Port Townsend Food Co-Op board rejects boycott proposal-with good reason!

Tonight, September 21, 2010, the board of the Port Townsend Food Co-Op met to listen to community input (over 50 people made 2-minute long statements at the podium), deliberate and then vote about the proposed boycott of Israeli products. The board's discussion was reasoned, thoughtful and calmly delivered. The community members were respectful even though their opinions and stories varied. The ground rules were applied evenly to everyone and kept things moving so that many voices were heard.

One thing held in common was a wish to see peace in the Middle East
and to consider coordinating efforts among Co-Op members to do something constructive for Israelis, Palestinians, and others around the world in need of help (more on that later).

After quite a lot of discussion and reminding the community that the proposal did have positive intents even though it did not meet the criteria for the boycott policies -

The board voted to REJECT 
the proposal to boycott Israeli products.

We have reached the end of a 2-month long political process that has done much to upset our Jefferson County community. Among the good that has come from this conflict is that people have spoken out passionately about what they believe, but the argument about potentially boycotting whole countries has been analyzed to the point of realization that by attempting to do so - you leave the business owner no avenue to correct the situation.

Thank you to

Quimper Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

 for hosting this and other related events.