“Boycott Veolia” shouted dozens in the centre of Colchester

With chants of “Boycott Veolia” and ¨Your taxes support Israeli occupation¨ more than 40 activists from Colchester gathered in front of the town hall today. The protesters raised their voice against the 10 year contract of Colchester Borough Council with multinational corporation Veolia.

¨As a citizen I do not want my taxes supporting a company involved in illegal activities and grave violations of the human rights of thousands of people in Palestine¨ - explained one of the local people who joined the demonstration.

The pouring rain did not prevent the activists from addressing the busy with their Saturday shopping who showed understanding and interest into the issue. The protest is part of a larger campaign to review the current contract of Veolia, which is providing waste management and environmental services throughout the Colchester area. The campaigners received the vocal support of local MP Bob Russell who expressed his deep concern at the lack of ethical evaluation undertaken by Colchester Borough Council. The protesters previously contacted the local council, which indeed confirmed that no ethical evaluation had taken place.

“Veolia is a signatory to the UN Global Compact, a set of principles regarding business conduct. Yet its wide ranging and active involvement in Israel’s settlement regime and persistent failure to exercise due diligence show utter disregard for the human rights related principles of the Global Compact,” - wrote the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories Richard Falk, in a letter last week.

Hundreds of protests are taking place up and down the country in response to the ongoing occupation and gross violations of human rights commited by the Israeli state against the Palestinian people. This is especially urgent in the wake of the recent Israeli attacks of Gaza leading to the death of more than 160 civilians, many of whom are children.