Euskalwashing
It is nothing new for transnational companies to violate human, environmental and labour rights. But there is increasing social demand to control transnational corporations and enforce these rights. For this reason, companies have defined strategies to clear their negative image, using superficially the struggles and concerns of society.
Greenwashing, purplewashing, pinkwashing, rainbow washing, vegan washing, … and why not, euskalwashing.
The Basque railway company CAF must clean up its image since the launch in 2020 of the campaign to denounce the participation of various social groups in the Basque Country in the construction and maintenance of the Jerusalem tramway.
Last week the CAF – Elhuyar Awards have been given to research and dissemination, journalism and socialization in Basque of scientific and technological issues. And in this case, CAF uses Euskera and science in Palestine to justify its complicity with Israeli apartheid.
The Israeli regime of occupation, colonization and apartheid against the Palestinian people can only be maintained by international complicity, in which companies play a fundamental role.
In August 2019, a consortium of Israeli company Shapir and CAF won a contract for the deployment of the railway network linking the illegal colonies in the occupied Palestinian territory, known as the Jerusalem Light Rail (JLR). JLR East Jerusalem and the West Bank are part of the Zionist plan for accession to the State of Israel.
It is paradoxical that CAF supports a series of awards to disseminate and renew science in Basque while helping to consolidate the Israeli colonial project in Palestine
The project will involve the confiscation of Palestinian lands for their construction, another physical obstacle to the free movement of the Palestinian population. In addition, the tram connects the illegal colonies of Israel in the occupied territory of Palestine and in the city of Jerusalem, facilitating the movement of the population of the occupying power (colon) to the occupied territory.
CAF's complicity with Israeli apartheid, as well as being morally reproachable, can cause difficulties for subsidiaries such as CAF and Solaris to win new contracts. Because there is an international campaign for cities and governments in different countries to be able to cancel all contracts they have with CAF until international law is complied with.
The French company Veolia had to abandon the same illegal JLR project in 2015, after losing billions of dollars in international business, as a result of a permanent BDS campaign in Europe, the US and different Arab countries.
In this sense, it is paradoxical that CAF supports a series of awards for scientific dissemination and innovation in Euskera, while helping to consolidate the Israeli colonial project in Palestine. Since 1948, Israel has tried to deflate Palestine, particularly in the territories of 48 (now the State of Israel), where Israeli Arabs do not have the same rights as Israelis. Since 1967, it has maintained military occupation in the West Bank and Gaza, which has driven the construction of a wall over 700 kilometres long, as well as military controls, killings, attacks, detentions and other human rights violations, and it continues to ignore the right to return of Palestinian refugees, which currently exceed 5 million.
However, it seems that CAF does not care much about scientific development and innovation in Palestine (very difficult in the context of colonial occupation), as, despite the pressures of the workers, trade unions and social groups in the Basque Country and the demands of civil society and the Palestinian National Authority, in East Jerusalem it has continued to build an illegal tramway.
That is why we believe it is necessary to carry out an internal reflection in Elhuyar and in Basque production, in this case to justify the human rights violations that a Basque company carries out in Palestine, and we invite Elhuyar to review the participation of CAF in the awards of the 2024 edition.
We also insist that CAF should terminate the contract for the supply and maintenance of the East Jerusalem tram.
Alaitz Amundarain, Richard Wendling and Eneko Calle
BDS groups from Araba, Navarra and Bizkaia
Bidali zure iritzi artikuluak iritzia@argia.eus helbide elektronikora
ARGIAk ez du zertan bat etorri artikuluen edukiarekin. Idatzien gehienezko luzera 4.500 karakterekoa da (espazioak barne). Idazkera aldetik gutxieneko zuzentasun bat beharrezkoa da: batetik, ARGIAk ezin du hartu zuzenketa sakona egiteko lanik; bestetik, egitekotan edukia nahi gabe aldatzeko arriskua dago. ARGIAk azaleko zuzenketak edo moldaketak egingo dizkie artikuluei, behar izanez gero.
We Basques know that the State apparatus is prepared to take advantage of repressive forces of all colours and repressive mechanisms in all forms, in order to maintain social order within a system based on domination, even if to do so they have to infringe a law created to their... [+]
It happens many times to me: look at the news and get nervous. The France revient, they say. Both the France of Le Pen and the Spanish xenophobia and supremacy, as well as the inflatable clowns, rise again and again. Merde revient. As we have heard, a group of workers from... [+]
Until recently, the European Union (EU) was a calm sea. Everything was going well. We all lived quiet. The high-ranking officials were doing their job very well and the Europeans were happy under their orders. From time to time the peasants were going to the street to show their... [+]
Before the elections, it was a motto on everyone’s lips: "We have to put care in the center," he added. Apart from the curious and incorrect statements made by politicians and politicians, I must admit that for a while the subject was at its peak. Both parties and various... [+]
I have not followed the international competition for many years (Olympic Games, World Games…). Indifference, tiredness, pain… and I also get a little rage. And so the alternative I have left is not to see it.
The reason is not that you do not like sport or that you do not... [+]
With the aim of being objective, emphasising the significant movements that have existed within the government chaired by Mr Pedro Sánchez, and in view of the objectives that the signing of the decree of last decisions has revealed, I would like to make public some ideas that... [+]
Bagira prozesuaren emaitza, Herri bidea bide-orria izan zen. Bide-orri honetan, abertzaleen helburua herriari boterea itzultzea dela aipatzen da, eta boterea itzultzeko, herriari burujabetza maila maximoa emanen dioten instituzioak herriari eskaintzea adierazten da. Zehazten da... [+]
The Municipal Police of Donostia-San Sebastián has not yet solved the lack of staff in its staff. During the summer the workforce has been strengthened by the hiring of dozens of local police officers to meet the different needs and services that emerge during the summer in a... [+]
The demands of Basque Country in Osakidetza are abusive. No doubt. We are putting and mobilizing health professionals in this line. Without being against the Basque Country, with little intention to learn and much less to use.
The new reference platform is “United by a Real... [+]
Despite the fact that two centuries have passed, the problem of La Plutónica cannot be allowed to fade in the well of oblivion. In addition to 200 years ago to learn about the history of La Plutónica, we must go back to the other side of the ocean, Montevideo.
The brothers... [+]
The crew is one of the hallmarks of the Basques. Every Basque has a crew or, at least, that is what is expected of a Basque born. It is no less, because we could say that the Group is the social unit of the Basque Country, the atom or basic component of our society. In this... [+]
Two days later, the advertising wave announcing the Ironman of Vitoria said: “Anything is possible.” I had an appointment with a friend at Plaza Nueva in Vitoria-Gasteiz and, along the way, I saw other posters, advertising stands and tents. Some in English (“Finish... [+]
Noise causes serious health problems and quality of life. Gernika-Lumo, despite its apparent beauty and hospitality, has serious noise problems.
By way of introduction, the above fact will be shown. At the height of the street Iparragirre de Gernika was the company of the... [+]
I can't contain the fire that hugs me inside, and I can only write these stupid words so I don't get mastered by despair.
I hate hypocrisy, I hate whites. The problem is that whiteness is everywhere, that we are all white.
It is well known that all the institutions take... [+]
Apparently, the fire originated on 13 July in Errenteria's home originated in the battery of an electric scooter. On this occasion, and fortunately, there was only material damage. However, don’t think this accident is an unusual thing, lately, firefighters are busy with this... [+]