Location
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.
The 2010 BDS Conference is a huge undertaking, but if as many individuals and organizations as possible can all make a donation, we are confident that we can reach our goal of approximately $30,000. We need your help to make this exciting conference happen!
Goals of the conference
The following are the main objectives of the 2010 BDS Conference:
1. To bring together individuals and organizations from all sectors within Québec and Canadian civil society in support of the Palestinian call for BDS, in order to expand this campaign in Québec and Canada;
2. To consolidate and carry forward the BDS work already underway in the trade union, academic, cultural, and consumer sectors, particularly in Québec;
3. To facilitate communication between different campaigns and organizations in Québec and Canada, in order to coordinate on existing and future BDS campaigns and actions;
4. To raise public awareness and engage in popular education about the BDS campaign, its history, goals, and strategy.
We look forward to your attendance, support for this historic conference, which we are confident will be an important step in the path to a free Palestine!
In solidarity,
The BDS 2010 Conference Organizing Committee
The BDS 2010 Conference Organizing Committee is made up of members of College and University Workers United (CUWU), the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), La Coalition pour la justice en Palestine (UQAM), Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights (SPHR), Tadamon! and member organisations of the Coalition for Justice and Peace in Palestine.
You may also contact us at info@bdsquebec.org This e-mail address is being protected from spambots.
