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.

False equivalence?
No it's not, Russia were banned for invading Ukraine therefore Israel should be banned for invading Palestine.

invade
/ɪnˈveɪd/

verb

1. (of an armed force) enter (a country or region) so as to subjugate or occupy it.

Invading palestine? You mean hunting down a proscribed terrorist group? How dare they defend themselves and on top of that, be booed and jeered.

Some people seem to have forgotten about Hamas?

Some people equally forget about the genocide case and occupation. 40,000 people mainly women and children dead, so easily forgotten by some.

The point being made which you seem to have missed is that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was entirely unprovoked. Whatever you think of the invasion of Gaza, (do I need to denounce the actions of Israel again for you?) the huge terrorist attack, torture, murder, rape and taking of hostages of October 7th was certainly provocation.

Entirely unprovoked if you have no idea what Israel has been doing to the Palestinian population. There will be many people outside of the west who may sympathise with Putin and consider Zellensky a provocation and believe Putin is fighting neo Nazis in Ukraine.
Ultimately conveniently forgetting the brutal occupation and pretending it all started on October the 7th is deliberately ignorant.

I didn’t pretend it all started on October 7th, I said October 7th was a provocation. Do you think it wasn’t?

There was also a lot of provocations from Israel that led up to October the 7th. Many on this thread simply cannot stand by and accept any genocide, that is why we boycott and protest peacefully.

I prefer to listen to concrete evidence, such as Son of Hamas.

Right, so you are justifying the act of October 7th by saying that there were provocations that led to it, and agreeing that October 7th was a provocation that led to the invasion of Gaza.

So not like Russia invading Ukraine which was entirely unprovoked.

Not justifying anything Noblegiraffe, no need to twists words to fit your narrative. Just stating the obvious that violence and provocations did not start on October the 7th. Israel has killed far more children then Russia has in only 6 months there is never any justification for that.

But that was not what was being discussed.

I’m not really sure what you want Noblegiraffe and what you get from this forum tbh. I understand the pro Israel posters even if I don’t agree with them. You say you don’t agree with what Israel are doing but you don’t like boycotting or protesting. Regardless of who started what, Israel should not be given a platform when they have killed more children in any conflict in the last four years and we are now discovering mass graves filled with the bodies of civilians. Unless you are unflinchingly pro -Israel I have no idea how anyone could not agree with that.

Someone said that Israel invaded Gaza just like Russia invaded Ukraine and I was merely pointing out that they aren't the same.

No they're not the same. Ukraine has an army and civilians can leave for a start.

It’s apparently a total mystery as to what prompted the invasion and who exactly in Gaza is firing rockets and bullets at Israel.

Are you equating the Ukrainian army with Hamas?

No.

https://www.nme.com/news/music/over-100-acts-have-now-dropped-out-of-the-great-escape-2024-in-gaza-boycott-with-support-from-massive-attack-3756090

https://www.theguardian.com/music/article/2024/jun/14/barclays-suspends-sponsorship-from-download-latitude-and-isle-of-wight-festivals

https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/nordic-fund-klp-excludes-caterpillar-portfolios-due-israel-sales-2024-06-26/

Nordic fund KLP excludes Caterpillar from portfolios due to Israel sales

SXSW drops US military sponsorship after Irish acts withdrew from music festival in protest https://jrnl.ie/6419878