Boycott U.S products

by happybrunette23 | February 24, 2009 at 03:53 pm

735 views | 76 Recommendations | 23 comments

My report is about the Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia that had created a huge buzz and began a boycott on top 5 U.S products i.e. Starbucks, Colgate, Coca-cola, McDonalds and Caltex. In my opinion, the Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia did not have a direct effect for the situation that happened in Gaza during the Israel's 14 day offensive strike. What the association was trying to accomplish by the "boycott U.S products campaign" had not met it's purpose, which was for an immediate affect of cease fire for the airstrikes to Gaza. The numbers were clear. 1400 Palestinians dead which include civilians, NGOs, politicians againsts 13 Israels soldiers casualties.

This over reaction could be due to powerful sentiments at the time, it had the Malaysians all hyped up for a month and then the situation of the campaign had simply "flopped". From my observations Malaysians continue to sip Coca-Cola, dine in Chillis, fill up their tanks in Caltex, and have morning coffees in Starbucks.

"We urge Muslim consumers internationally to unite so that we can teach a lesson to Israel and its allies," Ma'amor Osman, an official with the association, told reporters in the compound of the national mosque after Friday Muslim prayers.

"This is to object to the arrogance and cruelty of Israel and its allies towards the Palestinians."

He urged the Malaysian government to end all its contracts with U.S.-owned firms.

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The outcome of the situation in Gaza was that it immediate ceased fire a few days before Barack Obama's inauguration. In my opinion the Israelies under the "Bush Administration" were trying to bomb out and kill as many soldiers and civilians without taking any considerations on international group of countries that protested for immediate cease fire or the UN conventions and sanctions on stopping war genocide.

However, I personally applaud the Muslim Consumers Association Malaysia for making an effort. It does not add an immediate pressure to the Isralies but it did create a buzz that's worth remembering.

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happybrunette23

at 16:16 on February 24th, 2009

It's the association's objectivity and purpose to create a sentiment based campaign. C'mon what does consumerism have anything to do with what's going on in Gaza.

Paschen

at 16:25 on February 24th, 2009

I support it already. :)

happybrunette23

at 16:30 on February 24th, 2009

A minute of silence for the victims of Gaza and Israel bombings.

Paschen

at 16:39 on February 24th, 2009

The way to peace is inter-dependance. A concept that worked well for the EU.

gerrypopplestone

at 18:33 on February 24th, 2009

Well said, Paschen. So far, the Israelis do not seem very interested in inter-dependence. They like to make all the decisions themselves, as they do with the water resources so that both the West Bank and Gaza are left with the sewage!

kuuva

at 17:27 on February 24th, 2009

that is too bad, Colgate is so good. why cant everyone just smile? well i guess if you dont brush you may not want too.

actually i hate to see people die.

Roy C

at 18:37 on February 24th, 2009

Boycotts are difficult to arrange. The boycott inevitably hurts the people who boycott as well.

How many Malaysians have put in money and sweat equity to buy some half-decently functioning franchise as a way out of poverty?

You hurt the franchise, the employees who are Malaysian, the banks that lent the money, and so on.

Then there is the international ownership of McDonald's Some guy running a trust fund in France with money that goes to charity has money in McDonald's.

Then there will be some Saudi millionaire who supports Hamas who suddenly has less money because his investments in Proctor & Gamble went to merde.

A sit-in, a protest at the American consulate would be far more effective. You would get TV time and space in the paper, and you would make it very clear what you objected to and why.

Fred Miller

at 19:38 on February 24th, 2009

Well Roy, you said it, and said it well in your first sentence :

"Boycotts are difficult to arrange. The boycott inevitably hurts the people who boycott as well."

This is a tricky business, not the way to protest when a major US importer like Walgreens provides an essential item like Malaysian-made batteries to Hurricane victims. As a first responder during Hurricane IKE last Sept., I cannot tell you how many batteries I sold to how many people who were grateful for batteries at any price, regardless of where they were made.

Would Malaysia care to give up its position as the manufacturer of Walgreens brand batteries ( just one of the boycotted products ) to another Southeast Asian country, and create unemployment for its workforce in times like these ? Would a reverse boycott hurt the US-Malaysian Fair Trade Agreement ?

Roy C

at 23:24 on February 24th, 2009

Fred, that was the kind of example I couldn't give because I lacked precisely that experience of yours in that situation.

Thanks.

WisdomMountain

at 19:46 on February 24th, 2009

One has to be clear about why and what cause the Gaza war.

I understand Hamas kept firing rockets at Israel's border towns like foolish kids playing with new year fire crackers.

So when the real reply came with huge tanks,jet fighters and bombs, they just fled,many using civilian shields to avoid the repercussions.

What would you do if your good neighbours kept raining rockets at your schools,etc. and disrupt your daily life,peace and quiet?

So one must be sensible enough to know the cause and effect of one's actions.

The root cause of the Gaza problem is extreme selfishness by rival factions wanting to be Palestinian heroes.

Malaysians, I believe, are wise enough to know that any boycott would have limited effect on what Israeli forces or Hamas would do.

When one mixes up politics with business,one actually throws shit at one's own face.

In fact, any boycott would not work as peace not war is the way forward for peaceful co-existence in the Middle East.

One's effort to pour fuel into the fire at the volatile situation there would bring no fruits of goodness or improvement of lifestyle there!
So forget the boycott.
Mind your own business.
And stop playing up religious and racial issues without thinking out the root causes of problems. Thanks.

Barry Artiste

at 21:35 on February 24th, 2009

If the Muslim Association wants to put its mouth where its pocketbook is, just make sure they boycott US Medicines too! Especially the Jewish Discovered Medicines, wouldnt want this Association to be hypocrites now~! As a matter of fact if they feel so strongly and anti American, they should go one step further and Burn their American Passports, and stop Immigrating to the US. that'll show those damn American Bastards! Hey I hear Canada supports Israel too, so they should Ban us too, just get a match and burn them Canadian passports too. That'll Learn us, Learn us Big!

Yeah, like that'll ever happen, they may be crazy, but theyre Not NUTS!!

Roy C

at 23:39 on February 24th, 2009

Ah, the Jewish medicines! Yes, that would be a real boycott! Man, you make me laugh. We should have a show called, "Wise Guys of NowPublic".

Barry Artiste

at 07:37 on February 25th, 2009

Thanks Roy, I love to bring some Humour in a story to side with the tragic

politisite

at 12:29 on February 25th, 2009

Barry would be Number 1.

Sputnic

at 09:51 on March 2nd, 2009

Scientific method was invented by a muslim scientist 1300 years ago. Google it !

mudricky

at 22:57 on February 24th, 2009

Wow, that's a great idea. Let's target the multi-nationals and not buy their products, that will stop the blood pouring.

HAMID52

at 09:38 on February 25th, 2009

Multi-nationals are behind those governments who supported Israel in its indiscriminate attacks to Gaza, and vice-versa, the governments also support them for getting more money from their supremacy!

politisite

at 12:30 on February 25th, 2009

Well written. Folks should know, that by flagging an article it does not mean I agree. I flag for well written, researched, and thoughtful stories.

azzayindia

at 22:55 on February 25th, 2009

well if usa boycotts outsourcing should india boycot usa goods?

happybrunette23

at 09:17 on February 26th, 2009

Malaysia owe the US money, Malaysia buy many times of energy, medicine, franchises and many type of business from the US, for a fact, the Malaysian government will not ban any US made products or US related business opportunities. Malaysian government would still do business with the US and other world economies except the Isralies. Malaysian government detest the situation in Gaza and it proved its points during many organized GAZA related meetings, but why take things so personally so as not to send any representatives to Washington for Barack Obama's inauguration? Only 1 Malaysian diplomat made it there. That action said alot of things about the mentality of gevernment administratives. Pretty darn stupid.

Many Malaysians support Barack Obama and his visions. " Change we can believe in". I even paid USD5 for his campaign online. He should be the leader of the world.