Boycott the USA!
Stop the War!

Ten Step Program For A.A. (America Addiction) Recovery And to Create Peace and Justice in the World

Victoria Peace Centre - We and much of the world condemn the USA military plan to attack Iraq and other countries and its support of the Israeli war against the Palestinian people. Canadians can send a clear message to the USA that we oppose the political, military and economic domination of the world by the ruthless USA government and corporations. We can tell the Canadian government that this action is also directed at its support of the USA.

All actions are important. This boycott can be a major act of resistance! It is something we can each do, every day.

(The Victoria Peace Centre has the beautiful Boycott USA decals pictured here for sale. They have red, white and black inks and are 3.5" x 5" in size. They are priced "by donation" in person, or by mail for $1 postage plus 50 cents each within Canada. Cheques should be sent to Box 8307, Victoria BC, V8W 3R9.)

Here Are Ten USA Boycott Steps - We Can All Add More!!

1. Don't shop there here! We can boycott all those big chains and franchises - from Wal-Mart to Starbucks, from Home Depot to GAP, from Sears to McDonalds, etc. There are local businesses we can support.
   
   
2. Stay away! We should not visit any part of the USA. Invite friends and family to Canada. Invite activists to hold meetings here or (given our winters) in Mexico where we can support the struggle for peace and justice there.
   
   
3. Don't look, listen or read. Part of our USA addiction is due to the domination of its media. So we stop watching USA television (better yet -turn off the TV!), videos and movies. Listen to Canadian radio. Don' t read or subscribe to USA papers or magazines. Try to find books, periodicals etc on issues of concern from Canada or other countries. Most important is our support and participation of Canadian independent media, film makers and writers. That is more vital than seeking out "good" USA stuff. Let's also find the analysis and knowledge of the rest of the world to enrich our activism - in magazines like The New Internationalist, Third World Resurgence, Peace News and The Ecologist etc.
   
   
4. Don't buy USA vehicles. If we must buy cars, we can look to the producers of the most economic vehicles - Japan. I drive an 18-year old VW, but many European car companies are connected to USA companies. And just in case we are thinking of buying a Rolls, Rolls Royce makes reactor cores for nuclear submarines. So we shun the big three USA companies and most of all, shun SUVs. They are gas-guzzling polluters. If SUVs' gas efficiency increased by three miles to a gallon, the USA would not need to import oil from the Middle East at all.
   
   
5. What about OIL? When we fill up at the local pump, we are getting Canadian oil products, but from a USA company. Let's ask ourselves WHY? Isn' t ownership and control of oil what Iraq, Colombia, Sudan, Afghanistan and Venezuela are all about? Husky-Mohawk are not USA-owned and PETROCAN is still partly owned by us.
   
   
6. We need to shop carefully! In Canadian stores we won't buy, "Made in USA" . Not always easy, but ask for Canadian-made clothing, paint, tools, etc. Look for fair trade products from around the world. Booze - that's easy. We have locally made beer and wine and many international products. We should boycott franchised products like Coors and Budweiser. And we should boycott Bacardi rum anyhow - the cause of the Helms-Burton law against Cuba. Seagrams is now a USA company.
   
   
7. We don't buy USA brands - from running shoes to coffee- no matter where the product is made, it profits USA corporations. Coffee is a major example. The coffee solution is easy as more and more retailers carry fair trade, organic coffee from many small producers. For other products, we can do without if we can't get Canadian made or goods made in other countries that need our support.
   
   
8. Sell our stocks and shares! If we have mutual funds or pension plans, or are among 10% of Canadians who own stocks, sell them if they are in USA companies.
   
   
9. We can end our biggest addiction - USA produced FOOD. We are used to buying USA brands of food from around the world from Kraft to General Foods. Fresh fruit and vegetables in the winter come from USA or USA agri-biz in Mexico. So let's eat Canadian apples and juice instead of oranges, coleslaw made with Canadian cabbage, not lettuce salad. We can buy canned and frozen Canadian vegetables and fruit rather than importing fresh in the winter. It is easy to find local potatoes, onion, squash, carrots, etc. even in the winter. Enjoy the seasonality of local berries, tomatoes and other produce.
   
   
10. Boycott US and talk about it. Share information about products and sources. Tell politicians, the media and businesses. They are really scared of boycotts! Because they work in consumer societies! Boycotts helped overthrow apartheid in South Africa and ended French nuclear tests. Although this US Boycott is designed for Canadians, people anywhere can adapt it. We need to talk to our USA friends in the country that uses 40% of the world's resources (they are less than 6% of its population). Encourage USA activists to also boycott big corporation and agri-business. We can all consume LESS. We can all support local producers, recycle and re-use. The time and money we save we can dedicate to strengthening social movements and being more active. Walk more, use the bus, and drive less. We are our own best media - talk to people everywhere about this boycott and the reasons for it. If everyone in the minority world consumed less, we would give positive and visible support to our sisters and brothers in the majority world; we will find greater satisfaction in our own lives. We will send a clear message to the USA government and corporations and our government that we do not support wars and oppression for military, economic and political domination! We'll stop the USA Boycott when the USA stops its interference outside its own borders - and that includes Canada!

Templates

Letter - word document

Flyer - word document

Important Addresses

Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bill Graham, all Members of Parliament:

House of Commons,
Ottawa, ON, K1A 0A6

or phone Chrétien's office 613.992-4211 and leave a message: WE DO NOT WANT WAR!

USA EMBASSY: 490 Sussex Drive, OTTAWA, ON, K1N 1G8

Links - More Information

• boycottusa.org - Information available in English, Arabic, Bengali, French, Urdu, Afrikaan, Spanish and Japanese.
• stopUSA.org - For people opposing US foreign policy and the current War in Iraq.

Victoria Peace Centre