Canadian BDS Coalition joins Palestinian Call for Boycott of Meteor Music Festival in Israel and Calls the Canadian-Danish Music Group to Withdraw

Palestinians Call for Boycott of Meteor Music Festival in Israel

Palestinians urge participating artists to withdraw from the festival as a meaningful contribution to our struggle for freedom, justice and equality.

 

Meteor - A festival on ethnically cleansed land.

We, Palestinian cultural organizations, municipalities and human rights campaigns, call for the boycott of Meteor Festival in Israel, scheduled for September 6-8, 2018. We urge all participating artists to respect Palestinians’ non-violent resistance and withdraw from this complicit festival as a meaningful contribution to our struggle for freedom, justice and equality.

Naranja, the Israeli organisers of Meteor Festival, bring international artists to Israel to serve later as future ambassadors for the country. In 2009, just months after Israel killed over 1,400 Palestinians in Gaza, Naranja worked to “improve Israel’s image in Scandinavia”. Naranja say they want Meteor Festival to create an “alternative reality”. The reality for Palestinians is 70-year-old regime of occupation, colonization and apartheid.

Just last week, Israel effectively declared itself as an apartheid state by adopting the “Jewish Nation-State Law”, which constitutionally denies Palestinian citizens equal rights and legalizes their exclusion.

The Meteor festival recommends accommodation located in illegal Israeli settlements built in violation of international law in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights. Israel’s expanding illegal settlements steal the land and resources of millions of Palestinians living under military occupation. Israel’s bulldozers demolish Palestinian homes and villages, leaving families and entire communities homeless refugees in our own land.

Since 2004, Palestinian artists and cultural organizations have urged their international colleagues not to perform in Israel as long as it continues to violate Palestinian human rights with impunity. Artists played an important role in isolating Apartheid South Africa by refusing to play in Sun City. Today, thousands of artistsacross the world support the Palestinian boycott call or have respected our nonviolent picket line, including Lorde, Ms Lauryn Hill, Thurston Moore, Shakira, Wolf Alice, Chuck D, Portishead, Brian Eno and Young Fathers.

The Israeli government uses international performances as a stamp of approval for its regime of oppression and ethnic cleansing and its violent attacks on Palestinian life and culture. Performing at an international music festival in Israel sends the message that Israel’s actions aren’t so bad after all. As the Washington Post remarked earlier this year, “From now on, if it weren’t the case already, merely scheduling a concert date in Israel will be considered a political act.”

Israel has confined two million Palestinians in Gaza under a cruel siege for over 10 years now. The UN has declared the Gaza Strip as “unlivable.” When tens of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza peacefully protested for their UN-stipulated rights in March, Israeli snipers implemented a “shoot-to-kill-or-maim” and killed over 140 Palestinians and injured over 16,000, leaving many with life-changing injuries. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch are among the rights organisations who have condemned Israel’s massacre in Gaza.

In the area surrounding the festival site are the ruins of dozens of Palestinian cities, towns and villages violently destroyed during the establishment of Israel on the rubbles of Palestine. More than 500 Palestinian population centres were systematically destroyed in this way during the Nakba (“catastrophe”). Many Palestinian communities within Israel are denied basic services, including electricity, water, schools and roads and suffer under a system of racial discrimination that is entrenched with more than 60 racist laws.

Against this oppression and dispossession, as all oppressed peoples, we resist. An important part of our resistance is through culture, music, poetry, literature, cinema, dance and theatre. Israel’s response is to detain and arrest Palestinian artists at checkpoints, raid festivals, close Palestinian cinemas and ban Palestinian cultural events.

We appeal to artists who are scheduled to perform at Meteor to simply do no harm; to respect Palestinians’ non-violent picket line and to not lend your name to art-washing Israel’s crimes against Palestinians. Stand for freedom, justice and equality. Cancel your participation at Meteor Festival.

The Canadian BDS Coalition calls Canadian and other musicians, artists and civil society to call on the Danish-Canadian musical group Rhye to cancel their performance at Meteor.  To add you name/organization click here

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Israeli Law passed which effectively declares itself an apartheid colonial-settler state

The Canadian government is called to condemn this law and uphold its own Special Economic Sanctions Act.

“The Canadian government is called upon to immediately condemn Israel’s apartheid law by putting sanctions in place as is required under Canada’s own domestic law.  The Canadian BDS Coalition joins with the Palestinian people and the Palestinian BDS National Committee in calling for the UN to activate its anti-apartheid laws and impose serious sanctions, on Israel such as those which were imposed on South Africa.”

On July 19, 2018, Israeli legislators approved the “Basic Law: Israel as the Nation State of the Jewish People” bill that unambiguously defines Israel as a state that belongs exclusively to the “Jewish people.”  This law was approved even though one in five Israeli citizens is an indigenous, non-Jewish Palestinian.  This law makes discrimination constitutional and enshrines apartheid into Law

The Jewish Nation-State legislation was approved by 62 to 55 votes. Palestinian members of the Israeli Knesset condemned the law that stipulates that  “Israel is the historic homeland of the Jewish people and they have an exclusive right to national self-determination in it.”

“It has passed a law of Jewish supremacy and told us that we will always be second-class citizens,” Ayman Odeh, the head of the Arab Joint List – an alliance of four predominantly Arab parties – said in a statement following the law’s passage.

The newly passed law also states that an undivided Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, and names illegal settlements as a “national value.”  This blatant disregard of United Nations resolutions is also contrary to Canadian foreign policy.  The legislation is a blatant disregard for the Fourth Geneva Convention which does not allow for populations of the occupier to be moved into occupied areas.  Under Article 1 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, Canada as a signatory of the Convention is responsible for ensuring that the Convention is upheld in all circumstances.

Adalah, a leading Palestinian human rights organization in Israel,said that the law  “affirms the principle of apartheid in housing, land and citizenship.” Adalah indicates “this law constitutionally sanctions institutionalized discrimination.”

The Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC)  shared Najwan Berekdar, a Palestinian citizen of Israel, reaction:

As a Palestinian citizen of this state, this bill entrenches my third-class citizenship on the land where generations of my family have lived since long before the state of Israel even existed.

The Jewish-Israeli majority is loudly reminding us indigenous Palestinian citizens of Israel that we are not welcome in our own ancestral homeland. My people have always suffered from legalized racism by the state of Israel and its institutions, but this law makes our apartheid reality the law of the land like never before.

As “non-Jews” we are already not allowed to buy or rent land on 93% of the area controlled by the Israeli state, and many of our communities are declared to be “unrecognized” and bulldozed out of existence by Israeli forces. I received a racially segregated and inferior education in a school system that conspicuously privileges Jewish-Israelis.

Israel is now stripping us of any semblance of equal rights based solely on our ethno-religious identity. It’s even demoting our language from one of the state’s two official languages.

Omar Barghouti from the Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC) commented:

Israel has dozens of racist laws, including some which strikingly fit the UN definition of apartheid. But with the constitutional power of this Basic Law, Israel is effectively declaring itself an apartheid state and dropping its worn-out mask of democracy.

From now on, it will not just be legal to racially discriminate against the indigenous Palestinian citizens of the state. It will be constitutionally mandated and required. This should stir people, institutions and governments to take effective action to hold Israel accountable.

The Canadian BDS Coalition which includes over 25 groups from coast to coast, including national, regional and local groups, reminds the Canadian government that its own domestic legislation, the Special Economic Measures Act requires that sanctions are applied where gross and systemic human rights violations have been committed by a foreign state.

“The Canadian government is called upon to immediately condemn Israel’s apartheid law by putting sanctions in place as is required under Canada’s own domestic law.  The Canadian BDS Coalition joins with the Palestinian people and the Palestinian BDS National Committee in calling for the UN to activate its anti-apartheid laws and impose serious sanctions, on Israel such as those which were imposed on South Africa.”

contact: bdscoalition@gmail.com

Release from Palestinian BNC here.

Press release on wire service here.

Let’s cut the current between

Hydro-Québec and Israel Electric

Sign petition at:

The partnership between Hydro-Québec and Israel Electric is revealed by BDS-Québec

 

Let’s cut the current between Hydro-Québec and Israel Electric!

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/petition/HQ_IEC_partnership_agreement_en/

Sign the petition to demand that Hydro-Québec terminate its agreement to cooperate on cyber security with Israel Electric Corporation concluded on May 22, 2017.

This memorandum of understanding is in fact a contract between two states: Quebec and Israel. 

The cooperation agreement was signed as part of the May 2017 economic mission to Israel and the West Bank 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 “a pact 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. Please sign the petition demanding that Hydro-Quebec cancel its partnership with Israel Electric Corporation!

 

Sign:

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/petition/HQ_IEC_partnership_agreement_en/

 

To learn more about the cooperation of Canada’s energy industry read this IT World Canada article that provides details about Toronto Hydro, IESO (Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator), and the Canadian Electric Association, as well as Canadian energy sector.

 

from Israel in Toronto Facebook page

Israel enjoys a close relationship with Canada’s electricity sector. Last year, a delegation of Canadian electricity companies, government officials, and regulators visited Israel.

Yesterday, Israel in Canada‘s Ambassador Rafael Barak, Nissan Amdur (Israel’s Economic Attache to Canada), and Yosi Shneck (Senior Vice President and CIO of the חברת החשמל לישראל Israel Electric Corporation), participated in IESO – The Electricity Outlet‘s Executive Briefing on Cybersecurity in Toronto.

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Canadian BDS Coalition Working for Freedom, Equity and Justice

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The following is a report on the work of the Canadian BDS Coalition during 2017. 

The Canadian Coalition come together in the spring/summer of 2016.

Report from 2017

The Canadian BDS Coalition formed in 2016 bringing together organizations in Canada that support the Palestinian Civil Society Call through the BDS National Coalition (BNC).  By the end of 2017, the Coalition grew to over 23 member organizations.

Initiation of the Canadian BDS Coalition

Work began in January 2016 towards contacting the organizations which had been part of the now Canadian Boycott Coalition.  Based on follow up during February and March 2016 with the groups that were part of the previous Canadian Boycott Coalition, it was indicated there was strong interest in moving forward with discussions towards a Canadian BDS Coalition.

The inaugural conference call was held in April 2016, with the indication that there was interest in moving towards a shared Basis of Unity based on the Palestinian civil society call for boycott, divestment and sanctions.

Basis of Unity

A subcommittee was formed in June 2016 to develop mission, purpose & function to present to the Coalition.  From this work, the Coalition finalized its Basis of Unity in September 2016.

The Coalition’s agreed Basis of Unity (BOU)  is on the Canadian BDS Coalition website.  The description of who we are can be found in the About Us section.

The aims of the Coalition are to:

  • promote, support and help coordinate boycott, divestment, and sanctions activities in Canada;
  • provide Canadians with resources to help them understand and take action in support of the Palestinian call for BDS;
  • promote and defend the right of Canadians to freedom of expression in support of BDS. 

Member Organizations

Member organizations share a common commitment to pursuing peace in Palestine/Israel through the realization of freedom, justice, and equality for Palestinians, without which a lasting peace is impossible to achieve. Any Canadian group or organization that supports the BDS National Committee call and endorses the Coalition’s Basis of Unity is invited to join.

Member organizations that support the BDS call and the Canadian BDS Coalition’s Basis of Unity  listed on the Coalition’s website.

The Coalition also works with a network of friends—organizations which have chosen not to join the Canadian BDS Coalition for a variety of reasons, but who work with the Coalition towards a just peace in the region. Several are listed on the Coalition’s website, and others are part of the network but not listed.

At the end of 2017 there were 23 member groups, and about 30 other groups that are part of the network associated with the Coalition including two international groups which have Canadian members.  Now, in the summer of 2018 we are approaching 30 member groups.

During 2017 the Coalition had a focus on capacity building, relationship development, outreach, as well as standing in solidarity with voice of unity for BNC call.

Action with Focus on Education and Action

The Coalition recognizes the importance to educate people on BDS: It is important that we talk about what BDS is and what it isn’t,.  The Coalition provides a window of opportunity to share from an educational position about what BDS is about.

Coalition International Campaign

End AIR CANADA Complicity with Israel

The key 2017 campaign of the Canadian BDS Coalition was “End Air Canada’s Complicity with Israel.”  This campaign launched in June 2017, built on a several year long campaign of the Canada Palestine Association.  The Coalition campaign was international and also include strong labour support in Canada.

On November 5, 2017, the Canadian BDS Coalition announced that Air Canada had informed them that Air Canada had cancelled it contract with Israeli Aerospace Industries midterm.

The Canadian BDS Coalition announced this as a partial victory as Air Canada continued with a small maintenance contract with Israeli Aerospace Industries and still sold Sabra products on board.  See release here.

Canadian BDS Gains During 2017

During 2017, several notable BDS gains were made in Canada.  The Coalition stands with these efforts involving their members and friends across the country.

Political: The Green Party of Canada

In February 2017, the Green Party of Canada ratified at 90 percent a resolution supporting a comprehensive boycott, divestment and sanctions policy.  See here for the actual motion passed.  Subsequently, the Green Party of Canada and its leader Elizabeth May have been reluctant to implement this policy even in light of legislation from the Israeli Knesset such as the Regularization Bill in January 2017 immediately following UNSC Resolution 223.  Letters such as this one sent to Leader May/Green Party of Canada during “Holy Week” were sent prepared by the Coalition speaking to the blatant ignoring of the party’s own policy and calling them to account.

Two Student Groups: Supreme Court of BDS Ground Breaking Ruling and a 76% vote for boycott and divestment

Two student groups led the way with BDS work.

On March 30, 2017, the SPHR at University of British Columbia had a ground-breaking victory when a British Columbia Supreme Court judge brought down this ruling and dismissed a case to stop a boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) referendum.

At the University of Western King’s College 76% of the students casting votes voted “yes: on a referendum calling for  lobbying the King’s administration to boycott and divest from companies complicit in human rights violations against Palestinians.

Labour: Unifor

Unifor, the largest private union in Canada was the first private union to support BDS with a motion passed at their Convention in August 2017.  The Coalition joined in congratulating Unifor.

Political: the New Democratic Party

During the summer/fall many Coalition members were providing support for Niki Ashton’s campaign for the New Democratic Party leader as she spoke in support of BDS in her foreign policy platform.

Following the election of Jagmeet Singh as federal leader, focus shifted to bringing forward grassroots motions across the country through local electoral district associations (EDAs) and affiliates for the Convention scheduled for February 2018.  There were a number of Palestine related motions (full BDS, settlement/occupation BDS, labeling, ending siege of Gaza, military embargo, and support for the No Way to Treat a Child).  The Canadian BDS Coalition while not partisan did provide a way for NDP members within the Coalition to be in contact for mobilization, and also for reach out across the country through the Coalition to NDP members.

Academic Boycott Partial Victory: Faculty of Environmental Studies, York University

In October, the first academic boycott  in Canada was achieved when the Faculty of Environmental Studies at York University voted to not renew a contract with an Israeli institution. It is not clear if York University administration will follow the direction of the vote of the Faculty based on a release made by the President of York University. The Coalition joined in congratulating the Faculty of Environmental Studies at York University on this partial victory.

Campaigns from the Canadian BDS Coalition Through 2017

Other campaigns undertaken by the Canadian BDS Coalition included:

The TSO Don’t Play for Israeli Apartheid campaign in the Spring of 2017 which saw over 1 K signatures being added within a few days to a petition, letters sent to the TSO members, administration and board, as well as Roy Thomson Hall;, and an action in Toronto when the TSO did a pre-Israel tour concert.  Work was undertaken by the Coalition working with Palestinian Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) and a number of US organizations and local groups on a campaign related to the IPO (Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra) North-American campaign, but when a local Toronto group chose to do an independent action when the IPO came to Toronto, the sole Canadian location in the tour, the Coalition stepped aside.  Two members of the Coalition did attend with Adalah-New York action at Carnegie Hall when the iPO played in NYC in October 2017.

In January 2017 the Coalition worked with several Canadian groups and Adalah-NY and other US group on a campaign to say no to the Israeli government cultural ambassador Batsheva playing in North America.  Actions were held in several cities in Canada including Montreal and Toronto.  Also, venues where Batsheeva has played in the past were contacted across Canada urging them to not host state of Israel cultural ambassadors.

A key campaign of the Canadian BDS Coalition was Unplug from Israeli Apartheid Bryan Adams campaign.  The Coalition worked with Artists for Palestine in the UK and was in touch with over 50 BDS groups internationally with getting support from various countries such as Malaysian, Jordan, Austria and Israel. Boycott from Within (Israel) asked Bryan Adams to contact them.  During the campaign Feldman, Adam’s agency had indicated there would be a meeting with a delegation from the Canadian BDS Coalition, however this never materialized despite follow up.   This campaign also involved contacting many Canadian artists showing that there is much work to do to build up understanding within the Canadian artist community in regard to BDS.

In October 2017, Roger Waters played in seven cities across Canada. The Coalition had a presence in all cities at Roger Waters concerts providing information pickets about BDS at the concerts, as well as a number of the B’nai Brith screenings of their “Wish you weren’t here Roger Waters” films across the country.  In Vancouver a finale event to the Canadian tour with a thousand people join to hear Roger Water speak about BDS.  Contact with other groups in Australia and several locations in Europe that are working to have a similar approach during Roger Waters concerts in their area during 2018.

The Coalition followed up on social media when the Toronto Sun pulled down an article written by Stephen Ellis of Toronto BDS the day following its publication.

During the year, the Coalition joined in supporting actions related to: #HandsOffAlQuds across the country following the US Trump Administration decision to name Jerusalem the capital of the jewish state of Israel, the #HandsOffAlAsqa when during the summer the Al Asqa was closed; and the prisoners’ strike in the Spring. At least 75 Canadians from coast to coast joined in days of fast in support as well as actions happening across the country.

When Omar Barghouti was arrested the Coalition released a statement of solidarity.

Several multi-organizational letters and/or letters that the Coalition initiated were sent to the liberal government, including this one. Also to the Green Party of Canada when they did not implement or speak to their own policy approved at their Special General Meeting (December 2016) and ratified by their membership in February 2017 (see above).

During the year, the Coalition also provided support to those who were attacked for their work related to BDS and Palestine reaching out to offer support.  A campaign was put in place to support UOIT/Durham College SJP in Oshawa when they were attacked following zionist project attacks to silence them.

Tools used included four Canadian BDS Coalition Change,org petitions related to Batsheva, Bryan Adams, TSO, and Air Canada.  These petitions saw over 3500 signatures.

Palestine has called for a clear focus on sanctions, and the Coalition sees this as especially important in Canada given the relationship with Canada and Israel.  Even as the Liberal Trudeau government has taken power in the Fall 2016 election the tone may have shift to be a bit more civil, but the policy direction is essentially undifferentiated from the Harper Conservative Administrations.

In Ontario, in May 2016, a bi-party (Conservative & Liberal) private members anti-BDS bill was put forth, although not passed.  At this point Premier Wynne said she would come forward with consensus legislation in the Fall 2016 sitting.  There was strong advocacy to meet with Ontario MPPs during the summer/fall but all three parties pretty much shutout setting up meetings in this regard.  On November 30, 2016, the anti-BDS Motion 36 was presented.  Following this the NDP Deputy Leader Jagmeet Singh did agree to a meeting of a delegation from the Canadian BDS Coalition.  The NDP had voted against the motion on the basis of defending free speech but not in regard to the principles of equity, freedom and justice for all people including those of Palestine.  Work carried on through 2017, with a multi-organization comprehensive brief to the newly establish Ontario anti-racism directorate, along with a separate submission from member of the Coalition, Independent Jewish Voices.  Work was undertaken to monitor and raise concerns related to shifted directions to the anti-racism legislation that was focused on feedback from pro-Israel lobby during committee taking away from the resources for those groups which had been identified during the cross province consultation, particularly, black and indigenous.  There was not mention of islamophobia but anti-semitism and no mention of people of colour other than black and indigenous.  Some changes were made in the final legislation.

Also action and support took place in regard to both proactive municipal work, and towards counter-narratives of the zionist anti-BDS action within municipalities.

BNC Campaigns

The Coalition supported the following BNC campaigns during 2017:

The Boycott HP campaign through the social media campaign, with actions including in Calgary and Vancouver, and in writing letters to HP/HPE head offices and to various levels of governments through freedom of information requests and letters.  A letter was sent to the federal government which insisted this was not a procurement request and deferred it to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, who did not answer. In November during International Week of Global Boycott HP, Canada participated through the social media campaign.

Other campaigns supported include:

The Hyundai End its Complicity with Israel campaign of Israel Boycott within (1948).

Paypal which is also a campaign that was promoted by a friend of the Canadian BDS Coalition, the United Church of Canada.

Air BnB  which was promoted by social media, including in the blitz that happened through twitter.  Canadian media, politicians and organizations were tweeted from the @BDS_Coalition twitter account.

Red Card FIFA  was promoted on social media.

Goldman Sachs/Open Shuhada Street was promoted on social media, and several info pickets in Canada.  Plans for an action related to the Canadian Head Office were deferred until 2018 due to short planning time.

Even as the Coalition is focused on being a unifying voice for BDS in Canada, local groups also have specific emphases in their campaigns. Organizations have specific mandates and the Coalition is not intended to in taking away from these; in fact, the opposite, the Coalition is meant to provide a stronger voice for all Canadian organizations that support the BNC call. 

Several new groups were formed/revived during 2017, and became members of the Canadian BDS Coalition.  The Niagara BDS  Coalition formed after three pro-Israel national lobby groups attended the June 8, 2017 Region of Niagara Council meeting, resulting in the passing of the first anti-BDS municipal resolution in Canada.  Work continues to build education and action towards reversing this draconian resolution that condemns the actions of those who support equity, freedom and justice for all people including Palestine in Niagara Region.

The Toronto BDS Action group was formed in September 2017 and is an active member of the Canadian BDS Coalition deciding to support the work of a comprehensive consumer economic boycott list for Canada that can be locally updated by local groups.

Local campaigns in regard to Remax, Quebec Hydro and Israeli wine continue..

There were a number of Freedom of Information and Access to Privacy Request put in through the year including to City of Toronto and Mississauga, anhttps://jonathankuttab.org/d a comprehensive set of requests to about ½ the Ontario Ministries.

Also several depuations were made during the year include one by Toronto BDS to the City of Toronto executive committee which had a motion targeted at cancelling as Al Quds as a white  supremacist action! Follow up is currently under way with the city of Toronto including a complaint to the City of Toronto Integrity Commissioner based on the Councillor who was making this motion telling the deputant to get lost.

After the Quebec terrorist mass shooting in the mosque, the Canadian BDS Coalition and members signed a number of endorsements related to specific actions denouncing white supremacy and islamophobia, and endorsed the forming of the Organization Committee Against White Supremacy and Islamophobia which became the SAFE: Solidarity Against Fascism Everywhere, and now has several chapters forming across the county.

The Coalition had one rep who attended the Anti-War Conference in Toronto (International League of People’s Struggles) in August 2017.

Two members of the Coalition attended Michael Lynk’s report as special rapporteur to the UN for occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) in October 2017.  They also met with various NGO from Palestine, the US and other places both individually and through planned meetings.  As well, the set up a meeting with the Canadian UN Ambassador, Blanchard’s office, meeting with a senior staff member who did understand the situation, and did encourage people to come to meet with the office when they are in NYC.

Social Media Presence

A key focus has been to get social media presence with the Coalition through:

Web Site.  https://bdscoalition.ca/ Scott Harris has taken the lead to update the site, along with John Turnbull and Tyler Levitan.

Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/BDSCoalition.

Twitter account https://twitter.com/BDS_Coalition, @BCS_Coalition.

As we move forward for 2018 and byeond, we focus on the words of Omar Barghouti’s call for the South African Moment to get the Israeli boots off Palestine’s Neck.

 

Canadian Labour Has Been Supporting Boycott, Divestment for a Dozen Years

Delegates at Unifor Canadian Council, for Canada's largest private sector union, cheer on August 23, 2017. (Screen capture: YouTube)

Delegates at Unifor Canadian Council, for Canada’s largest private sector union, cheer on August 23, 2017. (Screen capture: YouTube)

Over the last decade Canadian labour has continued to support boycott, divestment and sanctions, with public sector unions joining in, and in 2017 the largest Canadian private sector union supporting boycott.

*Unifor, Canada’s largest private union, August 2017, 300,000 members

*Confédération des syndicats nationaux (CSN) / Confederation of National Trade Unions (April 2015), 325,000 members, including

  • CSN-Construction
  • Fédération du commerce (FC)
  • Fédération des employées et employés de services publics (FEESP)
  • Fédération de l’industrie manufacturière (FIM)
  • Fédération nationale des communications (FNC)
  • Fédération nationale des enseignantes et enseignants du Québec (FNEEQ)
  • Fédération des professionèles (FP)
  • Fédération de la santé et des services sociaux (FSSS)
  • Syndicat des agents correctionnels du Canada (UCCO–SACC–CSN)

*Ontario branch of the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS-O) (August 2014), 300,000+ members

*Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ) / Quebec House of Labour (June 2009), 200,000 members, including

  • Fédération des professionnelles et professionnels de l’éducation du Québec (CSQ)
  • Fédération des syndicats de l’enseignement (FSE)
  • Fédération du personnel de soutien scolaire (CSQ)
  • Fédération du personnel de l’enseignement privé (CSQ)
  • Fédération des enseignantes et enseignants de cégep (FEC-CSQ)
  • Fédération du personnel professionnel des collèges (CSQ)
  • Fédération du personnel de soutien de l’enseignement supérieur (FPSES)
  • Fédération des syndicats de la santé et des services sociaux (CSQ)
  • Fédération de la santé du Québec (FSQ)
  • Fédération des intervenantes en petite enfance du Québec (FIPEQ)
  • Association des retraitées et retraités de l’éducation et des autres services publics du Québec (CSQ)

*Conseil central du Montréal métropolitain de la confédération des syndicats nationaux (CCMM-CSN) (May 2010)

*College and University Workers United (CUWU) (2009)

*Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ) / Quebec House of Labour (June 2009), 200,000 members, including

  • Fédération des professionnelles et professionnels de l’éducation du Québec (CSQ)
  • Fédération des syndicats de l’enseignement (FSE)
  • Fédération du personnel de soutien scolaire (CSQ)
  • Fédération du personnel de l’enseignement privé (CSQ)
  • Fédération des enseignantes et enseignants de cégep (FEC-CSQ)
  • Fédération du personnel professionnel des collèges (CSQ)
  • Fédération du personnel de soutien de l’enseignement supérieur (FPSES)
  • Fédération des syndicats de la santé et des services sociaux (CSQ)
  • Fédération de la santé du Québec (FSQ)
  • Fédération des intervenantes en petite enfance du Québec (FIPEQ)

*Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) / Syndicat des travailleurs et travailleuses des Postes (STTP) (April 2008), 51,000 members

*Fédération nationale des enseignantes et des enseignants du Québec (FNEEQ-CSN) / Quebec Teachers Union (June 2007), 34,000 members

*Association pour une Solidarité Syndicale Étudiante (ASSÉ) / Association for Student Union Solidarity (October 2007), 80,000 members

*Ontario branch of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE-ON) (May 2006), 240,000 members

Interested in more information in regard to labour support of Palestine contact bdscoalition@gmail.com

20+ Student Led BDS Victories BDS on Canadian University Campuses

The Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement is supported by multiple Canadian labor groups, various student unions at universities around the country, and the United Church of Canada. (Photo: @bccla/Twitter)

Over the last ten years, there have been at least 20 BDS victories on Canadian University Campuses.

The Ontario branch of the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS-O) (August 2014), 300,000+ members along with

*York University Faculty of Environmental Studies academic boycott (November 2017)

*King’s University College University of Western  (March 2017)

*Alma Mater Society, University of British Columbia: BC Supreme Court Win (April 2016);

*University of Ontario Institute of Technology and Durham College, Oshawa March 2016

*Dalhousie Student Union (Divestment motion),  (April 2016)

*McMaster Student Union, Hamilton (March 2015)

* University of Windsor Students’ Alliance (UWSA) motion to support BDS (March 2014)

* Ryerson University Student Union, Toronto (March 2014)

*University of Toronto Mississauga Students’ Union (March 2013-Divestment)

*University of Toronto’s Graduate Students’ Union (March 2013-Divestment)

*  University of Toronto Scarborough Campus Students Union (April 2013)

* York University Federation of Students (March 2013)* Trent University Central Students Association (February 2013)* University of Toronto Mississauga Students Union (February 2013)

* Concordia Graduate Students Association (January 2013)

* University of Toronto Graduate Students Association (December 2012)

* York University Graduate Students Association (November 2012)

* Graduate Students Association at Carleton University (March 2012)

* University of Regina Students Union (February 2012)

* Solidarite Syndicale Étudiante (ASSÉ) (October 2007)

 

If you are aware of other BDS victories on campuses in Canada or additional information please email bdscoalition@gmail.com

 

 

Call on Canadian NDP to follow the Socialist International lead

 

What can I do? Economic Boycott.

BDS  Economic Boycott

Speaking with your economic buying power–an age old tactic

o-BOYCOTT-facebook

The BDS movement is building an economic boycott of Israel and developing effective campaigns against companies that participate in Israel’s oppression of Palestinians.

International companies aid and abet Israel’s violations of international law, including by operating in illegal Israeli settlements and acting as contractors for the Israeli military and government.

The economic boycott of Israel aims to put pressure on Israel to comply with international law and to persuade private companies to end their participation in Israel’s crimes.

 Grassroots BDS campaigning is leading to major companies and investors changing their attitudes towards Israel and its oppression of Palestinians.

The Israeli economy is especially dependent on international trade and investment, making it especially susceptible to international economic boycotts.

 Campaigning has led to major companies selling up and leaving Israel altogether and a range of investors divesting from Israeli and international companies.

The UN, the World Bank and other experts say that BDS is having an important economic impact on Israel.

Impact on Israeli companies of Consumer Boycott:

BDS campaigning has had a serious impact on Israeli companies. Carmel Agrexco, Israel’s largest agricultural export company, entered liquidation after a huge boycott campaign against the company pushed Israeli farmers to export their products through other companies. SodaStream was forced to close its operations in an illegal Israeli settlement after BDS campaigning led to retailers taking its products off its shelves. SodaStream is still a boycott target over its role in ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in the Naqab (Negev)

 Experts report growing economic impact of BDS:  According to the authors of a UN report, BDS was a key factor behind at 46% drop in foreign direct investment into Israel in 2014 compared to 2013.   The World Bank partially attributed a 24% drop in Palestinian imports from Israel to boycott. Reports by the Israeli government and the Rand Corporation have predicted that BDS could cost the Israeli economy billions of dollars.

Does the BDS movement call for a boycott of all Israeli products or just products and companies from illegal Israeli settlements?

The BDS movement calls for a boycott of all Israeli products. However, some of our biggest campaigns are against companies that operate in illegal Israeli settlements in the Occupied West Bank. This is simply because targeting these companies are, at this stage, more capable of winning widespread support and succeeding. As our movement grows, so do our ambitions and the BDS movement is currently in the process of moving away from campaigns focused mainly on illegal Israeli settlements.

 Identifying Israeli Products

 A barcode starting with 729 usually indicates a product of Israel. But this is not always reliable. The best way to tell if a product is made in Israel is to look for a “Product of Israel” label or to ask the retailer if they can guarantee a product isn’t from Israel.

Consumer Boycott Action List

BNC Campaign: Priority Boycott & Related Actions

HP

HP plays a key role in Israel’s oppression of Palestinians. It provides technology, equipment and services to the Israeli military, including for the checkpoints and ID card system that underpin Israel’s apartheid policies and its movement restrictions for Palestinians.HP relies on its good image and its contracts with public organisations, civil society bodies and private businesses. Effective grassroots campaigning can push HP to end its role in Israeli apartheid and settler colonialism.

ACTIONS:

  1. Sign the international pledge to boycott HP.
  2. Join the more than 1.8 million people have signed a petition calling on HP to end its role in Israeli apartheid and settler colonialism.
  3. Retailers selling HP Products: In Canada consumer boycott focused on Best Buy and Staples, but not limited to these retailers. (see links)
  4. HP Free Zones: Call on student groups,  faith communities, not-for-profits, institutions, other organizations,  businesses, along with governments declare that they are HP Free.  This could include owning no HP products, publically getting rid of HP products, or declaring will not buy any further HP products and placing “This is my last HP” sticker on all current HP products.

 

Farming Injustice

For Palestinians, agriculture is much more than the production of olives, citrus fruit and other fresh produce, or keeping livestock. Farming is tied to the Palestinian people’s identity, history and resistance to Israel’s colonial occupation.

ACTIONS:

  1. Boycott based on information provided, and by looking for Country Code 729, Made in Israel and talking with the store manager/retailer.
  2. Individual actions
  3. Support Amnesty International campaign calling Canadian government to comply with UNSC resolution 2334 through Occupation@50
  4. Promote alternate Palestinian products (if source).

Israeli Fruit and Vegetables, including Dates
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.

Wineries

As an example, approximately 60-70 products labelled “made in Israel” are  available through the LCBO in Ontario.  Many of  these  have connection with illegal occupation of Syrian Golan or Palestinian territory.

Include the word “Israel” in the LCBO search to find stores and products to take action

See Canada Palestine Association re wine boycotts here.

Sabra
Sabra hummus is a joint venture between PepsiCo and the Strauss Group, an Israeli food company that provides financial support to the Israel Defense Forces.

Determine where it is sold in Canada HERE

Plan actions at Consumer Shows across Canada.  Check HERE.

Air Canada sells Sabra on board its planes.

Dead Sea Salt

Check out CJPME resources here.

Ahava
Ahava cosmetics is one of  Israel’s best known export companies.

Find locations selling this project HERE.

Action: contact Ahava stores and head office, and the Bay.

See resources from the United Church of Canada and CJPME

SodaStream
SodaStream home drinks machines are one of Israel’s best known exports.

For stores see here.

Major retailers include Hudson Bay, Canadian Tire, Home Outfitters, Walmart, London Drugs and Bed, Bath and Beyond.

See resources from the United Church of Canada and CJPME.

HSBC: end complicity in Israel’s militarised repression of Palestinians

The international HSBC bank is a major shareholder in companies selling weapons and military technology to Israel and also provides those companies with the loans they need to operate.

ACTIONS:

  1. HSBC Customers: Boycott HSBC, let HSBC know if you are withdrawing your services.
  2. Everyone: Head over to the War on Want website to email the head of HSBC, and tell him to end HSBC complicity in Israel’s crimes against the Palestinian people.
  3. Everyone: learn about HSBC in Canada and find locations near you.  Use your own voice and creativity, along with tools to let  HSBC , their customers and other  know HSBC’s complicity.

Hyundai

Boycott Hyundai to end its complicity in Israel’s ethnic cleansing of Palestinian communities in Jerusalem and the Naqab

#BoycottHyundai

The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Committee of Palestinian Citizens of Israel (BDS48) call upon our Palestinian people in the homeland and the Diaspora, the peoples of the Arab world, and people of conscience worldwide to boycott and divest from Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), until it ends its involvement in Israel’s violations of our human rights, particularly in Jerusalem and the Naqab (Negev).

Inform yourself HERE.

  1. Future purchasers: Don’t buy Hyundai products, and let Hyundai know locally along with their Canadian head office know you will not be buying Hyundai.
  2. Current Owners: Let local Hyundai know that this is your last Hyundai product if you own Hyundai.
  3. Everyone: check out Hyundai Canada  Use your own voice and creativity, along with tools to let  HSBC , their customers and other  know Hyundai complicity. 

Boycott the Following (research by Who Profits)

Coca Cola

Africa Israel: clothing line

Motorola

Naot

Pay Pal (see UCC)

Trip Advisor

Airbnb

Remax (see CJPME)

Ketter  (see UCC)

Aroma Espresso Cafes

Toyota

Land Rover

General Motors

Mitsubishi

Note: several of these organizations have been on leaked UN Blacklists as well.  Canada has two companies expected to be on the UN list when it is available but the names have not yet been released.  We expect to provide more information on Canadian companies doing business in settlements and in support of the occupation, as well as further information on other products that have been verified by Who Profits and other groups.

Retailers

The following have had verification work done previously:

Mountain Equipment Company  by CJPME

Canadian Tire by CJPME ,  Canada  Palestine Association,  UCC

COSTCO by CJPME

H&M  by CJPME

Home Depot by CJPME. Also UCC

IBM by CJPME

IKEA by CJPME

Indigo by CJPME

Pizza Hut by CJPME

Toys’r’us see CJPME

Western Union see CJPME

The Bay see UCC

Walmart see UCC

 IMPORTANT NOTE

The global nature of today’s economy means that there are thousands of companies that have links to Israel and are complicit to various degrees in Israel’s violations of international law. However, for our movement to have real impact we need our consumer boycotts to be easy to explain, have wide appeal and the potential for success. That’s why we particularly focus globally on a select few strategic campaigns. We also encourage the principle of context sensitivity, whereby activists in any given context decide what best to target and how, in line with BDS guidelines. There is a lot of information online claiming that some large companies give money to Israel, some of which turns out to be false. BDS has built a reputation for strictly adhering to established facts and producing the most accurate information.

Besides boycotting Israeli goods, what else can I do?

The BDS movement is about much more than consumer boycotts: it is also about campaigning alongside others to pressure institutions, unions, and companies to boycott or divest and to isolate Israel academically, culturally, economically and militarily. Check out the other areas of this Get Involved page for more information and ideas.

Frequent Questions and Answers

Will more items be added?

Yes.  More products and organizations will be added as research is completed, and new campaigns added through the BNC, the Canadian BDS Coalition or local organizations.

What if I find a product, company or retailer that might be added to the list?

Provide details to bdscoalition@gmail.com

Should i make direct contact with companies and/or retailers before taking an action?

It is always advisable to make contact with the companies and retailers.  For BNC campaigns this contact has been made at global level.  For those organizations listed by Who Profits, they have been directly contacted by Who Profits.  Similarly organizations like CJPME and UCC have made this contact before moving forward with campaigns.  As part of publishing this list the Canadian BDS Coalition has made contact with organizations at a national level (still to be done).  Best practices would be for local organizations and also individuals to also make such contact related to any boycott action or locally developed campaign.

CJPME: Canadian for Justice and Peace in the Middle East

UCC: United Church of Canada

Interested in being involved locally contact bdscoalition@gmail.com

 

 

 

Canada Supports the Global HP Campaign

HP

HP plays a key role in Israel’s oppression of Palestinians. It provides technology, equipment and services to the Israeli military, including for the checkpoints and ID card system that underpin Israel’s apartheid policies and its movement restrictions for Palestinians.HP relies on its good image and its contracts with public organisations, civil society bodies and private businesses. Effective grassroots campaigning can push HP to end its role in Israeli apartheid and settler colonialism.

HP-postcard-new

ACTIONS:

  1. Sign the international pledge to boycott HP.
  2. Join the more than 1.8 million people have signed a petition calling on HP to end its role in Israeli apartheid and settler colonialism.
  3. Retailers selling HP Products: In Canada consumer boycott focused on Best Buy and Staples, but not limited to these retailers. 
  4. HP Free Zones: Call on student groups,  faith communities, not-for-profits, institutions, other organizations,  businesses, along with governments declare that they are HP Free.  This could include owning no HP products, publically getting rid of HP products, or declaring will not buy any further HP products and placing “This is my last HP” sticker on all current HP products.