How To Get Involved With Boycotting Israel

[Comrade Grumpy]

If our government won't act--or worse, yet actively supports Israel's mass murder campaign, we have to take it upon ourselves to act.

In the Bay Area, there are plans afoot to block Israel-linked cargo ships from unloading at the port of Oakland. I continue to look for good resources on what people can do in their own areas. If you have them, please post them.

http://www.bdsmovement.net/

http://www.bdsmovement.net/2014/urgent-call-from-gaza-civil-society-act-now-12272

Urgent call from Gaza civil society: Act now!

Posted on July 13, 2014 by 22 civil society organisations in Gaza

We Palestinians trapped inside the bloodied and besieged Gaza Strip call on conscientious people all over the world to act, protest and intensify the boycotts, divestments and sanctions against Israel until it ends this murderous attack on our people and is held to account.

With the world turning their backs on us once again, for the last four days we in Gaza have been left to face massacre after massacre. As you read these words, over 120 Palestinians are dead now, including 25 children. Over 1,000 have been injured including countless horrifying injuries that will limit lives forever –- more than two thirds of the injured are women and children.

We know for a fact that many more will not make it through the next day. Which of us will be next, as we lie awake from the sound of the carnage in our beds tonight? Will we be the next photo left in an unrecognizable state from Israel’s state-of-the-art flesh-tearing, limb-stripping machinery of destruction?

We call for a final end to the crimes and oppression against us. We call for:

Arms embargos on Israel, sanctions that would cut off the supply of weapons and military aid from Europe and the United States on which Israel depends to commit such war crimes;
Suspension of all free trade and bilateral agreements with Israel such as the EU-Israel Association agreement;
Boycott, divestment and sanctions, as called for by the overwhelming majority of Palestinian civil society in 2005
Without pressure and isolation, the Israeli regime has proven time and time again that it will continue such massacres as we see around us now, and continue the decades of systematic ethnic cleansing, military occupation and apartheid policies.

We are writing this on Saturday night, again paralyzed in our homes as the bombs fall on us in Gaza. Who knows when the current attacks will end? For anyone over seven years old, permanently etched on our minds are the rivers of blood that ran through the Gaza streets when for over three weeks in 2009 over 1,400 Palestinians were killed, including over 330 children.

White phosphorous and other chemical weapons were used in civilian areas and contaminating our land with a rise in cancers as a result. More recently 180 more were killed in the week-long attacks in late November 2012.

This time what? 200, 500, 5,000? We ask: how many of our lives are dispensable enough until the world takes action? How much of our blood is sufficient? Before the Israeli bombings, a member of the Israeli Knesset Ayelet Shaked of the far-right Jewish Home party called for genocide of the Palestinian people.

“They should go, as should the physical homes in which they raised the snakes,” she said. “Otherwise, more little snakes will be raised there.” Right now nothing is beyond the murderous nature of the Israeli State, for we, a population that is mostly children, are all mere snakes to them.

As said Omar Ghraib in Gaza, “It was heart shattering to see the pictures of little boys and girls viciously killed. Also how an elderly woman was killed while she was having her iftar at Maghreb prayer by bombing her house. She died holding the spoon in her hand, an image that will need a lot of time to leave my head.”

Entire houses are being targeted and entire families are being murdered. Early Thursday morning the entire al-Haj family was wiped out — the father Mahmoud, mother Bassema and five children. No warning, a family targeted and removed from life. Thursday night, the same again, no warning, five more dead including four from the Ghannam family, a woman and a seven year old child amongst them.

On Tuesday morning the Kaware family did get a phone call telling them their three-story house would be bombed. The family began to leave when a water tank was struck, but then returned with members of the community, who all came to the house to stand with them, people from all over the neighborhood.

The Israeli jets bombed the building with a roof full of people, knowing full well it was full of civilians. Seven people died immediately, including five children under 13 years old. Twenty-five more were injured, and eight-year-old Seraj Abd al-Aal succumbed to his injuries later that evening.

Perhaps the family was trying to appeal to the Israeli regime’s humanity, surely they wouldn’t bomb the roof full of people. But as we watch families being torn apart around us, it’s clear that Israel’s actions have nothing to do with humanity.

Other places hit include a clearly-marked media vehicle, killing the independent journalist Hamed Shehab, injuring eight others, a hit on a Red Crescent rescue vehicle and attacks on hospitals which caused evacuations and more injuries.

This latest session of Israeli barbarity is placed firmly in the context of Israel’s inhuman seven-year blockade that has cut off the main life-line of goods and people coming in and out of Gaza, resulting in the severe medical and food shortages being reported by all our hospitals and clinics right now.

Cement to rebuild the thousands of homes destroyed by Israeli attacks had been banned and many injured and ill people are still not being allowed to travel abroad to receive urgent medical treatment which has caused the deaths of over 600 sick patients.

As more news comes in, as Israeli leaders give promises of moving onto a next stage in brutality, we know there are more horrors yet to come. For this we call on you to not turn your backs on us. We call on you to stand up for justice and humanity and demonstrate and support the courageous men, women and children rooted in the Gaza Strip facing the darkest of times ahead. We insist on international action:

Severance of diplomatic ties with Israel

Trials for war crimes

Immediate international protection of the civilians of Gaza

We call on you to join the growing international boycott, divestment and sanction campaign to hold this rogue state to account that is proving once again to be so violent and yet so unchallenged.

Join the growing critical mass around the world with a commitment to the day when Palestinians do not have to grow up amidst this relentless murder and destruction by the Israeli regime.

When we can move freely, when the siege is lifted, the occupation is over and the world’s Palestinian refugees are finally granted justice.

ACT NOW, before it is too late!

Signed by:

Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions
University Teachers’ Association in Palestine
Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network (Umbrella for 133 orgs)
General Union of Palestinian Women
Medical Democratic Assembly
General Union of Palestine Workers
General Union for Health Services Workers
General Union for Public Services Workers
General Union for Petrochemical and Gas Workers
General Union for Agricultural Workers
Union of Women’s Work Committees
Pal-Cinema (Palestine Cinema Forum)
Youth Herak Movement
Union of Women’s Struggle Committees
Union of Synergies—Women Unit
Union of Palestinian Women Committees
Women’s Studies Society
Working Woman’s Society
Press House
Palestinian Students’ Campaign for the Academic Boycott of Israel
Gaza BDS Working Group
One Democratic State Group

- See more at: http://www.bdsmovement.net/2014/urgent-call-from-gaza-civil-society-act-now-12272#sthash.Q9u6YugX.dpuf

[edgineered]

1. Apparently BDS favors this timing of its message.

At some point the decision to rally support today was made. How strong are the sentiments of either pro-palestine or anti-israel or concerned people at this time, and why?

Lunchtime is all but over so excuse a drive-by please.

[tritsofme]

2. I always try to go out of my way to support the companies that BDS loonies go after

But don't always have an opportunity. I was hoping for a list, too bad.

[Comrade Grumpy]

3. Well, aren't you special. Here's a list of 7 COMPANIES TO BOYCOTT:

http://www.bdsmovement.net/2014/freedom-and-justice-for-gaza-boycott-action-against-7-complicit-companies-12386

NEWS
Freedom and justice For Gaza: Boycott action against 7 complicit companies
Posted on July 25, 2014 by Palestinian BDS National Committee

Israel’s regime of occupation, settler-colonialism and apartheid is once again committing heinous massacres on the Palestinian people in Gaza.

Israel enjoys criminal impunity because of the direct support from governments in the North America and Europe but also from corporations that are implicated in the Israeli occupation and egregious human rights violations.

There are dozens of companies that play an active and ongoing role in facilitating Israeli apartheid. In light of the exceptionally bloody massacres Israel is currently committing in Gaza, the Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC) suggests to BDS activists and every conscientious person and organization around the world to target the following 7 companies as a matter of urgency.

READ MORE: Read our Get Involved page for more ideas on companies to boycott and ways to get involved in the Boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement

1. Hewlett Packard (HP)

IT company Hewlett Packard is involved in various Israeli violations of international law through providing the Israeli occupation forces with a vast range of IT services and infrastructure solutions.

This includes the operation of an ID system installed in Israeli military checkpoints in the occupied West Bank and Gaza, and the administration of the IT system of the Israeli Navy that enforces the naval blockade of Gaza and that is deeply involved in committing war crimes in the ongoing aggression on Gaza.

By providing such significant support to the Israeli military, HP is an active accomplice to Israel’s siege on Gaza. That’s why the Presbyterian Church USA and the Quaker Friends Fiduciary Corporation (FFC) have divested from the company.

Take action:
- Boycott HP consumer products. Don’t buy HP laptops, printers or ink cartridges!
- Sign the petition calling on HP CEO Meg Whitman to end the company’s collaboration with the Israeli military
- Campaign for divestment from HP and for the company to be excluded from public contracts. Get in touch for ideas on how to get started.

2. Caterpillar

Caterpillar bulldozers are regularly used in the demolition of Palestinian homes and farms, and the Israeli army has used unmanned Caterpillar bulldozers in the 2008-09 attacks in Gaza. A CAT bulldozer was also used by Israel in killing US activist Rachel Corrie in Rafah in 2003. The Presbyterian Church USA, the Quaker Friends Fiduciary Corporation (FFC) and the Church of England have all divested from Caterpillar.

Take action:
- Boycott Caterpillar consumer products such as shoes, bags and tools!
- Campaign for divestment from Caterpillar. Get in touch for ideas on how to get started.

3. SodaStream

While not directly implicated in Israel’s on-going attack in Gaza, home drink carbonation machines produced by SodaStream are one of Israel’s most visible and widely advertised exports. Tax revenue from SodaStream sales help to fund Israel’s attack on Gaza.

SodaStream operates in the illegal Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim in the occupied West Bank, and the company’s plan to open a factory inside Israel beside Rahat, a planned Palestinian Bedouin township in the Naqab (Negev) desert, amounts to participation in Israel’s plans to forcibly displace at least 40,000 Palestinian Bedouins into townships.

John Lewis in the UK recently became the latest retailer to stop stocking SodaStream products and protests forced a SodaStream store in Brighton, UK, to close recently. The company’s share price has fallen by 50% in the past year, especially since a scandal over actor Scarlett Johansson’s association with the brand.

Take action:
- Boycott all SodaStream products and call on retailers not to stock them!
- Organise a demonstration or flashmob at a retailer near you that sells SodaStream products. Check out Codepink’s action guide for ideas.

4. Elbit Systems

Elbit Systems is Israel’s largest military company. It provides a wide range of equipment and services to the Israeli military, including surveillance equipment used in Israel’s illegal Wall and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), known as drones. Elbit Systems armed drones are widely used by the Israeli military and were documented as being used in attacks on unarmed civilians during the 2008-09 assault on Gaza.

According to Palestinian human rights organization Al Mezan Center, armed drones killed more than 1,000 Palestinians in Gaza in the period 2000-2010. Palestinian and international human rights organisations have reported numerous attacks on Palestinians by drones during the current attack on Gaza.

Elbit Systems markets its drone technology across the world as ‘field tested’. Countries that have procured UAVs from Elbit include Australia, Canada, Croatia, France, Georgia, Mexico, Singapore, Sweden, the UK, Brazil and USA.

The Norwegian sovereign wealth fund and more than a dozen European banks have divested from Elbit Systems.

Take action:
- Sign the call for a military embargo on Israel
- Call on UK bank Barclays and on pension funds to divest from Elbit Systems

5. Israeli banks (including Hapoalim and Leumi)

Israel’s private banks provide the financial infrastructure for all activities of companies, military bodies, governmental agencies and individuals in the continuing occupation of Palestinian and Syrian territory and provide significant financing to the construction of illegal Israeli settlements and the on-going colonisation of Palestinian land.

Israeli banks have severed their contractual connections with the Palestinian banks in Gaza and stopped providing any and all services to them. Given the way in which the Palestinian economy is dominated by and dependent on the Israeli economy, this had a devastating impact on the local Gazan economy.

A number of European pension funds including Dutch pension giant PGGM, the Luxembourg sovereign wealth fund and Denmark’s biggest bank Danske Bank have already divested from Israeli banks.

Take Action:
- Send a Tweet to Dutch Pension giant ABP calling on them to divest from Israeli banks that fund the Israel occupation and settlements
- Campaign for your own pension fund or any institution you are a part of to divest from Israeli banks. Get in touch for ideas on how to get started.

6. G4S
G4S is a British security company that provides a wide range of equipment and services g4s-securing-apartheid-140x300 (1)to the Israeli government and military including to Israeli checkpoints and to prisons where Palestinians, including many children, are held without trial and subjected to torture.

G4S provides equipment used in Israeli-run checkpoints at the Erez crossing between occupied Gaza and Israel, thereby directly assisting Israel’s siege on Gaza.

The international campaign against G4S has cost the company millions of dollars in contracts with universities, charities and other public bodies and has seen the Bill Gates Foundation, the United Methodist Church and others divest from the company.

In response, G4S has recently claimed that it will end some aspects of its role in Israeli apartheid and has stated it intends to end its role in Israel’s prisons by 2017, yet the campaign against the company must continue until its complicity in Israeli apartheid verifiably comes to a complete end.

Take action:
- Add your name to the open letter calling on G4S to end its support for Israeli apartheid and colonialism
- Campaign for your G4S to be excluded from public contracts. Get in touch for ideas on how to get started.

7. Mekorot


Mekorot is Israel’s national water company and illegally appropriates Palestinian water, diverting it to illegal Israeli settlements and towns inside Israel, and imposes severe obstacles to Palestinians accessing their own water.

Mekorot is part of the Israeli occupation complex that denies Palestinians access to their fair share of aquifers that should be shared between Israel and Gaza. Palestinian and international organisations in Gaza are warning that Gaza’s water crisis is being rapidly escalated by the on-going assault on Gaza.

Mekorot is now seeking to export its discriminatory water practises and is bidding to take over water supplies all across the world as they are being privatised. Authorities in Argentina, Netherlands and Portugal have cancelled cooperation deals with Mekorot following BDS pressure.

Take action:
- Share this fact sheet on Mekorot
- Campaign for Mekorot to be excluded from local authority contracts. Get in touch for more info and ideas

- See more at: http://www.bdsmovement.net/2014/freedom-and-justice-for-gaza-boycott-action-against-7-complicit-companies-12386#sthash.ugLsrTSX.dpuf

[IronGate]

9. Thanks for the list,

now I know what companies to support.

[Threedifferentones]

37. What a disgusting point of view. Barf indeed.

Colonialism was always wrong. This endless cycle of violence was a most predictable result of conquering a group of people and stealing their land.

The creation of Israel sparked an immediate war, but of course that did not bother us because we are so good at winning wars. Winning wars means killing people, and lots of them, and we will keep doing it until they submit to our authority. Our God is the real one, after all!

Yes, let's continue with your point of view. Who on Earth do these Arab snakes think they are, believing their right to their home trumps our right to settle the Jewish people wherever we damn well please?

Get the fuck off this forum is how I basically feel about people who support bullies and imperialist adventures, and that means you, you heartless fucking cheerleader of death!

This is supposed to be a place for people who prefer peace and support the abused, not the abusers!

[IronGate]

38. Don't like it?

Too bad, It's my opinion and I'll stick to it.

[tritsofme]

41. Too bad, so sad.

Hopefully we cancel out the BDS loons, and then some!

I enjoyed your rant, but unfortunately for you, supporters of the Jewish state aren't going anywhere, not in DU or the Democratic Party.

[tritsofme]

14. Thanks again! Definitely look forward to supporting those companies!

[arikara]

32. Sure, go out and buy yourself a cat

Support a butcher today and feel like a real human being.

I thought we had a barfing smilie. I always really disliked that thing, but it would have been most appropriate here.

[tritsofme]

40. Womp womp

[sabrina 1]

18. Okay, thanks for your input.

I definitely want to know how to participate in these boycotts and provide the information to as many people as I can, most of whom are horrified by what they are witnessing over there.

[tritsofme]

39. You're welcome.

Like I said, I definitely appreciate the information as well.

[seveneyes]

4. Seems like Hamas and its supporters should be on the boycott list too

Yet no mention of Hamas and their support of terror campaigns. Very odd, or simply an oversight.

[Comrade Grumpy]

5. You're welcome to start your own list. n/t

[MrNJ]

6. They don't produce anything except terrorism.

[Rhinodawg]

15. Terrorism ...and war crimes...

And murder
And denies freedom of press
And freedom of assembly
And freedom of religion
And extra judicial killings

Everything normal people are against.

And this is why the Arab league is disgusted with them and wants Hamas dead.

[LittleBlue]

17. We can't boycott anything from Gaza

They are imprisoned and thus unable to export anything.

[randys1]

28. Wow, there is no end to the fighting over this here at DU, imagine how tough it is

for the parties involved.

Why would BDS people be loony tunes, as long as BDS distinguishes itself from Hamas, I dont see why that would be.


I wonder what would happen if Hamas stopped their firing and gave up the tunnels, at that point putting all the worlds pressure on Israeli Govt, wouldnt a peace be a certainty at least temporarily?

Wouldnt the rightwing assholes in the Israeli govt have to stop?

[LittleBlue]

30. We need to stop treating both sides the same

You say "imagine how tough this is for both parties involved."

Okay, let's imagine. When this ends in a ceasefire and the status quo antebellum is restored, the Israelis go back to their homes and their freedoms. The Gazans go back to their besieged ghetto, a good portion of which is a pile of rubble. Like prisoners, they are prohibited from leaving or conducting commerce outside their prisons. They have to use smuggling tunnels to get the necessities of life.

Treating captives the same as their captors is a form of neutrality, which is a diplomatic stance, not a logical perspective.

[sabrina 1]

19. According to Israel's Right Wing loons, that would include our SOS, John Kerry, who according to

them, is a supporter of Hamas also.

[Capt. Obvious]

21. LOL

[hrmjustin]

26. I thought Gaza can't export anything.

[IronGate]

7. Yeah, good luck with trying to block the unloading of cargo ships,

I suspect the UNION LONGSHOREMEN might have something to say about that.

[Comrade Grumpy]

10. Local activists are in discussion with the union right now. Stay tuned.

[IronGate]

12. As I said, good luck with that. nt.

[IronGate]

8. Oh, and I would add that Homeland Security will have something to say about that also,

you can't even get near the ships anymore without a security clearance

[Comrade Grumpy]

11. There were repeated actions at the port during the Occupy movement.

People can get there.

You can call Fatherland Security if you want.

[sabrina 1]

20. OWS managed to shut down the ports with the cooperation of the Unions. So apparently you can

get near the ships if the cause is important enough.

[Comrade Grumpy]

13. Nine Ways to Effectively Support Gaza Through Boycotts, Divestment, and Sanctions

http://www.bdsmovement.net/get-involved

As Israel’s ongoing collective punishment of Palestinians and attacks on Gaza show, Israel will continue its belligerence and state terrorism unless it is made to pay a heavy price for its crimes against the Palestinian, Lebanese and other Arab peoples.

Initiated by an overwhelming majority of Palestinian grassroots organisations in 2005 and inspired by the South African anti-apartheid movement, the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement is now a widespread international movement.

BDS is proving capable of winning mass support and persuading companies, cultural institutions, artists and governments to join or observe the boycott of Israel.

The successes and growth of the global BDS movement has only been possible because of the creative and determined action by conscientious people and organizations and unions across the world.

The BDS movement is supported and led by the Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC), and we’ve put together this set of ideas on how to support in the BDS movement.

Get involved today and help to build the international BDS movement against Israel’s regime of occupation, colonialism and apartheid.

Boycott goods of Israeli companies as well as international companies involved in Israel’s human rights violations

The most basic step is to stop buying products and services of Israeli companies and, whenever feasible, of international companies involved in Israel’s human rights violations. Try to encourage your friends, family and community to join you in doing so.

It differs from country to country, but the most common Israeli exports include:

- fresh fruit and vegetables such as Jaffa citrus fruits and Israeli Medjoul Dates
- Ahava cosmetics
- SodaStream drinks machines
- Eden Springs bottled water
- Golan Heights Wineries and other Israeli wines

There are many international companies that are complicit in Israeli violations of international law. Examples include HP, Caterpillar, Volvo, Hyundai, among many others.

Trying to boycott the products of every single company that participates in Israeli apartheid is a daunting task that has a slim change of having a concrete impact.

It makes more sense to focus on optimal targets that are being targeted as part of national or international campaigns. Consumer boycotts are most effective when part of a broader campaign against a particular product or aiming to pressure a retailer to stop selling a particular Israeli product.

Get in contact with a BDS organisation in your area to find out what companies and products are being targeted and how to support local campaigns. If no such organization exists, start your own campaign, in coordination with well-recognized BDS organizations.

Follow us on social media and help spread the word

There are new BDS successes and developments nearly every day. Help to magnify the impact of the BDS movement by following us on Twitter and Facebook and sharing news of BDS successes on social media.

You can also sign up for our regular newsletter and email updates.

Learn more and share information about the BDS movement

Check out and consider sharing the pages in the Learn section of this website, including the Introduction to BDS, and the list of successes and timeline of the BDS movement since 2005.

You can Tweet about the BDS movement and follow developments using the hashtag #BDS.

Get involved in your area

There are vibrant organisations and campaigns in towns and cities all over the world that make an enormous contribution to boycott campaigns and the BDS movement as a whole.

Enter your details into our Get involved with a local BDS campaign form to be put in touch with a nearby group and start getting involved in local campaigning today.

Take action online

Online petitions and letter writing actions can be an important part of building pressure, especially when they are part of vibrant local campaigning too.

Check out bdsmovement.net/takeaction to find out about on-going online actions. If you have your own suggestions for BDS campaigns, please share them with us through email.

Campaign against your own community’s complicity in Israel’s violations of international law
Israel is only able to maintain its occupation and apartheid system because of the massive, unconditional support it receives from international governments, companies and institutions, such as universities.

Get in touch for ideas on how to research and campaign against links between your local community and the companies and institutions that enable Israel’s occupation and apartheid policies. Divesting pension or investment funds from companies involved in Israel’s human rights violations is a major component in many such campaigns.

Encourage an organisation you are a member of to endorse BDS

All across the world, trade unions, student unions, NGOs, faith groups and other organisations are getting behind the BDS movement, launching their own BDS campaigns and divesting any shares they hold in Israeli companies or international companies such as Veolia, G4S and HP that are implicated in Israeli occupation and apartheid.

Persuading a union or association that you are a member of to endorse the Palestinian civil society’s BDS call can be a long-term project but is a particularly effective way to reach large numbers of people and build mainstream support for the boycott movement.

Organise a boycott action at a retailer that sells Israeli goods

Boycott actions such as a protest or creative flashmob can be a great way to build awareness and support for the boycott of Israel and to pressure a retailer to stop stocking a particular product or Israeli goods in general.

Check out CODEPINK’s guide to organising a creative boycott action targeting Israeli cosmetics company Ahava. The guide works well for actions targeting other complicit products and companies too.

Share this list
Help to inspire others to take action by sharing this list via social media.

[sabrina 1]

22. Thanks, I wasn't aware of them and will definitely be following them on Twitter.

I hope they know that they WORLD has not deserted them, only the usual Western Colonial leaders, not their people.

I just read yesterday eg, that two Latin American nations have recalled their Israeli Ambassadors, I believe Chile is one of them.

So as always, it is not the 'whole' world by any means.

Since we live in one of those nations that are refusing to condemn these atrocities, it makes sense for the people to take action themselves. This is a very good way to do that.

[Rhinodawg]

16. To quote you..."Fuck this. It is time for direct action to stop US military support of Israel."

Damn right...

Protesting...useless
BDS.... useless

Nope, only way is to take REAL direct action is to go to gaza .
That's a stand I would respect.

[Comrade Grumpy]

23. You're welcome to start a fund raiser for my ticket.

Although you don't have to go to Gaza to do direct actions.

Blockading shipments of war material is one example. People literally put their bodies on the train tracks near Oakland during Reagan's Contra War.

Sanctions, boycotts, and divestment campaigns also have their place. Inflicting economic pain often concentrates the minds of those at whom it is directed.

And speaking of stands one would respect, when are you enlisting in the IDF?

[Rhinodawg]

24. Come on...it's not that much money.

You fly to Germany and then to Cairo.
Then it's a short bus ride to Rafah crossing.
As I understand it, it's easy to cross into Gaza...it's not so easy to get out.
No more arm chair actions.

And if I was needed and wanted , I would be honored to serve in the IDF.
(I used to be in better shape)

[randys1]

29. If you are so anxious for war maybe you should join our military and ask to be sent

to Afghanistan before it is all over...

[arikara]

33. They would take you in West Africa

and bonus maybe you could get your shape back.

[Katashi_itto]

35. West Africa would be perfect for your weight problem. Catch the right bug and the

lbs. will just melt off.

[Rhinodawg]

36. Very tempting. Lol

[Comrade Grumpy]

25. Information about Saturday's demonstration in Washington, DC here:

http://www.answercoalition.org/national/news/aug-2-national-march-stop-gaza-massacre.html

[oldandhappy]

31. The list of companies is a wake up call for me.

I am such a low level consumer, I do not recognize most of them and certainly am not in the market for any of their products. Sort of funny, actually. AND, I do want to participate where I can so will continue to check these posts. Thank you.

[countryjake]

34. Thanks for the info, Comrade!