SPEAKERS AND INITIAL CONFERENCE AGENDA
Building Solidarity, Combating Occupation and Apartheid
National Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions conference
Melbourne, 29 - 31 October 2010
- activism in support of Palestine -
Endorsed by the Palestinian BDS National Committee
Our confirmed speakers so far include:
Rafeef is a Palestinian activist, unionist and spoken word artist. She is a member of the steering committee of the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) Rafeef is also a founding member of the Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid (CAIA) promoting the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestement and Sanctions (BDS) campaign in Canada and an organizer of the international Israeli Apartheid Week. Rafeef is a member of the Canadian Union of Public Employees and was a member of the CUPE’s international solidarity committee for 3 years
Samah Sabawi
Samah is an Australian-Palestinian writer and social justice activist. She is co-author of Journey to Peace in Palestine and a former executive director of the National Council on Canada Arab Relations.
Ofer Neiman
Ofer Neiman is a co-editor of the Occupation Magazine, and one of the activists in the Israeli support group for the BDS campaign, “BOYCOTT! Supporting the Palestinian BDS call from within”. He works as an editor and a translator. He believes that Israeli peace and anti-occupation groups will not be able to change reality from within, without support from the outside.
Alex Whisson
Alex is a long time Palestine solidarity activist. He is the former convenor of Friends of Palestine in Western Australia and is currently the Public Advocate for Australians for Palestine in Melbourne
Yousef Alreemawi
Yousef is a Palestinian academic and advocate for Palestinian and refugee rights. Yousef also presents Palestine Remembered, Australia’s only English language program on Palestine, on Radio 3CR. He is also the founder of ASPIRE – the Australian Society for Palestinian Iraqi Refugees Emergency – an humanitarian project which seeks to resettle in Australia, Palestinian-Iraqi refugees living in refugee camps on the Iraq/Syrian border.
Kim Sattler
Kim is a long-time unionist, who was active in the South African anti-apartheid campaign. Kim is currently the Secretary of Unions ACT in Canberra. Kim has recently returned from Palestine, where she participated in the Union Aid Abroad APHEDA Middle East Study Tour 2010
Ginny Adams
Ginny is an organiser with the Health and Community Sector Union. Ginny has been active in the Palestinian and refugee rights campaigns for more than 10 years. She recently returned from Palestine, where she participated in the Union Aid Abroad APHEDA Middle East Study Tour 2010
Ken Davis
Ken is a long-time unionist and social justice campaigner. He is a member of the Coalition for Justice and Peace in Palestine in Sydney.
Conference Registration: All weekend $30/22 (incl: Conference launch meeting) Daily $15/$10 Conference Launch meeting $5
Conference registration: email ausbds@gmail.com
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FRIDAY – 29th October |
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TIME |
PUBLIC MEETING - LAUNCH |
SPEAKERS |
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7pm – |
International Boycott campaign and the struggle for a Free Palestine |
Kim Sattler (Secretary, Unions ACT) Rafeef Ziadah (Palestinian BNC) Yousef Al Reemawi (Palestinian academic) |
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SATURDAY – 30th October |
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TIME |
SESSION |
SPEAKERS |
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9am |
Welcome/Opening |
Conference Organising Committee |
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9.15am – 10.30am |
Taking it to the streets: a short history of civil disobedience movements for boycott, divestment sanctions |
Alex Whisson – Australians for Palestine Julia Terreu - Action for Palestine |
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10.30-11am |
Break |
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11am – 12.30pm |
Struggle and Solidarity: Lessons from Palestine Solidarity work internationally |
Samah Sabawi – Palestinian writer/former Executive Director of National Council on Canada Arab Relations Rafeef Ziadah - Palestinian BNC |
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12.30pm-1.15pm |
Lunch |
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1.15pm – 2.15pm |
National Targets Proposals |
Conference organising committee |
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2.15pm – 3.45pm |
Discussion of proposed National Targets |
Break into sectoral groups – Unions Campus/Faith based/ Community/Culture |
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3.45pm – 4.15pm |
Break |
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4.15pm – 5.30pm |
Education Workshops
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Workshops to be confirmed |
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6.30pm - midnight |
CONCERT FOR PALESTINE AND DINNER Featuring: Fear of a Brown Planet, The Brothahood, The Conch, Phil Monsour Band and Rafeef Ziadah $25/$20 |
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SUNDAY 31st OCTOBER |
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TIME |
SESSION |
SPEAKERS |
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9.30pm – 10.45am |
Apartheid: South Africa, Israel and international law. |
Ken Davis - Coalition for Justice and Peace in Palestine Ginny Adams – union organiser |
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10.45am- 11.15am |
Break |
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11.15am-12.15pm |
Discussion of proposed National Targets |
Continued solidarity sector discussion from the day before |
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12.15pm 1pm |
lunch |
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1pm – 2.15pm |
Hasbara busting: Countering Israel’s propaganda war and attempts to delegitimise BDS. |
Samah Sawbawi - Palestinian writer/former Executive Director of National Council on Canada Arab Relations Kim Bullimore – International Women’s Peace Service-Palestine |
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2.15 –2.45 pm |
Break |
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2.45 pm – 4.30pm |
Decision on National BDS target |
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4.30pm – 5pm |
Closing of conference |
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