The Achievements of The BDS Movement 2014

NEW DELHI: The Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement has put together a list of achievements for the year 2014.

Here’s a round up of some of the key BDS developments of 2014.

January – Scarlett Johansson helps bring BDS to the mainstream

The year opened with an international controversy over the decision of Hollywood A-lister Scarlett Johansson to become a brand ambassador for SodaStream, the Israeli drinks machine manufacturer that operates a factory in an illegal Israeli settlement.

The move attracted particular attention because the Lost in Translation star was also an ambassador for Oxfam, an international NGO that condemns illegal Israeli settlements. Oxfam faced huge pressure to ditch Johansson and publicly criticised her decision.

Ultimately it was Johansson who brought the saga to a close when she stepped down as an Oxfam representative, but not before social media memes about her support for Israel’s apartheid regime had gone viral and the BDS movement had received unprecedented international media attention. SodaStream’s share price suffered the first of many hits.

February – Israel panics as more European funds divest

February also saw the start of Israeli Apartheid Week, which took place in more than 160 cities across more than 32 countries

March – Israeli water firm loses $170m Argentina contract

The Buenos Aires municipality suspends a $170m water deal with Mekorot following a campaign over its role in Israel’s system of ‘water apartheid’. Mekorot was further targeted in a week of action that began on World Water Day.

April – More bad news for SodaStream and Mekorot

Earth Day Network Cuts Ties with SodaStream

SodaStream had been a partner of the Earth Day initiative as part of its efforts to greenwash its role in Israeli apartheid until BDS pressure persuaded it to abandon its links with the Israeli exporter. SodaStream attempts to “greenwash” its role in Israeli apartheid by marketing itself as environmentally friendly.

Israeli state water company loses Portugal deal

Mekorot faces second major set back in as many months as Lisbon’s water company EPAL announced that it terminated a technology exchange deal following pressure from Portuguese MPs and campaign groups.

May – Bill Gates Foundation divests from G4S over role in Israeli prisons

The Bill Gates Foundation, one of the largest private foundations in the world, divests from G4S. A petition signed by more than 14,000 people and demonstrations outside Gates Foundation offices in London, Johannesburg and Seattle called on the the Gates Foundation to divest from G4S because of its role in providing equipment and services to prisons where Israel holds and tortures Palestinian political prisoners.

June – US Presbyterians divest and G4S announces prison pull out

Years of grassroots organising pays off as the Presbyterian Church (USA) general assembly in Detroit votes to divest its holdings from three US corporations – Hewlett Packard (HP), Motorola Solutions and Caterpillar – on the basis of their well-documented record of complicity in the oppression and denial of human rights of Palestinians.

July – Israel’s massacre in Gaza prompts international sanctions and boycott action

As Israel began its massacre of Palestinians in Gaza, governments and people of conscience across the world take action to pressure Israel to comply with international law and human rights. Key developments includes:

• The Chilean parliament votes to suspend negotiations on a new trade deal with Israel, and Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, El Salvador and Peru withdraw their ambassadors.
• A call for a military embargo on Israel launched by 6 Nobel laureates and dozens of celebrities is signed by more than 60,000 people.
• Hundreds of thousands of people participate in demonstrations calling for an end to the siege on Gaza and for governments to impose arms embargoes and sanctions on Israel.
• Dublin city council passes a resolution calling for a military embargo and the suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
• In Turkey, at least 12 local municipalities, a number of major business associations and a major trade union issue calls for a boycott of Israeli products

August – Hundreds of thousands take to the streets and Israeli ships blocked in US

On August 9, hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets as part of an international Day of Rage initiated by groups in Gaza. Anti-apartheid hero Desmond Tutu called the day one of the biggest ever international mobilisations on a single issue.

September – Veolia announces Israel exit as Kuwait authorities exclude it $750m contract

Authorities in Kuwait announce they are excluding Veolia from $750m contract following campaigning by Kuwaiti groups and the Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions National Committee (BNC).

October – SodaStream announces closure of illegal settlement factory

SodaStream announces it is to close its factory in the illegal Israeli settlement of Mishor Adumim following a high profile boycott campaign against the company that saw retailers and investors across the world cut links with the company.

However, SodaStream reveals it is to benefit from Israel’s displacement of Palestinians in Naqab, and states that the factory shall remain open until some time during 2015. The campaign against SodaStream continues.

November – Leading European unions and parties call for end to EU-Israel trade pact

More than 300 political parties, trade unions and campaign groups call for the suspension of a the EU-Israel Association agreement that facilitates largely unrestricted trade between the EU and Israel and allows Israel to participate in a wide range of the Union’s programs.

Signatories to the call include Podemos, the leftist party currently leading the polls in Spain, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and other major national trade union bodies from Spain, Denmark, France and Belgium.

December – Elbit Systems loses key Brazil deal

The Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul cancels a major collaboration deal with Israeli military company Elbit Systems in the wake of protests over the firm’s role in oppression of Palestinians.

- See more at:

http://www.bdsmovement.net/2014/round-up-13017#sthash.endZ7ezo.NbOScgsQ.dpuf