Caterpillar Inc. - National Capital FreeNetcoat.ncf.ca/P4C/66/16-17.pdf · the Holt Caterpillar Co....
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Press for Conversion! (Issue # 66) Spring 2012 16 Caterpillar Caterpillar Caterpillar Caterpillar Caterpillar Inc Inc Inc Inc Inc. ery vehicles for the needs of the Is- raeli army, including the installation of a gunner position and a bullet- proof driver cabin...for battle use. The armoured tools are used for house demolitions, uprooting of trees and military urban incursions into Gaza and the West Bank.” In fact, since it began supply- ing Israel’s army in 1967, CAT equip- ment has demolished tens of thousands of Palestinian homes. Its so-called “construction” vehicles have also de- stroyed hundreds of thousands of trees in orchards and olive groves in the oc- cupied Palestinian territories. The main tool in Israel’s arsenal for this widescale destruction is CAT’s D9 bulldozer. It is armoured in Israel by two state-own- ed firms, Israel Military Industries and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). (See “State-owned Israeli War Industries,” pp.48-49.) As IAI says, CAT’s “armored D9R,” is used “in combat/as- sault operations,” and has been “successfully deployed to field units accomplishing battlefield demoli- tion/construction, urban warfare support, creating access and egress routes for combat troops, and clearing lines of fire.” In 2003, when U.S. peace activist Rachel Corrie was trying to nonvio- lently stop the demo- lition of a Palestinian home in Gaza’s Rafah refugee camp, she was crushed to death by a CAT bull- dozer that was being operated by an Israeli soldier. Corporate Watch notes that “The D9 bulldozer was extensively used by Israel during ‘Operation De- fensive Shield’ in 2001-2, particu- larly during invasion of Jenin, when countless homes were destroyed by bulldozers and a disabled man was crushed to death.” Israeli troops have affection- ately nicknamed the D9, “doobi,” which means “teddy bear” in Hebrew. CAT has worked with former Israel military personnel at an Israeli firm called InRob to robotise the D9 for army operations. The result is a brand of unmanned, 60-ton robotic bulldozers called “Black Thunder” that cleared the way for Israeli ground troops in the 2008-2009 assault on Gaza. InRob, which calls itself “Isra- el’s leader” in creating robotic ground vehicles, says it “supports the IDF (Is- rael Defense Forces), Israeli police, and other military and civilian companies dealing with security.” InRob details the links between its management team and the IDF. While InRob’s founder/chair, Ben-Tsur Joseph, “was in an elite unit of the Is- raeli Air Force,” its head of R&D, Shimon Shamay, was “an officer in the IDF, which gave him a unique perspec- tive regarding robotics opportunities and potential.” InRob’s CEO, Nissim Lavi, was “an officer in an IDF combat unit which gave him first-hand knowl- edge of military operations.” InRob’s IDF veterans have cre- ated “Front Runner,” a “Robotic Cat- erpillar MTL 257B.” These unmanned, multi-terrain, killer robots – operated from up to 3 km. away – are designed to include a “weapons mount for dif- ferent kinds of machine-guns,” an “anti- riot shield,” launchers to fire “smoke/ Canada P Canada P Canada P Canada P Canada P ension Plan ension Plan ension Plan ension Plan ension Plan 20 20 20 20 20 1 1 1 1 Inv 1 Inv 1 Inv 1 Inv 1 Inv estment estment estment estment estment $3 million $3 million $3 million $3 million $3 million CA CA CA CA CAT equipment is also used t T equipment is also used t T equipment is also used t T equipment is also used t T equipment is also used to build Isr build Isr build Isr build Isr build Israel’ ael’ ael’ ael’ ael’s separ s separ s separ s separ s separation w ation w ation w ation w ation wall all all all all and it and it and it and it and its segr s segr s segr s segr s segregated r egated r egated r egated r egated roads oads oads oads oads, which P which P which P which P which Palestinians cannot use alestinians cannot use alestinians cannot use alestinians cannot use alestinians cannot use. Anne Paq/activestills.org W hen “caterpillar” treads first appeared in the early 1900s, they were used on farm trac- tors. But World War I changed all that and the track-tread was converted to military use for tanks and artillery-haul- ing machines. For this we can thank the Holt Caterpillar Co. Nowadays – with more than $64 billion in assets – Caterpillar (CAT) is the world’s larg- est manufacturer of heavy equipment used in construction and mining. Of the US$1.6 billion in con- tracts that CAT received from the US federal government between 2000 and 2009, over 95% were for the military. When CAT acquired Britain’s Perkins company for US$1.3 billion in 1998, it created the world’s largest die- sel engine maker. Caterpillar Defence Products supplies CAT and Perkins “engines and automatic transmissions for armoured and logistic vehicles, both tracked and wheeled.” Its engines are “combat proven in infantry fighting ve- hicles and main battle tanks.” Perkins engines are sold in Is- rael by the Israel Tractor & Equipment (ITE) Co. (This firm is 100% owned by Israel’s Zoko Enterprises. See Ea- ton, pp.26-27.) The “Who Profits from the occupation” website says ITE “retrofits Caterpillar heavy machin- Shu'f Shu'f Shu'f Shu'f Shu'fat r at r at r at r at refugee camp, East Jerusalem, Dec efugee camp, East Jerusalem, Dec efugee camp, East Jerusalem, Dec efugee camp, East Jerusalem, Dec efugee camp, East Jerusalem, Dec. 27, 20 . 27, 20 . 27, 20 . 27, 20 . 27, 2011. 1. 1. 1. 1. palestinalibre.org The Isr The Isr The Isr The Isr The Israeli Combat aeli Combat aeli Combat aeli Combat aeli Combat Engineering Corps Engineering Corps Engineering Corps Engineering Corps Engineering Corps. has used CA has used CA has used CA has used CA has used CAT’ T’ T’ T’ T’s D9 s D9 s D9 s D9 s D9 bulldoz bulldoz bulldoz bulldoz bulldozer er er er ers in “ s in “ s in “ s in “ s in “combat/ combat/ combat/ combat/ combat/ assault oper assault oper assault oper assault oper assault operations” ations” ations” ations” ations” since the 1967 w since the 1967 w since the 1967 w since the 1967 w since the 1967 war ar ar ar ar. CA CA CA CA CAT’ T’ T’ T’ T’s armour s armour s armour s armour s armoured D9s ed D9s ed D9s ed D9s ed D9s ha ha ha ha have destr e destr e destr e destr e destroyed ed ed ed ed tens o tens o tens o tens o tens of thousands o f thousands o f thousands o f thousands o f thousands of Palestinian homes alestinian homes alestinian homes alestinian homes alestinian homes and hundr and hundr and hundr and hundr and hundreds o eds o eds o eds o eds of thousands o thousands o thousands o thousands o thousands of tr f tr f tr f tr f trees ees ees ees ees in the occupied in the occupied in the occupied in the occupied in the occupied Palestinian territ alestinian territ alestinian territ alestinian territ alestinian territories ories ories ories ories.
Transcript of Caterpillar Inc. - National Capital FreeNetcoat.ncf.ca/P4C/66/16-17.pdf · the Holt Caterpillar Co....
Press for Conversion! (Issue # 66) Spring 201216
Caterpillar Caterpillar Caterpillar Caterpillar Caterpillar IncIncIncIncInc.....
ery vehicles for the needs of the Is-raeli army, including the installationof a gunner position and a bullet-proof driver cabin...for battle use.The armoured tools are used forhouse demolitions, uprooting oftrees and military urban incursionsinto Gaza and the West Bank.”
In fact, since it began supply-ing Israel’s army in 1967, CAT equip-ment has demolished tens of thousandsof Palestinian homes. Its so-called“construction” vehicles have also de-stroyed hundreds of thousands of treesin orchards and olive groves in the oc-cupied Palestinian territories. The maintool in Israel’s arsenal for this widescaledestruction is CAT’s D9 bulldozer. Itis armoured in Israel by two state-own-ed firms, Israel Military Industries andIsrael Aerospace Industries (IAI). (See“State-owned Israeli War Industries,”pp.48-49.) As IAI says, CAT’s“armored D9R,” is used “in combat/as-sault operations,” and has been
“successfully deployed to field unitsaccomplishing battlefield demoli-tion/construction, urban warfaresupport, creating access and egress
routes for combattroops, and clearinglines of fire.”
In 2003, whenU.S. peace activistRachel Corrie wastrying to nonvio-lently stop the demo-lition of a Palestinianhome in Gaza’sRafah refugee camp,she was crushed todeath by a CAT bull-dozer that was beingoperated by an Israelisoldier.
Corporate Watch notes that“The D9 bulldozer was extensivelyused by Israel during ‘Operation De-fensive Shield’ in 2001-2, particu-larly during invasion of Jenin, whencountless homes were destroyed bybulldozers and a disabled man wascrushed to death.”
Israeli troops have affection-ately nicknamed the D9, “doobi,”which means “teddy bear” in Hebrew.
CAT has worked with formerIsrael military personnel at an Israelifirm called InRob to robotise the D9for army operations. The result is abrand of unmanned, 60-ton roboticbulldozers called “Black Thunder” thatcleared the way for Israeli groundtroops in the 2008-2009 assault onGaza. InRob, which calls itself “Isra-el’s leader” in creating robotic groundvehicles, says it “supports the IDF (Is-rael Defense Forces), Israeli police, andother military and civilian companiesdealing with security.”
InRob details the links betweenits management team and the IDF.While InRob’s founder/chair, Ben-TsurJoseph, “was in an elite unit of the Is-raeli Air Force,” its head of R&D,Shimon Shamay, was “an officer in theIDF, which gave him a unique perspec-tive regarding robotics opportunitiesand potential.” InRob’s CEO, NissimLavi, was “an officer in an IDF combatunit which gave him first-hand knowl-edge of military operations.”
InRob’s IDF veterans have cre-ated “Front Runner,” a “Robotic Cat-erpillar MTL 257B.” These unmanned,multi-terrain, killer robots – operatedfrom up to 3 km. away – are designedto include a “weapons mount for dif-ferent kinds of machine-guns,” an “anti-riot shield,” launchers to fire “smoke/
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$3 million$3 million$3 million$3 million$3 million
CACACACACAT equipment is also used tT equipment is also used tT equipment is also used tT equipment is also used tT equipment is also used tooooobuild Isrbuild Isrbuild Isrbuild Isrbuild Israel’ael’ael’ael’ael’s separs separs separs separs separation wation wation wation wation wallallallallall
and itand itand itand itand its segrs segrs segrs segrs segregated regated regated regated regated roadsoadsoadsoadsoads,,,,,which Pwhich Pwhich Pwhich Pwhich Palestinians cannot usealestinians cannot usealestinians cannot usealestinians cannot usealestinians cannot use.....
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When “caterpillar” treads firstappeared in the early 1900s,they were used on farm trac-
tors. But World War I changed all thatand the track-tread was converted tomilitary use for tanks and artillery-haul-ing machines. For this we can thankthe Holt Caterpillar Co. Nowadays –with more than $64 billion in assets –Caterpillar (CAT) is the world’s larg-est manufacturer of heavy equipmentused in construction and mining.
Of the US$1.6 billion in con-tracts that CAT received from the USfederal government between 2000 and2009, over 95% were for the military.
When CAT acquired Britain’sPerkins company for US$1.3 billion in1998, it created the world’s largest die-sel engine maker. Caterpillar DefenceProducts supplies CAT and Perkins“engines and automatic transmissionsfor armoured and logistic vehicles, bothtracked and wheeled.” Its engines are“combat proven in infantry fighting ve-hicles and main battle tanks.”
Perkins engines are sold in Is-rael by the Israel Tractor & Equipment(ITE) Co. (This firm is 100% ownedby Israel’s Zoko Enterprises. See Ea-ton, pp.26-27.) The “Who Profits fromthe occupation” website says ITE
“retrofits Caterpillar heavy machin-
Shu'fShu'fShu'fShu'fShu'fat rat rat rat rat refugee camp, East Jerusalem, Decefugee camp, East Jerusalem, Decefugee camp, East Jerusalem, Decefugee camp, East Jerusalem, Decefugee camp, East Jerusalem, Dec. 27, 20. 27, 20. 27, 20. 27, 20. 27, 20111111.1.1.1.1.
palestinalibre.org
The IsrThe IsrThe IsrThe IsrThe Israeli Combataeli Combataeli Combataeli Combataeli CombatEngineering CorpsEngineering CorpsEngineering CorpsEngineering CorpsEngineering Corps.....has used CAhas used CAhas used CAhas used CAhas used CAT’T’T’T’T’s D9s D9s D9s D9s D9
bulldozbulldozbulldozbulldozbulldozererererers in “s in “s in “s in “s in “combat/combat/combat/combat/combat/assault operassault operassault operassault operassault operations”ations”ations”ations”ations”since the 1967 wsince the 1967 wsince the 1967 wsince the 1967 wsince the 1967 wararararar.....CACACACACAT’T’T’T’T’s armours armours armours armours armoured D9sed D9sed D9sed D9sed D9s
hahahahahavvvvve destre destre destre destre destroooooyyyyyedededededtens otens otens otens otens of thousands of thousands of thousands of thousands of thousands offfffPPPPPalestinian homesalestinian homesalestinian homesalestinian homesalestinian homesand hundrand hundrand hundrand hundrand hundreds oeds oeds oeds oeds offfff
thousands othousands othousands othousands othousands of trf trf trf trf treeseeseeseeseesin the occupiedin the occupiedin the occupiedin the occupiedin the occupied
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Spring 2012 (Issue # 66) Press for Conversion! 17
tear gas grenades,” as well as colour,infrared and thermal video cameras fornight missions. These CAT robots, saysInRob, are “ideally suited for a widerange of military, paramilitary, [and]law enforcement” operations. In 2007,InRob said the “Robotic MTL 257Bplatform will be marketed through Cat-erpillar’s network of distributorsaround the world.”
CAT also makes engines usedby Israel’s Navy. In 2010, when Israellaunched its deadly attack against the“Mavi Marmara” – the lead ship in aflotilla trying to bring aid to Gaza – Is-rael’s Navy used a commando boatpowered by CAT engines. Israel’sMorena Rigid-Hull Inflatable Boat,made by US Marine Inc., uses CAT’sturbocharged 3126 diesel engines.
References2011 World’s Most Ethical Companiesethisphere.com/past-wme-honorees/wme2011/
Caterpillaren.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caterpillar_Inc.
Contracts to Caterpillar, Inc.www.fedspending.org/fpds/search.php
Caterpillar Defence Productswww.worldsecurity-index.com/details.php?id=207
Zoko Enterpriseswww.whoprofits.org/Company%20Info.php?id=707
Caterpillarwww.boycott-israel.co.uk/business-links/124-caterpillar
Company summarieswww.neumc.org/console/files/oFiles_Library_XZXLCZ/Companies_Recommended_for_Divestment_HJKKVNTP.pdf
“IAI/Ramta Begins Deliveries of Armor Pro-tected Caterpillar D9R Dozers under ContractOption Exercised by IDF,” June 14, 2004.www.iai .co. i l /23048-31739-en/MediaRoom_NewsArchives_2004.aspx?
Direct Action Against Israel, Part 1, Jan. 29, 2009www.corporatewatch.org/?lid=3192
InRob to Deliver First Products Involving ItsProject with Caterpillar & Ramta, July 27, 2006.www.inrobtech.com/news_details.asp?id=18
Management Teamwww.inrobtech.com/ManagementTeam.asp
Specifications = Front Runner (CAT MTL 257)inrobtech.com/UserFiles/products20_file.pdf
InRob’s JV MTL Platform to Be MarketedWorldwide Through Caterpillar Network, August15, 2007.www.inrobtech.com/news_details.asp?id=41
Caterpillarwww.whoprofits.org/Company%20Info.php?id=601
Martin Broek, Ali Abunimah, Carlo Tombola andWendela de Vries, “European & American weap-ons in Israeli attack on Gaza Flotilla,” June 15, 2010.stopwapenhandel .org/publicat ies/factsheets/israel_flotilla_attack.html
Cellcom IsrCellcom IsrCellcom IsrCellcom IsrCellcom Israelaelaelaelael That summer, on the fifth anni-versary of the International Court ofJustice declaration that Israel’s separa-tion wall is illegal, Cellcom ran an adcampaign on Israeli TV depicting sol-diers patrolling the wall. When a soc-cer ball came over the wall, dozens ofmachine-gun toting Israeli troopsjumped from their jeeps to “have somefun” playing with the unseen Palestin-ians. The ad was “extensively criticizedfor making light of the Palestinian suf-fering inflicted by the West Bank bar-rier,” said Israel’s Haaretz newspaper.
In response to Cellcom’s ad, avideo posted to YouTube showed whatreally happens when Palestinians kicka soccer ball over Israel’s razor wire-topped separation barrier. In the video,armed Israeli troops respond to the soc-cer ball by firing numerous volleys oftear gas at the Palestinian activists.
The “Who Profits from the oc-cupation” database also says Cellcom
“erected close to two hundred an-tennas and telecommunication infra-structure facilities on occupied landin the West Bank and the GolanHeights. The company provides cel-lular communication services to thesettlers and Israeli soldiers in theoccupied territory.”
Cellcom’s wholly-owned sub-sidiary, NetVision, was acquired forUS$427 million in 2011. As early as
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This major telecom company is“the largest Israeli cellular op-erator.” The company is con-
trolled by the Israel Discount Banks’IDB Holding Corp. through the Dis-count Investment Corp. (DIC) whichowns about 53% of Cellcom’s shares.(See DIC, p.25, and IDB in table “CPPInvestments,” p.53.)
In 2009, Israel’s Globes busi-ness paper reported that Cellcom won“a Ministry of Defense tender to pro-vide some landline telephony servicesfor the IDF [Israel Defense Force]….Cellcom will provide 50-100 hookupsto switchboards at IDF bases.”
Cellcom’s CEO, Amos Shapira,called “this tender a vote of confidenceby the IDF in the capability and reli-ability of the company’s technologyand services in general.”
This 2009 deal came one monthafter Cellcom broke Bezeq’s longstand-ing monopoly over phone contractswith Israel’s military. (See pp.11-12.)
On the 5th annivOn the 5th annivOn the 5th annivOn the 5th annivOn the 5th annivererererersary osary osary osary osary of the International Court of the International Court of the International Court of the International Court of the International Court of Justicef Justicef Justicef Justicef Justicedecision that Isrdecision that Isrdecision that Isrdecision that Isrdecision that Israel’ael’ael’ael’ael’s separs separs separs separs separation wation wation wation wation wall is illegal,all is illegal,all is illegal,all is illegal,all is illegal,
Cellcom wCellcom wCellcom wCellcom wCellcom was widely criticised fas widely criticised fas widely criticised fas widely criticised fas widely criticised for running a TV ad campaignor running a TV ad campaignor running a TV ad campaignor running a TV ad campaignor running a TV ad campaignthat depicted laughing, machine gun-tthat depicted laughing, machine gun-tthat depicted laughing, machine gun-tthat depicted laughing, machine gun-tthat depicted laughing, machine gun-toting Isroting Isroting Isroting Isroting Israeli traeli traeli traeli traeli troopsoopsoopsoopsoopsjust “hajust “hajust “hajust “hajust “having some fun” kicking a soccer ball oving some fun” kicking a soccer ball oving some fun” kicking a soccer ball oving some fun” kicking a soccer ball oving some fun” kicking a soccer ball ovvvvver the wer the wer the wer the wer the wall.all.all.all.all.
