Dear Friends and Members,
The West Dunbartonshire (Scotland) Council has adopted a policy of boycotting Israeli goods (see below for their "explanation") A counter boycott has been organized (see below for more detail). The AABJ&D Executive Committee has decided, consistent with our vision statement, that AABJ&D join the boycott by communicating with the council and the local companies, by ensuring that none of their products are purchased for shul (synagogue) events/kiddushes and by asking our membership to consider joining the boycott in a similar manner.
We believe that to enhance the effectiveness of a boycott it is important to tell the liquor stores (and the distillers below) that stock these items that we would prefer that the boycotted goods are removed from their shelves and that they notify their distributors of our concerns.
Additionally, if you are planning a simcha, why not make sure your caterer has also removed these spirits (even if they never had the West Dunbartonshire whiskey´s, they will certainly spread the message). If even a few stores/caterers tell their distributors to take back, or simply not deliver, these goods, it will amplify the message tremendously.
Thank you for your support of our brothers and sisters in Israel!
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Here is the most up to date and accurate list as of June 14, 2011 of Whiskys Distilled OR Bottled in West Dunbartonshire.
Loch Lomond Distillery Co. Ltd mail@lochlomonddistillery.com Distillers and bottlers of: Loch Lomond, Scots Earl, Distillery Select, Littlemill, Croftengea, Craigslodge, Inchmurrin, Glen Douglas, Inchfad
Chivas Brothers media.relations@pernod-ricard.com Distillers and bottlers of: Single Malts: Glenlivet, Aberlour, Longmorn, Strathisla, Scapa, Tormore Blends: Chivas Regal, Ballantine's, Royal Salute, Clan Campbell, 100 Pipers, Something Special, Passport Gins: Beefeater Dry Gin, Plymouth
These are the email addresses of the Council:
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This is from the Council's website:
Corporate Statement on the Boycott of Israeli Goods
Over recent days there has been some highly misleading publicity in the national and international press concerning West Dunbartonshire Council´s policy on the boycott of Israeli goods. In light of this publicity, the Council has received a number of complaints.
The facts are as follows.
· The boycott on the purchase of Israeli goods followed a unanimous decision of West Dunbartonshire Council in January 2009. The boycott was in response to the Israeli state´s policy and actions in the Occupied Territories.
· The boycott was not retrospective and applied only to purchases made from January 2009 onwards.
· The boycott has not prevented West Dunbartonshire´s library service from purchasing any book which it wished to purchase.
· Accusations that Israeli books have been removed from the shelves of the West Dunbartonshire´s libraries or have been burned are entirely false and appear to be mischievously motivated. There are books by Israeli authors on the shelves of West Dunbartonshire Council´s libraries.
· Attempts to depict this boycott as racist are also entirely inaccurate. The boycott was instigated in response to conduct by the Israeli state and applies to no specific ethnic or religious group. The Council has robust ant-racist and anti-sectarian policies and procedures.
