Here are some US and global issues that experienced newfound gains in 2012.

1.     While conservatives launched vicious attacks on women’s rights, it backfired—and fired up the pro-choice base! US voters elected the highest number of women to Congress ever, including the first openly lesbian senator (Tammy Baldwin), the first Asian-American senator (Mazie Hirono) and first senator to make the banks tremble, Elizabeth Warren! Voters also rejected 4 crazy candidates who called for limiting a woman’s right to choose—including the resounding defeat by Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill over Mr. Legitimate Rape Todd Akin. Don’t forget that when Susan G. Komen for the Cure announced it would no longer fund Planned Parenthood, it got so heartily trounced that it caved in than seventy-two hours later. And stay tuned for the 2013 global women rising – a billion of us demanding an end to violence against women on February 14!

2.     Immigrant rights groups, especially young Latinos, mobilized and took great risks to force a change in attitude—and a thaw in policy. They fasted and caravanned and marched and knocked on doors. They pushed the administration and in June, just before the election, President Obama announced a new immigration policy that allows some undocumented students to avoid deportation and receive work authorization when they apply for deferred action. While not nearly enough, especially in light of this administration’s record rate of deportations, a mobilized immigrant community with significant voting power stands poised to make more impactful changes in U.S. immigration policy next year.

3.     More money flooded the elections than ever before (some $5.8 billion!), but most of it went down a big, black hole—and unleashed a new movement for money out of politics. Billionaires wasted fortunes trying to sell lousy candidates and lousy ideas. Looking at the candidates supported by the biggest moneybags of all, Sheldon Adelson, NONE were elected to office. Right-wing “pundits” like Karl Rove proved themselves to be idiotic partisan hacks and the Tea Party has been tearing itself apart. But best of all, from Massachusetts to Oregon, Colorado to Illinois and Wisconsin, and Ohio to California, citizens throughout the country voted overwhelmingly for their legislators to pass a constitutional amendment to overturn the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission ruling and declare that only human beings – not corporations – are entitled to constitutional rights and that money is not speech and campaign spending can be regulated.

4.     The marijuana genie is now out of the bottle, with people across the country backing referendums seeking an end to the decades of destructive, counterproductive drug wars. Colorado and Washington voters legalized recreational pot, and medical marijuana will be legal in Massachusetts. Voters in California passed Prop 34, which restricts lifetime incarceration via the “three strikes” law to violent or serious third offenses, a change that will help limit the prison sentences of nonviolent drug offenders. Prominent leaders including Senate Judiciary Chair Patrick Leahy, former President Bill Clinton and President Obama have hinted that they will reconsider the harsh criminal drug policy that has cost so much money and so many lives while failing to curb drug abuse.

5.     This year marked momentous wins for gay rights. Massachusetts, Maine, and Washington legalized marriage equality, and Minnesota defeated a restrictive state constitutional amendment that would have upheld a ban. Now, one-tenth of states in the U.S. uphold marriage equality. Thanks to activist pressure, on May 9 President Obama became the first sitting president to endorse marriage equality for same-sex couples. Several prominent leaders in the Democratic Party followed his lead, and muted conservative responses only served to demonstrate how far public opinion has shifted on the issue.

6.     Climate activists have been kickin’ up a storm. Anti-coal activists have helped retire over 100 coal plants, victories that will save lives and clean our air and water, while wind energy hit a historic milestone of 50,000 megawatts. The global anti-fracking movement mounted effective campaigns that has led to local bans in the US and Canada, national moratoriums in France and Bulgaria, and tighter regulation in Australia and the UK. The grassroots campaign to stop the Keystone Pipeline has awakened a new generation of activists (don’t forget the upcoming February 17-18 President’s Day Climate Legacy/Keystone XL rally in Washington, D.C.). And on the national front, in August the Obama administration issued new miles-per-gallon rules on car manufacturers, mandating that Detroit nearly double fuel efficiency standards by 2025.

7.         Unions have been hard hit by the economic crisis and political attacks, but worker’s gains made in 2012 show potential muscle. The Chicago teachers’ strike in September, lasting for seven school days, led to an important victory for public education. Walmart workers staged the first-ever strikes against the biggest private sector employer in the United States and heralded a new model of organizing, with workers and community members coming together to support better conditions in the stores and warehouses even before the workers join a union. And in another example of worker/community organizing, student activism allied with union advocacy in San Jose, California led to a ballot initiative that will raise the minimum wage from $8 to $10 per hour for everyone working within the city limits.

8.     On the foreign policy front, opposition to drone warfare is on the rise. After years of silence about the use of lethal drones overseas, the public began to learn more and the level of anti-drone activism skyrocketed. Now there are protests all over the country, including army bases where drones are piloted and manufacturing plants, and US activists have hooked up with drone victims overseas. US attitudes, once overwhelmingly pro-drone, are beginning to change, becoming more aligned with the global opposition to drone warfare. And the increased global opposition is leading to a rethinking of US policies.

9.     The international movement for Palestinian human rights has gained unprecedented momentum. In November the United Nations endorsed an independent state of Palestine, showing sweeping international support of Palestinian demands for sovereignty over lands Israel has occupied since 1967. The Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions call by Palestinian civil society gained international traction as well, with economic, cultural and academic victories. Several different Christian denominations and college campuses voted to divest from Israeli occupation, the Technical University of Denmark dropped scientific collaboration projects with an Israeli settlement, the South African ANC endorsed the BDS call, Stevie Wonder cancelled a performance at a “Friends of the IDF” fundraiser, and much more. The grassroots call for Israel to adhere to international law has never been louder.

10.       After nearly 15 years of house arrest, Burmese opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi was elected to Parliament! Suu Kyi’s party, the NLD (National League for Democracy), swept the April by-elections, winning 43 of the 44 seats it contested. After decades of abuse, the military-dominated government released hundreds of political prisoners, enacted laws on forming trade unions and freedom of assembly, eased official media censorship, and allowed the opposition to register and contest elections. President Obama’s November visit, the first by a sitting US president, was an acknowledgement of the reforms. There’s still need for pressure, as hundreds of political prisoners remain, ethnic conflict continues, and Burmese military still holds too much power. But 2012 was a good year for the Burmese people.

There will be no time to rest in 2013, since the wealthy are already pushing to protect their profits to the detriment of the environment, workers’ rights and our democracy. But just as the massacre in Sandy Hook has led to a reinvigorated fight for gun control, so 2013 will surely mark a renewed effort to build stronger coalitions to spread the wealth, reverse global warming and disentangle ourselves from foreign wars. And with the presidential elections behind us, the time is ripe for building a progressive movement that is not tied to any political party but can put pressure on the entire system. Let the organizing begin!!!

But don’t do it!

People who care about human rights should know that the product is made in an illegal Israeli settlement on stolen Palestinian land in violation of international law!

Stores selling SodaStream include:  Bed, Bath and Beyond, Best Buy, COSTCO, Crate & Barrel, JC Penney, Kohls, Macy’s, Sears, Staples, Sur La Table, Target, Walmart, Williams-Sonoma.

Black Friday Demonstrations against SodaStream

Ask your friends, family, colleagues, etc. to avoid SodaStream and to take the actions listed below.

• Sign this petition asking stores to stop selling SodaStream.
• Speak to the Store Manager: If you see SodaStream on sale, speak to the store manager and fill out a comment card asking the store to stop selling it. You can also contact store CEOs directly.
• Take it back: If you know of anyone who has unfortunately made this purchase, ask them to return SodaStream to the store. The more conversations we can have about the illegal settlement production the better.
• SkyMall: If you are flying anywhere this holiday season, check out the SkyMall catalogue and write your comment directly on the Soda Stream ad.
• Go holiday caroling: See a list of songs to sing during your ‘Boycott SodaStream’ holiday caroling rounds.
• List of actions and more: Visit Global Exchange’s SodaStream action page for more tips on how to get involved with the campaign.

Best wishes for an active holiday season from all of us at Global Exchange.

photo: jewish voice for peace

The following was written by intern, Jenna Laila Bitar.        _________________
Divestment from the Israeli occupation has taken some remarkable strides ahead in the last few weeks.

After MSCI (Morgan Stanley Capital International), a leading investment tools company, removed Caterpillar from its socially responsible investment index, pension giant TIAA-CREF followed suit and divested from Caterpillar in its Social Choice account. This shows how mainstream responsible investors are acknowledging that corporate complicity in human rights violations in Palestine should be counted towards a company’s social responsibility record.

Caterpillar has been the target of investor activism for the last 8 years because of the company’s role in selling tools to the Israeli army which are specifically used in severe human rights violations and war crimes. Religious groups communicated directly with Caterpillar and the other companies regarding their concerns of human rights and the companies demonstrated no interest in halting their supplies to the occupation. After receiving no positive response from Caterpillar directly, religious institutions began to take action. The Quaker Friends Fiduciary Corporation (FFC) led the way and divested $900,000 worth of shares of the company at the end of May.

The United Methodist Church resolved to boycott products made by Israeli companies operating in occupied Palestinian territories. The Methodist church subsequently made a call for all nations to prohibit any financial support by individuals or organizations for the construction and maintenance of settlements and the import of products made in settlements.

Following years of grassroots activism in both the United Methodist Church and the Presbyterian Church, both held their general conferences in the last few weeks, and found themselves split over proposed resolutions to divest from Caterpillar, HP and Motorola Solutions over their direct involvement in human rights violations in the Israeli occupation. Powerful testimonies were made for divestment on the floor of both mainstream denominations, recognizing the call of Palestinian Christians for Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions.

In both cases, there was a strong consensus against the Israeli occupation and for taking concrete actions by the church to offset the situation. Despite the strong support of Jewish-American and Israeli activists, both denominations responded to the fear of “harming relations with the Jewish community” and postponed divestment, replacing it with a call for further engagement with the companies or investment in the Palestinian economy.

The close votes (333-331 in the Presbyterian general assembly!) and heated debates show again that investment in the occupation is a crisis of conscience for the church, and the move towards divestment from these companies seems inevitable. Both churches have also voted overwhelmingly in favor of the banning and boycott of all products made in illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including Ahava cosmetics, Hadiklaim dates and SodaStream carbonization devices.

Make sure to read the official statement on divestment put out by the church Israel/Palestine Mission Network (IPMN) and the IPMN statement on the successful boycott of settlement products by the church.

Jewish activists have sent out an open letter to the Presbyterian Church responding to the historic vote, listing key companies to boycott.

News on the decision can also be found on the church GA website.

To witness the testimonies and debate from the plenary, watch videos from Thursday afternoon, evening and Friday morning.

For all of you who supported the church divestment effort this year, your support has been invaluable. We are succeeding in getting these huge institutions to go beyond their avowed commitment to justice and freedom in Palestine, and to take action. Churches around the country are beginning to wake up to their power to change injustices on the ground in Palestine, and it is our job to continue leading the way in our communities through local and even individual divestment and boycott initiatives. Let’s use our own power to change, our power as investors and consumers, our power as moral agents, students and organizers, activists and church goers. Just like in previous movements in the history, when people lead, politicians follow.

As the Presbyterian and Methodist Church has chosen to boycott settlement products, you can also support institutions to do the same. Global Exchange has many tools on our website, such as information on SodaStream which uses illegal settlement of the Mishor Edomin Industrial Zone as its main production site, exploiting Palestinian land, resources and labor. The Ahava Campaign also works to raise awareness on the beauty products from stolen Palestinian natural resources in the Occupied West Bank, and produced in the illegal settlement of Mitzpe Shalem.

Educate yourself and your community about settlement products sold in your area, check for vendors who sell SodaStream or Ahava – educate them and their costumers about the origins of this product. Check your own investments, ask your pension fund provider for an occupation-free portfolio! Organize in your church or school to stop investment in HP, Caterpillar or Motorola Solutions. If you haven’t had the chance yes to sign the We Divest petition, sign it today and ask the investment giant TIAA-CREF to take the next step, and divest fully from the crimes of occupation.

For more information, resources and toolkits from Global Exchange, follow our Economic Activism in Palestine program.

Another huge victory to the global Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement achieved.

In an effort led by Palestinian civil society, pension fund giant TIAA-CREF has agreed to divest its social choice accounts from longtime target Caterpillar, Inc.

The invested shares were valued at over $72 million, making this the largest divestment action of this kind in the U.S. so far.

Caterpillar produces and sells bulldozers and civil engineering tools to the Israeli army under the U.S. military aid to Israel. These tools have been regularly used by Israel in internationally condemned violations of human rights and international laws, such as the systematic demolition of Palestinian homes and land resources and the attacks on civilians in Gaza and in South Lebanon.

This divestment came out of the removal of Caterpillar from the Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) World Socially Responsible Index, a list used by many Socially Responsible Investment (or ESG) funds in screening their investment portfolios. In its announcement MSCI lists the use of Caterpillar bulldozers in the Israeli occupation as one of the “main factors” in the delisting of the company. This is a monumental moment for advocates of human rights in Palestine, as all responsible investors are expected to follow TIAA-CREF and divest from Caterpillar. Moreover, this action shows how human rights violations in the West Bank have been overlooked by the ESG investment community up until now, and it is time for it to screen their portfolios for other corporations involved in crimes in the Israeli occupation.

Though we must take time to celebrate the victory of our hard work, there is still much to be done. While they dropped Caterpillar in their Social Choice Account, TIAA-CREF still holds investments in Caterpillar and other companies supporting the occupation. We need your help!

Join us as part of the We Divest Campaign to ask TIAA-CREF to divest all of its funds from corporations that are directly involved in severe human rights violations in the Israeli occupation, including: HP, Motorola Solutions, Veolia and Elbit.

More BDS actions this week: This week the Presbyterian Church (USA) is holding their national General Assembly in Pittsburgh where they are considering divestment from Caterpillar, Motorola Solutions and Hewlett-Packard. Support for divestment is overwhelming, including support from Palestinian Christians and Jewish Rabbis.

UPDATE (7/3/2012): The Presbyterian committee on the Middle East has voted overwhelmingly in favor of divesting from three companies whose products are used by the Israeli military. The full plenary vote is set for Thursday or Friday of this week. (via Mondoweiss)

You can support church divestment!

• Follow updates on twitter and retweet using #churchdivest in your tweets.
• Watch the livestream of the plenary voting sessions this Thursday – Friday. To find the exact time of the voting and more resources visit www.RabbisLetter.org.
• You don’t have to wait for the Presbyterians to divest and boycott the Israeli occupation. Sign the petition in support of divestment.

Thank you for standing in solidarity and taking action to bring justice in Palestine through corporate accountability.
_________________
A special thank you to Jenna Bitar for compiling the information for this post. 

UMC protest Photo credit: US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation

The United Methodist Church (UMC) took bold strides at the General Conference earlier this month to end the Israeli occupation and support justice in Palestine.

BDS stands for boycotts, divestment and sanctions.

Led by human rights activists within the UMC and supported by the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation, a resolution was passed calling for an explicit boycott of all Israeli companies “operating in the occupied Palestinian territories.”

The resolution at the General Conference — the highest decision-making body of the Church — also urges the U.S. government to “end all military aid in the region.” Read the full resolution text and US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation’s account from the General Conference.

This resolution, voted on by 1,000 delegates from around the world, is a major step forward in recognizing the rights and dignity of Palestinians, and also sets the stage for other faith groups standing in solidarity to end the Occupation.

It is difficult to see this groundbreaking resolution as a complete victory, though. The General Conference fell short and voted against divestment from Caterpillar, Motorola Solutions, and Hewlett-Packard (HP) — three companies that are actively complicit in the Israeli occupation and in serious violation of international law.

Alex Awad Photo credit: US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation

Despite falling short of full support for divestment, pressure continues to mount on these three companies through the “We Divest” campaign urging financial giant TIAA-CREF to divest from companies involved in the Israeli occupation. Not only that, the Presbyterian Church in the US will be meeting this summer to consider resolutions on boycotting settlement products, and divesting from Caterpillar, Motorola, and HP. Endorse here.

The UMC resolution was supported by grassroots activism in the Church working together with other BDS activists from around the world, including Jewish human rights activists. The struggle to end the Israeli apartheid continues, and BDS activism continues to raise awareness and organize advocacy campaigns to bring this issue to the fore.

As pointed out in the BDS Movement’s statement:

“The road to ultimate victory over oppression, as Mandela and Martin Luther King, Jr. teach us, is never straight or paved with flowers; every turn and decline are opportunities to learn how to persevere and to rise stronger against the challenges ahead.”

 TAKE ACTION:

• Visit our website to learn more about Global Exchange’s Economic Activism for Palestine campaign.
• Join us! As a membership organization, we rely on the support of individuals like you to keep doing the social justice work that we do. Consider joining us today, become a Global Exchange member!

THIS JUST IN:
Our friends at the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation has reported that the Quaker Friends Fiduciary Corporation (FFC), which holds over $900 million in assets, has decided to divest from Caterpillar.

The FCC will be divesting $900,000 in Caterpillar shares. Caterpillar is responsible for building and selling bulldozers to the Israeli army, which are weaponized and used in the systematic demolition of Palestinian homes, schools, hospitals, and lives.

Join the US Campaign in thanking the FFC for their monumental decision.

This week, the international Gaza Freedom Flotilla II: “Stay Human” of ten boats will attempt to depart from Cyprus towards Gaza. The mission of the flotilla states, “our destination is Gaza. Our means are non-violent. Our goal is to lift the illegal siege, completely and permanently, and freedom for the Palestinian people.” Most of the boats are carrying much needed humanitarian aid to donate to the people of Gaza. Global Exchange co-founder Medea Benjamin, former U.S. Army colonel, peace activist and Global Exchange board member Ann Wright, 2007 Global Exchange Human Rights Awards recipient Alice Walker and 2003 HRA recipient Kathy Kelly, are on board the US boat, Audacity of Hope, along with 31 other activists and 3 crew.

Gaza is still under siege. According to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), the U.S.-backed Israeli blockade that is in place, “deliberately impoverishes … and condemns hundreds of thousands of potentially productive people to a life of destitution.” Posted on the website US Boat to Gaza, Medea and other passengers aboard the Audacity of Hope share their stories of why they are going to Gaza.

This weekend Medea posted, “Is Greece Being Blackmailed to Put the Brakes on Gaza Flotilla?” raising questions about political maneuvering to stop the flotilla from leaving Greece together. She writes, “The U.S. passengers speculate that the Obama Administration is using economic blackmail on the Greek government… The United States may well be using its leverage at the IMF over the implementation of an ongoing bailout of European banks with massive Greek debts to compel the Greek government to block the U.S. boat.”

Global Exchange stands behind the Flotilla passengers, and are inviting you to get involved.

The nonviolent movement for a free Palestine has been challenging, empty-handed, one of the most powerful armies in the world. This flotilla is just one in a series of civilian attempts to break the brutal and illegal military siege of Gaza. Thousands of Palestinians and solidarity activists go out to the streets every week to demonstrate peacefully against the Israeli military; thousands have been injured or imprisoned; dozens have been killed. Just this week, six years of nonviolent demonstrations in one little village have succeeded in returning some of the stolen olive grove land to the villagers. We can join this incredible movement by responding to the 2005 call for Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions on Israel until it abides by International Law and International standards of human rights.

GET INVOLVED

1. Follow the Audacity of Hope and all the updates from the Gaza Freedom Flotilla.
2. Sign the petition to President Obama to ensure the safe passage for the U.S. Boat to Gaza.
3. Use your power as a consumer, investor and citizen to end the ongoing impunity and direct support to Israel. Sign the petition to get one of the largest financial services in the US to divest from the Israeli occupation.
4. Join the Economic Activism for Palestine program at Global Exchange.

Finally, if you are local in the Bay Area, join us on Thursday June 30, at 7pm, Berkeley City College, 2050 Center Street. 1/2 block from downtown Berkeley BART, for the West Coast premiere of Cultures of Resistance, a documentary showcasing global civil society in using art and culture as a means of resistance, by filmmaker and Freedom Flotilla passenger Iara Lee. Purchase tickets online.

photo: Who Profits?

In an unprecedented victory to a public campaign led by Palestinian, German and Israeli groups, the German firm Deutsche Bahn International has been pulled off an Israeli railway project by a decision of the German Federal Government. The Israeli railway line is being built between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, unlawfully crossing into occupied Palestinian territory in two areas, at a great cost to the neighboring Palestinian communities.

The international campaign was launched six months ago following an investigation by the Israeli research group “Who Profits from the Occupation” of the Coalition of Women for Peace. The “Who Profits” report shows the route of the new train line and the involvement of several European companies in its construction on occupied Palestinian land.

A letter from the German Transport Ministry was released last week, stating that “The federal government pointed out [to Deutsche Bahn] that the project of the Israeli state railway is problematic from a foreign policy point of view and potentially breaches international law.” The letter added that the German operator confirmed “in writing” that there would be no further involvement of its international subsidiary in “this politically very sensitive project”.

Prominent among the other European companies involved in the planning and construction of the new train line is the private Italian company Pizzarotti which handles much of the tunneling. A wide coalition of Italian organizations has appealed to the company to back out of this illegal project. The Israeli Coalition of Women for Peace has called upon other governments to follow the example of the German Government and regulate corporate involvement in international law violations in the occupied West Bank.

See below some recent news reports about this breakthrough:

• Deutsche Bahn pulls out of Israel project, The Financial Times.
• German railway nixes Israel rail project, The Israel Daily YNET.
• German State Rail Backs Out of Israeli Train through the Occupied Territories, Change.org.
• Deutsche Bahn pulls out of illegal A1 rail project, BDS Movement.

Now, more then ever, corporations are held accountable in Europe for their involvement in illegal occupation profiteering. It is our job to hold them accountable in the US too. Join us this weekend in DC, with over a hundred other organizations at the Move Over AIPAC conference to build a new US Middle East Policy! The gathering will expose AIPAC’s negative influence on U.S. foreign policy and promote an alternative approach that respects the rights of all people in the region. I will be there leading workshops about divestment and effective campaigns in the U.S. Join us!