Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Boycott-Israel movement arrives at Trader Joe's stores:

In San Francisco, Oakland, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Seattle, Washington, & Sacramento.





"On World Refugee Day:

"Trader Joe’s Consumers Take Action for Palestinian Rights"

by Don't Buy Into Apartheid

Monday Jun 22nd, 2009 1:32 PM

On Indymedia at:

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/06/22/18603424.php

Activists deshelve Israeli goods at Trader Joe's to demand the company stop carrying products that support apartheid.

group_with_little_girl.jpg
group_with_little_girl.jpg


On Saturday, June 20, activists gathered at Trader Joe’s in Oakland and San Francisco to demand that the company stop carrying Israeli goods. Protesters removed Israeli products from the shelves in order to show customers which products they should not buy. They also met with the store managers and asked them to notify their headquarters that they no longer wanted to carry Israeli herbs, couscous and cheese. Similar actions were held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Seattle, Washington, and Sacramento, California. The activists were inspired by campaigns to deshelve Israeli products in Wales and France.

“Trader Joe’s is a company with an excellent reputation for bringing a diverse array of high-quality foods from around the world to U.S. consumers. As Trader Joe’s consumers we are part of a growing movement of people globally who are calling on businesses to be consistent in following ethical business practices,” said Yasmin Qureshi, an organizer of the Don’t Buy Into Apartheid national network.

The group chose June 20th for its kickoff action because it is World Refugee Day, a day recognized world wide to spotlight refugees displaced by war and persecution. Of the eleven million refugees in the world today, over seven million are Palestinian refugees displaced as a direct result of the founding of the state of Israel, many for over 60 years. It is for this reason that Don’t Buy Into Apartheid calls on to Trader Joes to discontinue the sales of Israeli Couscous, Dorot frozen herbs, as well as Pastures of Eden Feta cheese on June 20, 2009.

"Consumer boycotts played an important role in bringing about the end of apartheid in South Africa,” said Sunaina Maira, Associate Professor of Asian American Studies at U.C. Davis. "Corporations with ethical business practices can stop funding injustice and occupation by refusing to sell products made in states that enact racial discrimination and violations of human rights law, such as Israel. The state of Israel was created in 1948 through policies of ethnic cleansing and apartheid, and still continues to violate countless United Nations resolutions. Consumer boycotts are an effective non-violent strategy to pressure states to comply with international law."

The manager at one Trader Joe’s told the activists, “If you convince our customers to stop buying these products, we will stop carrying them.” The group handed out coupons for customers to give to the cashiers asking the store to stop carrying Israeli products.

In 2005, a broad coalition of Palestinian groups issued a call for the international community to place boycott, divestment and sanctions on Israel based on its illegal occupation of Palestinian lands and discriminatory laws. “We, representatives of Palestinian civil society, call upon international civil society organizations and people of conscience all over the world to impose broad boycotts and implement divestment initiatives against Israel similar to those applied to South Africa in the apartheid era. These non-violent principled measures should be maintained until Israel meets its obligation to recognize the Palestinian people's inalienable right to self-determination and fully complies with the precepts of international law by:

1. Ending its occupation and colonization of all Arab lands and dismantling the Wall;
2. Recognizing the fundamental rights of the Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel to full equality and;
3. Respecting, protecting and promoting the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties as stipulated in UN resolution 194.”

Don’t Buy Into Apartheid’s letter to Trader Joe’s was signed by over 35 organizations and 135 individuals. The campaign has gained over 600 members in one month. Trader Joe’s will join them in supporting social justice and racial equality by removing Israeli products from its shelves until Israel agrees to cooperate fully with international law. For more information on the global boycott of Israeli, see http://www.bdsmovement.net.

§Dorot Herbs with Stickers

by Don't Buy Into Apartheid Monday Jun 22nd, 2009 1:32 PM

stickers_on_herbs.jpg
stickers_on_herbs.jpg

The group put identifying stickers on all Israeli products in the stores.

§Group Shopping

by Don't Buy Into Apartheid Monday Jun 22nd, 2009 1:32 PM

group_shopping.jpg
group_shopping.jpg

Friday, June 12, 2009

Video:

"Boycott 'Israel' People's Food Coop"


This video agrees with over 900 people who petitioned the Co-op to boycott Israel.

Click on YouTube, at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCL4bVHkH_A




________________________________________

Thursday, June 11, 2009

3rd year of "Boycott Israel" campaign at People's Food Co-op (PFC)-- now on video.


The campaign to boycott Israel began, at the People's Food Co-op, in January 2007.

It has never stopped.

Here is a small sampling of the media coverage:


  1. Proposed boycott of Israeli goods divides co-op - Latest from the ...

    - 2 visits - 10/6/07
    Aug 30, 2007 ... The last couple of times the People's Food Co-op of Ann Arbor ... It all started last winter when a few shoppers noticed some Israeli couscous for sale. ... stood outside the co-op and collected about 600 signatures of ...
    blog.mlive.com/annarbornews/.../proposed_boycott_of_israeli_go.html - Cached - Similar -
  2. Co-op will release boycott vote results next week - Latest from ...

    But those wondering whether members of the People's Food Co-op in Ann Arbor have decided to boycott Israeli products must wait until next Thursday's co-op ...
    blog.mlive.com/annarbornews/.../coop_will_release_boycott_vote.html - Cached - Similar -
    More results from blog.mlive.com »
  3. portland imc - 2007.08.30 - Israel faces boycott at People's Food ...

    They are upset that the People's Food Co-op is carrying Israeli couscous." The last couple of times the People's Food Co-op of Ann Arbor held a boycott, ... called Boycott Israeli Goods, stood outside the co-op and collected about 600 ...
    portland.indymedia.org/en/2007/08/364437.shtml - Cached - Similar -
  4. Boycott Israel [IslamCity] "Proposed boycott of Israeli goods ...

    The pair are heading a group from Ann Arbor called B.I.G., Boycott Israeli Goods. They are upset that the People's Food Co-op is carrying Israeli couscous." ...
    www.mail-archive.com/...com/msg13239.html - Cached - Similar -
  5. Arbor Update: People's Food CoOp Election Results

    Ann Arbor Area Community News. ... Ditto, and to celebrate I'm gonna get me some yummeh Israeli couscous and support the ...... and “People's Food Co-op Election Results” not “Boycott, boycott, boycott! .... I won't let the 600+ Co-op members who supported the petition calling for boycott on the ballot down. ...
    arborupdate.com/article/.../peoples-food-coop-election-results - Cached - Similar -
  6. Arbor Update: People's Food CoOp Elections

    Rather than say welcome to the Co-op or welcome to Ann Arbor, I'll just say welcome to ..... Well, the members of the People's Food Co-op as well as of this ... I recall the argument two years ago that boycotting couscous would ...... Lowenstein finished in last place about 600 votes beind the third place loser ...
    arborupdate.com/article/1802/peoples-food-coop-elections - Cached - Similar -
    More results from arborupdate.com »
  7. ann arbor is overrated. » Blog Archive » Get Your Shovels, Hammers ...

    I want to know when the news about the boycott of Isreali goods at the People's ... I felt abused and treat very poorly so LET'S BOYCOTT The People's Food Co-op! .... vote against making the PFC board hunt down all the evil Israeli couscous. ... Just because the protesters collected 600 or so sigs to have the issue ...
    www.annarborisoverrated.com/.../get-your-shovels-hammers-and-might-march-to-the-stream-and-see-your-property-values-rise-over... - Cached - Similar -
  8. ann arbor is overrated. - Comments on Get Your Shovels, Hammers ...

    Ok they really sucked as an employer and I felt abused and treat very poorly so LET'S BOYCOTT The People's Food Co-op!! Asses! ...
    www.annarborisoverrated.com/?comments_popup=2040 - Cached - Similar -
  9. Muslamics: B.I.G. campaign against Israeli products in Ann Arbor

    [LON HORWEDEL/ANN ARBOR NEWS]. It all started last winter when a few shoppers noticed some Israeli couscous for sale. They formed a group called Boycott ...
    muslamics.blogspot.com/.../big-campaign-against-israeli-products.html - Cached - Similar -
  10. Window Into Palestine: "Pushing in Ann Arbor for boycott of Israel"

    ANN ARBOR — The People's Food Co-op is no longer just a grocery store. ... campaign to boycott Israel was initiated when a product called "Israeli Couscous" ...
    windowintopalestine.blogspot.com/.../pushing-in-ann-arbor-for-boycott-of.html - Cached - Similar -


"...The motion to boycott Israeli goods started this summer when Boycott Israeli Goods proposed a referendum to the co-op's board. The group aimed to protest what it said was cruel treatment of the Palestinian people by the Israeli government.

"Although the co-op's Board of Directors rejected the proposed referendum, the group collected 600 signatures - enough to force a vote by co-op members. A majority of the votes was needed to implement the ban..."


_______________________



Pro-Palestinian group sues, and wins, to stop French company from building railroad for Israel.


"Veolia loses 7.5 billion due to Boycott Divestment Sanctions:

"Israel rail operator quits under boycott pressure"

On the Web at:

http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2009/06/08/75238.html

Boycott Divestment Sanctions campaigns in Europe forced Veolia to back out on rail way deal in Israel
Boycott Divestment Sanctions campaigns in Europe forced Veolia to back out on rail way deal in Israel


CAIRO (Marwa Awad)


A European corporation scrapped Monday a rail way project that was to be built on occupied Palestinian territory to link Israeli settlers after a global boycott campaign succeeded in mounting enough pressure on the company to cost it considerable losses.

Veolia Transport, a subsidiary of the French multinational company Veolia Environnement, abandoned a multi-million dollar project that was to build an urban train system linking Jewish settlers in east Jerusalem with those in the West Bank, Israel's left-leaning Haaretz reported.

Veolia has been trying to sell its five percent stake in Citypass, the light rail consortium overlooking the whole project, and toss the project to other transportation companies. But reneging on the long term government contract will prove difficult because any change in ownership structure needs Tel Aviv's permission.

"Veolia usually signs long term contracts with governments for infrastructure and waste management projects and these can go up to 25 years," Tom Hayes, from Boycott Israeli Goods (BIG) in the U.K. , told Al Arabiya.

Veolia Transport lost billions as boycott divestment sanctions campaigns filed lawsuits against it

The light rail tramway system would connect east Jerusalem settlements such as Pisgat Ze'ev, French Hill, Neve Ya'akov and Gilo to larger settlements in the West Bank like Ma’aleh Adumim, in a massive network that was set to improve settler traffic, according to BIG and Haaretz.

Once built, the rail system would give Israel a firmer grip on east Jerusalem, which under international law is considered illegally occupied, and tie the settlements even more firmly into the state of Israel.

While the complete rail way system consisting of eight lines is set for completion in 2020, the first line was due to open in 2010.

Top

Boycott victory

" This is the first smashing and convincing victory of the global Boycott Divestment Sanctions movement in the field of corporate responsibility and ethical compliance "
Omar Bargouti, BDS in Palestine



The company's participation in the construction and future operation of the tramway drew the ire of advocacy groups around the world, which campaigned against Veolia’s breach of international law.

“This is the first smashing and convincing victory of the global Boycott Divestment Sanctions movement in the field of corporate responsibility and ethical compliance,” Omar Barghouti, head of the Boycott Divestment Sanctions, a global campaign started in 2004 against Israel for building its separation wall, said in a statement.

Two months ago a French court heard a lawsuit by a pro-Palestinian group linked to the sanctions campaign in France and demanded the light rail project be halted.

The organization based itself on an article in French law that allows the court to void business agreements, signed by French companies, which violate international law.

The lawsuit is among other campaigns including a Dutch one that convinced a Dutch bank to divest from Veolia for violating international law, has cost the company a huge loss of $7 billion in contracts.

Swedish Palestine solidarity groups have also campaigned against Veolia, resulting in a loss of $4.5 billion in contracts for running the Stockholm metro.

British solidarity groups and activists affiliated with the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, succeeded in excluding Veolia from a lucrative contract in the West Midlands.

Many United Nations resolutions and the 2004 Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice on the separation wall, which rights groups call and Apartheid wall, have slammed Israeli settlements and the annexation of east Jerusalem as a violation of international law.

Settlements violate Article 49 of the 4th Geneva Convention and recently American President Obama demanded Tel Aviv stop its settlement expansion.

BIG is currently campaigning at six local councils two of which are in Birmingham and Hampshire to prevent Veolia Transport from undertaking a contract for building cycling paths throughout the kingdom.



____________________________________________

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Trader Joe's grocery store is urged to "stop carrying Israeli products or products manufactured in Israel"


Part of the National Day to De-Shelve Israeli products.

Check out the event page on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=571260072&ref=name#/group.php?gid=86106513889&ref=ts


June 6, 2009


Don Bane, Chairman and CEO Doug Rauch, President Charles J. Pilliter, SVP Operations Trader Joe’s Main Headquarters 800 S. Shamrock Ave. Monrovia, CA 91016


Dear Mr. Bane, Mr. Rauch and Mr. Pilliter,


As people of conscience, we believe that business corporations need to uphold ethical standards that are consistent with the principles of human rights and support of justice and equality, locally and globally. Trader Joe’s is a company with a reputation for bringing foods from around the world to offer U.S. customers the chance to enjoy a diversity of products. In doing so, however, we think that Trader Joe’s should not be complicit in promoting occupation, ethnic cleansing, massacres, and apartheid.


We ask that you stop carrying Israeli products or products manufactured in Israel that are distributed in the U.S. (for example, “Israeli Couscous”). We are part of a growing international movement of ordinary people from around the world, from Ireland and France to Norway and Canada, that does not want to buy consumer products that help fund an economy based on illegal occupation and apartheid.


We have been dismayed to see that Trader Joe’s is still selling Israeli products, despite the international outcry against the Israeli massacre in Gaza this winter. In addition, the names of products such as “Israeli Couscous” are offensive as they allow a state that was created sixty years ago, through dispossession and illegal occupation, to claim a type of couscous that was traditionally produced by Palestinians and other Arabs for generations. This is racist advertising for cultural theft and does not befit a store that wishes to promote diversity, equality, or sustainability.


We are writing to ask you to not carry Israeli products for the following key reasons, among others:


1. Israel engages in the oppression of Palestinians and ethnic cleansing of Palestinian people, including the continued theft of Palestinian land for the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements and construction of the Segregation Wall (see www.btselem.org, www.whoprofits.org, www.stopthewall.org for information about these violations of international law).


2. Israel has violated over 80 resolutions of the United Nations, including Resolution 194, which affirms the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes, and Resolution 242, which called for an immediate end to the occupation of the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem in 1967.


3. Israel has recently committed war crimes in Gaza, killing over 1,400 civilians in indiscriminate air strikes, including at least 400 children, and using a banned chemical weapon (white phosphorous) against civilians in heavily populated areas.


4. More than 20 Israeli state laws discriminate against non-Jews, restricting their rights to own property, hold citizenship, move freely, and participate in elections. Bishop Desmond Tutu and former South African President Nelson Mandela, as well as the Jewish South African Ronnie Kasrils, have all stated that Israeli law and oppression of the Palestinian people is comparable to the South African system of apartheid.


5. Israel’s appropriation of land and resources has also done irreparable harm to the environment, for example, through mass uprooting of ancient olive trees, theft of water, building of settlements, expansion of the wall cutting through farms, and destruction of traditional ways of life that had sustained the environment for centuries through indigenous knowledge.


Palestinians have called on the global community to engage in boycott and divestment, an effective non-violent strategy helped end South African apartheid. In 2005, a broad coalition of Palestinian civil society groups issued a call for the international community to stand up against Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian lands and discriminatory laws by participating in a consumer boycott of Israeli goods and services. The boycott puts pressure on Israeli companies whose exports are linked to some of the most obvious aspects of Israeli occupation and apartheid.


The call of the Palestinian movement for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions states:


“We, representatives of Palestinian civil society, call upon international civil society organizations and people of conscience all over the world to impose broad boycotts and implement divestment initiatives against Israel similar to those applied to South Africa in the apartheid era. We appeal to you to pressure your respective states to impose embargoes and sanctions against Israel. We also invite conscientious Israelis to support this Call, for the sake of justice and genuine peace.


“These non-violent principled measures should be maintained until Israel meets its obligation to recognize the Palestinian people’s inalienable right to self-determination and fully complies with the precepts of international law by:


1. Ending its occupation and colonization of all Arab lands and dismantling the Wall;


2. Recognizing the fundamental rights of the Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel to full equality; and


3. Respecting, protecting and promoting the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties as stipulated in UN resolution 194.”


For full text of the call and more information, see http://www.bdsmovement.net/


We know that Trader Joe’s carries Israeli Couscous and Pastures of Eden Feta cheese, both produced in Israel. However, we also believe that other products carried under Trader Joe’s private label may be repackaged Israeli products.


As conscientious people and customers of Trader Joe’s, we urge you to de-shelve Israeli products, at least until Israel meets its obligations under international law. **


Sincerely,

Yasmin Qureshi, San Jose, CA


Endorsed by:

South Bay Mobilization http://southbaymobilization.org/


*************


Email me at yfatimah [at] yahoo.com if you would like to sign and/or have your organization endorse it latest by June 5, 10 pm PST. We will be mailing the letter on June 6. Please forward to others who might be interested in signing too.


Everyone is encouraged to do a follow up action at a store in their area on June 20, World Refugee Day which is also being observed as National Day to De-Shelve Israeli products. Check out the event page on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=571260072&ref=name#/group.php?gid=86106513889&ref=ts


_______________________________________


Boycotting Israeli Products at Large Supermarket:


Video:

"Arrests over Israel boycott in Tesco's"



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f729KqURQc4



Arrests over Israel boycott in Tesco's
3:36
[TRANSLATED] Arrests over Israel

At Trader Joe's: "Day of Deshelving Israeli Products"


"Day of Deshelving Israeli Products"

in honor of World Refugee Day

Host:
Type:
Network:
Global
Date:
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Time:
1:00am - 11:00pm
Location:
You choose it
Email:

Description

Visit your local Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, Safeway, Andronico's or other food store of choice and take action to create awareness about the Israeli products on their shelves. Sticker! Shop-In! Flier! Table! Sing! Dance! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f729KqURQc4