68nctions include therefusal ofconsumers topurchase SouthAfrican products. o( workers tohandlegoodsfromthatcountry andoflocalauthorities toinvestInor purchase fromcompanies involved inSouthAfrica, aswelldSthedemands of ~hareholders tohavetheirstocksdivested fromcompanies operating inorwith -44-linkstoSouthAfrica. Tradeunionsandanti-apartheid movements havebeen instrumental inorganizing forpeople's sanctions. 173.Localauthorities throughout theworldhaveadopted pOlicies ofselective purchasing 1suchpolicies arenowinplacein50localcouncils intheNetherlands andin70councils intheUnited Kingdom. Regrettably, theGovernment ofthe Netherlands recently enacted regulations prohibiting certain localcouncils from banning SouthAfrican products orfromrefusing tocarryontransactions withfirms linkedtoSouthAfricaonanindividual basis. IntheUnited Kingdom, newlocal government leqislatlQI& prevents localcouncils fromboycotting SouthAfrican products. Thesemeasures appeartobethefirstactions takentoprotect Pretoria fromtheeffects ofpeople's sanctions. Incontrast totheseefforts, astrong initiative forincreased sanctions isemerging fromstateandlocalauthorities in theUnitedStates, withatotalof23states, 19counties, and79citieshaving disposed ofstockin,withdrawn fundsfromand/orstopped purchases fromcompanies involved inSouthAfrica. 21/ 1'14.Earlyin1989,theBritish Anti-Apartheid Movement launched the"Boycott APlu'_the.lg 1989"campaign, whichseekstheboycott ofSouthAfrican products andof national cor~orations withinterests inSouthAfrica. TheMovement plansto publish anational apartheid-free shopping directory. 175.RoyalDutchShell,oneofthelargest foreign investora inSouthAfrica, hOB beenthetargetofpeople's sanctions foranumberofyears(othermajortargets haveincluded theMobilOilCorporation andCitibank). Inseveral countries, trade unionsandanti-apartheid movements haveco-operated incampaigns topublicize Shell'sactivities inSouthAfricaandtoencourage individual androllective actionagainst thecompany. IntheUnitedStates, theNational LaborShellBoycott Committee organized El"Weekofactionagainst Shell"inMarch1989,tocoincide withtheanniversary ofthe1960Sharpeville massacre. InMay1989,theWorld Council ofChurches issueda40-page dossier entitled "Shellshock", calling fora totalboycott ofShellproducts. Representatives ofchurch andanti-~~~ organizations from11countries metatAmsterdam, theNetherlands, inMay1989to participate inaworkshop onwaysofstrengthening theShellBoycott Campaign. Duringthesamemonth,anti-apartheid activists fromtheUnited Kingdom andthe Netherlands attended theShellannualshareholders meetings heldinLondonand TheHagueinan(unsuccessful) attempt toforceanofficial pollonShell's continued presence inSouthAfrica. AttheHaguemeeting, theReverend BeyersNauderequested thatShellwithdraw fromSouthAfrica andnegotiate withthe relevant tradeunionsonthetermsofitswithdrawal. E.Cultural boycott 116.Thecultural boycott ugainst SouthAfricaisanintegral component ofthe concerted international actiontoisolate thewhiteminority r~gimeandtosupport thestruggle forademocratic society inSouthAfrica. Inthatregard, governmental andnon-governmental organizations andindividuals undertook important R(~tivities andinitiatives bothattheUnit~dNations andinvarious countries. Whilnanumbel"ofartists hav9declared thattheywillnotperform inSouthAfrica uslongastheapartbU~ systemisstillinplace,othershavetakenconcrete initiatives tosupport theinternational campaign. Notably, agroupofItalian Clrtist6 gaveitswor.kforinclusion inatrbvelling exhibit, which,withthe -45-support oftheItalian Government, hasbeenshowninZambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Mali,Senegal, theSovietUnion, theUnitedStates, France andItaly,inthatorder. 177.Cultural activity thatcanbedefined ascollaboration withSouthAfrica has tendedtodecrease, partlyasarRsult oCthecultural boycott. Amatterof concern continues tobetheupsurge offoreign filmsmadeinSouthAfrica. Using bothdomestic andforeign capital, movieproducers, fromtheUnitedStatesin particular, havemadeseveral ofthesefilmswhichreceive international distribution. Generous taxbenefits provided bytheregimeappeartobeoneofthe incentives totheproducers. Asnotedinthefifthandthecurrent edition ofthe Register ofEntertainers, Actors andOthers WhoHavePerformed inAQartheia South
**Analysis**
The text primarily discusses the international response to the apartheid regime in South Africa, focusing on economic and cultural boycotts, sanctions, and divestment. It highlights the efforts of various organizations, governments, and individuals to isolate the regime and support the struggle for a democratic society in South Africa.

**Category**
International trade, Culture