Facebook share Share on TwitterRSS feed

Innovative Minds © 2014. All Rights Reserved. www.inminds.co.uk

[Boycott - Economic - Europe]

Two Italian grocery chains to boycott Israeli produce


Haaretz
23 May 2010

Coop Italia and Nordiconad say they cannot differentiate between goods coming from settlements and inside the Green Line.




Two Italian supermarkets have announced that they plan to stop selling all Israeli products as they could not differentiate whether they came from West Bank settlements or inside the Green Line.

Italian grocery chains Coop and Nordiconad will remove all Israeli products from their shelves by the end of the month, according to the Stop Camel-Agrexco Web site - an Italian based coalition dedicated to the boycott of one of Israel's top agricultural exporters.

Grocery chain Coop Italia issued a statement saying that they had a problem with "traceability, namely that the consumer is unable to verify whether or not the product in question comes from the occupied territories."

The Coalition Web site added that this was "an important success for the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israeli apartheid."

According to the Web site, the campaign to lobby Italian supermarkets was launched in January this year and has since been coordinated in both Italy and France.

The statement added that the coalition "has vowed to make sure that both chains follow through on their promises, and encourages everyone to participate in this struggle for respect for international law, and freedom and self-determination for the Palestinian people."


Source: http://www.haaretz.com/news/international/two-italian-grocery-chains-to-boycott-israeli-produce-1.291772


Coop and Nordiconad supermarket chains: suspend sales of products from the occupied Palestinian Territories


Stop Agrexco Italy (www.stopagrexcoitalia.org)
22 May 2010




Following lobbying efforts by the Italian Coalition Against Carmel-Agrexco, two major Italian supermarket chains, COOP and Nordiconad, announced the suspension of sales of products from Agrexco, the principal exporter of produce from Israel and the illegal Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Nordiconad director Mr. Covili announced that as of the end of April Agrexco products will no longer be found in their supermarkets. Nordiconad is a cooperative responsible for central purchasing and distribution operations for CONAD in northern Italy. COOP Italia, via quality assurance director Mr. Zucchi, instead confirmed that there is a problem with traceability, namely that the consumer is unable to verify whether or not the product in question comes from the occupied territories. Therefore COOP Italia has decided to “suspend the supply of products from the occupied territories.”

The Italian supermarket lobbying campaign was launched in January this year after a national meeting of the Stop Agrexco coalition in Savona, where Agrexco ships dock for distribution in Italy. Efforts are being coordinated with similar movements in Europe, including the Coalition Contre Agrexco in France, which unites more than 90 groups with the common goal of opposing plans to base the Israeli company at the port of Sete (Languedoc-Roussillon). In Italy, COOP and Conad members and customers, as well as groups active in the Stop Agrexco campaign, began sending letters of protest to COOP’s consumer magazines demanding they suspend sales of goods produced in settlements in the occupied territories. The initiative was then extended to CONAD and the campaign culminated on March 30, Palestinian Land Day and Global BDS Day, with coordinated protests, sit-ins and awareness raising initiatives in supermarkets in several Italian cities. Following these actions, correspondence was initiated with COOP and CONAD management, which then led to direct contact and meetings with the Stop Agrexco Coalition, during which representatives of the coalition provided additional documentation concerning the illegalities involved in the trade of settlement products as well as violations of international law and human rights in Palestine characterized by the production of settlement goods.

The results obtained thanks to the efforts of responsible consumers, COOP and Conad members and Stop Agrexco activists are undoubtedly positive. However, the Stop Agrexco coalition has vowed to make sure that both chains follow through on their promises, and encourages everyone to participate in this struggle for respect for international law, and freedom and self-determination for the Palestinian people.

Contact:
Stop Agrexco Italy
+39 333 11 03 510
stopagrexcoitalia@gmail.com

Additional information on the campaign against Agrexco is available on the coalition website: www.stopagrexcoitalia.org

WHO IS AGREXCO?:


Agrexco Agricultural Export Company Ltd. is the largest exporter of Israeli agricultural produce and distributes 60-70% of fruit, vegetables, flowers and herbs produced in the Israeli settlements illegally built on Palestinian land. The company was founded in 1956 and is 50% government owned. Agrexco has roughly 500 employees with offices in Europe, Japan and the US. In 2008, the Israeli Finance Ministry announced a decision to privatize the company, however privatization has not yet been initiated. During a trial held in England in 2004, the general manager of Agrexco UK, Amos Orr, testified that Agrexco exports 60-70% of all produce coming from the Israeli settlements. The company’s web site, in fact, advertises figs from Masuah, an Israeli settlement in the Jordan Valley. Settlement products together with products from Israel are marketed under the brand name “Carmel.” Some 80% of Agrexco produce is exported and sold in Europe, primarily in Great Britain. In the summer of 2009, Italy began playing a role in the distribution of products from the illegal settlements, providing one of the two major European ports where Agrexco ships dock, the port of Vado Ligure, near Savona (Genoa).

THE BDS CAMPAIGN:


In 2005, Palestinian civil society put together a unified proposal for international solidarity movements: determine ways to boycott Israeli products, divestment from Israeli businesses, place sanctions on Israel, and boycott Israeli cultural and academic institutions that cooperate with, or fail to take a stand against, the occupation or the apartheid system. These demands were formulated in the BDS campaign (www.bdsmovement.org). The BDS movement has already chalked up a number of successes (for example, against companies such as Veolia, Africa-Israel and Motorola) and has gained endorsements from civil society, academic, labor and governmental organizations around the world, Israel included. The very same trade unions representing the Palestinian workers exploited as cheap labor in the Israeli settlement plantations are among the promoters of the BDS campaign.

STOP AGREXCO ITALY:


The Italian coalition against Carmel-Agrexco was created in the fall of 2009, following a conference in Pisa on the international boycott divestment and sanctions (BDS) campaign, the non-violent response by Palestinian civil society to the Israeli occupation. The Italian coalition against Agrexco fully endorses the Palestinian BDS call, together with a growing number of Italian and international organizations and movements. The goal is to use boycott, divestment and sanctions initiatives against Israel, similar to those applied to South Africa during apartheid, to encourage the Israeli government to respect international law and recognize the Palestinian people’s inalienable right to self-determination. The Italian Coalition against Agrexco has thus far received endorsements from more than 50 local and national associations, trade unions and political parties, including Assopace, Attac, Women in Black – Italy, Federazione della Sinistra, FIOM-CIGL, Forum Palestina, Pax Christi – Italy, Rete ECO (Jews Against the Occupation), Service Civil International – Italy, Sinistra Critica and Un ponte per…


Source: http://australiansforpalestine.com/22238

 


Related Articles

Unilever to sell stake in plant based in West Bank settlement
Swedish firm to quit West Bank
Israeli winery leaves premises in illegal West Bank settlement

Also Of Interest

Page URL: http://inminds.com/article.php?id=10422
Support Us
If you agree with our work then please support us.

Give one time donation:
£

Setup monthly donation:
£
INMINDS Facebook Live Feed
Latest Video's
Latest News..
[all-by date]
[all-by category]
[all-by modify date]
INMINDS Twitter Feed
Boycott Israel Campaign
Featured Video's
You need Flash player 8+ and JavaScript enabled to view this video.
Why boycott Israel on Campus[1:50:05]
12 London universities discuss need for BDS on campuses. Speakers include Rafeef Ziadeh, Ilan Pappe, Karma Nabulsi & Mike Cushman
Love Letters to Gaza[31:08]
A unique theatrical event using personal messages of love, support and hope from people of all ages and all walks of life to the people of Gaza.
John Pilger[7:55]
journalist and documentary maker
Antiwar Mass Assembly 8 Oct 2011
Julian Assange[7:07]
founder of WikiLeaks
Antiwar Mass Assembly 8 Oct 2011
Lauren Booth, Sami Ramadani & Yvonne Ridley[6:28]
Reading the names of the dead
Antiwar Mass Assembly 8 Oct 2011
George Galloway[6:39]
Antiwar Mass Assembly 8 Oct 2011
Jemima Khan[8:42]
Antiwar Mass Assembly 8 Oct 2011
Why Boycott Marks & Spencer 2011?[23:29]
Demo outside M&S Oxford Street(24 Sept 2011)
Sean Clinton[4:59]
Israeli Blood Diamonds Campaign
Al Quds Day rally, Trafalgar Square (31 Aug 2011)
Lauren Booth[5:24]
Al Quds Day rally, Trafalgar Square (31 Aug 2011)
Lauren Booth - Prayer for Gaza[2:46]
Al Quds Day rally, Trafalgar Square (31 Aug 2011)
Benny Morris - Historian or Racist?[34:07]
Activists oppose visit of racist Israeli historian Benny Morris who justifies ethnic cleansing and genocide.
Is Israel applying apartheid?[2:12:56]
Speakers: Yael Kahn, Jody McIntyre and Ghada Karmi (5 May 2011)
Karen Mitchell[48:27]
Partner at Thompsons Solicitors
Life changing visit to Palestine in 2008 (21 Feb 2011)
Ramzy Baroud[1:59:32]
Editor-in-chief of the Palestine Chronicle
"My Father Was A Freedom Fighter - Gaza's Untold Story" (25 Mar 2011)
Women United in the Intifada[2:31:36]
Speakers: Lizzie Cocker, Ewa Jasiewcz, Alaa Kassim, Yvonney Ridley, Isis Amlak, Sukant Chandan, Ramzy Baroud (14 Mar 2011)
George Galloway[1:01:48]
Solidarity with the Middle-East Revolution, support the people - oppose US/UK intervention (SOAS, 11 Mar 2011)
Omar Barghouti[55:08]
BDS Movement co-founder
"Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions" book launch (7 Mar 2011)
Shir Hever[1:49:09]
Alternative Information Centre
The Political Economy of Israel's Occupation, Kings College London (17 Feb 2011)
Why academic boycott of Israel[1:29:37]
Speakers: Mohammed Abuabdou(PSCABI), Mike Cushman(BRICUP), Jodey McIntyre(activist) (8 Feb 2011)
Dashed Hopes - Gaza Blockade[1:23:08]
Mohammed-Ali Abu Najela (Oxfam), Andrea Becker (MAP), Ewa Jasiewicz (Free Gaza Movement) (1 Feb 2011)
Jordan Valley: Apartheid[1:17:12]
Sarah Cobham(Brighton Jordan Valley Solidarity), Chris Osmond (Corporate Watch) (House of Commons, 1 Feb 2011)
Dump Veolia Demo[7:00]
Protesting at settlement supporter Veolia's sponsership of exhibit at the Natural History Museum (23 Oct 2010)
Boycott Israeli Dates [1/2][9:11]
Are you financing Israels brutal occupation this Ramadan?
Boycott Israeli Dates [2/2][9:05]
Are you financing Israels brutal occupation this Ramadan?
Lee Jasper [1/2][10:13]
[4 of 8] Genocide Memorial Day 2010 Session One, 17-1-2010
Lee Jasper [2/2][9:51]
[5 of 8] Genocide Memorial Day 2010 Session One, 17-1-2010
One Oppressor One Bullet[8:11]
Imam Achmad Cassiem, veteran of the armed struggle against apartheid in South Africa, speaks at the StW rally (London, 19 Feb 2005)
Salwa Alenat [1/2][9:56]
KavLaOved (Workers Rights hotline)
[1 of 8] Israel's Occupation - Abuse of Palestinian Workers (LSE 19 Nov 2009)
Salwa Alenat [2/2][8:57]
KavLaOved (Workers Rights hotline)
[2 of 8] Israel's Occupation - Abuse of Palestinian Workers (LSE 19 Nov 2009)
For Anwar [1of2][10:01]
Carmel Agrexco Valentines Action 7 Feb 2009
For Anwar [2of2][9:56]
Carmel Agrexco Valentines Action 7 Feb 2009
big
[all videos (over 200)..]
Featured MP3 Podcast

"The Palestinian people are living in a prison with the key to everything in their lives controlled by the Israeli government and Israeli military. This is wrong! This is immoral! This is unjust! This is unethical! And in our world today, as the human family we will not stand silent and allow the Israeli government supported by the American government, and the UK government to continue to abuse the rights of the Palestinian people. Occupation must end!"
Nobel Peace Laureate
Enough Occupation Rally, June 2007 [6min / 3Mb]
[need flash]

[all podcasts..]
Newsletter
To subscribe
enter your email:

COPY VERIFICATION CODEcopy this code —>
Feedback
If you wish to comment on this page:

(all fields optional)



COPY VERIFICATION CODEcopy this code —>
The opinions expressed on this site, unless otherwise stated, are those of the authors.
All logos & trademarks are the property of their respective owners and their use is covered under 'fair use' policy.
Copyright © 1998-2012 Innovative Minds www.inminds.com All Rights Reserved.
The opinions expressed on this site, unless otherwise stated, are those of the authors.
All logos & trademarks are the property of their respective owners and their use is covered under 'fair use' policy.
Copyright © 1998-2012 Innovative Minds www.inminds.com All Rights Reserved.