In 2010-11, Sacramentans concerned with human rights began an effort to allow Co-op members to be informed and vote on whether they wanted their store to stop supporting Israel’s occupation and apartheid by not carrying Israeli products until Israel ends its human rights abuses against the Palestinian people. This is one of a number of efforts at cooperatives around the world.Below are updates and background information.  See also http://coopdemocracy.org (coopdemocracy.wordpress.com).

Sacramento & Olympia Co-ops:

Rather than respect democracy and basic ethics, the Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op Board refused to abide by its bylaws, common decency or fair election practices in the Co-op’s annual election in September 2011. Whether there was other tampering with this election is not known.

What is known is that an organization that represents the interests of a foreign nation got many of its members to join the Co-op just to vote in the election. In November, the Sacramento Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), whose mission includes to “Protect Israel”, stated:  “The work of opposing the boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) group at the Sacramento Natural Food Co-op is wrapped up as JCRC sent thank you letters to all those who joined the campaign.  For those contemplating leaving the Co-op now that the election is over, instructions were sent on how to do this easily.”  (See page 4: http://www.jewishsac.org/local_includes/downloads/52699.pdf).

 The Olympia Washington Co-op has also been subjected to pressure by the Israel Lobby which has filed suit against the Olympia Co-op Board for deciding to not carry Israeli products until Israel stops violating the rights of the Palestinian people.  The Israeli Consul General Akiva Tor participated in meetings with attorneys leading up to the filing of the suit.  The Olympia Co-op is being defended by the National Lawyers Guild and the Center for Constitutional rights.  More information at: http://www.olympiabds.org and http://mondoweiss.net/2011/11/olympia-food-co-op-fights-lawsuit-over-boycott-of-israeli-goods.html

For more about the Sacramento Co-op board’s unethical conduct, see http://coopmembersmatter.wordpress.com. Among its unprincipled tactics, the Board used Co-op resources to campaign (prohibited under the bylaws), included a fraudulent ballot argument, and refused to campaign even-handedly by constantly changing the rules on non-board candidates and not allowing them the same access to members.  Co-op management allowed Co-op employees to put graffiti on the sidewalk next to the Co-op slandering board candidates and co-op members.

► Background information about the Human Rights Initiative campaign at the Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op:

♦ What is the Human Rights initiative?
The initiative would allow members of the Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op to vote on whether they would like to participate in a worldwide grass roots, citizen-led effort to put pressure on Israel to stop violating international law and Palestinian human rights.  If the initiative passes, the Co-op would remove Israeli products from its shelves until Israel respected international law and human rights.

♦ What is process for a member initiative?
The Co-op Bylaws, Section 10.06, is very clear about member proposals.  When a petition is received by the Board with at least 100 member signatures, the requested action is proposed at a Board or member meeting, and then it “shall be submitted to a referendum or initiative of the Membership.”  Petitions for the initiative with the required number of signatures were submitted to the Co-op Board on January 26, 2011.

♦ Why this campaign?
On a daily basis, Palestinians in the West Bank are under siege by Israel’s illegal military occupation and colonization.  Palestinians in Gaza are suffering from an Israeli blockade that is designed to keep them at near starvation levels according to the Israeli government.  Palestinians who hold Israeli citizenship are discriminated against in a system with confers specific benefits, rights and access to land on people based on religion – for this reason, former South African President Verwoerd described Israel as an apartheid state. Unfortunately, the U.S. government has continued to support Israel despite its human rights abuses.  In response, citizens have organized to boycott and divest from Israel, like they did in the effort that helped end Apartheid in South Africa.

♦ Why should members of the Sacramento Co-op care about human rights?
The Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op was founded on principles and has operated from basic values that reflect concern for people.  Many, if not most members and shoppers expect that products they purchase at the Co-op have minimal or no adverse affects on the environment, animals, or human beings.  If the welfare of human beings is not secure, neither is that of the environment, animals or the planet.  And assuring human rights is the foundation for the well-being of all people.

♦ What products would be affected?
The Co-op currently carries at least seven products from Israel: Ancient Secrets Dead Sea Mineral Baths; Masada Dead Sea Mineral Bath Salts; Dead Sea Warehouse Mud Mask, Bath Salts and Salt Soap, One with Nature Soap and Yahuda Matzo. It may also carry other Israeli products.  In addition to the human rights concerns, there are also environmental impacts associated with mining Dead Sea minerals and importing food products from half way around the world.  Mineral salts and matzo are both available from domestic sources.

♦ What about products from Israeli co-ops?
Products would be allowed from Israeli Co-operatives that have taken a stand for human rights by signing on to the 2005 call from Palestinian Civil Society asking the world to boycott and divest from Israel, the same non-violent means used to pressure South Africa to end its apartheid system.

♦ Who is supporting the initiative?
We are a diverse group of Co-op owners who strongly support the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and want to see the Co-op’s products reflect this declaration.  We come from Jewish, Christian, Muslim and other religious and secular backgrounds.  Whether at the Co-op, in our community or in the way our nation deals with other nations and people; we strongly oppose discrimination based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, political affiliation or religious identification, for or against anyone.

♦ This initiative campaign at the Sac Co-op has been endorsed by:
The Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions – USA
Nor Cal Friends of Sabeel (The Voice of Palestinian Christians)
Boycott from Within (Israeli citizens in support of the Palestinian call for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions, BDS)
Veterans for Peace, Sacramento Chapter
Sacramento Area Peace Action

♦ Have other Co-ops taken similar actions?
Yes, the Olympia, WA Co-op voted to remove Israeli products in July 2010. Their reasons include that their co-op “operates with an awareness of economic, ecological, and social justice … Because the Co-op understands that social ethics and social justice are inseparable from providing the community with goods, it is only appropriate that the Co-op honors the boycott … [which will] help the Co-op live up to its goals and mission statement.”

♦ Is the proposed human rights Initiative consistent with the Co-op Bylaws?
Yes, the group of member who have proposed this initiative have carefully reviewed the bylaws and Cooperative Principles.  The bylaws do not specifically address boycotts but do provide for members to put referendums and initiatives before a vote of the membership. Co-operative Principles underscore both concern for community and that co-operatives are democratically controlled by their members.

♦ What about other products that might be contributing to human rights violations?
Campaigns are most effective when specifically focused, as is this one.  As members who support human rights, we encourage others to consider human rights in their activism and overall purchasing decisions.