Ethical Sourcing & MEC

Israel, Apartheid and Boycotts Part 2

MEC has been labeled a whole bunch of names including hypocrite for buying products from China, Taiwan, US, India, Sri Lanka and just about everywhere else outside of Canada.  Yesterday, a blogger found us to be "pathetically transparent racists" for presumably upholding the basic democratic tenets of being a co-operative.

For the record, the resolution to boycott Israeli suppliers is NOT being put forward by MEC or MEC employees.  It is tabled by members of MEC and it will be voted on at the upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM).  As a co-operative, MEC is obligated to protect the right of members to participate in the co-op including calling for specific motions or voicing their views (both must comply with the rules of conduct and procedure for the AGM).   If protecting this measure makes MEC a forthright but pathetic racist then so be it.  The alternative of only allowing some voices to be heard is much more bothersome than being tossed an incendiary label.

Before us is an ordinary resolution calling on MEC to stop doing business with Israeli companies and it will be tabled at our upcoming AGM on April 30. It will be brought forward by a member (as is required by MEC Rules) and discussed and voted on at the AGM. While ordinary resolutions only require a simple majority of members in attendance at the AGM to vote in favour of them to pass, they are non-binding. So, even if the resolution passes, it will be considered as only one piece of information that bears on this issue.

MEC management and Board take this proposed resolution very seriously.  It will be considered in context to a host of other priorities and issues.  Our position on boycotts in general is clearly and unequivocally stated in the prior blog Israel, Apartheid and Boycotts. 

Thank you. 

Israel, Apartheid and Boycotts

Recently, I have gotten many emails from members requesting and demanding MEC boycott products made in Israel because of that country's handling of the Palestinian issue.  The occupied territories, restrictive social and economic policies, and the invasion of Lebanon and Gaza strip, according to these voices, mirror the worst policies of apartheid South Africa.  Furthermore, to break Israel's "oppression", the World must boycott Israeli businesses as it had done with the Botha regime of South Africa.  If MEC does not heed this request (and take the right moral position), they will boycott MEC stores (of which some have). 

As a recent response to the above development, a number of members have emailed me demanding that MEC can not and shall not boycott Israel.  According to this group, the conflict in the Middle East is complex and any effort to single out Israel would be both hypocritical in light of conflict in our other sourcing countries and shortsighted as a boycott does not address the real and fundamental security issues facing Israel.  If MEC were to boycott Israeli suppliers, these members would "never shop" at our stores again. 

Amidst the push and pull on MEC, by the committed sides on this issue, lies incredible suffering on those caught in this conflict.  This is obvious. As the cycles of violence perpetrated by all groups continue to ebb, flow and escalate many more will suffer.  This is deeply troublesome and is on the forefront of our mind. 

MEC is a Co-op retailer with a mandate to get Canadians outdoor by selling them the right gear and giving them the relevant technical insight.  MEC is neither a political activist group nor a human rights body.  Nonetheless, we believe business can and should improve the human condition behind manufacturing.   To this end, MEC takes a Canadian and international view of our global supply chain. Just as creed and country are not barriers to being an MEC member, we do not divide our supply chain along political lines. In short, we will not take sides in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Our human rights efforts are squarely focused on our supply chain—on working to improve the factory conditions and treatment of the workers that make MEC-brand products. As much as this is cowardice to some or a sell out to others, it is our conviction and our intent is to not veer from this belief.