Consumer Boycott of Israel - A How to
When thinking about a consumer boycott, it is important to remember that there are different levels to which a store or company is complicit in the regime of Israeli Apartheid. For instance, there is a difference between store that stocks some Israeli products and a company which actively supports the Israeli Army or builds factories on occupied lands.
It is important to keep these differences in mind when thinking about what kinds of actions to take. In some instances, it might be more useful to lobby a store to stop carrying a certain Israeli product than to boycott the entire store. In other cases, it might be more useful to demand that a company change its actual policies, or to boycott the company itself.
Even if you don’t feel able to completely boycott a company, there are ways you can still effect change. Below are ways you can take action to help develop a consumer boycott campaign.
1. Don’t buy goods from Israel or companies that support Israel
This is easier than it sounds and a list of common products from Israeli companies can be found on websites listed in the Resource section. You could also send a letter to the supermarket, the media and local political parties in your country informing them of your decision and the reasons.
2. Identify and lobby retail outlets that stock Israeli goods
Outlets that stock Israeli goods can be lobbied to break off such business relations in response to Israeli policies. You can send letters to local shops and large retailers asking them to de-shelve Israeli products or find organizations and networks that would be willing to endorse the letter in order to achieve a more powerful effect. This is especially powerful with stores that are member-run.
For example, Mountain Equipment Co-op stocks Israeli-made water systems and MEC-brand underwear, but that doesn’t mean you must boycott them completely. There are great opportunities to get involved in co-ops, to go to meetings and lobby them to stop stocking Israeli products.
3. Boycott and picket outlets that do not respond to lobbying or that are complicit in supporting Israeli Apartheid Policies
If a company, such Chapters/Indigo, is especially militant in its support of Israeli Apartheid policies, set up a boycott picket of the store or company. Pickets can be great educational events, which allow you to pass out boycott flyers on the street and talk to concerned consumers. As well, they are great symbolic actions, which put a lot of pressure on companies to change their policies.
4. If you are unable to set up a picket or boycott a company, consider noting your displeasure
If you can’t live without your Starbucks coffee, make a point of talking to the manager every time you buy your coffee and register your displeasure with their policies. Alternately, contact the CEO or president of these companies explaining why you think their actions and support are wrong.
These small reminders and pressures do add up.
Resources
For information on boycott Israel campaigns and their history
For more comprehensive lists of Israeli products and companies
http://s109811772.websitehome.co.uk/bigcampaign/uploads/pdfs/bigcampaign...
www.whoprofits.org and http://gush-shalom.org.toibillboard.info/boycott_eng.htm
Please download the PDF and print it locally for your own campaign activity
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| consumerboycott.pdf | 230.41 KB |