Page 16 - Masala Lite Issue 156 December 2023
P. 16

16       SPILL THE CHAI

                                                                                                                WHY I CHOSE TO STOP PURCHASING
                                                                                                                STARBUCKS PRODUCTS
                                                                                                                ANONYMOUS, 25
                                                                                                                Business Owner

                                                                                                                In a world where every purchase carries
                                                                                                                a hidden impact, the decision to boycott
                                                                                                                certain products becomes an ethical
                                                                                                                statement,  a  personal  stand  against
                                                                                                                injustice. For me, that choice led me to
                                                                                                                forego the familiar comforts of Starbucks
                                                                                                                in an effort to distance myself from the
                                                                                                                ongoing crisis in Gaza.

                                                                                                                The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has long
                                                                                                                been a source of tension and suffering,
        Community members reveal how they                                    and the international community plays a crucial role in influencing change. Starbucks,
        support the causes they are passionate                               as a global corporate entity, has faced criticism for their business ties that some argue
                                                                             indirectly support activities contributing to the conflict. For example, Starbucks has
        about, in big and small ways.                                        built stores in illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, which are a violation of
                                                                             international law. Starbucks has also been accused of providing financial support
                                                                             to the Israeli military, which has been responsible for numerous atrocities against
        BY AMORNRAT SIDHU
                                                                             the Palestinian people. By abstaining from patronising these companies, we can
                                                                             demonstrate solidarity with those affected by the ongoing strife in Gaza.

                                                                             I am boycotting Starbucks because I believe that it is important to stand up against
              verybody has a cause they are passionate about. In a world where we   human rights abuses and hold companies accountable for their actions. I encourage
              might not join mass protests or quit our job to hug trees, what are the   others to join me in boycotting Starbucks until the company changes its policies and
        little actions we take in our everyday life that are for a cause we believe in?   respects the rights of the Palestinian people. This boycott serves as a peaceful means

                                                                             for us to express our stance against actions that might inadvertently contribute to
        There is much more emphasis now on the power of small acts, the power of
                                                                             the perpetuation of violence and human rights violations in Palestine.
        individual change and the power of the people. What is a cause you believe in?
        How do you protest? Thai-Indian community members chime in on this relevant   This boycott serves as a reminder that our daily routines, even as seemingly
        question amidst the controversies that plague our world.             inconsequential as sipping a cup of coffee, can carry profound consequences, and
                                                                             we, as consumers, have the power to influence change through the choices we make.


                                                                                    A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING
                                                                                           NATASHA SETHI, 24
                                                                                                     Journalist

                                                                             Educating  people.  Making  lifestyle
                                                                             changes. Speaking up for a cause. Writing
                                                                             for a cause. Attending protests. Attending
                                           REDUCING MY CARBON FOOTPRINT      demonstrations - these are some of the
                                                                             ways I incorporate protesting into my
                                            THIDA SACHATHEP, 30              everyday life.
                                           Senior Lecturer and Researcher
                                                                             I’m a vegetarian because I don’t endorse
                                           Creating positive change in the world   the killing of animals to satisfy my
                                           does not always require grand gestures   cravings; my diet is a form of protest.
                                           or lifestyle overhauls. The cumulative   I’m a journalist because I want to be a
                                           impact of small, consistent actions can   voice for the unheard; my career path is a
                                           collectively make a significant difference.   form of protest. I opt for locally-produced
                                           In saying that, I believe the concept of   products to be more environmentally
                                           protesting should not be limited to   sustainable; my purchasing patterns are
                                           traditional forms that society often   a form of protest.

                                           associates with activism.         Change begins on an individual level,

                                           In my everyday life in Sydney, Australia, I   so if we all just do our bit by protesting
                                           focus on making conscious choices that   however we can whenever we can, we’re
                                           contribute to the causes I believe in, such   making more of a difference than we may realise. From personal choices to professional
                                           as reducing my carbon footprint. (A/N:   pursuits, I try to protest however I can, but there’s a lot more that I can and aim to do.
                                           Our carbon footprint is the amount of
                                           methane, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide
                                           and water vapour we produce through             OTHER EVERYDAY ‘PROTESTS’ FROM PEOPLE WITHIN
                                           our activities, purchases and possessions.                THE THAI-DESI COMMUNITY
                                          These gases, in combination and alone,
                                           are responsible for the ‘greenhouse effect’
                                           responsible for global warming.)        •  Not buying from companies such as SHEIN, since accusations and revelations
                                                                                     were revealed of unfair and inhumane work conditions for employees
                                           I opt for sustainable transportation
                                           like the tram and use it for most of my   •  Making a conscious choice to buy material and stitch outfits to introduce
                                           transport to and from work. We rarely use   a more mindful and meaningful wardrobe rather than enable ‘fast fashion’
                                           the car during the week, but sometimes   •  Switching on the A/C only at night when it is time for bed, no matter how
                                           this  is  unavoidable  due  to  weather,   hot or stuffy it gets
                                           errands we need to run or unreliable
                                           public transportation. In saying that, I   •  Rarely posting personal events or thoughts, but using Instagram as a
                                           make a conscious choice to pick public    platform to highlight the genocide in Palestine and other current world
                                           transportation over using my own vehicle   issues
        when I can. Additionally, I prefer to use reusable items instead of disposable ones,
        like taking my long black coffee from home rather than buying a cardboard cup from                 THE TAKEAWAY
        a cafe. Lastly, we don’t use paper bags, and plastic bags are a big “no no.” When my   This is a judgment-free zone. Hypocrisy and imperfections lie within all of
        husband and I go grocery shopping or even for just a walk, we will usually take our   us. We might not purchase leather bags, but we eat meat, or vice versa. We
        own canvas/cloth bags. We never know when we will buy something, so we have   might take our own reusable straw to restaurants, but take long showers.
        about ten of those bags lying in the trunk of our car, too.
                                                                                    We can’t do it all, but we try to do some. This piece aims to highlight the
        While I might not be on the front lines of a protest, I believe that my everyday decisions   ‘some’ that we do, and hopefully someone’s else’s ‘some’ will inspire you to
        contribute to a more significant movement towards a more sustainable, just and   do more. What is your ‘some’ and what more have you been inspired to do?
        compassionate world for generations to come.

        MASAL A LITE  ISSUE 156 - DECEMBER 202 3
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