So, do we stop our protests, candle light vigils and boycotts now....I say 'NO'.
Should we all forget the role that US has played in this whole affair - its discriminatory behavior - its unjust actions.
When Iraq stepped into Kuwait, it was made a big deal by the US - and Iraq was invaded, its government ousted - and Iraq was and is still occupied by the US.
When Israel invaded lands that the UN decided will be Palestine in 1948, when they invaded parts of Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt ... etc, and still refuses to abide countless UN Security Council resolutions, and UN General Assembly resolutions - US not only turns a blind eye to all the 'bad' things Israel does, but has also used its 'veto power in the UN Security Council' and its other powers to prevent justice for the Palestinian people and the region. US behaviour with regard to Israel is unacceptable and very wrong.
Do we still boycott US products - as a personal protest against the US --- YES.
What are the products that is identified with USA?
KFC - Kentucky Fried Chicken
Mc Donalds
Coca Cola
Marlboro
and more....
In reality, today many people many non-Americans may own shares and interest in these companies, but that really is secondary..
Some people said that it is impossible to boycott all American products because it is all around us...and it is near impossible to boycott everything
Hence, we have to choose a few and boycott it - and that is what we did in the past..
Of course, this was a BBC report - and see how they tried to dissuade persons from boycotting (or were they doing a 'balanced report') - "As everybody else, we are deeply touched by the human side of the situation in the Middle East," Kadri Taib, Coca-Cola Malaysia public affairs and communications director, said in a statement.The removal of Coca-Cola from thousands of restaurants in Malaysia in protest at US support for Israel will hurt the local economy, the company has said.
The drinks company was responding to boycotts of US-made goods called by Muslim groups in Malaysia.
Malaysia has called at the United Nations for action to stop the Israeli offensive in Gaza.
Former leader Mahathir Mohamad has also called for a global boycott of the US dollar and US products.
"As everybody else, we are deeply touched by the human side of the situation in the Middle East," Kadri Taib, Coca-Cola Malaysia public affairs and communications director, said in a statement.
"Given the local nature of our business, we believe that calls for boycotts of our products are not the appropriate way to further any causes, as they primarily hurt the local economy, local businesses and local citizens," the company said.
It added that the beverage company employs some 1,700 Malaysians, 60% of whom are Malay Muslims.
Muslim protest
The boycott, aimed at US support of Israel which has mounted the offensive in Gaza, is spearheaded by the Malaysian Islamic Consumers Association as well as the Muslim Restaurant Operators Association.
If you stop accepting US currency, the US can't trade and can't make any money, it will become very poor and it will have to stop the production of more and more weapons in order to kill people. People must act... they won't die if they don't drink Coca-Cola
Dr Mahathir Mohamad, former Malaysian prime ministerMore than 2,000 Muslim restaurants in Malaysia have said they would remove Coca-Cola from their menus from Friday.
Ma'mor Osman, secretary-general of the Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association which is leading the campaign, said about 100 other products have been identified, ranging from food to beauty and clothing such as Starbucks, Colgate, McDonald's and Maybelline.
"A boycott is the best way for us to protest Zionist cruelty against the Palestinian people as consumers can weaken the economy of countries like Israel and its ally, the US," he said.
Leadership support
Former Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir had earlier called for a boycott of US currency and goods.
"If you stop accepting US currency, the US can't trade and can't make any money, it will become very poor and it will have to stop the production of more and more weapons in order to kill people," he said on Monday.
"We should not be buying all these weapons from the US, we can buy from the Russians if we must have aeroplanes and things like that," he added.
"People must act... they won't die if they don't drink Coca-Cola," he said.
"We urge everybody who loves peace and is against war to support our campaign. We must send a clear signal to Israel to stop the assaults in Gaza," he said.
Malaysia's current Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi has called for sanctions on Israel, saying the international community has a "moral duty" to save the Palestinian people.
He said that Israel's "excessive deployment of military power" in its air and ground offensive on Gaza since 27 December was "absolutely immoral".
In the conflict, so far 770 Palestinians and 14 Israelis have been killed, with thousands wounded. - BBC, 9/1/2009, Gaza prompts boycott in Malaysia
"Given the local nature of our business, we believe that calls for boycotts of our products are not the appropriate way to further any causes, as they primarily hurt the local economy, local businesses and local citizens," the company said.
It added that the beverage company employs some 1,700 Malaysians, 60% of whom are Malay Muslims.'
It saddened me when the Selangor Menteri Besar also is against the boycott.Malaysians must not simply boycott all products from United States or Israel as these may be partly owned by Muslims or locals.Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said Malaysians should instead study carefully the list of products they intended to boycott in the wake of Israel’s attack on Palestinians in Gaza.
“The products may be owned not just by the Israelis or the Americans.
“Brands like McDonald’s and Coca Cola are not totally owned by Israeli or American groups, but their shares are owned even by Muslim countries, including bumiputras in Malaysia. - Star, 10/1/2009, S’gor MB: Be careful about the boycott of US goods
This is a problem. Is all that is important only MONEY and wealth?
I urge all Malaysians who have interest in these selected American products/entities and Israeli products/entities to dispose of their shares and interest as sign of protest against the injustice that continues to happen to the Palestinian people.
People have choices - and it is disappointing that people do not consider principles, values, human rights record, etc when it comes to deciding where they invest their money...with the hope of making more money.
Khalid was the former CEO of Guthrie, and he would have most likely been involved in the eviction of plantation workers from job and homes. Peoples' lives and need is not important - only profits and the good of the company.
Now, he is the Menteri Besar - a wakil rakyat (peoples' representative) - and yet he is still driven by the more important values and principles...
Thankfully, the Perak MB got it right ...
The state government yesterday launched a RM1 million fund for Palestine and called on the people of the state to boycott United States-made products. - New Straits Times, 11/1/2009,Nizar: Boycott US-made goodsThe Pahang Menteri Besar's position was this...
Individuals who want to support the call to boycott US currency and American-made products can do so at their own accord, Pahang Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob said.Adnan said although he had yet to meet up with Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, he supported the former premier’s call to initiate the campaign.
“Of course it is up to the individual who feel strongly about Israel’s attacks on Palestine to do something to show their disapproval.
“I do support the campaign but we must also remember that United States is one of our largest trading partners. - Star, 10/1/2009, Boycott US products on your own accord, says Mentri Besar
Our position and actions must always be to uphold the cause of justice without fear or favour.
One thing that I like about a boycott is that it gives individual Malaysians another means to express their protest, and if KFC, McDonalds, Starbucks, Coca Cola, etc suddenly see their sales and profits affected - this will also mean that these American/Israeli owned/controlled companies would also have to join in the struggle to ensure that justice be done.
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Okay boycott all of the products and sevices invented and maintained by the Jews:
Happy boycotting.
Extracts of speech by Hafez A.B Mohamed: Director-General, Al Baraka Bank.
Demographics:
o World Jewish Population. 14 million
o Distribution: 7 m in America
5 m in Asia
2 m in Europe
100 thousand in Africa
o World Muslim Population: 1.5 billion
o Distribution: 1 billion in Asia/Mid-East
400 M in Africa
44 M in Europe
6 M in the Americas
o Every fifth human being is a Muslim..
o For every single Hindu there are two Muslims
o For every Buddhist there are two Muslims
o For every Jew there are 107 Muslims
o Yet the 14 million Jews are more powerful than the entire 1.5 billion Muslims
Why?
Here are some of the reasons.
Movers of Current History
o Albert Einstein Jewish
o Sigmund Freud Jewish
o Karl Marx Jewish
o Paul Samuelson Jewish
o Milton Friedman Jewish
Medical Milestones
o Vaccinating Needle: Benjamin Ruben Jewish
o Polio Vaccine Jonas Salk Jewish
o Leukaemia Drug Gertrude Elion Jewish
o Hepatitis B Baruch Blumberg Jewish
o Syphilis Drug Paul Ehrlich Jewish
o Neuro muscular Elie Metchnikoff Jewish
o Endocrinology Andrew Schally Jewish
o Cognitive therapy. Aaron Beck Jewish
o Contraceptive Pill Gregory Pincus Jewish
o Understanding of Human Eye. G. Wald Jewish
o Embryology. Stanley Cohen Jewish
o Kidney Dialysis Willem Kloffcame Jewish
Nobel Prize Winners
o In the past 105 years, 14 million Jews have won 180 Nobel prizes whilst 1.5 billion Muslims have contributed only 3 Nobel winners
Inventions that changed History
o Micro- Processing Chip. Stanley Mezor Jewish
o Nuclear Chain Reactor Leo Sziland Jewish
o Optical Fibre Cable Peter Schultz Jewish
o Traffic Lights Charles Adler Jewish
o Stainless Steel Benno Strauss Jewish
o Sound Movies Isador Kisee Jewish
o Telephone Microphone Emile Berliner Jewish
o Video Tape Recorder Charles Ginsburg Jewish
Influential Global Business
o Polo Ralph Lauren Jewish
o Coca Cola Jewish
o Levi's Jeans Levi Strauss Jewish
o Sawbuck's Howard Schultz Jewish
o Google Sergey Brin Jewish
o Dell Computers Michael Dell Jewish
o Oracle Larry Ellison Jewish
o DKNY Donna Karan Jewish
o Baskin & Robbins Irv Robbins Jewish
o Dunkin Donuts Bill Rosenberg Jewish
Influential Intellectuals/ Politicians
o Henry Kissinger , US Sec of State Jewish
o Richard Levin, PresidentYaleUniver sity Jewish
o Alan Greenspan , US Federal Reserve Jewish
o Joseph Lieberman Jewish
o Madeleine Albright , US Sec of State Jewish
o CasperWeinberger , US Sec of Defence Jewish
o Maxim Litvinov , USSR Foreign Minister Jewish
o DavidMarshal , Singapore Chief Minister Jewish
o Isaacs Isaacs, Gov-GenAustralia Jewish
o Benjamin Disraeli, British Statesman Jewish
o Yevgeny Primakov, Russian PM Jewish
o Barry Goldwater , US Politician Jewish
o Jorge Sampaio, President Portugal Jewish
o Herb Gray, Canadian Deputy - PM Jewish
o Pierre Mendes, French PM Jewish
o Michael Howard, British Home Sec. Jewish
o Bruno Kriesky, Austrian Chancellor Jewish
o Robert Rubin , US Sec of Treasury Jewish
Global Media Influential
o Wolf Blitzer, CNN Jewish
o Barbara Walters ABC News Jewish
o EugeneMeyer , Washington Post Jewish
o Henry Grunwald, Time Magazine Jewish
o Katherine Graham , Washington Post Jewish
o Joseph Lelyeld, New York Times Jewish
o Max Frankel, New York Times Jewish
Global Philanthropists
o George Soros Jewish
o Walter Annenberg Jewish
Why are they powerful? why are Muslims powerless?
Here's another reason. We have lost the capacity to produce knowledge.
o In the entire Muslim World (57 Muslim Countries) there are only 500 universities.
o In USA alone, 5,758 universities
o In India alone, 8,407 universities
o Not one university in the entire Islamic World features in the Top 500 Ranking Universities of the World
o Literacy in the Christian World 90%
o Literacy in the Muslim World 40%
o 15 Christian majority-countries, literacy rate 100%
o Muslim majority - countries , None
o 98% in Christian countries completed primary
o Only 50% in Muslim countries completed primary.
o 40% in Christian countries attended university
o In Muslim countries a dismal 2% attended.
o Muslim majority countries have 230 scientists per one million Muslims
o The USA has 5000 per million
o The Christian world 1000 technicians per million.
o Entire Arab World only 50 technicians per million.
o Muslim World spends on research/developmen t 0.2% of GDP
o Christian World spends 5 % of GDP
Conclusion.
o The Muslim World lacks the capacity to produce knowledge.
Another way of testing the degree of knowledge is the degree of diffusing knowledge.
o Pakistan 23 daily newspapers per 1000 citizens
o Singapore 460 per 1000 citizens.
o In UK book titles per million is 2000
o In Egypt book titles per million is only 17
Conclusion.
o Muslim World is failing to diffuse knowledge
Applying Knowledge is another such test.
o Exports of high tech products from Pakistan is 0.9% of its exports.
o In Saudi Arabia is 0.2%
o Kuwait , Morocco and Algeria 0.3%
o Singapore alone is 68%
Conclusion.
o Muslim World is failing to apply knowledge.
What do you conclude? no need to tell the figures are speaking themselves very loudly we are unable to listen.
Walk the Talk. Can you boycott Microsoft software. I challenge you. Talk is EASY.
Why Microsoft is not on your list?
Why we only boyvott such products like KFC, McDonalds, Starbucks, Coca Cola, etc, but pretend to ignore product like Intel, AMD processor, Microsoft, Mac software. Deep inside us we know that it is impossible, correct? I won't be suprise if the Head of the HAMAS still need to use such products. Correct? This shows that we are HYPOCRITES!!!
Boycott anything that are US. Movies, VDs, DVDs, condoms, hotels, US prostitutes, clothings, shoes, foodstuff and drinks and we pray day and night for the total destruction of US, Isreal and BN-UMNO.
Yeah! Boycott US products. People who ask others to do the boycotting better take a good look at themself in the mirror. To me, they are the biggest hypocrites
Every day when you start your computer, pls ask yourself is this an American product. If you are a gentleman, boycott it. Shame on you!
As a Malay Muslim, one must either sacrifice the economy or sacrifice oneself for the sake of one's religion and brothers.
I know it's a tough call but whatever we do will be used for or against us in the day of judgment.
Charles, you talk about "discriminatory behavior" Why don't you start by cleaning up Malaysia's discriminatory behavior against the minorities before pointing your fingers at others? That would be a good start. You can also STOP patronizing blogger.com started by a San Francisco company.To express your views, may I suggest smoke signals?
Allow me to ask the writer of this post some questions.The state of Israel was formed in 1948,the same year they came under attack from Syria,Egypt,Jordan etc.Till today,the war and blood shed is still going on.Thats about 60 years now.Now,why didnt,Malaysia's politicians call for the boycott of American and Israeli products much earlier?Why allow these companies to set up businesses in Malaysia in the first place?Why make Malaysians to spend millions to set up these businesses under franchise and employ mainly Malaysians?How come A n W's franchise holders are malay muslims?Does this mean they are pro-jewish or pro-Americans(the jewish supporters)?Why is the need for only selective boycott?Isn't this a hypocrisy of the highest order?
These spineless hypocrites in Malaysia,allow those companies to come in and do business obviously to gain economically when they need despite the killings taking place in Palestine and Israel for the past 60 years and whenever they want to gain political expediency,they come out and call for bans and burn other countrie's flag which are actually benefitting us economically and a source of employment for thousand and thousands of Malaysians.Doesn't this is akin to making fool of ourselves esp when one calls for selective boycott of products?If you are prepared to stoop so low to the extent of burning another country's flag,then one should be prepared to cut all diplomatic ties and economical ties with that country,so what if that is our 2nd largest trading partner?Mind you these same political leaders who did this shameless act are the ones who didnt mince their words when they said street demonstrations(peaceful ones) are not our culture,how about burning flags then?Isn't this hypocrisy and double standard of the highest order?If this is not then what is?
I personally will never tolerate anyone burning the Malaysian flag for whatever reason.
For those who rant about judgement day,don't your conscience tell you that charity begins at home?Dont you realize there are millions of needy Malaysians out there are also dying for want of food and money to treat the sick,including babies as we see almost every other day in the news papers?Didnt our so called leaders due to their racist and arrogant stand drive some group of Malaysians who had been voting for them since time immemorial and contributing taxes dutifully were made the new underclass of society?How are you going to answer all these during judgement day?And now,you people want to deprive the bread and butter of thousands and thousands of Malaysians, majority of them are muslim malaysians?Did you ask those muslim malay workers if they want to sacrifice their job for this purpose or did you make arrangements to find them an alternate employment or is Mahathir going to feed their families with the billions he has?
The solution is not HAMAS or boycott,it has to come from some rich Arab nations.Call them to unite and then push for a 2 state solution as I my self dont wish to watch innocent kids dying and I condemn any party which uses military might to kill innocent people in the strongest possible term.
So all you people out there,think rationally and dont be emotional in your statements,look at helping all humans and not based on religion or race alone.There are also millions of innocent kids and civilians dying in Sri Lanka,where the US supports the repressive govt by supplying weapons,same goes to Zimbabwe, tens of thousands of kids are dying of hunger,in Burma people are being politically persecuted as well as the Kurds are suffering too repressed by the former Saddam's regime,Iran and Turkey.Look at the rich Arab nations,they remain oblivion to the whole issue of their fellow Arab brothers,what can Malaysia,minnows in world politics and economy can achieve by this boycott other than depriving many Malaysians of their livelihood?
The writer here seems to support this call for boycott but at the same time comes up with another post expressing concern for the thousands of Malaysians who are on the verge of losing their jobs in Malaysia in the face of the present harsh economic conditions.I simply fail to decipher his logic.It all boils down to HYPOCRISY and nothing else.
May god save the Palestinians,innocent Israelis and all others who are facing hunger,war and political persecution,including those marginalized and under priviged in our very own backyard.
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