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đŸ’„ $227M Lost and Brands on the Run: BDS and Boycotts Are Reshaping Global Markets! ✊📉

BDS-wins

This week, the power of collective action made waves worldwide as boycott campaigns against Israeli-linked corporations delivered staggering financial losses and forced major brands to rethink their practices. With $227 million in combined revenue drops and partnerships collapsing under public pressure, it’s clear: boycotts work.

Let’s break down the big wins and the numbers behind the movement.

🎯 1. Oosto’s $227 Million Failure

Oosto (formerly AnyVision), the controversial Israeli facial recognition startup, raised $352 million in funding over its lifetime. But this week, it sold for a measly $125 million—a 64% loss for investors.

Why the collapse?

  • Oosto’s tech was linked to surveillance of Palestinians in the West Bank, sparking global outrage.
  • Microsoft pulled its investment after public backlash, and the company was forced to rebrand.
  • Even after layoffs and a pivot to financial sector clients, Oosto couldn’t recover.

💡 The takeaway: Public pressure from BDS campaigns works. Investors lost millions, and the message is clear—complicity in apartheid doesn’t pay.

đŸŽ” 2. Barclays Kicked Out of The Great Escape Festival

Barclays bank, known for its investments in companies supplying weapons to Israel, faced a major boycott win this week. More than 130 artists refused to perform at The Great Escape Festival in the UK, and Barclays is no longer a sponsor for the 2025 event.

The numbers:

  • Barclays has faced criticism for financing arms companies that support Israel’s military.
  • Over 1,200 artists, including Massive Attack and IDLES, have signed petitions against Barclays’ festival sponsorships.

🎾 Bands Boycott Barclays, the group behind this movement, is doubling down on efforts to push Barclays out of the music industry entirely. This victory is just the start.

🍔 3. McDonald’s and Starbucks Hit Where It Hurts

In Malaysia, BDS campaigns are gaining traction, targeting brands like McDonald’s and Starbucks. Despite the recent ceasefire in Gaza, activists are continuing the boycott, emphasizing that a ceasefire doesn’t end systemic apartheid and occupation.

What’s happening:

  • McDonald’s stock was downgraded this week, with its price target cut to $336—reflecting increasing challenges in maintaining global consumer confidence.
  • Starbucks, owned locally in Malaysia, is losing market share to regional competitors, with pro-Palestinian boycotts fueling a surge in local alternatives.

📉 Global brands are feeling the heat, and local businesses are stepping up to take their place.

đŸŒ± 4. Unilever’s Market Share Tanks in Indonesia

Unilever, a longtime household name, is seeing its market share in Indonesia plummet, falling to just 34%, down from 38% a year earlier. The culprit? A combination of shifting consumer behavior and sustained boycott campaigns over its ties to Israel.

The stats:

  • Unilever’s net profit dropped 18% in Q3 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.
  • Its stock price has plummeted 84% from its peak in 2018.
  • Local competitors like Wings Group and Mayora are thriving, with sales of their personal care and food products rising 22% in key e-commerce markets.

This proves that boycotts not only hold corporations accountable—they also create opportunities for local businesses to flourish.

đŸ”„ Boycotts Are Just the Beginning

These wins show the strength of BDS campaigns—but this is only the start. The recent ceasefire in Gaza doesn’t mean justice has been served. Palestinians remain under occupation, apartheid persists, and the fight for liberation continues.

Here’s how YOU can help:

🛒 Download Boycat:
Boycat’s app makes it easy to identify brands complicit in Israeli apartheid and find ethical alternatives. Plus, check out Buycat.shop, where you can shop guilt-free and support businesses aligned with justice.

📱 Stay Loud:

  • Spread the word on social media.
  • Continue boycotting brands like McDonald’s, Starbucks, and Unilever.
  • Support local businesses that align with Palestinian liberation.

🚀 Together, We’re Making History

Every dollar redirected, every protest, and every public action adds up. This week’s wins—$227 million lost by unethical corporations, hundreds of artists standing in solidarity, and local brands rising—are a testament to the power of people refusing to stay silent.

Let’s keep the momentum going. Boycotts aren’t the end—they’re the beginning of systemic change.