# Boycott of Arab products and brands **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 30, 2006, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189 "2006-01-30T09:28:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e68b1a/32.png) [@Rune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rune)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2006, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189/1 "2006-01-30T09:28:23Z")
A number of Arab countries have started boycotting Danish products (as well as [burning the Danish flag](http://img.ekstrabladet.dk/images/06/01/30/7d501kk6_1.jpg) and threatening with terrorist attacks and all the rest that goes with the territory of not promptly apologising when demanded to) on account of a few [fairly innocent cartoons of Muhammed](http://face-of-muhammed.blogspot.com/) published by a private local Danish newspaper. Well they can go fuck themselves. So I want to boycott right the fuck back. And am looking for products and brands from the Arab world for singling out. Problem is I don’t really know that many Arab brands – besides Q8 (petrol: Kuwait – do you have that in the US?) and some farm products, that’s not normally traded under their own brand (and anyway often enough really produced in Israel) and of course petrol. So anyone know of some Arab brands and products that is traded in the west? I specifically looking for products and brands from the following countries: Saudi Arabia Egypt Palestine Syria Kuwait Qatar Libya Bahrain ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2006, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189/2 "2006-01-30T11:58:22Z")
Hmmm… Dutch Shell must be a real conundrum for you… ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2006, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189/3 "2006-01-30T12:00:07Z")
> [@Balthisar](#): > > Hmmm… Dutch Shell must be a real conundrum for you… Of course having not proofread I see “Danish” and “Denmark” so now my otherwise funny remark makes absolutely no sense. So given that… if you generate your own electricity you can boycott gasoline, just in case it came from the Middle East instead of the North Sea. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2006, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189/4 "2006-01-30T12:02:10Z")
You’ll also have to avoid all plastic, in case that’s made with Arab oil. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2006, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189/5 "2006-01-30T12:24:42Z")
[Egypt](http://countrystudies.us/egypt/94.htm)’s major exports seem to be petroleum products (over half the total, AFAICT) and cotton textiles. [Saudi Arabia](http://www.saudia-online.com/exports.htm): oil and petroleum products. [Syria](http://www.indexmundi.com/syria/exports_commodities.html), [Kuwait](http://www.indexmundi.com/kuwait/exports_commodities.html), [Qatar](http://www.indexmundi.com/qatar/exports_commodities.html): oil and petroleum products, with some natural gas, fertilizers, and fruits and vegetables in a minor role. Your obvious strategy here is to focus your boycott on oil and petroleum products. Not only will you express your displeasure at the Arabs’ expressing their displeasure, but you’ll be helping the environment and encouraging investment in renewable energy sources. It’s win-win! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2006, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189/6 "2006-01-30T12:47:32Z")
**Rune** , looks like you put your Pit thread in GQ by mistake. Don’t worry, the mods will get that for you. ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2006, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189/7 "2006-01-30T12:55:18Z")
I personally will not smoke Camel cigarettes or ski at Vail. Maybe I should avoid sandwiches as well. ---
**Author:** ![Rune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e68b1a/32.png) [@Rune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rune)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2006, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189/8 "2006-01-30T13:22:05Z")
Actually Denmark has a fairly lucrative oil export, and is a net-exporter. Still it would help to cut down on oil. Not that I use that much. I don’t use the car much and electricity in Denmark is mostly produced by coal, windmills, nuclear and water. Even miniscule Denmark has half a dozen large and recognisable companies which could be boycotted. (See how they [huff](http://www.no4denmark.com/ar/su.php) and [puff](http://www.egy2day.com/denmark/) – though mostly they seem to be after ARLA, which is actually Swedish, some other of the companies they seem to boycott are from Holland. Really! If they’re gonna boycott Denmark, at least they could have the courtesy to learn the difference between Denmark, Sweden and Holland). If tiny Denmark has a bunch of such companies, then surely there must be some in all of the Arab world as well – besides oil. But perhaps there’s not. Johanna: This is not a pitting. This is a strongly worded general question. I’m after particular Arab companies and brands. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2006, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189/9 "2006-01-30T13:33:04Z")
> [@DanBlather](#): > > I personally will not smoke Camel cigarettes or ski at Vail. Vail? What’s Vail got to do with it? Ya whooshed me, **Dan**. Oh, and while we’re chatting, I don’t mind saying that personally, I consider most of the Jyllands-Posten anti-Muslim “cartoons” from the OP’s link pretty unfunny and offensive. And the website’s claim that the motive for displaying these images is to support free speech gets a big :rolleyes:. However, I think it’s wrong and silly to advocate retaliating against Danish people or Danish companies in general. I’d probably cancel my subscription to Jyllands-Posten if I had one, but that’s as far as I’d go. ---
**Author:** ![Sevastopol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cdc98d/32.png) [@Sevastopol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sevastopol)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2006, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189/10 "2006-01-30T13:41:50Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > Vail? What’s Vail got to do with it? Ya whooshed me, **Dan**. Veil. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2006, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189/11 "2006-01-30T13:44:00Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > Vail? What’s Vail got to do with it? Ya whooshed me, **Dan**. I’m not **Dan** , but Vail = veil, as in some Arab women wear veils, therefore veils are an Arab product, ergo no skiing at Vail. Same as camels are stereotipically used by Arabs, therefore camels are an Arab product, ergo non smoking Camel cigarettes. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2006, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189/12 "2006-01-30T13:45:39Z")
Dear **Sevastopol** , Thhhppppppt! Sincerely, **Doctor Jackson** ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2006, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189/13 "2006-01-30T13:46:20Z")
Thanks guys. I am sadder but wiser. Grooooaaan. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2006, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189/14 "2006-01-30T14:03:13Z")
If it matters at all, all the Danish cookies and butter were gone from the Panda supermarket yesterday. I got an e-mail outlining other Danish products to boycott. (The list included Neslte, by the way. One flag with a cross is easily confused with the next.) In any case, the e-mail is asking for an apology from the newspaper. Seems reasonable to me. (Oh, a mobile phone rumor is that the cartoonist was found dead. I certainly hope that one is false.) ---
**Author:** ![Rune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e68b1a/32.png) [@Rune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rune)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2006, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189/15 "2006-01-30T14:44:05Z")
Noone is dead, though they’ve received a fair number of death threats and had to go underground for a while on advice from the Danish Secret Service (which is called “PET” btw. Oy! Pet! How’re you ever gonna get respect when your secret service sounds all warm and cuddly?!). But the newspaper actually already apologised. Needlessly if you as me – we all know those very same countries that now whine so pathetic, daily publish cartoons of and treat with contempt and threats Christians, Jews, Hindus, etc. in ways that makes water of this – and more to the point, in Denmark, Jesus and God, the Queen and my uncle Bob and what not is often handled with much less respect than is shown in those cartoons. This is simply a part of Danish culture. If they don’t like it, noone is forcing them to read it. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2006, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189/16 "2006-01-30T14:59:38Z")
> [@Rune](#): > > But the newspaper actually already apologised. Oh, okay. I rescind my hypothetical cancellation of my non-existent subscription. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2006, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189/17 "2006-01-30T15:12:44Z")
You will all be pleased to know the images are blocked by Saudi censors. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2006, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189/18 "2006-01-30T15:33:30Z")
I was going to post a [response](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=356446) here but realized it was too great a hijack and more suited for GD. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2006, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189/19 "2006-01-30T15:43:06Z")
> [@Paul in Saudi](#): > > You will all be pleased to know the images are blocked by Saudi censors. Even the images of the Danish Flag burning? ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2006, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189/20 "2006-01-30T15:50:32Z")
In the interest of promoting hatred and limiting the opportunities to try to resolve any disputes in an amicably or peacefule way, I propose boycotting anyone who proposes boycotting boycotts or potentially boycotting anyone who might consider boycotting anything that could be considered offensive to someone who might boycott fulminating …ah, what the hell. I think I’ll just go kidnap someone. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boycott-of-arab-products-and-brands/342189.md?page=2)