12 Noon
Caterpillar
9000 Statesville Rd
Charlotte, NC
Caterpillar bulldozers are a poignant symbol for the destruction that military occupation and apartheid have brought to Palestinians and Israelis alike. Cat sells the Israeli military armor-ready bulldozers, which are then used to destroy Palestinian homes, agricultural land and build the apartheid wall. The Israeli Military has crushed several people to death, including Washington state native Rachel Corrie, using Caterpillar bulldozers.
Caterpillar bulldozers are weapons. Caterpillar's D9 model of bulldozer is two stories tall, armored, equipped with a front blade that's more than 6 feet high and 15 feet wide and a “ripper” used to tear through Palestinian homes. The Israeli military adds machine-gun mounts, grenade launchers, and bulletproof windows, to “armor-ready” Caterpillar D9s, essentially turning bulldozers into 60 ton tanks.
In 2001, Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz declared that “The D9 is a strategic weapon here.” (http://www.btselem.org/English/Razing/Index.asp)
An estimated 4000 Palestinian civilian homes were demolished during “Operation Cast Lead.” The Israeli military used unmanned Caterpillar D9s during this operation with so much “success” that they want to add an entirely new battalion of these remote control D9s.
The Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions estimates that 24,145 Palestinian homes have been demolished by the Israeli army n the occupied Palestinian territories since 1967. Many of these demolitions were retribution for attacks on Israelis; collective punishment is a war crime under the Fourth Geneva Convention and the Second Additional Protocol.
Caterpillar has a responsibility to uphold international law and human rights through its business. A recent U.S. District Court ruling allows lawsuits in U.S. courts against multi-national corporations that provided material support to South Africa's apartheid government. The decision specifically included heavy machinery and engine manufacturers such as Fujitsu, Ford, and General Motors. So this ruling could pave the way for similar cases (under something called alien tort claims) against corporations like Caterpillar, that knowingly provide equipment used for violations of international law.
Institutions including the Church of England and Hampshire College in Massachusetts have already distanced themselves from Caterpillar by divesting of Caterpillar stock. These institutions don't want to be involved in violations of international law and human rights abuses.
On June 10, human rights advocates across the country are using Caterpillar's annual shareholder meeting to draw attention to Cat's crimes in Palestine/Israel and call for corporate accountability! There will be a major protest in Chicago at Caterpillar's annual shareholders meeting. There will also be protests at Caterpillar dealerships in Charlotte, NC, Houston, TX, Tacoma, WA and Las Vegas, NV.
DONATE - Support our work by sending donations to Action Center For Justice, 7100 Mapleridge Dr, Charlotte, NC 28210.
Info: Action Center For Justice
http://charlotteaction.blogspot.com
charlotteaction@gmail.com
704.492.5226
Contact Caterpillar's Management
Send Caterpillar's management a message demanding they end support for the destruction of Palestinian homes and Israel's apartheid wall.
Write an Op-Ed About Caterpillar's Crimes in Palestine
Get involved in the media discussion. Use our tools to write an op-ed for your local newspapers and blogs, ask why Caterpillar is violating Palestinian rights instead of building our economy.
Protest Caterkiller!
Join human rights advocates across the country protesting on June 10th, the day that Caterpillar shareholders will have their annual meeting.
Sign Up as a Local Stop Caterkiller Organizer!
Get your community involved in the campaign to stop Caterkiller! Sign up and you will receive useful resources to organize locally.
Learn More
Find out about the relevant international law, legal cases brought against Caterpillar for its crimes in Palestine/Israel, and how groups can join the campaign to stop Caterkiller.
U.S. Campaign To End The Israeli Occupation
Action Center For Justice
No comments:
Post a Comment