Consumer Boycotts

[Desertrose2023]

I posted the BDS list in the supporting Palestinian businesses thread and recent discussion on another thread re the backlash against Zara got me wondering how many others are participating in consumer boycotts linked to the conflict in Gaza (and the occupation in Palestine) or for different reasons.

there are a number of brands I’m boycotting usually for a mix of reasons, political, environmental and social. Interested to hear views from others.

Disclaimer: to avoid any misinterpretation or twisting of my words - I do not support any acts of violence or vandalism or boycotting based on religion/ethnicity.

all the ones on the BDS committee list

https://bdsmovement.net/

in addition to a few others (sample below)

Starbucks: overpriced shit coffee and they recently sued their union for tweeting in support/solidarity with Palestine.

Zara: I stopped buying stuff following the controversy of their head womenswear designer making disgusting anti-Palestinian comments. The reports of slave labour (Uyghurs and in Brazil) plus the recent tone deaf ad campaign was the final straw. Plus trying to be more conscious re reducing how much ‘fast fashion’ I buy anyway.

Nestle: a history of unethical corporate practices plus including ownership of an Israeli food company with production in OPT.

RTE news : Basketball Ireland's Instagram 'permanently disabled'

http://www.rte.ie/sport/basketball/2024/0217/1432880-basketball-irelands-instagram-permanently-disabled/

Not sure where to post this. It looks like the metaverse stands with Israel. Basketball Irelands Instagram account permanently disabled, only explanation seems to be due to the teams controversial match against Israel. Absolute disgrace.

A disgusting act by Meta. Hardly surprising given their ongoing attempts to censor Palestinian support.

With Ramadan coming up soon, an important reminder for those fasting to ensure they do not break their fast using Israeli dates.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C3arC1OA9H9/?igsh=NHJrajhiZzJ5MXBs

More info about boycotting dates
https://twitter.com/PSCupdates/status/1759533548191527173

Apparently this has be reinstated they said it was a technical "mistake" but I think the outcry and pressure from the Irish government helped them fix the "mistake"

Can someone who supports boycotting Israeli owned businesses explain to me why you think it is legitimate and fair to punish the general Israeli population for the doings of its government?

The general rhetoric from the Pro-Palestinians movement is that it is unfair to punish the Palestinian people for the actions of Hamas. Isn't it hypocritical to punish all Israeli businesses for the choices of its leaders.

I can understand wanting to boycott Israeli government owned businesses, but how is it okay to support the loss of livelihood of innocent Israeli's?

Also, I've recently seen calls for boycotting Israeli produce in the local grocery. It is mostly Israeli Arabs and foreign workers who are employed at these farms in Israel so you may unwittingly be punishing them a lot more than the Israeli government.

Are you really comparing the genocide being unleashed on Palestinians by Israel with a consumer boycott?

How utterly ridiculous.

No. I'm debating the fact that all Israeli businesses are being punished for the actions of their government.
Boycotting the Israeli government would be reasonable but making a generalisation of avoiding all Israeli businesses, causing innocent people to lose out, is not a fair campaign.

I suspect it is because If people boycott Israeli companies , These might start losing money and raising against their government and request that government agrees to a ceasefire.

money rules the world

Because the Israeli government has resisted political pressure to stop its genocide on Gaza and its ongoing occupation and brutality against Palestinians in the West Bank.

so the logic of boycotting Israeli businesses is the same as it was in boycotting apartheid South Africa. Were all South Africans racists who supported apartheid? No, but white South Africans were living and benefiting from an immoral system which granted them superior rights and privileges purely on the basis of their race and which suppressed and subjugated black South Africans. They either directly or indirectly benefited from that status quo. The idea behind a boycott is to create economic pressure to change government policy. If it’s not coming from within, then it needs to be applied by external forces. In Israel’s case, whilst there are small numbers of brave Israelis who challenge the status quo, there is clearly not sufficient internal pressure to change the state’s policy of apartheid, occupation and now genocide. In many cases those who speak up for Palestinian rights are threatened and abused. Israeli society has been veering to the right for years and Netanyahu’s current unpopularity amongst Israelis has very little to do with his policies towards Palestinians as it does to do with his own corruption, internal Israeli legislative change and his perceived security failings/inability to return hostages. 700,000 Israelis live in illegal settlements. All Israelis are required to do mandatory military service in an army where they are either complicit in - or directly perpetuate - atrocities against those they militarily occupy in the West Bank. Jewish Israelis enjoy rights and privileges superior to non-Jewish Israelis and Palestinians.

It is in no way unfair to boycott Israeli businesses especially when compared to the fairness of killing 12,000 children and intentionally starving millions.

@Desertrose2023 I hear your explanation and how you've compared these boycotts to other worldwide boycotts however there is little evidence that these boycotts will cause significant pressure on Israel needed for policy change.

There is no question that boycotts cause financial loss to those companies targeted. However there is very little chance of these boycotts causing any policy change. The majority of Israel's exporting income comes from products used within the manufacturing chain especially in the areas of technology, software, and pharmaceuticals. I don't believe many people are getting rid of their mobile devices or changing their pills because they are sourced in Israel. So in reality the boycotts are damaging the smaller channels of Israeli exports especially in the area of food and groceries.

So my point still stands. You are hurting innocent people and businesses in your quest for peace through boycotting. I'm not trying to say that Israeli lives and livelihood is more important than others, rather I'm objecting to bringing even more people into suffering from this conflict. Especially since these boycotts are having little if any effect on your goal of bringing peace to Palestinians!

If it makes you feel purposeful to forgo your Starbucks or your NVIDIA graphics card that's your prerogative, but don't delude yourself into thinking that will bring peace to the region.

Funny isn’t it, how those against BDS simultaneously proclaim that BDS won’t ever achieve anything and yet at the same time, feel compelled to discredit and try and stop the BDS movement. You ask why - just look at south Africa and what happened there. It’s important the boycott continues and it is starting to have an impact.

@Moonwatcher1234 How is it starting to have an impact on the peace-making process/policy change, so far?

The point of BDS is justice and equality through economic pressure. Yes, that is going to be uncomfortable for Israelis who will feel the impact of boycotts. That’s the point. there is no incentive to change the status quo if those who currently benefit and profit from an existing system of oppression aren’t negatively impacted. Ultimately someone who enjoys the benefits of an unjust system which oppresses others like apartheid or military occupation isn’t “innocent” in the sense they should be shielded from economic impact. People don’t live in a vacuum divorced from the system. If they’re not raising their voice for change - as some are - then at best they are complicit.

Israel’s economy is hemorrhaging and has contracted 20% since the start of their war on Gaza. If this conflict continues to drag there will eventually come a point when American taxpayers will start to query where their money keeps going and the US will not be as willing to keep pouring billions down the sinkhole. That backlash has already started with some of the political campaign ads starting to reference the average cost per American of US “aid” to Israel. Genocide can and should have economic consequences. If you’re so concerned about BDS hurting average Israelis, then perhaps your focus should be on convincing them and their supporters to advocate for political change at home like dismantling their illegal settlements, instilling better conduct in their military (which is largely comprised of reservists so “average” Israelis) ans electing non racist genocidal maniacs (unlike Gazans, Israelis have had several elections in the past 5 years). Instead, you’re criticizing those advocating for justice via peaceful means like economic boycott.

and I’m not deluding myself about anything. It will take a combination of several factors to bring change and BDS is ultimately just a small part of that puzzle. More broadly it’s also about sending a message to non-Israeli brands, such as Zara and Starbucks about the importance of decent corporate values, human rights and ESG to modern consumers.

I know it’s not directly cuz of the boycott but it’s been mentioned in previous comments how Israel’s economy is currently suffering cuz of the war

https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2024/02/19/economy/israel-gdp-war-economy/index.html

In a huge win for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement, one of the world's largest pension funds, announced it divested almost half a billion from Israel Bonds. Norway’s pension fund divested the entirety of their Israel Bond holdings

https://twitter.com/jvplive/status/1760721638239224201

Irish female football team turn their backs during their match whilst the Israel anthem is playing

https://twitter.com/abierkhatib/status/1761455962668290142

I suspect as well as the other reasons, it makes people feel they are doing ‘something’. As hideous Sunak does not represent me with his support of the murderous Israeli government, all I can do is boycott.

I have boycotted Zara quietly for a while due to the comments made by its vile employee. I don’t preach at others and would never support abuse of current employees or damage of property. I used to love their clothes. But it helps me think I am doing something. I imagine my actions will have zero effect. But it brings me experience a tiny gram of ‘power’ in this massacre that I am helpless to stop.

apple.news/AeTXfmPcoT9WEnTDERTKUaA

Interesting piece in The Guardian.

Well I was in M&S needing potatoes but noticed they were all from Israel so didn't buy.
As to why - I can easily buy British elsewhere plus apparently the majority of the Israeli population support what their government is doing in Gaza i.e starving Palestinian children. So I looked at those well travelled potatoes and thought FU.

News to me that israel has a potato industry. Seems odd that they go to the bother of dragging in spuds from there. Very odd. Plus hardly green. I suggest lidl, good choice of the humble spud.

Loving my Israeli cotton sheets. Bought them a while back and hope I can find more when I need them.

Enjoying one of M&S Cremants tonight

Shop was hoaching too

If I bought Israeli cotton sheets it would remind me of all the poor children wrapped up in white sheets that should be out playing now.

Reminds me of the history of Israeli agriculture and the kibbutz movement … a peaceful settlement culture part of which was brutally attacked by Hamas terrorists on October 7.