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.

Don’t bother, I’ve already reported the obvious racism in these posts and earlier ones to MN, hopefully they’ll deal with it. I’d screenshot them
for my “file” too except I’m not ridiculous enough to keep one.

we can talk about whether forced starvation and genocide is cause for grievance on another thread.

@Desertrose2023 if something's dirt cheap, you have to ask yourself who's paying for it along the way...

I try to avoid anywhere like Primark. I don't have any faith in their supply chains being ethical.

@BigBoysDontCry if it were not racist, your post would note that Palestine exports a wide range of foodstuffs such as olive oil, almonds, needlework, ceramics, art etc.

E.g. https://zaytoun.uk/

Yes that’s exactly right. If something looks
too good to be true it usually is.

Well I work for starbucks so yeah happy Christmas 🎄

Yes, I meant every word

And to think I got into trouble for using the word Zionist 🤷‍♀️

to the extent that sometimes they’re forced to make choices re taking employment to support their families that they otherwise would not want to make.

Rubbish. We're all forced to make choices to support our families that we otherwise might not make. I'm not talking about menial jobs. Palestinian managers as well as packers lost their jobs when Sodastream were forced to relocate.

BDS is as blunt and thoughtless a tool as Netanyahu. Neither are good for Palestinians, for Israelis or for any peaceful and dignified resolution.

I agree. Don’t feed the troll. Report and hopefully the more reports they get they will delete the comment

Yes it is, but at least you aren't denying that you mean it.

@BigBoysDontCry conflating all Palestinians with Hamas is racist.

Actually I am not because if you look at the connections of the people behind BDS there are clear links.

For example

Barghouti is a key leader / founder in the BNC, which is headquartered in Ramallah and coordinates the BDS Movement globally. Mahmoud Nawajaa, the General Coordinator of the BNC, has publicly supported Hamas’ armed wing – the Al Qassam Brigades – on social media. Additionally, one of the groups in the BNC is the Council of National and Islamic Forces - a coalition of Palestinian groups which includes the racist terrorist organizations Hamas and Islamic Jihad. The coordinator of the National and Islamic Forces is Khaled al-Batsh, a senior Islamic Jihad official.

Sorry I should have explained all this before. I sometimes forgot that other people have not been dealing with this crap for as long as myself and don't know about these things

To be honest I don't actually care much about the BDS most people realise it is akin to the nazi boycotts of Jewish business etc. Therefore it isn't a very successful endeavour so far. It has hurt some smaller businesses in the west bank and Israel I suppose but as they employed Arabs as well as Jews it seems people don't mind hurting Palestinians so long as they hurt Jews too. That gets my back up a little when it comes to dealing with BDS, very hateful type behaviour.

Yep that is the logic of some people

Sorry I should have explained all this before
Yep

Actually the point of BDS is that they are very targeted with their boycott list. It’s only a handful on their consumer boycott list precisely for that reason that generalized boycotts aren’t really as effective. The broader consumer boycott movement has only recently expanded and gained momentum because so many people are disgusted at Israel’s actions in Gaza and the lack of world leaders willing to hold them accountable/ step in.

We’ll have to agree to disagree about Sodastream. Me, freely choosing to work for a company I don’t like that much because they pay well isn’t the same as someone living under occupation making that same choice.

Aren't you conflating all Israel connected companies with who you have decided is the aggressor in this situation?

Is it not somewhat ironic for the founder of BDS which advocates for an academic boycott of Israeli institutes, scholars and studies to have a PHD from tel Aviv university? So reaped the benefits then promotes boycotting them. Students actually petitioned to have him removed but the university allowed him to stay. Unusual for a Palestinian nationalism activist to not attend any of the 12 universities in the West Bank. One in East Jerusalem, nine in Gaza.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/oct/16/why-i-believe-the-bds-movement-has-never-been-more-important-than-now

I just found this article by Barghouti in the Guardian, explaining more about BDS.

Sharing here with relevance to the ongoing discussion.

And here's a reference to his Wiki page for anyone interested:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omar_Barghouti

Thanks @sailingdriving i’ll have a read of this.

https://observer.com/2016/04/birds-of-a-feather-the-link-between-bds-and-hamas/

Considering what has been happening on American college campuses this is interesting too:

'The infiltration of Hamas terror financiers into a major American BDS-funding group should be a wake-up call to naïve college students and BDS apologists who think the BDS campaign is all about human rights and “ending the occupation.”'

'WHAT ARE THE GOALS OF THE BDS MOVEMENT?

BDS seeks to isolate Israel as a pariah nation by normalizing anti-Zionism as a valid movement for justice. This fact runs counter to some claims that the movement only seeks reform of Israeli government policy.

BDS opposes the two state solution. It calls for the “right of return” for Palestinians who fled in 1948 and their descendants to within Israel’s internationally recognized borders. This would create one state in which Jews would be a minority, effectively ending Jewish self-determination.

BDS groups oppose any normalization efforts, such as peacemaking and reconciliation, that bring Israelis and Palestinians together. Such efforts would build trust, empathy, and hope for a brighter future.'

A copy and paste job but it some up what they are about, I believe 🤔

It’s going to take more than a quick Google to get to the bottom of this..

This article is quite old (2018) but was quite interesting

https://amp.theguardian.com/news/2018/aug/14/bds-boycott-divestment-sanctions-movement-transformed-israeli-palestinian-debate