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.

Will it stop it though?
I wish it was that simple.

Of course we all have to do what seems right and just to us, and I hope your efforts do make a difference.

Wow. Someone should screengrab this comment for the Dehumanising Palestinians thread.

I do think if they were persecuting people of a different faith, eg Jews or Christians, there would have been more international pressure on the Chinese. I’ve read some awful things about what happens in those camps, forcing Uyghurs to eat pork, drink alcohol, burning Qurans, forced marriage and of course the slave labour.
do you know of any organizations that work to support Uyghurs @1dayatatime ? If yes please do share as would like to support them if so.

Don't go wishing for anything that pushes us even closer to war with China. That's going to be a big one.

genuine question, would you take that same view if the Uyghur people were Jewish?

If/when WWIII kicks off, nobody will be safe. So call it self-interest.

On the subject of the Uyghurs, interestingly in the UK it's the Jewish community who've been at the forefront of bringing their plight into focus

https://www.worldjewishrelief.org/blog/2021/04/16/our-uyghur-refugee-appeal/

https://bitterwinter.org/the-story-of-the-lonely-jew-standing-up-for-the-uyghurs-in-london/

Good for them honestly. It’s nice to see that there are people out there who advocate for others being persecuted and take a position based on shared humanity rather than along any religious/ethnic lines.

the are also people in the Jewish community who have done the same in relation to Gaza and joined the calls for a ceasefire. I have a lot of respect for them as well.

I’m not Jewish, by the way. I can see that you’ve assumed that I am, but I’ve been challenging antisemitism on here based on a shared humanity rather than any religious or ethnic lines. 👍

The situation in China with practicers of Falun Gong is similarly horrifying.

(Falun Gong is a pretty benign movement deemed verboten / a threat to their hegemony by the Chinese authorities.)

Organ harvesting from Falun Gong followers and other dissidents is a recognised issue in China, carried out on behalf of the authorities.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/climate-and-people/china-forced-organ-harvesting-prisoners-uyghurs-falun-gong/

@Desertrose2023

"genuine question, would you take that same view if the Uyghur people were Jewish?"

+++
absolutely yes whether they were Jewish, Christian, Hindu or whatever religion.

But sadly I really believe that the outcome would be the same because "well China is too big and important " so let's pretend it's not happening.

More China is too much of a threat.

@Desertrose2023

This is a really good and short summary of the persecution of Uyghur Muslims in China from the BBC:

Thank you. terrible to see this 😔

Hi @noblegiraffe, at the risk of going off topic, can I ask why you’re so against calling out China? Highlighting their abuse of Uyghurs doesn’t mean anyone here is calling for the world to launch WW3 (I’m certainly not). China is a huge partner in terms of global trade. It has diplomatic and economic relationships with many many nations and there are ways that pressure could be peacefully applied on them to try and at least alleviate the plight of the Uyghurs. Just because they’re a world power doesn’t mean we should turn a blind eye to oppression if there are opportunities to influence their policy in a diplomatic and non violent way.

For those boycotting, some advice for social media references:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cy9_xRrJb9J/?igsh=ZmNsMGdoN3AyYXB5

Hitting Israel financially is the the only way to stop this genocide, we cannot rely on our spineless politicians. It might seem like an impossible task but remember this war is also costing Isreal a lot. Hopefully American tax payers will wake up and want their taxes spent on helping to improve their own communities and not spent bombing communities in the Middle East. Companies are becoming more ethical with their dealings. If those with a conscience worldwide work together we can stop this.

we go again (edited)

Real Talk: the BDS movement is a naked attempt to delegitimise Israel as a prelude to its elimination. Why would you want to see the destruction of a nation of 9 million Israeli Jews and Arabs?
Unless you have another motive? If the BDS movement were really about human rights (as it claims), its supporters would be protesting the breakdown of human rights in countries across the Middle East, in Africa and around the world. They would be demonstrating against the barbarism of |SIS. They would be campaigning against the abuse of human rights by Hamas in Gaza. And against the atrocities of the Russian Army in Ukraine. But it's not. It only has a problem with the world's only Jewish state. You also realise that since the 1930s, many Jewish people have been mistrustful of boycotts, mainly because the Nazi "don't shop at this Jewish store" campaign led directly to genocide .....having seen many antisemitic and anti-Israel placards at the recent demonstrations across the country (many advocating Israel's destruction), I share their concerns

The IDF has struck over 22,000
Hamas targets in Gaza.

That is less than 1 casualty per strike, even according to the figures of the Hamas-run health ministry.

That is precision targeting of terrorists, not
genocide. Stop lying.

Jane, BDS is Palestinian led, so obviously it is about helping Palestine rather then boycotts relating to other countries. Boycotts are a peaceful means of exerting political pressure when as an individual you have no political power. Stop conflating everything with the Nazis please, particularly when an active genocide in unfolding.

can I ask why you’re so against calling out China? Highlighting their abuse of Uyghurs doesn’t mean anyone here is calling for the world to launch WW3 (I’m certainly not).

You can call them out, of course you can and should.

But you speculated that the reason that the government wasn't putting any pressure on China was because the victims are Muslim.

And I'm speculating that the reason is that international diplomacy with China is something that is being treated quite cautiously because they're gearing up for war against us.

It's on Labour's agenda.

https://www.politico.eu/article/uk-labour-to-push-to-declare-chinas-treatment-of-uyghurs-genocide-xinjiang-beijing-rahima-mahmut/

@headstone Palestinian led by an Israeli citizen who was educated (twice) in Israeli universities.
He has his own agenda. And it's not furthering the cause of the Palestinians. He also doesn't want a two state solution.

@stomachamaleonThe BDS movement (as per their own website) do not advocate for either a one state or a two state solution, despite what other posters have claimed on this. (See posts upthread).

And it appears that some of the organisations that have campaigned against the BDS and the founder are a front for right-wing Israeli organisations. See upthread (linked earlier).

There is also a guardian article the founder wrote (linked earlier) which I would recommend anyone to read as it can help them make up their own mind.