By Community with a Conscience
Con…Science?
No, not conning anyone. It’s one word. Conscience.
And that’s who we are: Community with a Conscience. We got here through the word “conscience.”
In the Holy Quran, Chapter 91, verses 7 and 8, Allah (God) takes an oath as follows:
91.7 – And a soul and Him Who perfected it
91.8 – And inspired it (with conscience of) what is wrong for it and (what is) right for it.
This resonated with us. Conscience. Basically, knowing the difference between right and wrong.
So how did Community with a Conscience come into being, you may ask… well, we all know the events of 7 October 2023, when Palestinian Resistance took a giant leap towards attempting to end the siege, Apartheid and the seventy-five-year occupation of Palestine.
While some argue that this was manufactured, I personally disagree with the line of thought that removes agency from Palestinian Resistance. Be that as it may, this was a shock to the Zionist Entity. I mean, how dare the Palestinians fight back?! Do you not condemn them, Piers Morgan?
So outraged by this were the monsters that they immediately implemented what they call the Hannibal Directive. For a change, “mowing the lawn” of their own people and blaming it on Hamas.
Yes, the phrase is exactly as it sounds, and by their own gleeful admissions, the world doesn’t even need to imagine what they mean. They’ve unashamedly posed on their social media platforms, proudly dressed in their female targets’ lingerie while phallically stroking their young victims’ toys.
What this Resistance operation of 7th October led to, and what we are witnessing in real time and in living colour, is the most horrific massacre and genocide of the Palestinian People. It’s unbelievable to me that more than 3 years (that’s right, 1,125 days) have passed, watching hopelessly as this Palestinian Holocaust unfolds.
With South Africa fuelling it by exporting coal to the occupier, this has become a Genocide not only happening on our watch, but also on our dime. 10 cents in South African parlance.
Yes, many of us have felt helpless in the face of such carnage, death and destruction, and since we couldn’t be present on the front lines to support our brothers and sisters being brutally oppressed and murdered (though we and many did try), we had to find creative solutions to help.
Out of our despondency, there arose the spirit of hitting the enemy – the illegitimate, illegal, murderous regime that calls itself Israel – where it hurts them the most. And that’s their pockets. We needed them to hear the voices of the world calling them to account for the injustices they were perpetrating. Hence, a revival of the Boycott movement was born within our community, calling people to conscientise themselves, Boycott complicit companies and brands and weaponise their wallets.
We’ve also been called Community with a Conscious, which we accept with a bit of tongue-in-cheek humour. We figured it would be good to speak to people who are at least conscious and awake, right? And I guess woke too, though not if the term exemplifies performative activism or liberal, left leanings.
Since the Quran guides us towards good, wholesome and pure foods and eating habits, we are halfway to the goal. Community with a Conscience is simply adding one more layer to halal and tayyib, that of ethical consumerism.
Speaking of ethics… for the life of me I cannot comprehend this morbid fascination with the UAE, the ostentatiously virulent Dubai specifically.
It’s an open secret that the country commits atrocious human rights abuses towards migrant workers it “employs” to build its Skyscrapers, and I use that term loosely; it’s more like modern-day slave labour. But even more astounding is their complicity in the Genocide taking place in Sudan. And let’s not forget their genuflecting ass-kissing of the Epstein Paedo-class by gifting them with gold planes and Kaaba Cloths. Or is that from their sister countries? Either way, all fawning sycophants.
Their practices are not only abhorrent but antithetical to Islamic values, morality & basic human dignity. All principles enshrined in the Holy Quran.
So, what drives the drive to emulate or be a party to the fake glossiness that is the Dubai bling… how does one placate their conscience for a bite of Dubai chocolate, a lick of Pistachio Paste or an opulent vacation at the Burj Khalifa, Mission Impossible style, only scaling it from the inside, huh? And where does our moral compass point if this Golden Calf has become a posh status symbol for obsequious wannabe lifestyle celebrities?
We really need to self-reflect, self-correct and Boycott Dubai to return that broken compass to its True North.
Speaking of Boycotting, here are a few how-to tips to effectively implement BDS:
- Know your why
Boycotting = peaceful resistance. Use your wallet to stand for justice. Remember: Every Rand you spend on Zionist products makes you complicit in the funding of bombs and bullets that target innocent men, women, and children.
- Know the BDS list
If that seems too large and intimidating, start with our CwaC Top 10 list of Brands & Companies to Boycott. International corporations to avoid include Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Nestlé, Starbucks, KFC, and McDonald’s. Locally owned businesses to avoid include Clover, Dis-Chem, Pick n Pay, and Cape Union Mart (sub-brands: Poetry, K-Way, Old Khaki).
- Read product labels
Check the manufacturer name; look for “Made in Israel”, “Made in USA”, “Made in UAE”, and barcodes starting with 729. Remember: Companies like Coca-Cola and Nestlé have multiple sub-brands, so do your research!!!
- Use verified boycott resources
Follow trusted boycott lists (such as BDS) and activists for updates, and download the “No Thanks” app and “Boycat” app for guidance at your fingertips.
- Educate yourself on how corporations are complicit in genocide.
This could be in any or all the following ways:
5.1 If they operate on stolen Palestinian land;
5.2 If their owners or CEO’s pledge unconditional support to the illegal state, usually in the form of Money (which they in turn could use to purchase ammunition), but also could be something as simple as providing free happy meals to the Occupation Forces;
5.3 If they supply weapons or any form of logistical and other support to the Occupier;
5.4 And if, in the face of Genocide, they waffle about the term,
– or bring up the defunct 2-state solution (which borders and conditions the occupier has never adhered to),
– or use what-aboutism arguments,
– or even the “do you condemn…” digression,
– or claim impartiality, which Francesca Albanese says has become a pompous word for indifference,
– or even spout the neutrality argument (which the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu stated and I paraphrase… that being neutral in situations of injustice puts you on the side of the oppressor)
You hear that, Sheeran…
– or finally, the non-committal “it’s complicated” non-answer,
then any of these puts them squarely in the pro-Israel camp.
- Replace, don’t just remove
Support local and ethical alternatives. Share them with others, and in doing so, help small businesses grow.
- Commit to consistency
Small habits lead to big change. For boycotts to succeed, collective, consistent effort over a long period is vital.
- Only share verified info
And when in doubt, boycott anyway, until you know for sure whether a brand is ethical vs. pro-Zionist.
- Adjust your consumer choices and spending habits
Remember every choice counts. Your spending shapes the world. So, choose with conscience. Choose ethical.
So don’t be conned by Zionist machinations any longer. Use your voice and your wallet, and join our Community with a Conscience here on the right side of history.