Approaching Store Management About Israeli Products

Why should I approach a store about their products?

While consumer boycotts are an important tool, it is important that stores remove these products from their shelves so the company does not benefit from any sales. The reality is, Canadian stores serve Canadian customers. If stores are hearing that Canadians are unhappy with the products they sell, management might rethink restocking those products.

What should I do before I approach a store?

The first thing you should do is make a list of products you are concerned about and why - you can use the information on this page. If you wish to add to the information on this page, websites such as BDS Movement and Who Profits have done extensive research on complicit companies.

Who should I be approaching?

If you chose to approach a store about unethical products being sold, it is important that you refrain from directing your request to staff such as shelf stockers and grocery clerks. Instead, you should direct your request to store management. If you know where management offices are in the store, you can go straight there. If not, respectfully tell a store employee you have concerns about a product and would like to speak to management about it.

As is mentioned above, you should come prepared with a product in mind and how this product/company is engaging in unethical practices and complicit in war crimes. Feel free to print out our BDS talking points for some extra help!

Academic and Cultural Boycott

CJPME's main efforts are focused on consumer boycotts, but academic and cultural boycotts are also pillars of the BDS movement.

Academic Boycott

The academic boycott aims to showcase how Israeli universities play a role in the systemic oppression of Palestinians. Institutions like Tel Aviv University develop military weapons to be used against Palestinians and write doctrine that justifies the disproportionate force Israel uses against civilians. Universities play a role in the institutionalization of anti-Palestinian racism by having unfair disciplinary practices and not calling out - sometimes even supporting - Israeli human rights abuses.

In 2022, CJPME issued a joint statement with civil society and faculty groups expressing human rights concerns over a lobby trip to Israel by Canadian university presidents.

In 2024, CJPME wrote a letter asking the Canadian government to recommend an academic boycott of Israel by insisting that federally funded research does not involve collaboration with complicit Israeli researchers or industry. Its recommendations were directly modelled on Canada's March 2022 guidelines in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

To learn more about the academic boycott, click here.

Cultural Boycott

The cultural boycott focuses on artists, writers, and other culturally relevant persons or institutions such as cultural organizations, cities, and unions. Such persons and organizations are asked to refrain from participating in events, making agreements, or pursuing projects with the Israeli government or Israeli lobby groups.

Thousands of artists have expressed support for the cultural boycott. In 2021 and 2022, 1,500+ musicians pledged to support the #MusiciansForPalestine campaign and refuse to perform at Israel's complicit cultural institutions. Canadian artists and bands (or individual members thereof) to sign this pledge include The Halluci Nation, Iskwē, Lido Pimienta, Majid Jordan, Dan Mangan, Plants and Animals, Dan Boeckner of Wolf Parade, Gold and Youth, PHÈDRE, the Slut Island Festival, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Doldrums, Arcade Fire, Chromeo, Broken Social Scene, Besnard Lakes, The Luyas, Owen Pallett, Stars, SUUNS, and more.

In recent years, CJPME has had campaigns urging Canadian artists like Céline Dion and BADBADNOTGOOD to cancel their shows in Israel.

To learn more about the cultural boycott, click here.