Comments on: Derailing Veolia in the UK

By: ISM Czech Republic · Vítězství BDS: Veolia prodává své akcie v jeruzalémské rychlodráze

Sat, 16 Oct 2010 11:25:16 +0000

[...] Pulse: Vykolejení firmy Veolia ve Velké Británii [...]

By: Angus Geddes

Angus Geddes — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:28:33 +0000

Its worth pointing out that the two Veolia bus services “that are serving illegal settlements in the West bank” link them to Israel, serving the same function as the tramway, supporting and consolidating illegal settlements and tying them more closely into Israel. They are Connex services 110 and 109. Both use road 443 on which Palestinians are forbidden to travel. They are Apartheid, Israeli only bus services.

By: Ruth Tenne

Ruth Tenne — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:52:44 +0000

Further to my comment above, I wish to correct my typo whereby the word “contacts” should be read “contacted” -i.e. the ” The Campaign’s activists contacted veolia a number of times”

Furthermore, a recent e-mail (27 June 09) from Omar Barghuti – the founder of the Palestinian civil society for BDS – states clearly :
“1) Veolia has not yet acted on its decision; we shall judge their actions, not words;
2) Even after actually pulling out of the JLR project, Veolia would still be involved in bus services for Israeli colonies as well as running a dump for those colonies on occupied Palestinian territory (see http://www.whoprofits.org for more on this). Before we call off the Derail Veolia campaign (and continue with Derail Alstom alone), we need to see real action on the ground from Veolia to end its complicity in Israel’s occupation and colonization. Nothing short of that will do.”

By: Ruth Tenne

Ruth Tenne — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:45:20 +0000

Thanks to Abe Hayeem for his insightful and informative comment.
Joe Camel (comment above ) may wish to know that Veolia has NOT confirmed any of the media rumours about the company’s future withdrawal from the railway project which links the illegal settlements in the East Jerusalem municipality with West Jerusalem. In fact the Campaign’s activists contacts Veolia a number of times to confirm rumours about its withdrawal ,but the Company came back with the response of “no comments”. However , even if Veolia does withdraw from the CityPass Consortium the company still runs two bus lines which are serving the illegal settlements in the West Bank and a landfill that serves illegal settlements in the Jordan Valley . Moreover the campaign is extended to Alstom – a French company which has a 20% stake in the CityPass consortium and has made no indication of quitting the Consortium.
Though the article focuses on Veolia it ,in fact, demonstrates the sad reality ,( as Abe Hayeem thoughtfully highlighted in his comment) , whereby public bodies such as British Councils ,fail to abide by an ethical code and international law. Fortunately, the BDS and Derail Veolia and Alstom campaign is gaining ground across the globe and more and more public bodies , faith organisations , banks and commercial companies join it by divesting from, and banning companies which sustain, or profit from Israel’s illegal occupation.
I wish ,indeed, that Israel would respond to that pressure and withdraw altogether from its decades-long barbaric occupation of Palestinian land . Then, perhaps ,(as Joe Camel cynically comments) the BDS campaign would become “old news”.

By: Joe Camel

Joe Camel — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 07:04:55 +0000

Old news. Veolia have already pulled out of the Jerusalem Light Rail project – see http://www.greenleft.org.au/2009/798/41078.

By: Abe Hayeem

Abe Hayeem — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 22:20:47 +0000

Ruth Tenne has exposed an important issue that local authorities cannot ignore – that of ethical practice, especially where important contracts are being let. The council must respond to its council tax payers, who they are there to serve.It is not true that councils do not have ethical practice in their constitutions. Throughout the 70s and 80s,Camden together with boroughs like Lambeth and Islington pioneered equal opportunities and anti-racist policies that were forerunners of the Race Relations Act and the Disability Discrimination Act, and all pursued an Anti-Apartheid policy in letting contracts and local community relations. Camden cannot now duck the issue – and the Conservative and Liberal councillors who reject acting against Veolia behave in a retrogressive way that does not portend an encouraging future should the conservatives win the next general elections.