To all (and not just parents),'Nature Babycare' disposable nappies, made by Naty, have been a popular choice amongst eco-conscious and ethical parents who have chosen not to use washable cloth nappies, or use the eco-disposables alongside their cloth nappies. This is due to the fact that they are biodegradable and mostly non-chemical/plastic, and also priced competively in relation to other throwaway nappies.
However, despite being promoted as the ethical choice, and promoted as a 'Swedish' nappy, the (very) small print reads: 'Made in Israel'. Goods marked as 'made in Israel' have been subject to many boycott campaigns by those in support of Palestinian solidarity, due to the Israeli govenment's long-term inhumane treatment of the Palestinian people, and also the more recent attrocities committed in Gaza.
Boycotting goods campaigns have had a long and often successful history, from Nestle boycotts (due to babies milk products sold to African countries)to Coca-Cola (due to suppression of trade union activists in South America), and is one way in which we all can express our political choices in the consumer products that we buy. In addition to boycotting Israeli goods, there are Palestinian traders that you can support (www.zaytoun.org).
Please join us in contacting Naty (the company responsible for the nappies) to demand further information and explanation, and show that we, the consumer, will not be misled.
: info@naty.seSee the example email to the company below:
EXAMPLE EMAIL:
To Naty,
I was shocked and saddened to see that your Nature Babycare nappies are made in Israel. As I'm sure you are aware, the plight of the Palestinians has been going on for the past 61 years. That the Palestinians are subject not only to disproportionate attack from the Israeli Government, but also the use of illegal weapons (e.g. white phosphorous) and that due to the blockades imposed, have limited to no access to food and medical supplies.Whilst your nappies may be environmentally-friendly, they are most certainly not ethical, and I cannot see how you can think that climate justice can occur without social justice. I'd also like to point out how misleading your packaging is: I initially thought the nappies were made in Sweden: your packet even has the Swedish flag depicted, and it is only when the packet is studied carefully that the tiny print stating Made In Israel is noted. In solidarity with the Palestinian people, I will not be buying Nature Babycare nappies again, and will be encouraging other parents to do likewise.
Yours sincerely,
PLEASE FORWARD THIS INFORMATION ON.
I can't believe "made in Israel" is a deterrent for anyone! Such propoganda.... yes, yes, we all know- Israel the BIG BAD AGGRESSOR and the poor oppressed "palestinian people".
ReplyDeleteWe have a right to defend ourselves, a right to the land of Israel, a right to exist and a right to live in peace! Now go ask the other side here if they agree with the above basic statements that any nation in the world would demand.
Let me ask all of you, have you been as active and vocal concerning the recent elections in Iran, and the obvious violent oppression there?
Oh, by the way, if you're really serious about boycotting Israel, I can send you a very looong list of Israeli inventions that you should be boycotting as well. Start by turning off your cellphone. The microchip is just one of our esteemed inventions. Check this video out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mKQnjSuBgc
or this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saeky9I5T9c
What a nonsense! Israel is a modern western country. Let them be. Rather, keep busy with more important stuff, like preserving our globe!
ReplyDelete'the land called Israel is land that rightly belongs to the Palestinian people'.
ReplyDeleteI take that to mean that you do not recognize Israel's right to exist? Presumably you do not recognize the right of the many other countries which have been created or had their borders re-drawn post WW2?
If you are uniquely denying the right of Israel to exist then that anti-semitism according to the EU Working Definition of Anti-semitism. I thought you wanted to raise feminist kids, not racist ones. You should be ashamed.
Have people forgotten what happened in Gaza one year ago? Or that on-going Israeli blockades mean people there are unable to rebulid their homes and hospitals that were destroyed. Or that they still lack full access to basic goods, including foods, educational materials and medical supplies?
ReplyDeleteIt is not anti-semitic to criticise israel and demand justice for the palestinian people. Zionism has nothing to do judaism. there are plenty of Jewish people who criticise Israel and their violent oppression of the palestinian people. Do you think that israelis have more of a right to the land israel currently occupies than the palestinian people who have been there for generations? Zionists often resort to calling those people who demand an end to israeli apartheid as anti-semitic, its a cheap shot. The UK and US govenrments may be unwilling to criticise Israel and take action against the murderous racist israeli government, but there are plenty of people out there who view israel as an illegal, immoral state.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to point out that the nappies are not made on "Palestinian" land, and many companies have moved their buildings from disputed area into land that is recognized world-wide as being Israeli.
ReplyDeleteIn addition, I am sure that if people were routinely blowing themselves up in busses full of schoolchildren where you live you would want blockades too.
It takes two to tango, and do you really think that after Israel has acceded to all demands and then the Palestinians remember another demand we'd get anywhere? They have a terrorist government and until that changes there is no one for Israel to talk to.
Gilad Shalit has been kidnapped for more than 3 years now, with no visits form red cross or any other human rights organization, and these are the people you are defending. They keep changing their demands for release and blaming Israel that Israel isn't willing to bend over backwards to accommodate terrorists.
Believe me, we've tried.
At least Israel is trying to do a bit for the environment as well.
I am not surprised in the slightest to find such ecological innovation coming out of Israel! Bravo to the Israelis for carrying on their tradition of commitment to the land and to changing the world despite the threats from its neighbors and angry people like the commenters here.
ReplyDeleteThose who believe being opposed to the Israeli government's oppresion of the Palestinian people makes one anti-semitic should perhaps check out the Jewish Voice For Peace website: www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org
ReplyDeletePosts on this blog are placed on the topics that concern the majority of the readers/collective and whose sympathies lie with an anti-capitalist feminist/anarchafeminist approach to politics. If this is not your outlook, then you are unlikely to agree with anything on this blog. Here is a brief definition of anarchafeminism from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anarchafeminism
ReplyDeleteA decision was made to remove the phrase 'the land that is called israel is actually land that rightly belongs to the palestinian people' from the sample letter on this blog post. The post has also been slightly edited so that there is no doubt that this post is purely political and in no way anti-semitic, even though the original post was clear that it was a call to boycott, and any comments in support for the Israeli governments actions or calling the post ‘anti-semitic’ are totally uncalled for and sickening. The support for the Palestinian people, and the support for the boycott of Israeli goods is in no way anti-semitic and far from racist, and it is quite pathetic (if not outrageous) that people can be so narrow-minded about this. However, sympathetic positive criticism/feedback is welcome, and it is up to all of us- including the commentators- to be self-reflective and in continuous review of our own politics.
The sample letter is one example of the many letters that has been sent to the nappy company asking for a clearer explanation. The author of this particular letter (a woman who has bought the nappies for many years) has not received a reply from the nappy company, and as far as I know, Naty has not replied to any emails from its customers on this subject, which is unacceptable from any company, no matter what subject matter.
It may surprise some people to know that there is a huge palestinian solidarity network here in the UK and many 'boycott israeli goods' campaigns which receive massive support spanning over many supposed gender/race/class boundaries, and is socially accepted here, far from being seen as anti-semitic! In fact many shops and supermarkets too support the campaigns, and refuse to stock Israeli produce. Here are some links to give you a taste:
http://www.palestinecampaign.org/index2b.asp
http://www.bigcampaign.org/index.php?page=jbig
http://www.zaytoun.org/
The nappies in question are a Swedish owned company, and seemed to be produced in Sweden until fairly recently when it seems it relocated to Israel for unknown reasons. It is these reasons that previous customers of the nappies have been trying to ascertain, and I understand from some that they are boycotting the nappies until a satisfactory explanation is given. We must not put ecological benefits above the suffering of people violated by such a government. Those in solidarity with Palestinian people are often those who have also opposed the UK and US governments capitalist and militarist approach to world politics, and so it is not a solitary angry fight against Israelis but part of a wider and more complex demand for actualising real human rights, alongside ecological/social/political equality. As anti-capitalist feminists/anarcha-feminists we are by the very definition dedicated to reducing all forms of oppression. Indeed we are ‘angry’- when so much is being perpetrated under capitalism and under the name of western ‘democracy’, I defy anyone not to be!
In my mind this further advocates the use of washable nappies, as opposed to disposables (of which any 'eco' nappy cannot be 100%). Washables are an ecological, economical, anti-capitalist and non-consumerist approach to nappies. They are truly radical! See here: http://www.goreal.org.uk
C’mon people, don’t waste everybody’s time with such narrow-minded pro-capitalist or militarist comments, visit some of the other websites linked to this blog (see side bar panel) and open your eyes!
I really don't fit your demographic as a father, but I'll say this about Nature Babycare: I find their marketing practices to be deceptive, right down to the miniscule type of their "Made in Israel" font size.
ReplyDeleteNature Babycare touted their diapers as "based on corn." This led me and my wife to purchase hundreds of them assuming they were biodegradable. In actuality, we've sent over 300 diapers to an eternity in a landfill. I am NOT happy about that.
Couple that with Israel's poor human rights record and mistreatment of now generations of conquered people, and I'm 100% sure I WILL NOT buy any of their products again.
I don't know why Nature decided to open up shop in such a place, but it is my hope that this decision will cost them in the form of divestment and boycott.
Oh, and for anyone who wants to respond, try to stick to the point. I don't think we need to start bitching about Iranian elections or 9/11 when we are talking about Nature Babycare diapers. We can see through that little grade school tactic of changing the point so stop it!
Swedish–Palestinian–American Daddy
Well it's made me choose a different brand.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your welcome comments, SPA Daddy. If you've tried to contact the company, then please let us know if they ever do get back to you.
ReplyDeleteIn addition, I'd like to add that you are exactly our 'demographic' (if we can even say that we have one)!
To be a 'feminist' is to support an end to discrimination, inequality, oppression and exploitation. As put by famous feminist bell hooks, 'feminism is for everybody!'. The term 'feminist childrearing' also includes fathers and non-parents within it, unlike 'feminist mothering' or 'feminist parenting' which excludes certain groups.
And so, thanks for your comments, and for fitting our demographic!
Rather Buy Bambo Nature eco disposable nappies (available from www.mothernatureproducts.co.za) at least they are honest about what goes into their nappies and are the only EUROPEAN nappy brand (including Moltex, Nature babycare, all the "non eco brands" etc) to be awarded the Nordic Swan award for eco friendly manufactring behaviour.
ReplyDelete