970s, there was a similar campaign targeting Polaroid
for likewise providing imaging services used by the South African apartheid
government’s racist ID system. Procurement decisions led to Polaroid eventually
withdrawing from Apartheid South Africa along with other corporations —
something widely acknowledged today as speeding the fall of that brutal system
of oppression. Leaders of the Polaroid campaign are today calling for a boycott
of HP.
Recently a professional poll has
indicated that our government’s policy on Israel is out of touch with the
Canadian public’s opinion. Most Canadians say sanctions and boycott are
reasonable measures to defend Palestinian rights.
We expect you to show just leadership and stand on the right
side of history to end your company’s complicity with Israeli oppression.
We would be glad to meet with you in this regard.
Respectively signed by friends and members of the Canadian BDS
Coalition:
Independent Jewish Voices – Winnipeg
Palestinian and Jewish Unity (PAJU) – Montreal
Justice for Palestinians, Calgary
United Network for Justice and Peace in Palestine and Israel (UNJPPI)
Canada Palestine Association, Vancouver
Palestinian Solidarity Working Group, Sudbury
Peace of Peace, London
University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) & Durham College
Students for Justice for Palestinians
Barnard-Boecker Centre Foundations (BBCF)
Palestine Solidarity Network-Edmonton
CODEPINK
Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid (CAIA) – Toronto
Actions for Palestine- Toronto
Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid-Victoria
Canadian Unitarians for Social Justice
Christian Peacemaker Teams – Ontario
Independent Jewish Voices, Canada
Solidarity with Palestine, St. John’s, Newfoundland
Video:
“What Makes HP an Important Boycott Target? feat. anti-Apartheid activist
Caroline Hunter [Part1 of 2]”, US Campaign for Palestinian Rights, URL:
youtu.be/FA-Ot-OpQlM
![Pro-Palestinian groups and other civil society organisations demonstrate, in Durban on 2 June, 2018 [Twitter]](https://i2.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/000_15K36F.jpg?resize=620%2C414&quality=75&strip=all&ssl=1)
