At the Canadian BDS Coalition, one of the questions received most frequently is: “Which products and businesses should we boycott? Which businesses should we support, if we want to support Palestinian rights and liberation?”
Apartheid-Free Zones and the Boycott/Shame List
Of course, the campaign for boycott, divestment and sanctions isn’t just about individual consumer choices — it’s about building collective power and challenging Israeli apartheid through cultural boycott, academic boycott and military embargo, in addition to the economic boycott of Israeli products and products produced by corporations profiting from the occupation. However, there are some key companies and products that are the targets of national and global boycott campaigns that we highlight on our “List of Shame.” This list also highlights Canadian companies that profit from occupation or that donate to, support and market occupation products. We view this list as a helpful tool to help individuals decide how to direct their shopping — but also for local Palestine solidarity groups, labour unions, social justice campaigners and others to find intersections around corporate complicity and determine local targets for campaigning.
Of course, we also want to highlight the businesses, organizations, labour unions, social enterprises and others that are committed to having apartheid-free spaces, Apartheid-Free Zones. These are businesses or organizations or community spaces that have committed to support the three principles of the BDS campaign, namely that Israel must meet its obligation to recognize the Palestinian people’s inalienable right to self-determination and fully comply 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.
Apartheid-Free Zones are spaces of active solidarity with Palestine, and we invite your business, organization or space to officially become apartheid-free and commit to these principles!
We invite you to let us know about complicit companies and businesses, and to designate your organization or business an apartheid-free zone and list it here! Follow the links below to read the list of Apartheid-Free Zones, the List of Shame, and to nominate Apartheid-Free businesses or to warn about complicit companies.
Just Peace Advocates is a member of the Canadian BDS Coalition, and pleased to share this initiative and invite you to join in the following:
