Lebanese
protest against Estee Lauder's support of Israel
By Reuters
Ha'aretz
August 9, 2002
BEIRUT - About 100 people protested outside a Lebanese department
store on Friday to demand it stop carrying cosmetics made by Estee
Lauder, accusing the U.S.-based company of supporting Israel.
The protesters waved Lebanese and Palestinian flags, shook their
fists, and told passers-by not to spend money at the store in downtown
Beirut.
"Estee Lauder's presence represents normalization with the
Zionist enemy," a banner read.
"We don't want pro-Israeli companies here in our city,"
said one protester, a mathematics teacher. "They can go where
they want, to hell, but not here."
Boycott organisers said they have singled out the company because
of Estee Lauder International chairman Ron Lauder's public support
for Israel.
Activists have urged boycotts of businesses and products they consider
backers of Israel, as well as some U.S. brands, arguing consumers
must do what they can to counter U.S. support for Israel's attempt
to crush a 22-month Palestinian uprising.
The call has persuaded some Lebanese to shun brands they deem American,
but has unnerved some Lebanese owners of U.S. franchises who have
taken out advertisements to stress their profits stay in Lebanon
and do not back Israel.
Inside the Aishti department store where Estee Lauder products
were displayed prominently on shelves just inside the door, employees
ignored the protesters, quietly chatting.
"We are carrying international products," Aishti chairman
Tony Salame said. "We deal with listed companies. We don't
know who is behind them."
Some 350,000 Palestinian refugees are listed as residents of a
dozen refugee camps in Lebanon.
For more information of the Estee Lauder Boycott see:
http://www.inminds.co.uk/boycott-estee-lauder.html
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