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BDS campaign... still working!
Wed, 2013-05-08 22:57
#1
BDS campaign... still working!
Wed, 2013-05-08 22:58
#2
[url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/may/08/stephen-hawking-israel-acade... Hawking joins academic boycott of Israel[/url]
Professor Stephen Hawking is backing the academic boycott of Israel by pulling out of a conference hosted by Israeli president Shimon Peres in Jerusalem as a protest at Israel's treatment of Palestinians.Hawking, 71, the world-renowned theoretical physicist and former Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge, had accepted an invitation to headline the fifth annual president's conference, Facing Tomorrow, in June, which features major international personalities, attracts thousands of participants and this year will celebrate Peres's 90th birthday.
Hawking is in very poor health, but last week he wrote a brief letter to the Israeli president to say he had changed his mind. He has not announced his decision publicly, but a statement published by the British Committee for the Universities of Palestine with Hawking's approval described it as "his independent decision to respect the boycott, based upon his knowledge of Palestine, and on the unanimous advice of his own academic contacts there".
Tim Holt, the acting communications director at the University of Cambridge, falsely tried to attribute the cancellation to "health reasons".
Although his lie spread quickly, it was short-lived. The original story was confirmed, and Holt was forced to apologize and retract his attempts to de-politicize Professor Hawking's principled decision.
[url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/05/08/a-brief-history-of-step... Brief History of Hawking’s Boycott[/url]
Thu, 2013-05-09 11:11
#3
I apologize in advance for linking to this article about the fascist abuse which has been levelled at Prof. Hawking for taking his stand of principle:
[url=http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/397945/Outrage-over-disgusting-cripp... over disgusting 'cripple Stephen Hawking' jokes after he joins boycott of Israel[/url]
Thu, 2013-05-09 11:46
#4
"Hawking's decision to join the boycott of Israel is quite hypocritical for an individual who prides himself on his own intellectual accomplishment. His whole computer-based communication system runs on a chip designed by Israel's Intel team. I suggest that if he truly wants to pull out of Israel he should also pull out his Intel Core i7 from his tablet" – this according to Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, director of Shurat HaDin – Israel Law Center.
Since 1997, Hawking's computer-based system has been sponsored and provided by Intel. His latest computer is based on an Intel Core i7 Processor. The Core micro architecture was designed by Israel's Intel team that previously designed the Pentium M mobile processor.
Thu, 2013-05-09 12:23
#5
"I have a suggestion," Plaut wrote on Wednesday, in a reference to the wheelchair-bound Nobel Laureate, and to a 1985 incident in which Palestinian gunmen commandeered an Italian cruise ship, murdering a disabled American Jewish passenger, and throwing his body overboard: "I suggest that the people of Israel send Hawking for a free trip on the Achille Lauro!!"http://www.haaretz.com/blogs/a-special-place-in-hell/targeting-hawking-a...
Thu, 2013-05-09 13:04
#6
"Hawking's decision to join the boycott of Israel is quite hypocritical for an individual who prides himself on his own intellectual accomplishment. His whole computer-based communication system runs on a chip designed by Israel's Intel team. I suggest that if he truly wants to pull out of Israel he should also pull out his Intel Core i7 from his tablet" – this according to Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, director of Shurat HaDin – Israel Law Center.
Since 1997, Hawking's computer-based system has been sponsored and provided by Intel. His latest computer is based on an Intel Core i7 Processor. The Core micro architecture was designed by Israel's Intel team that previously designed the Pentium M mobile processor.
Character assassination - of a disabled person - is one of the high-tech methods which only brilliant Israeli scientists could have pioneered.
In this case, it's Shurat HaDin - the hilariously named "Israel Law Center" - whose main activity in life is to stage heavily-funded SLAPP suits against anyone who dares to criticize their bloodthirsty sponsors, the racist Israeli state.
Even Wired magazine got sucked in by these two-bit gangsters. Look at this:
[url=http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-05/8/hawking-israel-boycott]Isr... activist group: Hawking should boycott Intel as well as Israel[/url]
The initial headline read "Israeli civil rights group". Then there's this update:
Updated 09/05/2013: The article has been updated to offer more detail about the Israeli Law Center as there is some dispute as to whether it can be described as a civil rights group (as it describes itself). We have amended the headline to read "Israeli activist group".
Thanks, Mr.Tea, for pouring anti-disability pro-Zionist toxic waste on our discussion forum, as usual.
Thu, 2013-05-09 13:18
#7
Catchfire
I do admire Mr. Tea's position that the BDS should expand its horizons. Glad to have him on board.
Too bad about the character assassination of one of the greatest minds in the last fifty years.
Thu, 2013-05-09 13:26
#8
I thought it was another good reason to avoid buying anything Intel makes.
Thu, 2013-05-09 13:33
#9
"Hawking's decision to join the boycott of Israel is quite hypocritical for an individual who prides himself on his own intellectual accomplishment. His whole computer-based communication system runs on a chip designed by Israel's Intel team. I suggest that if he truly wants to pull out of Israel he should also pull out his Intel Core i7 from his tablet" – this according to Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, director of Shurat HaDin – Israel Law Center.
Since 1997, Hawking's computer-based system has been sponsored and provided by Intel. His latest computer is based on an Intel Core i7 Processor. The Core micro architecture was designed by Israel's Intel team that previously designed the Pentium M mobile processor.
You know, I've never understood this argument. I'm sure someone will point out my moral inconsistency and hypocrisy, but the point of the boycott is to pressure Israel into respecting the human, democratic, and national rights of the Palestinian people. BDS is a tactic. Stephen Hawking pulling out of an academic conference uses the tactic to support the goal.
eta: Cross-posted with Unionist, kropotkin, and Catchfire.
Thu, 2013-05-09 13:38
#10
Oh please. It's not about "character assasination". Hawking is obviously a brilliant mind and I'm sure of high character. He can boycott Israel to his heart's content. But if you're gonna boycott Israel, go all the way. It's the old saying "It's not a principle until it costs you something."
Thu, 2013-05-09 14:52
#11
Oh please. It's not about "character assasination". Hawking is obviously a brilliant mind and I'm sure of high character. He can boycott Israel to his heart's content. But if you're gonna boycott Israel, go all the way. It's the old saying "It's not a principle until it costs you something."
I don't agree, actually. I think people should take stands in ways that they feel they can, and base it on what is the best decision in that situation.
I'm glad to see that Hawking decided to take this stand, because it is certainly making people recognize the seriousness of the issue.
If on the other hand if he had made the decision that going to Israel was more important, I wouldn't see it as my place to criticize him for it.
And I'm sure not going to give him advice about paying a price to take a stand.
Picking your allies based on points of disagreement rather than common cause, and lectures about what they need to do in the interest of purity is a sure way to get nothing done.
Or maybe we should insist that all hunger strikers, for example, take it all the way, or it doesn't have any meaning.
(edit)
Your assertion also is based on the question of who owns technology, the common body of knowledge, and culture. Sorry, but I don't think anyone should cut their nose off to serve that sophistric argument.
Thu, 2013-05-09 15:02
#12
It's time to out my own hypocrisy.
I do not consciously use products from Israel.
However, I pay taxes to the Harper Government even though some of that money goes to it's own imperial policies as well as wholehearted collaboration, economic and political with the state of Israel while it pursues its policy of ethnic cleansing.
I could be pure and stand by my principles not pay taxes and go to jail. I have chosen the easy way.
Further hypocrisy:
Additionally, I have a little money in a bank account which probably would include, in whatever unknown re-investment schemes it uses, some Isreali investments.
Further hypocrisy:
Additionally, like most people, I use a computer which, even if it doesn't use a Intel processor chip directly, includes intel x86 design elements. Intel not only has design teams in Israel it has built plants on illegally occupied land. (Whereas Hawkings alleged "hypocrisy" bothers his critics, they courageously avoid hypocrisy by finding nothing wrong with Intel's occupation).
In my feeble defense, it is hard to imagine anyone in modern society, regardless of what ethical positions they hold, that are not in some way compromised by living in society---hypocrisy, if you will.
Hawking has openly taken an ethical stand on the academic boycott and now it has cost him an unrelenting shitsteam of abuse from the apologists for ethnic cleansing. They have discovered he uses a communication chip designed by Intel.
Thu, 2013-05-09 15:12
#13
Gee Mr. Tea, I hope you have never taken an asprin because it was patented by a company that worked hand in hand with you know who.
Thu, 2013-05-09 15:16
#14
Catchfire
Oh please. It's not about "character assasination".
Impugning someone's moral character because of some trumped-up and disingenuous construction of the proper way (not just practically, but spiritually!) to exercise a boycott is most certainly character assassination.
But of course, that has nothing to do with what Hawking is doing, which, as Ripple pointed out, is quite simple:
the point of the boycott is to pressure Israel into respecting the human, democratic, and national rights of the Palestinian people. BDS is a tactic. Stephen Hawking pulling out of an academic conference uses the tactic to support the goal.
Also: hi Ripple!
Thu, 2013-05-09 16:59
#15
If, in the wake of the factory collapse in Bangladesh, one decided to boycott shirts produced by Joe Fresh but continued to buy pants produced by Joe Fresh, would that not be inconsistent? If Joe Fresh deserves to be boycotted, should that not include shirts as well as pants? And if Israel deserves to be boycotted, should that not include conferences as well as microchips?
Thu, 2013-05-09 17:08
#16
If all "hypocrites" like Prof. Hawking caused as much kneejerk frenzy on the part of Zionist apologists, I would personally endorse "HYPOCRISY" along with BDS as one of the potent weapons to destroy this colonial apartheid system.
Long live hypocrisy! Down with the occupation, aggression, ethnic cleansing, and apartheid!
Thu, 2013-05-09 17:10
#17
Catchfire
Indeed, your artificial and unrealistic analogy hath disarmed us all! Well played, gent!
Mr. Tea, I'm going to ask you not to post in this thread anymore. I find your posts disingenuous and diversionary. Thanks!
Thu, 2013-05-09 17:38
#18
Ripple pegged it.
You use tactics that work to press your opponent to achieve your goal.
YOU pick the tactic; and if there's something you don't want to engage in, or someone you want to allow across the line because it doesn't help achieve your goal, or hurts someone you don't want to hurt, that's your choice.Your opponent doesn't set the terms.
(and I'm not implying that Tea is the opponent here)
You DON'T let yourself get goaded into re-enacting Pickett's charge, Gallipoli, or anything else that hurts you more than your opponent and doesn't help achieve your goal.
That goad is just as much a tactic - against you.
It is that way for Hawking as it is for all of us on a personal level, just as it is for the organizers of any action.
Fri, 2013-05-10 17:07
#19
knownothing
Noam Chomsky helped lobby Stephen Hawking to stage Israel boycott
US professor Noam Chomsky expressed regret at Hawking's initial acceptance of invitation to speak at conference in Israel
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/may/10/noam-chomsky-stephen-hawking...
Fri, 2013-05-10 23:56
#20
Five Reasons Why Hawking is Right to Boycott Israel
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2013/05/20135953058699815.html
"Here are five reasons why Professor Hawking is right to boycott..."
Sat, 2013-05-11 02:57
#21
Left Turn
Noam Chomsky helped lobby Stephen Hawking to stage Israel boycottUS professor Noam Chomsky expressed regret at Hawking's initial acceptance of invitation to speak at conference in Israel
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/may/10/noam-chomsky-stephen-hawking...
I'd aruge that Hawking initially accepting to speak at the conference then pulling out of the conference after public pressure, is more effective than if he'd turned down the invitation to begin with. It gets way more media attention, it shows yet again that pressurin famous public figures to boycott works, and it allows the public to experience Hawking's paradigm shift where he realises that what Israel is doing is wrong and that he needs to take a stand.
More people will be moved to themselves take a stand because of the way this transpired.
"Hawking's decision to join the boycott of Israel is quite hypocritical for an individual who prides himself on his own intellectual accomplishment. His whole computer-based communication system runs on a chip designed by Israel's Intel team. I suggest that if he truly wants to pull out of Israel he should also pull out his Intel Core i7 from his tablet" – this according to Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, director of Shurat HaDin – Israel Law Center.Here's the thing. Intel computer chips are so ubiquitous, they're in such a high percentage of computers, that if we got enough people to boycott Intel to the point where they took a big enough financial hit to affect their business practices, chances are there'd be a global economic downturn from the glut of unsold electronics. In many places it would ammount to asking people to stop buying computers. We can probably build a movement strong enough to defeat Israeli Aprtheid before we can get an Intel boycott to the point where it has a significant effect on Intel's bottom line.
Sun, 2013-05-12 01:19
#22
Stephen Hawking Joins Academic Boycott of Israel (and vid)
http://www.presstv.com/Program/302775.html
Comment with George Galloway MP...
Sun, 2013-05-12 15:07
#23
radiorahim
Here's the thing. Intel computer chips are so ubiquitous, they're in such a high percentage of computers, that if we got enough people to boycott Intel to the point where they took a big enough financial hit to affect their business practices, chances are there'd be a global economic downturn from the glut of unsold electronics. In many places it would ammount to asking people to stop buying computers. We can probably build a movement strong enough to defeat Israeli Aprtheid before we can get an Intel boycott to the point where it has a significant effect on Intel's bottom line.
Hawking lending his support to the academic boycott of Israel has been an important contribution towards Palestinian freedom. More than anyone else in the academic world could, he's drawing attention to the issue.
As for a boycott of Intel, that's another and more difficult nut to crack. Intel's only other competitor of consequence when it comes to CPU chips is Advanced Micro Devices (AMD). AMD also operates a research and development facility in Israel.
In the field of graphics processing units (GPU's) it's largely AMD (who bought out ATI) vs. Nvidia. Nvidia also has a presence in Israel. Intel also does graphics chips, but they're a distant third in the GPU market...and at least unlike AMD and Nvidia provide "free as in freedom" device drivers for their GPU's.
Broadcom, the company that supplied the GPU for the Raspberry Pi, also has a major presence in Israel.
Like clothing and textiles, the electronics industry is "dirty". It also goes where labour is cheap and repressed.
Sun, 2013-05-12 22:05
#24
I think BDSers would be wise to read Justin Raimondo's latest edito on Antiwar.com, Boycott Israel ? Also Uri Averny's latest on Counterpunch.org. Sanctions on South Africa may have preserved apartheit for an extra ten years. Sanctions on Israel may retard the final creation of a Palestinian state, as promised by the UN in '48 for much longer. We need to promote Palestine without bashing Israel. Sanctions feel good to the promoters but strengthen the targetted side. If Canada could only support Palestine like it does Israel.
Sun, 2013-05-12 22:38
#25
I read both articles. I still side with the strategy decided upon by 173 Palestinian civil society organizations, despite the reservations of a US libertarian and an Israeli activist.
Sun, 2013-05-12 22:44
#26
I think I'll continue to follow the call of the people living under occupation, thanks. http://www.bdsmovement.net/call
eta: cross-posted with oda.
Sun, 2013-05-12 22:53
#27
Sanctions on South Africa may have preserved apartheit for an extra ten years.
And without unions, every worker in Canada would own her own business and enjoy untold wealth!
Yeah, I know, the real truth is so hard to put out there.
Sat, 2013-07-13 02:42
#28
QuAIA Wants Vancouver Queer Film Fest to Boycott Israeli Films
http://dailyxtra.com/vancouver/news/quaia-wants-vancouver-queer-film-fes...
"QuAIA is concerned that such films promote 'pinkwashing' by holding up positive stories of queer lives in Israel to obscure the country's alleged human rights violations against others, particularly Palestinians.
Shana Myara, the festival's new programming director, says she has no plans to adopt QuAIA's proposed resolution to boycott Israeli filsm as part of the broader divest and sanctions (BDS) movement."
As well the Zios seek to further extend their influence into indigenous communities apparently..
"A recent meeting was held in a synagogue, a fact Linklater said wasn't problematic in itself, and a large part of the discussion focused on drawing comparisons between First Nations people and Jewish people, calling both indigenous.
'We probably had a good 45 minute lecture on the similarities between Israelis and the indigenous population and the parallels in our communities, whcih as really, really difficult to accept,' she said, adding that she was disturbed to see First Nations leaders taking up the narrative."
'ALLEGED human rights violations'??!! Zionization proceeds apace...
Tue, 2013-11-12 12:38
#29
SodaStream Boycott – Singing at display in London Drugs (video)
http://vancouver.mediacoop.ca/video/sodastream-boycott-%E2%80%93-singing...
BOYCOTT SODASTREAM
“We Palestinian workers in this factory always feel like we are enslaved.” -- SodaStream employee
The Solidarity Notes Labour Choir & others gathered outside London Drugs in downtown Vancouver to mark the start of the Boycott Sodastream campaign. Around the world, groups are now boycotting this company, with the aim of pressuring Israel to obey international law and respect Palestinian human rights. http://canadianboycottcoalition.ca/
This demonstration is part of the Canada-wide SodaStream boycott campaign of the Canadian Boycott Coalition. Local members of this coalition are Independent Jewish Voices (Vancouver) and the Boycott Israeli Apartheid Campaign (BIAC).
Tue, 2013-11-26 03:19
#30
BDS: Day of Rage 30.11
http://hosted.verticalresponse.com/385137/7a81b1a343/1473002215/1ecfd5c870/
"The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement has put out a call for a Day of Rage and action against the Prawer Plan and the Jewish National Fund, a funder and leader in the event..."
NEGEV Dinner 2013: Stephen Harper
http://toronto.jnf.ca/negev2013/
Sunday, December 1, 2013 Metro Toronto Convention Centre
"JNF Toronto is honoured to have this extraordinary world leader as our 2013 honouree.."
Sat, 2014-02-15 03:18
#31
120 - Plus Irish Academics in Anti-Israel Boycott
http://www.presstv.com/detail/2014/02/15/350786/irish-academics-in-antii...
"More than 120 Irish academics have boycotted Israeli academic, research and the regime's institutions in response to Tel Aviv's contravention of international law..."
and how many Canadian academics? Anyone know?
Thu, 2014-07-03 13:30
#32
[url=http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/rapper-talib-kweli-take... Talib Kweli takes stand for Palestine, cancels Israel gig[/url]
Thu, 2014-08-21 09:31
#33
Okay, now we're talking:
[url=http://www.vancouversun.com/News/canada/Ontario+student+unions+vote+join... student unions vote to join boycott against Israel[/url]
The Ontario branch of the Canadian Federation of Students, representing more than 300,000 university students in the province, has unanimously passed a motion to boycott Israel.
Executive member Anna Goldfinch says the motion to join the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (or BDS) Movement in support of Palestine received no opposition at its annual general meeting last weekend.
She says the resolution — put forward by the Ryerson Students’ Union — “endorses a number of solidarity tactics that have been called for by Palestinian civil society.”
RSU president Rajean Hoilett says he is calling for university and colleges in Ontario to not “remain complicit” through investments and ties with academic institutions that support or profit from what he terms “Israeli war crimes.”
The CFS will now come under the most scurrilous and dirty attacks for its stand - just like Sid Ryan did when he came out for BDS 8 years ago. Just like anti-Israel apartheid activists did when all parties at Queen's Park backed a censure motion against them, including Cheri DiNovo who then spoke for the NDP in Andrea's absence from the house.
We should make sure that they know progressive people everywhere support their stand. This could be the continuation of something big.
Thu, 2014-08-21 10:07
#34
I've changed my opinion about the BDS campaign from a few years ago, or rather, it has been changed by the information that has been made available.
Thu, 2014-08-21 19:17
#35
Good news. "Something big" is most definitely urgently needed soon before momentum is lost and we simply end up with more side trips to Ramallah by way of 'balance'...
University of Regina Business School Confirms: Open to Partnerships with Israel
http://www.cija.ca/centre-publications/media/u-of-regina-business-school...
"...the school remains open to partnerships with Israel, rejects 'any blanket exclusion of Israeli institutions' and maintains a perspective consistent with the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada's (AUCC) formal agreement to deepen ties with Israeli academics and institutions..."
ps drift - with 2,000 dead Novrossyans, and hundreds of thousands fleeing to Russia - ethnically cleansed via the same kind of bombing of civilians, perhaps Ukraine should be added to the BDS list.
Fri, 2014-08-22 17:51
#36
CIJA: Press Release on CFS-Ontario BDS Motion
http://www.cija.ca/centre-publications/media/cfs-ontario-bds-motion/
"While the CFS can pass a meaningless resolution behind closed doors, boycott calls continue to be rejected by university administrations,' said July Zelikovitz, VP of University and Local Partner Services at CIJA.
'Not a single university in North America has endorsed a boycott of Israel. Across Canada, universities have been strengthening, not reducing, ties with Israeli schools."
If so, this must change.
Fri, 2014-10-10 22:53
#37
‘Tip of the BDS iceberg': Kuwait excludes Veolia from $750m contract
The Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions National Committee (BNC) warmly welcomes the decision by the Kuwait City Municipality exclude the French company Veolia from a huge solid waste management contract, valued at $750 million, citing the BNC appeal to that affect. Basing its decision on Veolia’s complicity in Israeli projects that violate international law, the municipality also decided to exclude Veolia from “all future projects.”
According to reliable sources in Kuwait, following this humiliating defeat, Veolia was compelled to withdraw from a tender for a project to expand the “Um Al-Haiman” waste water treatment station after qualifying for it. The project is valued at about $1.5 billion.
Even before this total loss of contracts worth $2.25B, Veolia had already lost or had to pull out of tenders worth approximately $24 billion, mainly in the UK, Sweden, Ireland and the U.S....
Sat, 2014-11-08 20:40
#38
JDL Disrupts BDS Event at OISE
http://jdl-canada.com/2014/11/07/u-of-t-graduate-students-union-cries-wo...
"Members of the Jewish Defence League confronted the Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid at OISE College at the University of Toronto..."
see also #35 - Zios counterattack
Thu, 2014-11-13 15:31
#39
Bay Area activists declare victory after Israeli carrier cancels all ships
On 28 October, San Francisco Bay Area activists organizing to block the unloading of Israeli shipping vessels declared their most significant victory yet: Israel’s Zim Integrated Shipping Services appears to have cancelled all future shipments to the Oakland Port.
This past summer, at the peak of Israel’s brutal bombardment of Gaza, the Bay Area’s Arab Resource and Organizing Center (AROC) mobilized the community in response to the military assault. Deciding to focus on a tangible, highly-visible and big-money target, the group set its sights on Israel’s Zim lines, determined to block the company every time it tried to dock a ship at the busy Port of Oakland.
But they didn’t know it would take only three months to send Israel’s largest shipping company packing — possibly for good — in what looks like an effort to avoid the tireless activists who have consistently out-maneuvered the cargo ships...
http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/charlotte-silver/bay-area-activists-...
Wed, 2015-03-25 12:45
#40
Canada's McMaster Students Side With Anti-Israel Campaign
http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2015/03/25/403323/Canadian-students-vote-t...
"The McMaster University students in Hamilton, Canada have voted to boycott Israel over its decades long occupation of Palestinian territories."
Sun, 2015-04-26 14:45
#41
[size=20]HUGE NEWS - Please Share![/size]
I can't believe I forgot to post this here when it happened (April 14):
[url=http://www.csn.qc.ca/web/csn/communique/-/ap/COMM13-04-2015?p_p_state=ma...ébec's largest labour federation (CSN) joins BDS movement![/url]
No English version as far as I know, so here goes my version:
Delegates of the federations and central councils of the Confédération des syndicats nationaux (CSN) voted to join the international Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) campaign against Israel.The CSN responds in solidarity to the appeal launched in July 2014 by Palestinian trade unions, who want to intensify the peaceful movement born in 2005 aimed at bringing Israel to respect international law, end the military occupation of Gaza and the West Bank, respect the rights of Palestinian refugees, and stop racial discrimination against Palestinian citizens of Israel. The CSN thus joins with 26 other organizations in Coalition BDS-Québec and hundreds of others around the world.
"For decades, Israel has been shamelessly and violently pursuing a policy of colonization of Palestinian territories and trampling on international law as regards the Palestinian people", said CSN vice-president Jean Lacharité. "We want the BDS campaign to succeed in making Israel and its allies listen to reason - which hundreds of UN resolutions and a multitude of diplomatic approaches for justice and peace have failed to do."
Canada, "Israel's best friend"
In the CSN's view, the BDS compaign needs to be particularly active in Canada and Québec, because of the deep links between the Harper government and the Israeli government. "In recent years, the unconditional support given by the Conservatives to Israel and its apartheid policies has been embarrassing", said Jean Lacharité. "They are now trying to connect this campaign with anti-Semitism, whereas the BDS campaign is peaceful and recognizes Israel's right to exist within its pre-1967 borders. It is our responsibility to be in solidarity with the Palestinian people and trade unions by conducting this non-violent campaign for respect for human rights in this region of the world."
Objectives of BDS
The organizations supporting the international BDS campaign ask:
1. A halt to all import of Israeli products and all export of goods, cultural productions, or academic activities to Israel.
2. Withdrawal of investment in Israeli bonds and in companies and banks complicit in the Israeli occupation and the violation of human rights.
3. Support the call of Palestinian groups for a military embargo against Israel.
4. Disseminate to our members information about the siege and destruction of Gaza, and ask them to boycott Israeli products and share this information with their family, fellow workers, and friends.
In the months to come, besides participating in the activities of Coalition BDS-Québec, the CSN will wage a campaign among its members to inform them of the objectives of the international BDS movement.
The CSN represents about 325,000 workers in all sectors in almost 2,000 union locals throughout Québec.
Mon, 2015-04-27 05:46
#42
Organizations Across Canada Oppose Government Efforts To Criminalize Criticism of Israel
http://mondoweiss.net/2015/04/organizations-government-criminalize
"In what appears to be another attempt to suppress criticism of Israel, the Canadian government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Israel...and declares that Canada will oppose those who support the BDS movement..."
Thu, 2015-05-07 15:24
#43
Justin Trudeau won't be happy about all this BDS stuff going down on campus. Nor will Harper or Mulcair. But that's life. Keep commanding the waves to recede.
[size=20]MORE GREAT NEWS![/size] Sorry if I missed it last week, and not sure if it's been reported in another thread:
[url=http://www.pacbi.org/etemplate.php?id=2704]CUPE Local 3902 Endorses Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against Israel[/url]
In a landslide vote at its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Monday 27 April 2015, the Canadian Union for Public Employees (CUPE) Local 3902 voted to endorse the global campaign for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel.CUPE 3902 represents over 7,000 teaching assistants, course instructors, and sessional faculty at the University of Toronto. This vote comes on the heels of the union’s Unit 1 strike earlier this year.
"After impassioned debate, members present at the CUPE 3902 Annual General Meeting on April 27 showed their strong support for the BDS campaign,” said Erin Black, CUPE 3902 chairperson. She added, "The motion of support was carried by a very clear majority.”
Wed, 2015-05-20 13:15
#44
Murray Dobbin in The Tyee:
[url=http://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2015/05/15/Rogue-State-Israel/]What to Do about Rogue State Israel? Boycott It[/url]
Far from being an outrage and an expression of the "new anti-Semitism" the BDS campaign is a non-violent movement, which seeks to put a high financial price on the continued and flagrant violation of international law by a rogue state.
To participate, go to Canadian Boycott Coalition for Justice in Palestine/Israel. For a list of products to boycott go here.
Thu, 2015-05-21 13:20
#45
ikosmos
Andrew Weaver, Green Party MLA for Oak Bay-Gordon Head (Victoria BC) seems to be trying to bully the BDS movement into silence on Vancouver Island. Considering the Green Party's defence of free speech and civil liberties, this is an ugly disgrace.
Drivers along the Patricia Bay highway between Victoria and the Swartz Bay ferry terminal on Vancouver Island are familiar with a stretch of closely-packed billboards promoting a range of businesses, charities and social causes. For example, local supporters of Cuban friendship and solidarity often rented a billboard site at this location near Mt. Newton Cross Road, as part of the ultimately successful campaign to free the Five Cuban Heroes from U.S. jails.Most recently, the Victoria Friends of Cuba joined with the Victoria Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid for a similar project. On May 3, the groups erected a billboard condemning the Israeli state’s racist treatment of Palestinians, along the same stretch of highway owned by the nearby Tsawout First Nation. This band earns important revenue from these billboards, but the business side of the arrangement is contracted out to a few independent companies. As in the past, this deal was signed with the Direct Marketing Group operated by Robert Lynn, who has no role in the content of the billboards.
But on this occasion, “controversy” suddenly erupted. Just four days later, Robert Lynn contacted Randy Caravaggio of the Victoria Friends of Cuba, regarding a letter complaining that the billboard was offensive and hateful, and requesting its removal. The complaint was not from an ordinary citizen, but from Andrew Weaver, the Green Party MLA for the neighbouring constituency of Oak Bay-Gordon Head.
What's noteworthy here is that Green MLA Weaver took the approach of trying to silence those who arranged for the billboard, by contacting the person who rents the space rather than the authors of the billboard directly.
Responding directly to Andrew Weaver (a climate scientist who became the first Green elected to the BC Legislature in 2013), Caravaggio and Edwin Daniel of the Victoria Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid asked, “on what basis did you send your letter of complaint about the content of our billboard to Mr. Lynn? Mr. Lynn had nothing to do with the content of the billboard. He simply rents billboard spaces to anyone who wants to erect a billboard and makes a living from it… We believe that the reason you sent it to Mr. Lynn was that you as an MLA thought you could pressure or sway Mr. Lynn to tell us to remove the billboard. If this is the case (if it isn’t please explain), we can only say that your action is entirely inappropriate in an open and democratic society. To use your office and position as an MLA to bully someone to silence debate and quash our freedom of speech is abusive to say the least. Why could you not simply have contacted us to discuss it? We are the ones fully responsible for the billboard and its content. Our name and contact are clearly visible on the billboard. We hid nothing. So why use this sneaky unprofessional manner to try to silence us?”
Mon, 2015-06-01 22:14
#46
Adelson To Host Secret Anti-BDS Fundraiser Strategy Summit
http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-world-news/1.659137
"Leading Jewish mega-donors have summoned pro-Israel activists for a closed-door meeting in Las Vegas to establish, and fund, successful strategies for countering the wave of anti-Israel activity on college campuses.
The meeting taking place this weekend, will be hosted by casino billionaire Sheldon Adelson and was organized by several other top Jewish funders, including Hollywood entertainment mogul Haim Saban, Israeli-born real estate developer Adam Milstein AND CANADIAN BUSINESSWOMAN HEATHER REISMAN.*
The planned Vegas summit marks a shift in approach on the issue of anti-Israel activity on college campuses, whose growth in recent years has captured a top spot on the Jewish communal agenda..."
*DON'T buy books from her company INDIGO
Mon, 2015-06-01 22:25
#47
I'm so glad to read about the CSN and CUPE.
The secret meeting is important, but we must remember that some of the most hard-arsed Zionists here, starting with Harper, aren't Jewish.
Mon, 2015-06-01 22:30
#48
But we must also never forget that some of them are.
Sun, 2015-06-28 22:06
#49
The Centre For Israel and Jewish Affairs: Anti-BDS Measure Adopted By Congress in a Major Defeat For Israel Boycott Movement
http://www.cija.ca/bds/lauder-anti-bds-measures/
"The WORLD JEWISH CONGRESS (WJC) today hailed the US Senate's decision to approve a strong stand against the BDS movement included in the Fast Track trade bill.
'America's elected representatives today made it again clear that they stand with Israel and against BDS. This was a good day not just for Israel but for the US too,' said President RONALD S LAUDER..."
Zionization proceeds apace
Mon, 2015-07-06 09:37
#50
Rift in Foreign Ministry Prevents Effective Fight Against BDS
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4673256,00.html
"So for Israel, the key is actually making a clear distinction between the extremists and the rest. The goal is to divide them. And that means to be open to listen to criticism from moderate voices against the government in order to return the extremists back to their natural size...Incidentally, B'Tselem has already proven its contributions when it strongly criticized the Goldstone Report...."
How Israel subverts the Palestinian solidarity movement..
Tue, 2015-07-21 01:30
#51
10 Years Later, BDS Movement and Impact Still Spreading
http://www.rt.com/op-edge/310110-israel-palestine-boycott-rights/
"This month marks the 10-year anniversary of the BDS movement, in response to Israel's decades long occupation of Palestine and the humanitarian crisis that has been created as a result."
JVP Attack on Allison Weir: JVP Loses Its Balance
https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/msg10073.html
"...These comments are made for the movement, as a whole, which desperately needs internal criticism of its increasingly problematic and racist politics."