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

 

 

 

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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.

 

Open Shuhada Street 2018 Campaign

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The Canadian BDS Coalition joins with Youth Against Settlements in Hebron and people around the world. for #OpenShuhadaSt

Shuhada Street, once the main economic hub in Hebron, has been almost entirely closed to Palestinians since 1994 when an American-born Israeli settler Baruch Goldstein opened fire in the Ibrahimi mosque, killing 29 Palestinians and wounding over 100 more. While Israeli settlers roam freely on the streets and carry arms, Palestinian homes and shops are welded shut. Families must pass through checkpoints to reach their homes. Roads in Hebron are divided in half, one side for Jews, and the other for Muslims. Palestinians face daily physical attacks by ideologically extreme and violent settlers and soldiers.

Facts about Shuhada Street and Hebron:
  • Shuhada Street used to be the main marketplace and economic hub in Hebron.
  • The street has remained almost entirely closed for Palestinians since the Ibrahimi Mosque massacre in 1994. Israelis and internationals are allowed to walk on the street, but not Palestinians.
  • Palestinian families who live on the street are not allowed to use the main entrance. They are forced to use alleyways, rooftops, and back entrances to enter their homes.
  • Around 850 illegal settlers (according to the UN, the actual number is probably much smaller) live on and nearby the street. This number is set to increase by 20%, with 31 new settlement units being approved for construction.
  • In July 2017, settlers occupied an additional Palestinian home. They have remained there since, despite an Israeli supreme court decision to evict them. Israeli soldiers have established a post at the base of the occupied house to guard them.
  • Israel applies two sets of laws in the West Bank: Israeli settlers live under Israeli civil law, while Palestinians are under Israeli military law. It is apartheid.
  • 513 Palestinian shops in Hebron have been closed by military order.
  • There are 23 permanently staffed checkpoints in Hebron within the 1 square kilometer area that surrounds Shuhada Street.
  • Israeli forces built three new checkpoints in the summer of 2017.
  • Streets in Hebron are divided: one side is for Jews and Christians, while the other is for Palestinians and Muslims.
  • The economy in H2 in Hebron (where 35,000 Palestinians and 850 settlers live) is almost totally destroyed. According to a report from OCHA in 2007, eight out of ten Palestinian adults are unemployed in the old city of Hebron, and 75% are estimated to be living below the poverty line.
  • Private donors are funding Israeli settlements through at least 50 tax-exempt organizations based in the U.S.
    • Between 2009-2013 alone, $220 million was transferred to the settlements in the West Bank as grants by these organizations.
    • In 2013, these organizations raised $73 million and sent $54 million in grants to the settlers and settlements in the West Bank.
    • The organization most affecting Hebron is the Hebron Fund. In 2003, illegal settlers received 45% of their funding from the Hebron Fund. The Hebron Fund is an American organization, with 501c3 charity tax status (tax-exempt), they state that their primary goal is: the “raising of capital for the improvement of daily life for the [Jewish settler] resident of Hebron, Israel”.
  • The finance company Goldman Sachs donated $18,000 in 2013 to the Hebron Fund. Goldman Sachs donated $6,100 in a two year period (2012-2013) to the American Friends, $708,100 to AIPAC and $15,000 to the American Jewish International Relations Institute.

For more details

http://www.yashebron.org/open_shuhada_street

Be sure to follow the Canadian BDS Facebook page for more details and Twitter @bds_coaliton.

Be in touch with Youth Against Settlement and Canadian BDS Coalition to share your #OpenShudhaSt actions.

#BanSettlementGoods.
#OpenShuhadaSt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Humble but Necessary Step BDS Nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

The Canadian BDS Coalition joins in sharing its gratitude to the Norwegian parliamentarian Bjørnar Moxnes with support of progressive Rødt (Red) Party for officially nominating the BDS movement for Palestinian rights for a Nobel Prize.  The Canadian BDS Coalition congratulates the BNC and all those who are mobilizing civil society and decision makers to say no to apartheid, and yes to justice, equity and freedom for all including Palestine.
 See BNC information HERE.
January 31, 2018

ByBjørnar Moxnes

Norway
January 31, 2018 —Norwegian parliamentarian Bjørnar Moxnes officially nominated the BDS movement for Palestinian rights for a Nobel Peace Prize. He did so with the support of his party, the progressive Rødt (Red) Party, explaining why BDS “should be supported without reservation by all democratically-minded people and states.”

Norwegian parliament.

Statement by Norwegian Parliamentarian Bjørnar Moxnes on Nominating the BDS Movement for Palestinian Rights for a Nobel Peace Prize:

As a member of the Norwegian parliament, I proudly use my authority as an elected official to nominate the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement for Palestinian rights for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Nominating the BDS movement for this recognition is perfectly in line with the principles I and my party hold very dear. Like the BDS movement, we are fully committed to stopping an ascendent, racist and right-wing politics sweeping too much of our world, and securing freedom, justice and equality for all people.

Inspired by the South African anti-apartheid movement and the American Civil Rights movement, the grassroots, Palestinian-led BDS movement is a peaceful, global human rights movement that urges the use of economic and cultural boycotts to end Israeli violations of Palestinian human rights and international law.

The BDS movement seeks to end Israel’s half-century of military rule over 4.5 million Palestinians, including the devastating ten-year illegal siege collectively punishing and suffocating nearly 2 million Palestinians in Gaza, the ongoing forcible eviction of Palestinians from their homes, and the theft of Palestinian land through the construction of illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank. It seeks equal rights for Palestinian citizens of Israel, currently discriminated against by dozens of racist laws, and to secure the internationally-recognized legal right of Palestinian refugees to return to homes and lands from which they were expelled. Palestinian refugees constitute nearly 50 percent of all Palestinians, and they are being denied their right to return, guaranteed by law to all refugees, simply because of their ethnicity.

The BDS movement’s aims and aspirations for basic human rights are irreproachable. They should be supported without reservation by all democratically-minded people and states.

The international community has a longstanding history of supporting peaceful measures such as boycotts and disinvestment against companies that profit from human rights violations. International support for such measures was critical in the struggle against apartheid in South Africa and the racist colonial regime in former Rhodesia.

If the international community commits to supporting BDS to end the occupation of Palestinian territory and the oppression of the Palestinian people, new hope will be lit for a just peace for Palestinians, Israelis and all people across the Middle East.

The BDS movement has been endorsed by prominent figures, including the former Nobel Peace Prize winners Desmond Tutu and Mairead Maguire. It is gaining support from unions, academic associations, churches, and grassroots movements for the rights of refugees, immigrants, workers, women, indigenous peoples and the LGBTQI community. It is increasingly embraced by progressive Jewish groups and anti-racist movements across the world.

Eleven years since BDS’ launch, it’s high time for us to commit to doing no harm, and for all states to withdraw their complicity in Israel’s military occupation, racist apartheid rule, ongoing theft of Palestinian land, and other egregious human rights violations.

Awarding a Nobel Peace Prize to the BDS movement would be a powerful sign demonstrating that the international community is committed to supporting a just peace in the Middle East and using peaceful means to end military rule and broader violations of international law.

My hope is that this nomination can be one humble but necessary step towards bringing forth a more dignified and beautiful future for all peoples of the region.