News from John Lewis and The Bay Stores


By newsmax
January 17, 2011
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16th Jan 11

Leading UK department store John Lewis has stopped stocking products manufactured in an illegal settlement in the Holy Land. The company has confirmed that it discontinued sales of Ahava Dead Sea products.

John Lewis’ Managing Director, Andy Street, wrote in a letter to the Palestine Solidarity Campaign on 7 January: "As a socially responsible retailer, John Lewis takes very seriously the treatment of workers and their working conditions. We expect all our suppliers not only to obey the law, but also to respect the rights, interests and well-being of their employees, their communities and the environment."

He ended by stating: "In relation to your specific enquiry about Ahava Dead Sea products, I can confirm that John Lewis has ceased stocking these particular products".

The Bay stores, a leading department store chain in Canada have also stopped selling the products. Bonnie Brooks, CEO of The Bay stores said on Friday: "the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) discontinued sales of Ahava beauty products, primarily because of sales results which had been declining for several years."

She added: "Although this decision was made by HBC solely for commercial reasons, it occurred at the same time as an aggressive campaign by several groups advocating a boycott of Ahava products."

Sarah Colborne, from the PSC, explained: "Ahava Dead Sea Laboratories, an Israeli cosmetics company, has its manufacturing plant and visitors’ centre based in the illegal Israeli settlement of Mitzpe Shalem in the West Bank. The company is 44 per cent owned by Mitzpe Shalem and another settlement, Kalia, so Ahava’s profits subsidise these illegal colonies.

In 2005, Palestinian civil society issued a call for international boycott, divestment and sanctions on Israel. PSC launched its national boycott campaign in 2002, and supports fortnightly protests outside Ahava’s store in Covent Garden, London.

For more information see: http://www.stolenbeauty.org/

COMMENTS

zair

17 January, 2011 - 12:55

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-2 points

Thanks for posting this here newsmax. The BDS movement is gathering pace.

Also Vanessa Paradis has cancelled her 10th Feb performance in Tel Aviv.

newsmax

17 January, 2011 - 13:05

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-3 points

Zair,

I think this post may have been deleted.

The BDS movement is indeed gaining pace. This will help the Palestinians in their bid for an independent and free state.

jose (not verified)

17 January, 2011 - 13:35

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2 points

Hurrah, great victory for Israel's INVESTMENTS!

Paradis won't get Israeli money!

These BDS stupids, if they did not exist we ought to invent them!

And we know they imagined why John Lewis did what it did...
Like in the Coach and the Fly fable. Guess who is the fly!

newsmax

17 January, 2011 - 13:52

Rate this:

-2 points

This movement is gaining momentum all the time.

It is peaceful, there is no violence involved and it is international.

jose (not verified)

17 January, 2011 - 14:50

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1 point

They all look like that ayatollah that after any natural disaster, put the blame on morality of the young, 'miniskirt' of women...

In the same style, I could say that the natural disaster in Brazil is God's vengeance against their recognition of the 'Palestinian' state.

Lunatics!

mattpryor

17 January, 2011 - 14:56

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1 point

Guess who is the fly!

Just for Jose:

Upon a sandy, uphill road,
Which naked in the sunshine glow'd,
Six lusty horses drew a coach.
Dames, monks, and invalids, its load,
On foot, outside, at leisure trode.
The team, all weary, stopp'd and blow'd:
Whereon there did a fly approach,
And, with a vastly business air.
Cheer'd up the horses with his buzz,--
Now pricked them here, now prick'd them there,
As neatly as a jockey does,--
And thought the while--he knew 'twas so--
He made the team and carriage go,--
On carriage-pole sometimes alighting--
Or driver's nose--and biting.
And when the whole did get in motion,
Confirm'd and settled in the notion,
He took, himself, the total glory,--
Flew back and forth in wondrous hurry,
And, as he buzz'd about the cattle,
Seem'd like a sergeant in a battle,
The files and squadrons leading on
To where the victory is won.
Thus charged with all the commonweal,
This single fly began to feel
Responsibility too great,
And cares, a grievous crushing weight;
And made complaint that none would aid
The horses up the tedious hill--
The monk his prayers at leisure said--
Fine time to pray!--the dames, at will,
Were singing songs--not greatly needed!
Thus in their ears he sharply sang,
And notes of indignation ran,--
Notes, after all, not greatly heeded.
Erelong the coach was on the top:
'Now,' said the fly, 'my hearties, stop
And breathe;--I've got you up the hill;
And Messrs. Horses, let me say,
I need not ask you if you will
A proper compensation pay.'

Thus certain ever-bustling noddies
Are seen in every great affair;
Important, swelling, busy-bodies,
And bores 'tis easier to bear
Than chase them from their needless care.

jose (not verified)

17 January, 2011 - 16:22

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2 points

Thanks, Matt! I've read the fable and previously put a link to it in one post, because of the copyright...

mattpryor

17 January, 2011 - 16:30

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2 points

It is apt, but apparently somebody doesn't like it as it's been awarded a minus point!

jose (not verified)

17 January, 2011 - 16:35

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3 points

I corrected that, Matt! It seems the anonymous "minus idiot" is at it again. Starts working at US hours...

mattpryor

17 January, 2011 - 16:47

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3 points

Kinda creepy, isn't it?

When not showing photos of dead babies to people at music concerts they go around marking down posts by people they don't like on the interweb. This is how they will bring down the Zionist entity, but it might take a while!

Yoni1

17 January, 2011 - 16:51

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3 points

"Leading UK department store John Lewis has stopped stocking products manufactured in an illegal settlement in the Holy Land."

LOL. Deranged, spittle-flecked Jew-haters can go around screeching this stuff till the cows come home. It's not 'illegal', pathetic moron, and I challenge you to show me an actual law - no, I don't mean crazy announcements by ignorant jerks, I mean an actual LAW - that says it is.
Now piss off back to your neo-Nazi website.

Yoni1

17 January, 2011 - 16:53

Rate this:

4 points

"It is peaceful, there is no violence involved and it is international"

Apart from bullying and initmidating Ahava staff, moron?

Yoni1

17 January, 2011 - 16:54

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4 points

"This is how they will bring down the Zionist entity, but it might take a while!"

Israel is still there, despite these pathetic losers. That's what's eating them up inside - wonderful!

suzanna

17 January, 2011 - 17:00

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-2 points

I don't think the BDS movement is about hurting Israelis or wishing for Israel's demise. The BDS movement is non - violent support for a free Palestinian state. Similar to the Anti - Apartheid movement, the premise is justice for the victims and the occupied and not injury to the occupiers.

The BDS movement brings attention to the occupation and the injustice of the siege. Groups in Israel are doing the same, like B'tslem and ICAHD.

jose (not verified)

17 January, 2011 - 17:13

Rate this:

1 point

The BDS movement is non - violent support for a free Palestinian state.

It is violent, uses illegal means, and many of the antisemites in the movement have been arrested and condemned in France.

Groups in Israel are doing the same, like B'tslem and ICAHD.

A good reason to look in detail to their Arabic funding, isn't it?

suzanna

17 January, 2011 - 17:16

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-2 points

How is it violent?

And what is illegal about a boycott?

mattpryor

17 January, 2011 - 17:32

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2 points

In France organised, conspiratorial boycotts of other countries are deemed discriminatory, unless that country is under official sanctions.

amber

17 January, 2011 - 18:42

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1 point

newsmax, John Lewis has made clear that the PSC lied in its pronouncements about the store.

It seems you just like to compound the error.

suzanna, not violent? The BDS movement has never, to my knowledge, condemned Palestinian terrorism aimed at Israeli civilians.

What's more, if you ever saw the BDS movement in action, you will see faces contorted in hatred, things thrown at people going about their everyday lives, property damaged, the Israeli flag desecrated (so much for not being anti-Israel) - and violence against Jews excused.

So please, spare me your hypocrisy.

Robert Snodgrass

17 January, 2011 - 19:04

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3 points

ATTENTION ALL!!!

Newsmax and his friends at BDS have been, wait for it...LYING!! John Lewis have NOT boycotted Ahava products.

Please read the following article published by the Jerusalem Post on this exact matter:

http://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx?id=203758

The only success the BDS have had in regards to boycotts, divestments and sanctions is that of the truth. This campaign can barely get off the ground and it has made ZERO impact. How sad and pathetic that they have had to resort to lies in order to gather support.

Also, shame about that French girl. Personally I've never heard of her so i'm not too bothered. I'm just sorry she won't have the chance to see Israel.

Here is also a nice story about Daniel Bedingfield, the 3 times number 1, very talented UK singer currently living in Israel, a country which he claims has the best music scene in the world. Clearly another success story for the BDS movement....NOT!!

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4013893,00.html

Enjoy People!

jose (not verified)

17 January, 2011 - 19:12

Rate this:

3 points

How is it violent?
And what is illegal about a boycott?

Bullying and insulting people, throwing stones... These are acts of violence. Bothering customers in businesses is also illegal. Calls for boycotts in countries that are not under official sanctions (UN, EU or France proper) are illegal and justfully considered as what they are concerning Israel: calls for racial hatred. A number of people, sure of their impunity, were condemned for that.

amber

17 January, 2011 - 20:50

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2 points

news max never engages in any debate, but simply spouts propaganda and then disappears pronto so that he doesn't have to defend his views when challenged. Hardly the actions of someone who feels they are on solid ground.

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