The expensive store that made business deals with terrorists
Protester standing in front of Woolworths main entrance holding placard. Image source: Google Images
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We all saw #Boycottwoolworths which was about influencing everyone to
stop buying from Woolworths because they stock products from Israel which is practicing apartheid and terrorizing Palestine.
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Social media is our modern day tool or platform of
voicing out our opinions about a particular topic to reach a vast majority of
people; just like you have reached my message now. Social media must be used
with caution all the time, it requires strategic thinking and planning before
you post especially if you are a public relations practitioner. You do not want
to expose yourself to 59 million people that you are racist especially if you
are a minority (Penny Sparrow); or be over excited about your trip to Africa
that you post imbecile- racist-hate-speech like “Going to Africa. Hope I don’t
get AIDS. Just kidding, I’m white!” (Justine Sacco) Mind you she was a PR
Executive and she posted this on twitter. Sadly she got fired.
Hashtags are either good or bad, mostly they are good for
people and extremely bad for brands. #Boycottwoolworths was a horror for
woollies and it was also bad for
business. A single #hashtag can shut down a business and can grow a business
rapidly. That is the power of influence a hashtag has and thus making it to be
used strategically as public relations practitioners.
Woolworths made a good decision to end its Israel trade
links. This was a decision they should have taken from the beginning but they
made a mistake that most brands make which is to think that it will just
blow-off. Once it is on social media it goes viral and big so best not avoid
hashtags that might affect your organisation.
I get you very well but it kind of worries me a lot, why do you think we should by Israel's products while they are showcasing hatred not Peace don't you think that by us buying their products makes us to be like them?
ReplyDeleteSorry meant to say buy
DeletePerhaps you misunderstood me. Firstly South Africa and Woolworths is no longer buying products from Israel or have any sort of business deal with them, Woolworths ended deals with Israel in August 2014 due to #BoycottWoolworths in association with BDS South Africa, COSATU, ANC Youth League, MJC, EFF, PSC and various others. Thanks for you input
DeleteI think The hashtag was a good thing, to stop woolworths trades with racists. I Believe if you are racist you don care about someone else, so how do you expect me to support you.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't have said it better myself Thokozani. You hit the nail in the head, I fully agree with you.
DeleteI agree, they did the good thing about ending the business they had, because they can always import or buy product elsewhere the most important thing is that they avoided crisis that came with it which is a good thing
ReplyDeleteExactly! Now we know that our figs that we buy from Woolworths do not have blood spilled over them.
ReplyDeleteIts good to see that they ended whatever business they had with those racists otherwise it wouldve ruined their image since we all know that woolworths is one of those stores that people trust with its products.
ReplyDeleteDoing business with an individual or an organisation means unity and agreement amongst involved parties. Woolworth having to stock products from Israel, a country practicing apartheid and responcible for terrorizing Palestine, is morally wrong and perceives the idea that Woolworth condones Isreals actions. I support #BoycottWoolworths
ReplyDeleteI support #Boycottwoolworths too. Thanks for your input man.
ReplyDeleteShame on Woolworth how can they support people who takes innocent souls.
ReplyDeleteThat was a big mistake they made but then they ended every business deal they had with Israel.
ReplyDeleteBut Woolworths was not doing anything illegal with Israel, why should it be bullied in to stopping their imports with this country?
ReplyDeleteYes it was not illegal but it was unethical and morally wrong for Woolworths to make deals with Israel, the country that inflicts terror and pain to another country. Its like making a deal with the devil.
ReplyDeleteI am just glad that Woolworths stopped importing products from Israel.
ReplyDeleteI am glad as well. Thank you
ReplyDelete