People the world over call on Caterpillar to stop the sale of their bulldozers to the Israeli military

author : Serena Becker topic : Caterpillar | Palestine | Rachel Corrie

by Serena Becker

On April 13, demonstrations were held in over 30 cities worldwide for the International Day of Action Against Caterpillar. These actions brought attention to Caterpillar's complicity in systematic human rights abuses in the occupied Palestinian territories and demanding an end to their continued violations of international law.

Caterpillar sells bulldozers to the Israeli military through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales Program. State-owned Israel Military Industries (IMI) then armors the bulldozers in Israel. Caterpillar has come under increasing pressure as they continue to do business with the Israeli military after being put "on notice" by numerous international human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the United Nations for their complicity in violating international law, such as the Forth Geneva Conventions and the Hague Conventions of 1907.

Their continued sale of bulldozers also breaches the company's own Code of Worldwide Business Conduct. Caterpillar states, "Wherever we conduct business or invest our resources around the world, we know that our commitment to financial success must also take into account social, economic, political, and environmental priorities. We believe that our success should also contribute to the quality of life and the prosperity of communities where we work and live." Clearly they are not living up to there own standards.

The D9, D10, and D11 bulldozers, weighing roughly sixty-four tons with armored plates, are used in the systematic destruction of Palestinian society. Since the beginning of Israel's occupation of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank in 1967, Israel has destroyed over 7,000 buildings, leaving 50,000 men, women and children homeless. Over 385,000 olive trees have been uprooted along with destruction of greenhouses and farmland. Caterpillar's bulldozers have been used throughout this process.

For the past three years this international campaign has been gaining momentum. This marks the second year that Caterpillar shareholders from the organization Jewish Voice for Peace and four Roman Catholic orders of nuns introduced a resolution requesting Caterpillar review their sales of bulldozers to the Israeli army.

On April 13, shareholders were obligated to discuss Caterpillar's involvement in the illegal Israeli occupation. Although the resolution received 3% of the vote, not enough support to introduce it again next year, Caterpillar has been forced to acknowledge the role their products play in the illegal occupation of Palestine. Not only have shareholders been made aware of this issue but stockholders as well are beginning to recognize the danger of being associated with the company's participation in human rights violations; Caterpillar's stock fell 3% on April 13.

While a group of around150 protesters took to the streets outside the shareholder meeting in Chicago, Liat Weingart of Jewish Voice for Peace and Mary Ann McGivern of the Sisters of Loretto brought forth the resolution asking Caterpillar to review its sale of bulldozers to the Israeli military. The meeting was largely dominated by this discussion. In her speech, Weingart said "We are concerned about how these events may have an affect on shareholder value. Caterpillar has become the target of negative publicity, protests and boycotts. In the Arab world, the name Caterpillar has become synonymous with the destruction of homes, with destroying infrastructure rather than building it."

All over the world people came together calling on Caterpillar to stop the sale of their bulldozers to the Israeli military. In Britain people held demonstrations outside British plants and "flashmobbed" the company's shops. Protesters asked to try on Caterpillar brand shoes then sat reading a report that detailed the company's complicity in Israeli human rights abuses.

Demonstrations were held in Palestine as well. In the West Bank town of Bil'in 15 internationals, 6 Israelis and 50 Palestinians gathered at a mosque with placards and posters denouncing Caterpillar and the Annexation Wall. The protestors then went to the construction site of the Wall to stop construction and to highlight Caterpillar's participation in war crimes in the occupied West Bank and Gaza.

In our own community over 100 people came to Tukwila to demonstrate outside of NC Machinery, the largest Caterpillar distributor in Washington State. Members of the Green Party, Veterans for Peace, Olympia-Rafah Sister City Project, Code Pink, Olympia Friends Meeting, Fellowship of Reconciliation, Vancouver (WA) for Peace, the Palestinian Solidarity Movement/Seattle, Olympia Movement for Justice and Peace and other groups participated.

The demonstration was held after company representatives did not respond to a letter and refused a meeting with members of the Olympia-Rafah Sister City Project. The letter called on Mr. John Harnish, CEO of NC Machinery to support the requests made by 43 local, national and international organizations that Mr. Harnish support a resolution to review Caterpillar's sales of bulldozers to the Israeli military, back the demand that those sales be stopped, and make a public statement "of concern" about the use of Caterpillar bulldozers "to commit systematic human rights violations."

On April 13, NC Machinery continued their refusal to meet with us. Four people intended to enter the office and request a meeting, but as we arrived we were told by the police that NC Machinery had asked for us to be arrested if we stepped foot on their property. Throughout the hour and a half long demonstration, a professional cameraman, hired by NC Machinery videotaped the entire event from a large crane platform lifted above the demonstration.

Lin Nelson, Pete Bohmer, both faculty at the Evergreen State College, and Phan Nguyen, International Solidarity Movement activist, spoke about the destruction done to homes, property, and lives by Caterpillar bulldozers and the company's refusal to acknowledge their complicity in human right violations. Jim Page, singer/songwriter and activist played songs about Palestine and Rachel Corrie, our friend and fellow activist killed by a D9 Caterpillar bulldozer in Rafah, Gaza on March 16, 2003.

People held large banners, signs and posters showing the destruction done with Caterpillar bulldozers. An art installation representing a demolished Palestinian home was set-up directly in front of a large bulldozer. Although we were unable to meet with Mr. Harnish: NC Machinery employees and all those who passed by saw our call for Caterpillar to stop sales to the Israeli military.

This campaign is not over. Caterpillar is aware of the mounting pressure to adhere to their corporate code of conduct, international law, and human rights. The actions on April 13 are only a part of an ongoing campaign to hold Caterpillar responsible for its continued sales of bulldozers to the Israeli military that are knowingly used to break international law and destroy Palestinian's livelihood.

Locally, we will continue to put pressure on Caterpillar, Inc. This campaign is not a once-a-year protest. It is a part of creating awareness to the injustice taking place in the Middle East. We must continue to demand justice and speak out for those whose voices are not heard in the United States. We must not allow corporations to profit from illegal and immoral activity; they must be held responsible for their actions. We cannot allow atrocities to be committed in our names. As citizens of the US we must recognize the role that the US government and US corporations play throughout the world. By pressuring Caterpillar to acknowledge and take responsibility for their actions we send a clear message that corporations cannot act illegally without consequences. This campaign gives us the opportunity to educate people in the US about the realities of this conflict, highlight the US role, and call for an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestine.

The Olympia-Rafah Sister City Project is greatly inspired by the support and energy that people from this community have brought to this international campaign. Through our efforts we have been successful in highlighting the importance of this issues within our own community and more broadly. As a relatively new organization, we feel blessed to have broad range of support within this community.