Comments on: BUYcott the Boycott

By: frosh

frosh — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 00:00:06 +0000

Or go one better – go vegetarian!

By: Sol Salbe

Sol Salbe — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 22:57:11 +0000

Frosh,
On the basis of your advice I will buy free-range chickens from them:-)

By: frosh

frosh — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 08:28:36 +0000

Hi Sol,

I have visited Better Place Israel’s headquarters in Pi Glilot, and I can assure you that the staff all seemed very happy with their employment conditions

I all seriousness, I have objections to many of the policies of the Australian government in relation to its indigenous population. However, if an Australian company invented a solar panel that was 10 times more efficient than existing solar panels, I wouldn’t say that the green credentials were damaged.

However, this is pretty much equivalent to what A-Lo is saying.

By: Sol Salbe

Sol Salbe — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 06:53:01 +0000

I disagree with enough of A Loewenstein’s views on Israel not to come to his defence as a colleague. One would also tend to agree with Ariel that his views are predictable (as are those who are as far away from the centre on the other side.) I am also aware that stating a principle in this forum may some time be taken as support for the specific instant. [Notice how long it took for people to accept that I don't support the privatisation of public spaces which forbids people from demonstrating for A,B and C or against X, Y and Z.] So I approach this question with reluctance.
But let me put this way Green principles suggest more than adherence to environmental practices. If I were told that the workers at the plant that process the free-range chicken that I buy do not receive their legal entitlements than buying the chicken will be against my green principles.
One does not have buy into any specific arguments one way or the other to suggest some non-environmental factors may impact upon X’s green credentials.

By: ariel

ariel — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 06:09:10 +0000

Didn’t I predict this in the article above?

So predictable. Next he’ll try to pin the civil war in Kyrgyzstan on Israel…

By: frosh

frosh — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 05:40:41 +0000

Interestingly, A.Loewenstein has just published an article on the ABC’s “The Drum” website where he writes about Better Place:

…the green credentials of the company are threatened by revelations of the Israeli figures behind the organisation…

What has this politics to do with green credentials?

I guess he prefers people to keep using Saudi and Iranian oil.

By: Sol Salbe

Sol Salbe — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 05:51:04 +0000

Shalom Sadducee, nice to make your acquaintance
Good question. I thought I made it clear that I agree with the right of sporting bodies to control event inside their venues. This has been a long-established practice. The issue is the right of the “major events” to control the environment outside their property. I recall a time where I was present along with both of my Zionist and Palestinian friends outside a hall where a David Irving documentary was slated to be shown. We had no right to go inside peacefully or otherwise. But we had a full right to express our indignation,and anger, outside. This is different with a “major event” where the public footpath becomes under the control of the event. The main reason given for the legislation was to avoid ambush marketing, so why include political expression as well?
The issue is not the sporting event but outside it. No-one’s paid entertainment is impinged on by protesters who are outside a long way. You are indeed are in a venue where you cannot easily avoid and/or ignore them for the simple reason that you cannot pay attention to them – you are too far to hear or see them. Check out Melbourne Park for size!

By: TheSadducee

TheSadducee — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 23:10:25 +0000

“It they who legislated that the power to prevent demonstration is given to a private business. This is a reactionary and undemocratic legislation. I don’t like the right to choose whom to demonstrate against taken away from individual citizens.”

-what about the rights of the business owner and other patrons? Do you think it is reasonable to protest in a sports event about political issues – thereby disrupting the event and the enjoyment of other patrons (the vast majority of whom don’t give a damn about the issue in question)? Is there not a right to not have your paid entertainment impinged on by protestors and especially in a venue where you cannot easily avoid and/or ignore them?

By: Henry Herzog

Henry Herzog — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 11:02:20 +0000

Larry, thank goodness you are back to add your two cents to the discussion. I had no idea that what I said was so deep and meaningful to get such a response from you.
My parents also went through the Holocaust. My late Father was the only survivor of a family of some 30 people but he never wanted to talk about it too much.

If you think I am disingenuous (a pretty popular word these days) go right ahead, but the reality is that Iran, amongst others, want Israel to vanish.

And if anyone is abusing people I reckon It’s you Larry calling me all those names; Iam really hurt.

By: Larry Stillman

Larry Stillman — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 07:24:17 +0000

Fortunately, I have been away and have missed out a lot of the juvenile and hairsplitting & posturing here, which only goes to divert attention, once again, from why such protests occur (I don’t need to repeat my views on THAT matter). But for now, I only have one comment for Henry Herzog.
Your remark in the above paragraph is completely disingenuous and disrespectful to both Sol and his parents. It’s a classic of vilification by stealth–the sort of do you beat your wife stuff, but instead, you are playing some dirty hair-splitting tricks with someone’s family life after the holocaust.
As I have said online, advising a certain Lowenstein, for his personalised abuse of other Jews, ‘wash your mouth out sonny’. Stick to the arguments, don’t abuse people Henry.