Manchester Boycott Model
In January 2005, ICAHD called for a campaign of boycotts, sanctions and
divestments until the Occupation ended. We are encouraged that this campaign is
growing, having gained momentuem as a result of Israel's three-week Operation
Cast Lead on Gaza beginning 27 December 2008. Here follows news about how
people in Manchester are mobilizing. Others might like to use it as a model for
their locality.
Boycott Campaign in Manchester: Join people going round
local businesses in your area this week
Between now and the next Boycott meeting on Wednesday
4th February 7pm in Falafel Restaurant, Rusholme the following
Manchester Districts will have needed to be visited, notably for supermarkets,
groceries, flowershops, and any others as a first approach about a
Manchester-wide boycott of Israeli products.
If you wish to meet up with others who are visiting
local businesses here are the people to email who some time this week will be
getting out there to encourage them to not stock Israeli goods. If you're in
any district below email the people to say you'll join them.
(Email addresses removed this is posted as a model for boycotts in
other cities)
For each shop/restaurant we need the following
details for feedback at the next boycott meeting next week Wednesday 4th
February 7pm Falafel Restaurant Rusholme:
1.
Note the name of the shop/street number
2.
Look through the shop and note what Israeli products they have in stock*
3.
Note the response of the shopkeeper/manager when approached, will he do
the boycott? Ask also about wholesaler/supplier information especially if they
can offer alternatives if Smithfield market for example limit small shops from
removing Israeli products from their bulk order
A guide with suggestions of how to approach small
businesses is at the end of this email, as is Mariam's account of her
successful experiences last week at Venus Foods.
It was suggested to tell the shopkeeper that there
are alternatives available.(Although we need to learn more about this from
stores already buying elsewhere)
Also check out http://www.zaytoun.org/products/
to offer alternative Palestinian products that small business could buy instead
(ie they offer dates, instead of Israeli ones)
Principal Products to look out for:
1.
Carmel: Strawberries, Celery, Peppers
2.
AFFA: Citrus Fruits
3.
King Of Jordan: Dates
4.
West Bank: Herbs
5.
Israeli: Peppers, potatoes, avocados, flowers
A more comprehensive list of products from 2001 is
available here:
·
http://s109811772.websitehome.co.uk/bigcampaign/uploads/pdfs/bigcampaignboycottlist.pdf
The Israeli bar code starts with '729' although this
has been found to be not always consistent.
Was also suggested as an approach to wander in and
first show gaza flyer/discuss Palestinian issue, before getting on to the
boycott proposal, each group will have their own approach though.
Other ideas discussed from the boycott meeting:
·
Have a regular newsletter crediting local businesses that have joined
the boycott and naming and shaming those that still need an extra push + other
news on the boycott campaign
·
Make a poster, 'We don't stock Israeli products because...' for shops to
put up
·
Make new stickers though we have lots of the other older good ones for
the boycott if you need them. Waiting for feedback from sticker group
·
Encourage shops not stocking Israeli products to join together and
encourage others through a letter
Here is Mariam's account of her experience last week
with Venus foods, a Turkish supermarket in Victoria Park:
FIRST VISIT:
Yesterday, I went to Venus Supermarket on Anson Road.
Right at the entrance they had sharon fruits and avocados, both made in Israel.
I asked to talk to the manager, and when he came, I introduced myself and told
him I am member of a boycott Israel campaign and that we were 'inspecting'
stores for Israeli products. I drew his attention to the fruits, and since it
was a Turkish shop, I also reminded him of the relatively positive role Turkey
played in this conflict. In the end, I told him that I, or someone else, will
come to him again, and if he does not stop stocking Israeli produce, we will
regrettably have to add his shop to our boycott list. The manager was very
polite and said he fully understands my point. He added that he buys what he
finds with the whole sale suppliers. He also asked me if I had found other Israeli
products in his store (which might indicate that he does not really pay
attention to the country of origin when he purchases his products)?
This brought up two questions:
1) Is there a way of targeting those whole sale suppliers, who will probably be
the actual importers of these goods?
2) In addition to asking local grocers to stop buying Israeli products, it
might me a good idea to specify certain products in their shops that they
should stop stocking.
3) We also need to think of alternatives.
SECOND VISIT:
I went to Venus Supermarket again this week. They
have removed all Israeli fruits from their shelves, except for one large box
with the label "Carmel". It contained a few sharon fruits and another
smaller box with apples. I decided to see the manager again. Before saying
anything, he told me he has no Israeli produce of any kind in his shop now, and
asked me to accompany him to the fruit and vegetable section. There he
identified the origin of every single item.. "This is from Turkey, this is
from the UK, this is from Spain"... till the end. I drew his attention to
the big Carmel box, but he said it is an old one that he uses it to support
smaller boxes, but the sharon fruits in there are not Israeli. He said he got
them from A to Z, and when he bought his fruits this time, he made it clear
that he does not want anything from Israel. I thanked him for his cooperation,
and told him I would advertise his shop to others..
So, what is the next step? Should he be rewarded for his stance? Have we
thought of a rewarding policy? Maybe somebody else could go to his shop later
to check again and/or thank him (it is on 45-49 Anson Road, M14 5DE)? How
can we make sure that local grocers and supermarkets do not replace Israeli
boxes with others? What is A to Z that the manager mentioned to me? Seems like
a whole sale supplier - Maybe we can target it directly?
On a similar note, I am under the impression that there are more products now
with the label "Egypt" than before, such us cherry tomatoes,
strawberries, limes and others. One example is Costco. Last month, his
strawberries had the made in Israel label on them, this week they all have the
made in Egypt one. "Berryworld", the importer of these strawberries
and other berries has business with both Egypt and Israel (see: http://www.berryworld.co.uk/berries/global.asp).
So, I can think of two possibilities here: Either they have shifted to Egyptian
berries because of the boycott, which is wonderful, or - and I really hope I am
wrong here - Israel is giving its products Egyptian labels (with the consent of
the Egyptian gov). In which case, despite the boycott campaign, Israel will
still be making profits.
Since Berryworld has business with Israel, maybe we should give them a call,
and have a word with them especially that they supply 20% of all berries in the
UK (see: http://www.berryworld.co.uk/Default.asp).
We might also ask them about their shift from Israeli to Egyptian strawberries.
.. These were just some thoughts. Keep the good work up.
Here is a suggestion on approaching your local area
business about the boycott. Overleaf is also a covering letter to bring or send
1. Choose an area in your town or district to introduce to local businesses
the idea of boycotts and divestment from Israeli products, ideally in
coordination with others using people's emails above. Choose a date to meet up
this week.
2. Prepare for the first meeting with some key facts about Israeli
activities against Palestinians, information about the Manchester boycott,
Israeli products and services involved and how boycotts worked so effectively
to end the South African apartheid.
3.
At the shop before the meeting check around inside the store or business
for products they sell that may come from Israel. Information on this is
available in this booklet on page or at www.thebigcampaign.org
4. You can approach them verbally only or also bring a letter/petition
using the below template if you wish. Try everything to speak to the manager/acting
manager on your first visit but as a last resort, organise one for a future
date.
5. At the meeting be polite and understanding, but if the business manager
or owner reacts negatively be prepared for further campaigning, including
leafleting of products the show sell, demonstrations and further visits which
can include further information about other businesses that have joined the
boycott
6. Make a note for each one of business name, street number, response from
the manager to boycott and info on the attitudes of their suppliers/wholesalers
7. Email back to this address to communicate successes and where more
campaigning is needed. The next boycott meeting is next week Wednesday 4th
February 7pm Falafel Restaurant Rusholme
LETTER TO BRING OR SEND TO LOCAL BUSINESSES
(Or just ideas of what to say to the Manager)
Date Address
Dear Sir,
I am writing from Action
Palestine BDS to ask for a meeting about businesses in Manchester stocking Israeli
goods. We understand that in tough times such as these, you are looking for the
cheapest products on the market, however goods from Israel come with a hidden
price. Two of us would like to have a brief meeting with you at your
convenience to talk about this, and the benefits of boycotting and divesting
from Israel.
In the last 2 years Israel
has inflicted a blockade on the people of Gaza, depriving them of essential
supplies of food, medicine, electricity and water, leaving 80% of the
population dependent on international food aid. Although the aid was not
sufficient to guarantee survival for many, it has since come to a complete halt
in Israelīs latest bombing campaign that has further killed over 1000 people
and hundreds of children. This is on the backdrop of 40 years of Israelīs
illegal and stifling military occupation of the West Bank and its 3 million
inhabitants, the continuing dispossession of their land and homes leading to a
refugee population of over 4 million.
In light of this we feel that
it is time for businesses to disassociate themselves from Israeli Goods and
Services and contribute positively to help end this long running humanitarian
crisis, something that was so effective in helping to end the apartheid in
South Africa. Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu have called the
occupation of Palestine an apartheid.
We will be in touch about
organising the meeting, my contact details are:
0161 *** ****
john@gmail.co.uk
Good Article on Boycotts From Naomi Klein
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jan/10/naomi-klein-boycott-israel