Week-long ban is initiated by Swedish Port Workers Union, who says act is reaction to the 'unprecedented criminal attack on the peaceful ship convoy.'
Haaretz, 5 June 2010
Swedish dockworkers will launch a weeklong blockade of Israeli ships and goods arriving in the Nordic nation to protest Monday's attack on a Gaza-destined aid flotilla.
Nine activists died after Israeli troops intercepted the convoy.
Swedish Port Workers Union spokesman Peter Annerback says workers will refuse to handle Israeli goods and ships during the June 15-24 blockade. The union has some 1,500 members and supports Ship to Gaza, which took part in the flotilla.
It says the reason for the blockade is "the unprecedented criminal attack on the peaceful ship convoy."
It was unclear Saturday how much the blockade would affect trade between the two countries since the union still needs to identify cargos with Israeli origin.
Good and just initiative, but in the end of the day the echical decisions should be taken by the buyers themselves, not by other parties on their behalf.
I always take great care not to support IsraHell by buying from that country or even worse from the land stolen by it.
When many years ago the French committed murder on the crew of a Greenpeace vessel docked in New Zealand I reacted by avoiding buying French wine and other of their products for years. So this has nothing to do with being for or against (alleged) Jews, it has everything to do with being for humanity against evil in whatever form that might take. I shall be the first to regret that the Jews appear to be overrepresented in the fight against humanity as they are overrepresented in several other fields which are not flattering at all.
I don't think these port workers are making decisions on behalf of the buyers. They are making decisions on behalf of themselves, what ships they are willing to allow to dock and what goods they are or are not willing to handle.
As a way of saying THANK YOU to the Swedish port workers, I am making a point to go to the market an purchase SWEDISH imports.
A small step, but a step in the right direction
Dear friends,
We do not disagree, my point is that we do not need government, unions etc. to establish a formal boycott. We can start right away ourselves. However, in case they are brave enough to take such initiatives, they should be welcomed and applauded.
There are many good Swedish goods you can buy including Swedish food at the IKEA stores. The Swedes have a long history of civilized behaviour. Their vikings as opposed to their Danish and Norwegian brethren would sail eastwards up the rivers of Russia and in fact became so popular that the Russians gave them this offer: "We are a rich country but we cannot rule ourselves, please come and rule us!"
The Swedes are cool headed and are not easily flattered and graciously turned down the generous Russian offer.