There are a number of active international boycott and divestment campaigns that you can learn more about and support.
Other Campaigns of the Canadian BDS Coalition
Bombardier Risks Aiding and Betting the Commission of War Crimes.
Canadian Financial Institutions: Complicit with Violations of the Fourth Geneva Convention
Israeli Illegal Settlement . Photo: Montecruz Foto via Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Four Canadian Financial Institutions, BMO, RBC, Scotiabank and Manulife have been listed on Bank Track as owning and managing shares in two Israeli Banks, Bank Leumi and Mizrahi Tefahot Bank. Both these Israeli banks are active in and profiting from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. Follow campaign HERE.
The Canadian BDS Coalition has contacted the CEO/Presidents of each of the four institutions in regard to their complicity. Based on responses received in early 2019, a grassroots campaign will begin.
Accessibility Washing of Israeli War Crimes
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.
Canadians Call for OMNI (Rogers) to STOP Artwashing War Crimes and Apartheid
Is a song contest more important than human rights?
Are advertising dollars worth more than international law?
OMNI broadcasting, a member of the Roger media group has announced they will be broadcasting Eurovision 2019 here in Canada. The following letter has been written to them by the Canadian BDS Coalition. Perhaps you may want to write your own!
Canadian Dance Companies: Don’t Dance on the Ruins of Palestinian Childhood
Campaign organizers, Canada Palestine Association (CPA), called on Ballet BC to take a stand and not perform in Israel. Such a performance would be a permanent stain on their records.
When two other organizations indicated participation in the Cana Danse Festival in Israel., they were also included. The Canadian BDS Coalition joined in the call for solidarity activists, both locally and around the world, to support this campaign, and to let these artists know that it is morally wrong for them to trample on the dignity and rights of Palestinians.
Over 10,000 signatures were received in support of this campaign. See here. Also see this article in Mondoweiss.
When it became known that the Canadian government, and cities of Vancouver and Montreal were sponsoring the Cana Danse Festival in Israel, an open letter was sent from the Canadian BDS Coalition to the Government of Canada, Cities of Vancouver and Montreal. Note no responses were received from any of the parties.
Although the groups have already preformed in at that Cana Danse Festival the campaign continues in regard to providing information to these groups and others about Cultural Boycott.
Canadian Court Hands Important Victory to BDS Movement
On December 12th a Canadian Court ruled that Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions activists were denied free speech and campaigning rights when the city of Montreal tore down their posters highlighting an Israeli atrocity during an election campaign in Canada.
The Canadian BDS Coalition congratulated Quebec BDS, a member of the Canadian BDS Coalition, on its important victory. Hear more about it in this Real News documentary.
This is a victory of legitimacy of BDS in Canada by the Quebec Supreme Count. It is applicable in other jurisdiction of Canada.
BC Attorney General Stonewalls on Israeli Wines in BC Liquor Store
The Canadian Palestine Association continued its campaign in regard to Israeli wine. On October 17, 2018, the CPA finally heard back from British Columbia Attorney General David Eby. Eby responded to two of the initiating groups on an Open Letter, regarding BC government liquor stores carrying Israeli wines in violation of international humanitarian laws. Mr. Eby refused to meet with representatives of the 30 groups who sponsored and endorsed the letter, and insisted again to focus solely on the “customers’ right to make choices”.
While British Columbia focused this campaign, this campaign is also available for groups across the country to introduce in their own jurisdictions.
Cultural Boycotts
Work continues with ongoing campaign to inform Canadian performers, artists and other cultural and sports organizations about cultural boycott.
The partnership between Hydro-Québec and Israel Electric is revealed by BDS-Québec
Quebec BDS and Palestinian Jewish Unity , members of the Canadian BDS Coalition launched a campaign this year 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. Join the campaign HERE. 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.
This campaign while in Quebec is supported nationally, and other local groups may choose to move forward with a sibling campaign in their own jurisdiction.
Canada Supports the Global HP Campaign
The Canadian BDS Coalition continued to support the Global HP Campaign with actions in several places. 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.
For actions that can be taken check out the action plan.
End Air Canada’s Complicity with Israel
Partial Victory. https://bdscoalition.ca/2017/11/06/air-canada-cancels-maintenance-contract-with-israel-aerospace-industries/
For Immediate Release, Nov. 5, 2017
The Canadian BDS Coalition was recently informed by Air Canada management that the 5-year, multi-million dollar contract with Israel Aerospace Industries Bedek Group [IAI] for heavy maintenance on Air Canada B767 jets was terminated in “early 2017”, with two years remaining. The maintenance work will now be undertaken by another, as yet unnamed, provider in North America. See HERE
Air Canada is outsourcing maintenance work for its B787 and B767 jets to Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), a leader in drone production that is wholly owned by the government of Israel.
Learn more about the call on Air Canada to end its complicity with Israel.
The boycott of Sabra products on Air Canada continues with people being encouraged to contact Air Canada directly about the selling of Sabra products. 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.
See the letter sent to Air Canada and learn about linkages with Mexico-Canada Border and next steps in regard to the campaign.
NOTE: the boycott of Sabra products on Air Canada continues, and our eye is on whether any future contracts with Israeli Aerospace Industries.
Tell the TSO: Don’t play for Israeli apartheid
The tour, coming just days before the 69th anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba and less than a month before the 50th anniversary of the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem, ignores the Palestinian-led call for a cultural boycott of Israel, which has been supported by thousands of artists around the world to refuse to play in Israel. This campaign is complete, but the work of Cultural Boycott continues
International Campaigns
Boycott HP
HP provides on-going support and maintenance to a biometric ID system installed in Israeli checkpoints in the occupied West Bank that deprive Palestinians of the freedom of movement in their own land and allows the Israeli military occupation to grant or deny special privileges to the civilians under its control.
HP is also working with the Israeli government to manufacture and distribute a biometric ID system for all Israeli citizens, which categorizes citizens by their ethnic background and serves to discriminate against Arab citizens. HP manages the IT infrastructure for the Israeli navy and supplies the Israeli army with equipment and services specific to the needs of the military occupation. It is involved in the planning, construction, operation and maintenance of the intricate mechanisms of physical separations and restrictions of movement.
HP also supports Israel’s occupation of Palestinian land by providing a computerized storage system to an illegal settlement.
Learn more about HP’s involvement in Israeli’s system of control at whoprofits.org’s Technologies of Control: The Case of Hewlett Packard (HP) page.
Get involved at the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights, the BDS Movement’s Boycott HP campaign or the HP Boycott Campaign. You can also pledge to boycott and support divestment from HP at Jewish Voice for Peace.
Boycott Hyundai
The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Committee of Palestinian Citizens of Israel (BDS48) calls 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).
Learn more about the campaign and get resources on the BDS Movement website.
#Paypal4Palestine
Palestinians living in the occupied West Bank and Gaza are unable to use PayPal services, while Israeli settlers living in the West Bank have full access to the platform.
Not having access to PayPal limits the growth of Palestinian businesses — especially the burgeoning tech sector, which is providing employment and livelihood to Palestinians living under occupation.
A coalition of Palestinian businesses and civil society groups is calling on PayPal to end this discrimination against Palestinians.
Get the latest updates at the PayPal for Palestine Facebook page.
Take action by adding your name to the #PayPal4Palestine petition!
Airbnb Stolen Homes
There are 13,000 Airbnb listings in Israel, though investigations have revealed that many of the properties are actually located in settlements built on stolen Palestinian land in the West Bank. By allowing users to list and rent these properties and taking 9-15% from hosts and guests, Airbnb is making money off of Israel’s continued military occupation of Palestinian land and helping facilitate settlement activity.
Get involved at stolenhomes.org or the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation.