Category Archives: Take Action

Be in touch with the Raptor Players & Others

Tweet to all the Raptor players and the President Masai an Open Letter to the Raptors.

Open Letter to @Raptors #Champions @HumanRights https://t.co/2cNzN4DUOl @OAnunoby @chrisboucher @MarcGasol @DGreen_14 @sergeibaka @kawhileonard @JLin7 @Klow7 @mrjloyd @PMcCaw0 @Jmeeks20 @MalcMili13 @EricMoreland15 @npowell2404 @pskills43 @FredVanVleet @UjiriMasai pic.twitter.com/Oy57PnjPNn— BDS Coalition (@BDS_Coalition) June 16, 2019

Copy the above message.

Retweet messages from @BDS_Coalition

Raptors

@Raptors ‘

Details for player Facebook Accounts below

Twitter Accounts for Raptors (list)

RAPTOR PLAYERS with their twitter account listed:

Danny Green

@DGreen_14

RESPECT is everything, I give what I get

Jordan Loyd

@mrjloyd

Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man-given Be grateful. Conceit is selfgiven. Be careful.

Jodie Meeks

@Jmeeks20

Shooting Guard for the Washington Wizards!

Malcolm Miller

@MalcMili13

Toronto Raptors #13 Everyday is a blessed day! Stay Ready, Stay Positive! #WeTheNorth snap:malcman13 IG:mlmili13

Eric Moreland

@EricMoreland15

Houston . Dream big. Work Hard. Let God do the rest!

yellow brick road

pascal siakam

@pskills43

God first. #RipDad #DoingItForYou #NmState #WeTheNorth #43

President of Raptors

Super Fan

Contact Raptors on Facebook

*send messages, include comments on posts:

https://www.facebook.com/TorontoRaptors/

FACEBOOK for individual Players

OG Anunoby

https://www.facebook.com/oanunoby/

Forward3

Chris Boucher

https://www.facebook.com/chris.boucher.9678

Forward25

Marc Gasol

Center33

https://www.facebook.com/marcgasol/

Danny Green

Guard-Forward14

https://www.facebook.com/DannyGreenNBA/

Serge Ibaka

Center-Forward9

https://www.facebook.com/sergeibaka/

Kawhi Leonard

Forward2

https://www.facebook.com/Kawhi-Leonard-847941498551411/

Jeremy Lin

Guard17

https://www.facebook.com/jeremylin7/

Kyle Lowry

Guard7

https://www.facebook.com/kylelowry07/

Jordan Loyd

Guard8

https://www.facebook.com/jloyd24uindy

Patrick McCaw

Guard1

https://www.facebook.com/OfficialPatrickMcCaw/

Jodie Meeks

Guard20

https://www.facebook.com/OfficialJodieMeeks/

Malcolm Miller

Forward13

https://www.facebook.com/malcolm.miller.37051

Eric Moreland

Forward-Center15

https://www.facebook.com/eric.e.moreland

Norman Powell

Forward-Guard24

https://www.facebook.com/NormanPowell4/

Pascal Siakam

Forward43

https://www.facebook.com/pskills43/

Fred VanVleet

Guard23

https://www.facebook.com/officialfredvanvleet/

RAPTOR INSTAGRAM

instagram.com/raptors

#SayNO @Raptors to #Tanenbaum offer of a #freetrip to #Zionist #Apartheid #Israeli-state

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.

CLICK HERE TO: SIGN AND SHARE PETITION to Toronto Raptor Players and Coach

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 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.

Twitter: @BDS_Coalition

Facebook: @BDSCoalition

Tweet, Tag

@Raptors @NBA

to be in touch with Raptors and other click HERE

CHECK OUT OPEN LETTER TO THE RAPTORS

Open Letter to Toronto Raptors:
“Please take this opportunity to stand with Palestinians in their struggle for freedom..”

June 15, 2019

Dear Toronto Raptors,

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.

Aiyanas Ormond,
Coordinator, BDS Vancouver-Coast Salish Territories

Thanks JEWISH VOICES FOR PEACE For Your One Question Poll

Jewish Voice for Peace — **Take the poll HERE**

An Open Letter to the NBA Champion Toronto Raptors

You have achieved something truly historic and Raptors fans are forever grateful, now please skip the White House and Doug Ford

Let Toronto NOW Magazine that along with Ford & Trump, they forgot “Bibi” Send comments HERE Tweet @nowToronto

Stay tuned for more Actions.

Take the Pledge: Give PUMA the Boot Until It Ends Support for Illegal Israeli Settlements

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!

Raptors Danny Green! is sponsor of PUMA.

Tweet to him at @DGreen_14 #BoycottPuma

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.

Tweet the pledge to give Puma the boot!

Tweet on INTERNATIONAL DAY

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)

www.bdscoalition.ca

ACTION YOU CAN TAKE

to: k Maguire , Sr. Vice President Sales & Country Lead Puma Canada
mark.maguire@puma.com,

Copies to:
customerservice@puma.com,
robert.bartunek@puma.com,
puma@berkcommunications.com,
kerstin.neuber@puma.com
bdscoalition@gmail.com

snail mail

PUMA.com
355 Admiral Blvd, Unit 4
Mississauga, ON L5T 2N1

Tweet: @pumacanada

OR call PUMA at 1-888-565-PUMA (7862).

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.

See: https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/01/10/fifa-must-take-strong-stance-against-israeli-settlement-clubs

Save the Date! International #BoycottPuma Day of Action, June 15, 2019

TAKE ACTION

Raptors Danny Green! is sponsor of PUMA.

@DGreen_14

See: https://www.thestar.com/sports/raptors/2019/03/09/why-the-raptors-are-ankle-deep-in-the-shoe-business.html

Perfect time to tweet lots! Also, post in message on his FBhttps://www.facebook.com/DannyGreenNBA/

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

.3. Store carrying PUMA in Canada

@SportChek

@hudsonsbay

@footlocker

Tweet, FB, email, go into local stores, etc. Let them know carrying PUMA is not cool, and that they are not with majority of Canadian.

Let us know about other stores carrying product, and any feedback you receive.

Ramadan 2019: Be sure you know where your dates are from!

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.

There is at least one supplier in Canada, National Best Food/NBF which imports from Hadiklaim, an Israeli company. Who Profits has clearly documented the source of Hadiklaim’s dates as coming from occupied Palestine and Golan. Also, several countries have had victories of cutting ties to Hadiklaim such as South Africa.

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 Medjoul Dates (SEMI-DRY) — 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.

Image result for costco dates medjool israel — Medjoul “Product of Israel” label from Costco

Ameri Premium Dates by National Best Foods, no country of origin

National Best Food, Golden Valley, no country of origin

Imported 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].

http://www.inspection.gc.ca/food/requirements/labelling/industry/fresh-fruits-and-vegetables

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.

See letter sent to Canadian Food Inspection Agency

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.

Cut the Current Between Hydro-Québec and Israel Electric

Sign this petition

to say NO to Hyrdo-Québec

It has been a year since the partnership between Hydro-Québec and Israel Electric was revealed by BDS-Québec. See post from May 2017

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 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 “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 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 in Toronto

November 18, 2016 ·

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.

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.

SHAME

Join in sending letter to:

Dear Holland Bloorview and March of Dimes, executives & board of directors, and Government of Ontario senior accessibility officials

Continue reading →

Open Letter from Canadian BDS Coalition to Government of Canada, Cities of Vancouver and Montreal

Over 5,000 signatures to date on this call: Don’t Dance on the Ruins of Palestinian Childhood. Add your signature by clicking HERE.

December 18, 2018.

The following letter has been sent to:

Pablo Rodriquez, Federal Minister of Heritage

Ambassador Deborah Lyons, Canadian Ambassador to Israel

Kennedy Stewart, Mayor of Vancouver

Valérie Plante, Mayor of Montreal

—————————

Open Letter from Canadian BDS Coalition to Government of Canada, Cities of Vancouver and Montreal

We have become aware that you are listed as one of the official sponsors of the CanaDanse Festival, being held in Israel in January 2019. Promotional material on the venue’s website denotes the Government of Canada as a sponsor of the whole Festival while the cities of Vancouver and Montreal are sponsoring one segment respectively. You should be aware that there is an ongoing campaign regarding Ballet BC’s involvement in the Festival, along with the 2 other dance companies, Shay Kuebler-Radical System Art from Vancouver and Le Carré des Lombes/Danièle Desnoyers from Montreal.

Over 5000 people have already signed a petition to Ballet BC asking them to cancel their first-ever performance in Israel, and to not help Israel whitewash its crimes against the Palestinian people. There has been coverage on the U.S. website Mondoweiss about this issue and also coverage in Canadian local media.

In fact, support is increasing amongst the Canadian public for sanctions against the state of Israel until it complies with international law, despite the efforts of the political establishment to suppress such information. A recent EKOS survey found that seventy-eight percent of Canadians said they believe the Palestinians’ call for a boycott is “reasonable”, and two-thirds (66%) of respondents viewed government sanctions specifically on Israel as “reasonable.”

It is shocking that various levels of government, federal and municipal, including the Cities of Vancouver and Montreal, felt compelled to not only lend their names to this Festival, but we assume funding as well.

Although Ballet BC and the other two dance companies will be welcomed by Israeli authorities to perform there, you should be aware that Palestinian cultural figures, artists and writers are routinely denied entry to their own homeland. One recent case is that of Susan Abulhawa, prominent Palestinian author who was detained and deported by Israel on November 1, 2018 on her way to a literary festival. Cultural exchanges that are predicated on silencing certain voices do not serve the values Ballet BC (and presumably your government) claim to uphold: “Ballet BC serves as a cultural ambassador, inspires diverse communities through dance and promotes inclusion in and through all that we do.” There is no inclusion for most indigenous Palestinians, who cannot even visit their homeland, let alone return to live there.

The Canadian Ambassador to Israel, Deborah Lyons, has already used the CanaDanse Festival to state: “Canada and Israel are truly best of friends”; we are sure more euphemisms will follow during and after the performances to help cover up the horrors of what the Israeli state is doing to the Palestinian people. This is the essence of art-washing and this is why an increasing number of global artists are saying that they will not perform in Israel until it complies with international law and respects the rights of the Palestinian people.

Your shameful position does not represent us or our constituent groups and we are appalled that you speak in our names and use taxpayers’ money to promote the suppression and dispossession of an entire people. We call on you to immediately withdraw your government sponsorship and cancel your participation in this Festival, which will only be used by the Israeli government to obscure the injustices happening right now to the Palestinian people.

Otherwise, history will not look kindly on your actions.

The Canadian BDS Coalition

www.bdscoalition.ca

Ballet BC, don’t dance on the ruins of Palestinian childhood

See article in Mondoweiss

by Marion Kawas on October 31, 2018

Campaign organizers are calling on Ballet BC (and now the 2 other dance companies as well) to take a stand and not perform in Israel, which would be a permanent stain on their records. They are also calling on 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.

BC Attorney General Stonewalls on Israeli Wines in BC Liquor Store

17 OCTOBER 2018

Canada Palestine Association

BC Attorney General David Eby finally 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”. Here is the public answer to Eby from CPA Vancouver and BDS Vancouver-Coast Salish.
___________________________________________________________________________________________

Public Response to David Eby regarding Israeli wines in BC Liquor Stores
Oct. 17, 2018

Dear Mr. Eby:

Thank you for your brief replies to our concerns.

Once again, you have completely ignored the issues raised on this subject, this time brought forward by 30 organizations. We mentioned in our open letter that selling Israeli wines in BC liquor Stores is “in direct contravention of the Fourth Geneva Convention”. The UN Security Council, UN General Assembly and the Canadian government recognize the applicability of the Fourth Geneva Convention in the occupied Palestinian territories. Israel is in violations of many articles of this convention, including the theft of Palestinian land, building colonies in the occupied territories and transferring several hundreds of thousands of its citizens to live in them, in contravention of articles 49 and 53. Israel also expropriates and exploits the natural resources in the occupied territory to meet the needs of the occupying power, in violation of article 55. The wine that is carried in the BC Liquor Stores is the product of these Israeli settler colonialists who stole Palestinian land and its agricultural and natural resources.

The Federal Government currently imposes sanctions against 20 countries, 11 of them in the Middle East (the list does not include Israel nor Saudi Arabia), so we ask where is your “customers’ right to make choices” there?
And as noted in the open letter, these wines are mislabelled as “made in Israel” in an attempt to hide product origin, something that is currently being challenged in the Canadian courts. So how can a consumer make choices when they are not even aware of what they are buying?

As you can see, this is not a matter of a “customers’ right to make choices”. The only choices being made in these circumstances are the wrong choices. As Attorney General, would you advise any police department to not curtail the selling of stolen products in BC stores, because it infringes on a “customers’ right to make choices”?!

We feel your government is simply hiding behind the liberal façade of “customer choice” in order to avoid any meaningful discussion about your role in enabling the dispossession of the Palestinian people. Violating the many articles of the Fourth Geneva Convention amounts to war crimes. Supporting these violations is complicity in them.
As the anti Apartheid leader Archbishop Desmond Tutu put it: “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.”

And finally, your unwillingness to meet with us demonstrates an arrogance and disinterest in issues of serious concern to your constituents and British Columbians, a very disappointing approach for someone who claims to be interested in rectifying social and historical injustices.

Hanna Kawas, Chairperson, Canada Palestine Association
Aiyanas Ormond, Coordinator, BDS Vancouver-Coast Salish

c.c. All Signatory Groups on the Open Letter

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