The word “Boycott” is as old as the word “Zionism.” It is a tactic that has been repeatedly employed in history to put an end to class, race, religious, and colonial injustice. The term became popular in 1880 when it first gained prominence during an Irish peasant movement aimed at preventing evictions by landlords. However, it is pertinent to mention that it was not the first time that such a tactic was employed. For instance, in 1830, in the US, the National Negro Convention, supported a boycott of goods produced by the slave, a movement that gained traction among White and Black abolitionists during the 19th Century.
This promising beginning of the boycott, aimed at restoring the land and freedom of peasants and slaves, served as a source of inspiration for such movements in the 20th Century. Some of the prominent movements in this regard include the Indian boycott of British goods which began in 1919 to end British colonialism in India, and the anti-South African Apartheid boycott that began in the 1960s.
Murree snowfall forecast: all departments put on high alert The anti-South African Apartheid boycott is particularly important owing to the fact that the movement inspired the boycott movement against Israel and thus merits a mention. The movement against Apartheid South Africa kicked off in 1968 when the country banned a tour by the England cricket team due to the presence of a mixed-race player, Basil D’Oliveira in the said team. After that, South Africa was excluded not only from international cricket but also from other sports. This is followed by a more comprehensive boycott which included a ban on the sale of South African products in the European markets. The boycott against Israel, as mentioned above, is inspired by the boycott against apartheid South Africa. The first international call to boycott came in 2005 from the platform of the Boycott, Divest, and Sanction Israel (BDS) movement which was launched by a vast coalition of groups including the Democratic Socialists of America, and the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights. The BDS movement advocates for individual actions such as boycotting specific goods and companies associated with Israel. Additionally, it also calls for Boycott of Israeli cultural institutions, and even to refrain from working with Israeli universities and academics that help prop up dehumanising narratives about Palestinians.
3 people hurt in road mishap The calls for boycotting goods, companies, universities, and other entities associated with Israel have garnered responses, and it has indeed yielded results. For instance, in May 2023, Sam Smith, the acclaimed Brit and Grammy award-winning artist, cancelled a planned performance in Tel Aviv in response to widespread calls for a boycott against performing in apartheid Israel. Sam Smith’s decision is not one of its kind, as other artists have also taken similar actions. Elvis Costello cancelled his performance in 2010. Furthermore, in 2017, Seattle Seahawks player Michael Bennett withdrew from a trip sponsored by the Israeli government, citing Muhammad Ali as a role model who “stood strongly with the Palestinian people”.
Moreover, the boycotting campaign against Israel has also persuaded several high-profile companies such as the famous ice cream maker Ben & Jerry’s to halt their operations in Israel. Similarly, the renowned French corporate giant “Veolia,” which had been involved in the construction of the ‘Jerusalem Light Rail,’ withdrew from Israel after incurring a billion-dollar loss due to the termination of several contracts in the wake of the boycott campaign. Moreover, the French telecom company “Orange” discontinued sales in occupied Palestinian territories and subsequently terminated its business partnership with Israel altogether. More recently, companies like McDonald’s, which distributed free meals to Israeli Defence Force soldiers during the ongoing Gaza War, and Starbucks, which took legal action against its workers’ union for sharing Pro-Palestine content online, are experiencing a significant decline in their sales. The CEO of McDonald’s openly admitted that “the chain is facing a substantial impact on its business, as customers in the region and beyond are boycotting the brand.”
Cleanliness drive in full swing in City Though it is hard to ascertain the extent to which the boycott movement against Israel has harmed the Israeli economy, there are indications of potential harm. For instance, according to a report from the global policy think tank Rand Corporation, the nonviolent boycott movement against Israel is estimated to result in a loss of approximately $15 billion in the country’s gross domestic product.
In conclusion, the ongoing boycott against Israel holds substantial significance, and as individuals, our contributions to this movement, though seemingly modest, collectively convey a potent message in the pursuit of justice and equality. As explored in the main text, the economic repercussions of the boycott on Israel cannot be understated. The pressure exerted by conscientious consumers has prompted major corporations such as McDonald’s, Starbucks, and Ben & Jerry’s to reassess their operations in Israel and reconsider their stance on the Gaza-Israel conflict. This shift in corporate policies underscores the undeniable impact of boycott on shaping global perspectives and influencing economic decisions.
Husband killed wife in Firozka
Azhar Zeeshan
The writer is a researcher at the Centre for Aerospace and Security Studies (CASS), Lahore. He can be reached at info@casslhr.com
The Politics of Boycott
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18.02.2024
The word “Boycott” is as old as the word “Zionism.” It is a tactic that has been repeatedly employed in history to put an end to class, race, religious, and colonial injustice. The term became popular in 1880 when it first gained prominence during an Irish peasant movement aimed at preventing evictions by landlords. However, it is pertinent to mention that it was not the first time that such a tactic was employed. For instance, in 1830, in the US, the National Negro Convention, supported a boycott of goods produced by the slave, a movement that gained traction among White and Black abolitionists during the 19th Century.
This promising beginning of the boycott, aimed at restoring the land and freedom of peasants and slaves, served as a source of inspiration for such movements in the 20th Century. Some of the prominent movements in this regard include the Indian boycott of British goods which began in 1919 to end British colonialism in India, and the anti-South African Apartheid boycott that began in the 1960s.
Murree snowfall forecast: all departments put on high alert The anti-South African Apartheid boycott is particularly important owing to the fact that the movement inspired the boycott movement against Israel and thus merits a mention. The movement against Apartheid South Africa kicked off in 1968 when the country banned a tour by the England cricket team due to the presence........
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