Block the Boat Vancouver

URGENT UPDATE: New information shows that the Zim-operated ship was delayed and will now dock at the Vancouver harbour port on Tuesday, June 8. So grab your mask and keffiyeh and gather June 8 at 3 pm at Woodland Park.
** We strongly urge everyone to get all updates and news by texting your name to 1-833-590-1987 **

(#BlockTheBoat Vancouver Action, June 8)
(Marching to the Vancouver Port, June 8)
#BlockTheBoat March in Vancouver
#BlockTheBoat – Speech by Hanna Kawas

And bravo to Oakland that on Friday held a successful #BlockTheBoat action, forcing the Zim-operated ship to finally leave the harbour without unloading. Our campaigns and organizing are working: Israeli Apartheid not welcome in Vancouver Port! FB Event Page

(Oakland community picket to Block The Boat June 4)

For the past 10 days, the threat of the #BlockTheBoat protest organized in the Bay Area has kept a cargo ship operated by ZIM – apartheid Israel’s largest and oldest shipping company – from docking at the Port of Oakland. We are winning! Our people power is working, and sending a clear message that Israel’s ongoing settler-colonialism, occupation, and violence against the Palestinian people will come with a heavy price. Every hour that ZIM cargo ships remain undocked and unloaded is a huge victory, as it means that the apartheid state of Israel is losing enormous amounts of money. Here in Vancouver, we are responding to an international call to action to BLOCK THE BOAT here at the Port of Vancouver as well! Learn more about #BlockTheBoat at https://blocktheboat.org

Let’s send a clear message: Israeli apartheid is not welcome at Vancouver’s ports! ** Because shipping times and docks can always change, it’s important to be organized and ready to block the boat! Text your name to +1-833-590-1987 to make sure you stay in the loop! **

Open Letter : Time to respect NDP Policy, Don’t make B.C. complicit in Israeli war crimes!

The sale of wines from illegal Israeli settlements in BC and Canadian liquor stores has been an ongoing travesty for over a decade; there is no better place for the NDP to implement its new policy to end “all trade and economic cooperation with illegal settlements in Israel-Palestine”.

Today, we sent a letter to the Finance Minister in the BC NDP government, calling for action to finally be taken on this issue. In September 2018, thirty-one organizations already told the BC government: “We do not wish to be made complicit in these violations of international law.”

_____________________________________

Ms. Selina Robinson
B.C. Minister of Finance
FIN.Minister@gov.bc.ca
FAX: 250-387-5594

Dear Ms. Robinson:

We are following up on our previous letter to BC Attorney General, David Eby, who was at that time responsible for the Liquor Distribution Branch, regarding the stocking of illegal Israeli settlement wines in our public liquor stores. We are corresponding with you as the Minster of Finance, as we understand the BCLDB is now under your jurisdiction.

Since our letter to Mr. Eby (that was neither acknowledged nor answered), and further to the concerns presented by a Feb. 10, 2020 community delegation that were also disregarded, there have been several developments to which we would like to draw your, and your government’s, attention.

  • On Jan. 12, 2021, Israel’s leading human rights organisation, B’Tselem issued a report under the title: “A regime of Jewish supremacy from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea: This is apartheid”.
  • On Mar. 3, 2021, ICC Prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda confirmed “the initiation by the Office of the Prosecutor (”Office”) of the International Criminal Court (”ICC” or the ”Court”) of an investigation respecting the Situation in Palestine. The investigation will cover crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court …”
  • On April 10, 2021, the NDP convention adopted the Palestine Resolution that called for:
  1. Ending all trade and economic cooperation with illegal settlements in Israel-Palestine
  2. Suspending the bilateral trade of all arms and related materials with the State of Israel until Palestinian rights are upheld.

These are all further proof that by carrying Israeli wines produced in the Palestinian occupied territories, you are complicit in the crime of Apartheid.

Further, as noted multiple times in our previous correspondence with your government, carrying these illegal settlement wines produced in the Palestinian occupied territories also means you are violating International Law and the Fourth Geneva Convention (article 33 Paragraph 2), regarding the pillaging of occupied territories.

We also expect from your NDP government to now abide by the NDP convention resolution on Palestine that called for “Ending all trade and economic cooperation with illegal settlements”. We would like to remind you that over 80% of the NDP delegates voted for the Palestine resolution; these are the same delegates who represent many of the people who elected your government in B.C. and will be waiting to see if NDP officials in power will respect the wishes of the party’s grassroots.

We also remind you again of the Federal Court ruling that “product of Israel” labels from wines made in the West Bank, in the occupied Palestinian territories, are “false, misleading and deceptive”.

The time is over for stonewalling and ignoring our correspondence; your government’s handing of this issue is a grave reflection on your disregard for morality and humanity.

Hanna Kawas,

Chairperson, Canada Palestine Association

c.c.
BC Premier John Horgan
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh

Boycott TEVA, Defend the Right to Boycott

On March 16, CPA activists joined with BDS Vancouver – Coast Salish Territories and Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network to deliver a message to the consulate of France in Vancouver and to show solidarity with Olivia Zémor! Olivia is being sued by the Israeli pharmaceutical giant, TEVA, and is charged with calling for a boycott of the company. The verdict in her trial is expected in mid-May. Background info here:
CAPJPO EuroPalestine pour le procès d’Olivia Zémor face à TEVA ! (Photos) – CAPJPO EuroPalestine

Check out our Boycott Teva-Apartheid is Bad Medicine FB page for more resources on why all consumers should ask their pharmacist for another brand of generic drug.

CPA 2020, Year in Review

CPA 2020, Year in Review

Canada Palestine Association and BDS Vancouver were busy in 2020 with both on-line and in-person events and campaigns. We had demos and rallies to reject “The Theft of the Century” and Israeli annexation. We supported Palestinian prisoners campaigns, commemorated Nakba72 and called out the CBC for its attempts to erase “Palestine”. Our BDS actions targeted Israeli wines, HP and Puma. The #BoycottPuma campaign closed out the year with a bang, and was linked to our Make your Holidays Apartheid-Free solidarity videos. We are proud of all the work done by our strictly volunteer-run committees, that rely solely on the dedication of their activist base. Next year in a Free Palestine!

Events and Campaigns:

  1. Rally to support Palestine and reject Trump’s plan
    Feb. 2, 2020
    Video and more photos on Facebook event
  2. Freedom for Ahmad Sa’adat – Freedom for Palestine
    January 28
    Video, Facebook Event
  3. Boycott Israeli Wine, Stand up for Palestine!!
    Feb. 29, 2020
    Video and more on Facebook Event
  4. Action Alert: Demand that Canada pressure Israel to end the siege of Gaza!
    March 25, 2020
  5. Virtual Days of Action: Support Palestine, End the Siege of Gaza, Boycott HP
    March 28– 30
    Check photos on Facebook Event
  6. Solidarity with Palestinian Political Prisoners
    April 17, 2020
  7. #PalestinianPrisonersDay: Ansar and the Israeli Jailer
    April 17, 2020
  8. Commemorating #Nakba72
    May 15, 2020
  9. Vancouver support for Palestine
    June 26, 2020, Facebook Event
  10. Vancouver Actions to support the Palestinian People.
    a. Outdoor Left Film Night: Resisting Colonialism & Displacement From Secwepemc to Gaza

    July 31, 2020, Facebook event
    b. Defend Palestine – Boycott Israeli Apartheid! Protest
    August 8, 2020, Facebook event
  11. #BoycottPuma: Give Puma the Boot!
    October 19, 2020, Facebook event
  12. #BoycottPuma takes off in Canada
    October 28, 2020
  13. Make holiday shopping apartheid-free, Boycott Puma and HP!
    November 27, 2020
  14. Organizations in Canada tell Puma to end complicity in Israel’s violations of Palestinian rights
    December 9, 2020
  15. Keeping Puma out of our Shopping Carts
    December 10, 2020

CPA Statements:

  1. CPA statement on the Bias of N.S. Human Rights Commission
    January 10, 2020
  2. BC Attorney General: Still stonewalling on illegal Israeli wines in BC stores
    January 17, 2020
  3. Indigenous solidarity: Sovereign Forever, Never Surrender!
    February 13, 2020
    Video
  4. Maiming for Sport: Canada enables Israel’s War Crimes
    March 9, 2020
  5. Does the Israeli Military Censor impact our News?
  6. March 30, 2020
  7. Western hypocrisy is empowering Israeli annexation!
    May 24, 2020
  8. Canadian Hypocrisy at its Zenith
    June 2, 2020
  9. Canadian Hypocrisy and the UN Security Council Seat
    June 11, 2020
  10. Why I oppose Canada’s bid for the UN Security Council seat
    June 12, 2020
  11. #NoIHRA: Bill 168 will contribute to anti-Palestinian racism.
    July 22, 2020
  12. Support Dimitri Lascaris for Green Party leader
    August 21, 2020
  13. CBC Denies Palestine’s Existence
    August 25, 2020
  14. CBC Insists on Erasing Palestinian National Identity
    September 11, 2020
  15. Sabra and Shatila massacre: a scar that won’t heal
    September 19, 2020
  16. Its wrong to legitimize supporters of Israeli militarism!
    October 13, 2020
  17. Canada’s anti-Palestinianism on display again at UN
    November 5, 2020
  18. Appointing Irwin Cotler is the crown jewel in Canada’s anti-Palestinianism
    December 2, 2020

Articles:

  1. Oslo Accords and the PA are a Hindrance to Palestinian Liberation
    Palestine Chronicle, February 8, 2020
  2. Solidarity between Palestinians and Indigenous Activists has Deep Roots
    Palestine Chronicle, February 18, 2020
  3. Maiming Palestinians for Sport is a War Crime
    Palestine Chronicle, March 10, 2020
  4. How does the Israeli Military Censor Impact Our News Coverage?
    Palestine Chronicle, April 1, 2020
  5. Ansar: A Testament to the Ugly Brutality of the Israeli Jailer
    Palestine Chronicle, April 14, 2020
  6. Palestinians and the ‘Security’ Narrative
    Canadian Dimension, May 4, 2020
    Also published in Palestine Chronicle, May 6, 2020
  7. Western Hypocrisy has Empowered Israeli Annexation
    Palestine Chronicle, May 25, 2020
  8. Trudeau’s knee of hypocrisy is an empty symbolic gesture
    Canadian Dimension, June 9, 2020
  9. Why we oppose Canada’s bid for the UN Security Council
    Mondoweiss, June 15, 2020
  10. Why is the CBC denying Palestine’s existence?
    Canadian Dimension, August 25, 2020
  11. CBC Doubles Down on Erasing Palestine
    Canadian Dimension, September 14, 2020
  12. The 38th anniversary of Sabra and Shatila massacre: a scar that won’t heal
    Mondoweiss, September 17, 2020
  13. The glass ceiling for Palestinian rights
    Mondoweiss, October 15, 2020
  14. Canada’s appointment of Special Envoy Irwin Cotler aims to silence pro-Palestine discourse
    Mondoweiss, December 2, 2020
  15. Boycott Puma for its complicity in Israeli apartheid
    Canada Files, December 12, 2020

Interviews:

CPA Facebook pages (all likes are generated organically; on principle, we refuse to pay FB for ads or promoting posts):
Canada Palestine Association (Over 4,700 likes)
BDS Vancouver – Coast Salish Territories (Over 840 likes)
Stop G4S in Canada – Boycott and Divest from G4S (Over 330 likes)
Boycott Israeli Wines – Don’t Drink with Apartheid (Over 1300 likes)
Boycott TEVA – Apartheid is BAD Medicine (Over 500 likes)

CPA Facebook groups:
Voice of Palestine صوت فلسطين (Over 1700 members)
Canada Palestine Association (Over 2700 members)
Air Canada: We are not On-Board with Human Rights Violations (Over 775 members)

Follow us on Twitter:
BDS Vancouver



Keeping Puma out of our Shopping Carts

New update on Puma campaign – Puma Swaps One Complicit Israeli Distributor for Another.

(Puma responded quickly to our December 9th letter, which over 25 organizations in Canada had endorsed. Following is our reply to them, as well as a copy of their letter.)

December 10, 2020
Bob Philion
President, Puma North America

Thanks for your quick reply to our letter. However, our main concern about Puma sponsorship of the Israel Football Association IFA remains unanswered.

Puma’s current exclusive licensee in Israel, Delta Galil Industries, has been listed on the United Nations database of companies that are complicit in, or profit from, illegal settlement activity. So it is encouraging to hear that the contract with Delta Galil expires at the end of 2020 and there is a new distribution contract with Al Srad Ltd, that “does also not have any operations or branches in settlements”.

However, this does not change the fact that Puma is still a sponsor of the Israeli Football Association IFA. An association that you acknowledge in your letter includes teams from illegal settlements. Having the Puma logo proudly displayed on the IFA website connects your company with this egregious violation of international law. To claim that Puma does not directly put jerseys on the backs of players in those specific illegal settlement teams in no way alleviates that complicity.

In today’s global economy, a company’s brand is its currency. Your brand is tainted by your involvement with the IFA. As we said in our original letter, “we will not purchase Puma products until the company stops these unethical practices, and until the Puma logo is no longer featured on the website for the Israel Football Association”. Until then, we are keeping Puma out of our shopping cart.
________________________________________
Puma’s Response to our Initial Letter:

BDS Vancouver-Coast Salish
Canada Palestine Association

With regards to your recent memo, please know that PUMA does not support football teams in settlements nor does its Israeli distributor have branches in settlements. 

PUMA’s local distribution partner Delta Galil supplies the Israeli National Teams with PUMA branded football equipment to compete in international competitions. PUMA’s contract with its Israeli distributor Delta Galil will expire at the end of 2020. The new distribution contract is with Al Srad Ltd, a company of Irani Corporation. Al Srad Ltd. does also not have any operations or branches in settlements. It is the decision between our new distributor and the Israeli Federation to mutually agree whether to continue the cooperation or not.

PUMA does not have any other connection or association with any other Israeli football club team – neither in mainland Israel nor in settlements. The six football clubs (Ma’ale Adumim, Ariel, Bikat HaYarden, Kiryat Arba, Givaat Zeev and Oranit) which play in different leagues of the IFA and are based in the West Bank are not equipped with PUMA products, but by other sports brands. 

PUMA continues to support and outfit athletes from all backgrounds, regardless of race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation and national origin. As a brand concerned only with the power that Sport has to bring people together, PUMA does not support any political direction, political parties or governments. We welcome the opportunity to help everyone compete in sports no matter who they are or where they are from.

Sincerely, 
Bob Philion
President
  
PUMA NORTH AMERICA | COBRA PUMA GOLF | 10 Lyberty Way | Westford, MA. 01886