BDS -VPM
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Business reports suggest that Malaysia is still doing business on the quiet with Israel. Our decisive national policy on severing all forms of diplomatic ties with Israel should be similarly manifested in our business dealings with anything that is associated with Israel. And in light of the Israeli massacre of Gaza, we must be even more serious and affirmative of our policies with all business entities associated with Israel. Malaysia should follow the example of the more than 17 European Union countries that have issued warnings against doing business with Israeli settlements or companies in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/.premium-1.603030 At the same time, as Malaysian consumers, we can hold Israel accountable through the non-violent Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against Israel campaign.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAwPRjWUKd0&list=FLqeyHJhqw9ADs3HUYAbIbOg&index=12. There are various products from Israeli companies being sold in Malaysia, however, BDS Viva Palestina Malaysia has chosen to advance four selected consumer boycott campaigns, which our research has shown to be unequivocally complicit with Israel. Similar to the anti-apartheid movement of the 1980's, members of the BDS movement select campaigns after careful analysis and strategic considerations. Below find more information on the consumer boycott of Israeli products/companies and in particular how you can get involved in four BDS VPM endorsed consumer boycott campaigns. |
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SOME GUIDELINES ON ADVANCING THE BDS CONSUMER BOYCOTT |
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Always demand the country of origin of products that you are purchasing or services that you are paying for. A store is obligated to display the country of origin of the product or services. If the product is from an Israeli company, at the very least, do not buy it! But go further, campaign to have the retailer to stop selling that particular product. II. BDS IS ABOUT ACTIVELY GETTING INVOLVED The BDS consumer boycott against Israel is not only about refraining from purchasing products of an Israeli company (or products of international companies that are complicit in Israel's occupation and Apartheid). The BDS consumer boycott requires your active participation. BDS is not only about "refraining from products of an Israeli company" but also about "campaigning for stores not to stock those Israeli products". This pro-active and strategic approach has been successful in forcing supermarkets and stores across the world to terminate relations with Israeli companies.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZibH172cp4&list=UUqeyHJhqw9ADs3HUYAbIbOg Through focused and sustained campaigning we can force Malaysian stores, one by one, to terminate their relations with Israeli suppliers/companies. III. ISRAELI PRODUCTS VS. INTERNATIONAL COMPANIES Israeli companies: All Israeli companies and products of Israeli companies are boycottable. International companies: Several international companies operated in Apartheid South Africa during the 1980s. The international anti-apartheid movement did not start with a blanket boycott of all international companies at once but instead started campaigning initially against those companies most complicit in Apartheid South Africa. Campaigns were also selected based on achievability/viability in a specific country/city. Various international companies operate in Israel today but one can start with those companies that are most complicit in Israeli Apartheid and advance campaigns that are most achievable/viable within a particular country/city. Find more information on an international company's complicity in the Israeli system of occupation and apartheid on this website http://www.whoprofits.org/ IV. SELECTING TARGETS Trying to actively boycott the products of every single company that participates in Israeli apartheid is a daunting task that has a slim chance of having a concrete impact. It makes more sense to focus on optimal targets that are being targeted as part of national or international campaigns. Withdrawing consumer support for a product or company is most effective when they are part of a broader campaign against a particular product or aiming to pressure a retailer to stop selling a particular Israeli product. IV. BDS VIVA PALESTINA MALAYSIA CONSUMER BOYCOTT CAMPAIGNS BDS VPM has chosen four consumer related campaigns to advance in Malaysia. The BDS VPM poster campaign is attached for more information. Finally, anyone can be part of the BDS movement. Any organization can endorse the BDS campaign and make the advancement of BDS part of their organization's program and agenda. Click here for more information on the BDS movement http://www.bdsmovement.net/bdsintro Remember to let us know of a BDS campaign that you may be part of. |
