On October 22 to 24, 2010, a historic conference will take place in Montreal which aims to consolidate and move forward the movement for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) against Israeli apartheid.
In 2005, over 170 Palestinian civil society organizations, from trade unions to women”s groups to refugee organizations, issued a call to international civil society to engage in a comprehensive BDS campaign against apartheid Israel until Israel complies with international law and respects Palestinian human rights. This call for BDS explicitly takes its inspiration from the global boycott movement which helped to end apartheid in South Africa in the 1990s.
Several Palestine solidarity organizations in Montreal have formed a committee to organize a conference intended to carry forward the momentum for BDS, which is growing daily around the world. This conference is being organized in collaboration with the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions National Committee (BNC) in Palestine (www.bdsmovement.net).
We are currently finalizing the plans for the conference. At this time, we are approaching individuals as well as organizations and businesses to ask for their endorsement of the 2010 BDS Conference. We are also requesting donations, which are essential to making this grassroots conference a success.
=>We need your financial support!
Our estimated budget for this historic conference is approximately $30,000This is the amount required to host a conference of this scope. Confirmed International guests already include Omar Barghouti of the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) and the BDS National Committee (BNC), from Palestine, and the Confederation of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), from Johannesburg, South Africa.
We are still confirming the participation of other international BDS activists, including a member of the Irish Confederation of Trade Unions,a professor and feminist activist from Birzeit University in Palestine,Detroit hip hop artist and BDS activist Invincible, and BDS activists from France and Norway.
:::: TO ENDORSE/DONATE ::::
Please contact info@bdsquebec.org to add your organization”s name to the list of endorsers.
If you would like to receive more information on the conference as the schedule, speakers and other details are confirmed, request to have your address added to the conference info email list.
To make a donation to the conference organizing fund, cheques may be mad eout to “Congrí¨s BDS 2010″ and mailed to:
BDS Conference 2010
4755 van Horne, suite 110
Montréal, Québec
H3W 1H8
Donations may also be made online by clicking the “Donate” link on our website: www.bdsquebec.org.
=>GET INVOLVED!
If you”d like to get involved in organizing the conference, please email info[at]bdsquebec.org to find out about our next meeting.Stay in touch
Facebook:// http://www.facebook.com/pages/BDS-Quebec/144184752270253
Twitter:// http://twitter.com/bdsquebec
Web:// http://www.bdsquebec.org
In solidarity,The BDS 2010 Conference Organizing Committee
Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW)/Syndicat des travailleurs ettravailleuses des Postes (STTP)
Coalition pour la Justice en Palestine – Université du Québec í Montréal(CJP-UQí€M)
Coalition pour la Justice et la Paix en Palestine/Coalition for Justiceand Peace in Palestine (CJPP)
College and University Workers United (CUWU)
Palestinian and Jewish Unity/Palestiniens et Juifs Unis (PAJU)
Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights (SPHR)
Tadamon! Montreal
Conference Endorsers/Groupes qui appuient la conférence
Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions National Committee (BNC) (Palestine)
Al Hidaya Association
Boycott Israeli Apartheid Campaign (Vancouver)
Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid (Toronto)
CODEPINK for Peace (USA)
Conseil central du Montreal metropolitain – Confédération des Syndicats
Nationaux (CCMM-CSN)
Faculty for Palestine (Toronto)
Fredericton Palestine Solidarity
Gauche socialiste
Holy Land Action and Awareness Task Group of Toronto Southwest Presbyteryof the United Church of Canada
Independent Jewish Voices/Voix Indépendantes Juives – Canada
Labour for Palestine (Toronto)
Palestine House (Toronto)
Students Against Israeli Apartheid (Carleton University)
Students Against Israeli Apartheid (Toronto)
Quebec Public Interest Research Group – McGill University (QPIRG McGill)
Quebec Public Interest Research Group – Concordia University (QPIRGConcordia)
Q-Team
US Palestinian Community Network
WESPAC Foundation (Westchester County, NY)
