The Power of Boycotts

The ongoing genocide in Palestine has seen over 8000 children dead since October the 7th 2023. Since then, Israel has mercilessly killed, tortured and maimed tens of thousands of innocent civilians and destroyed the homes of millions in a war that can only be described as pure tyranny and oppression of the worst kind.

Frustratingly, Israel is supported by countless countries and organizations that have funded the terrorism in Palestine for decades. While it’s very difficult to force Governments to change, it IS possible to force businesses that support the apartheid regime and brutal occupation in Palestine to the brink of despair.

Boycotts have long been recognized as a powerful tool used by individuals and communities to voice their anger and frustration at specific businesses that support Israel.?

They’re a great example of how anyone from any part of the world can ‘speak up’ against the oppression and destruction of the Palestinians by choosing where they spend their money.?

It’s one of the easiest ways to take back control and ensure that the companies who support Israel pay dearly for their involvement with them in more ways than one.

Since the genocide began in October, we’ve already seen the positive impact boycotts have had in creating chaos for businesses.

For example, on December 5th, 2023, Newsweek reported that Starbucks (an avid supporter of Israel) has lost a staggering $11bn in market value (from share prices falling) as a direct result of boycotts since October 7th!?

Doha News reported on December 3rd that Starbucks and the Swedish clothing retailer H&M will permanently close down in Morocco after being boycotted by the public for their support of Israel.

Boycotts work on so many levels by compelling companies to reevaluate and reconsider their policies and who they choose to fund and support.?

Here’s a snapshot of some of the companies that actively support Israel:

Specifically, there are 5 ways a business is impacted when you choose to spend your money elsewhere:

1. Decline in Sales

As we’ve already seen with the example of Starbucks, huge financial losses can tank the profitability and therefore the sustainability of a business.?

Financial pressure is a compelling motivator for a company to re-think their policies and who it chooses to support in the future.

2. Reputation Damage

There’s no denying that boycotts can ruin a company’s reputation - especially when the information is made public in the media, shifting public opinion. This can lead to a fall in sales as well as share price. Both have painful consequences for any business.

3. Loss of Market Share

Boycotts can easily pave the way for competitors to take the lion’s share of the market by capitalising on the damage a boycott brings.?

4. Stakeholder Pressure

Boycotts can force stakeholders such as investors, partners, employees etc to disassociate from the company altogether if they don’t change their policies.?

5. Irrevocable Damage

Super successful boycotts can cause massive upheaval and irrevocable damage to a brand’s image and stability, leaving the company no choice but to re-evaluate its stance on specific issues.

Ultimately boycotts hit businesses where it hurts the most - in their pockets. Businesses that support the genocide simply cannot fund Israel if they’re financially struggling themselves.

It’s worth noting though, that boycotts are doubly effective when you follow a few simple rules:

1. Let A Company Know WHY You’re Boycotting Them

Many people boycott and don’t let the company know why. A simple email to clearly explain WHY you’re no longer purchasing from them is enough to send the message across.?

Bonus points if you tell them who you’ll be purchasing from instead! Nothing stings quite like shining the light on a more ethical competitor!

2. Mobilize Collective Support?

Boycotts work best when they are co-ordinated properly. Tell everyone in your network who you’re boycotting and why and ask them to join you. It’s the perfect leverage against companies who mistakenly believe THEY hold the power.

3. Stay Strong

It sounds obvious but don’t fall into the trap of only boycotting for a selected time. You can’t create maximum impact if you only choose to boycott for a few weeks. Boycotts should be permanent for them to send a strong message to companies that it’s NOT ok to support an apartheid, brutal regime.?

USEFUL TIPS & RESOURCES

One of the best things about the 21st Century is the power of choice. We have hundreds of brands to choose from and it’s possible to boycott almost every company and have a suitable alternative elsewhere.

Of course, in some rare instances, finding a suitable alternative to a product may not be possible - that’s ok.

Remember, boycotts are only effective when you STICK to boycotting them. If it’s going to prove difficult for you, boycott what you can because every little helps.

Some fantastic resources you may find useful include:

PalestinePact - A brilliant Chrome web extension that blurs out any product that’s tied to Israel when shopping online. For example, you can clearly see that a product has been blurred out when grocery shopping online:

• Barcode 729 and 871 - Most Israeli goods start with the pre-fix 729 or (in recent weeks) 871 - so be on the lookout when purchasing any products that don’t mention the place of origin.?
• https://www.boycotzionism.com/ - Contains a list of all the companies that support the Zionist agenda along with actual proof they are tied to Israel
• https://boycott.thewitness.news/browse/1 - Another great resource of countless companies that support Israel + proof they do
• https://app.jotform.com/233132600098852 - This app is called Watermelon and tells you which brands support Palestine and which ones are Israeli?

Support Pro-Palestine Brands And Palestinian Brands

It’s surprisingly difficult to find brands that are pro-Palestine - I spent ages trying to find them on Google and ended up down a rabbit hole of ‘lists’ that were dubious at best. I haven’t yet been able to find a complete list of brands that support Palestine.

Thankfully, some brands have been very vocal against Israel and have been actively campaigning for Palestine or are Palestinian-owned.?

Here are some good resources for you:

• https://www.palestine-studies.org/en/node/1651034 -? Contains a list of 10 Palestinian-owned brands?
• https://www.newarab.com/features/11-fashion-beauty-brands-promote-palestinian-freedom - Includes 11 fashion and beauty brands that are ‘genocide free’ or ethical?
• https://www.instagram.com/p/CzcOBqHrYrc/ - Lists beauty brands that are pro-Palestine
• https://www.instagram.com/p/CzcJtCYg8rm/?img_index=1 - This is practically the nearest thing I could find to an exhaustive list of brands that are pro-Palestine or Palestinian-owned
• https://www.instagram.com/p/C0CTYVdrZCZ/?igshid=MTc4MmM1YmI2Ng%3D%3D&img_index=1 - Contains a list of brands on Instagram that actively support Palestine

In summary, boycotts are one of the most effective ways to show companies that they can’t get away with supporting genocide. By choosing to spend your money elsewhere, you take away their power to further harm Palestinians and send a clear message that funding Israel is not acceptable by any means.

Supporting brands that are pro-Palestine is crucial - especially for smaller brands that might not be as well-known as bigger brands.

Ultimately, if you don’t want your money to fund the active genocide taking place in Palestine right now, boycotts offer a real solution to this problem.