In commemoration of 62 years of Nakba
Simultaneous translation will be provided
The BDS National Committee (BNC) cordially invites you to the Second National Conference on BDS: a strategy for civil resistance. The conference aims to raise awareness about BDS as an effective and critical civil resistance strategy, expand the adoption by Palestinian civil society of boycott as a principle tool of resistance, and encourage civil society worldwide to join the global BDS movement, whose anchor and reference is the BNC.
Time: Monday, 31st May 2010, 10:00 am until 4:00 pm
Place: Hayyat Conference Hall in Nablus – Tunis Street
Inspired by the South African struggle against apartheid and in the spirit of the international solidarity, moral consistency and resistance of injustice and oppression, Palestinian civil society represented by its three integral parts (Palestinians in the occupied territory, Palestinian citizens of Israel, and Palestinians in the Diaspora) issued a historical call in July 9, 2005 for boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) against Israel until it fully complies with international law and precepts of human rights through ending its three tiered oppression of the Palestinian people. Five years after the boycott call, the BDS campaign has proven its effectiveness in challenging Israelâs impunity, promoting its accountability to international law, and asserting the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people.
** Please RSVP by contacting Hind Awwad, BNC coordinator in Palestine on 297 5320/1 or 0599 837 796 or email: info@bdsmovement.net
The BNC is a broad coalition of the largest Palestinian associations, trade unions, networks and organizations.
BNC members: Council of National and Islamic Forces in Palestine, General Union of Palestinian Workers, Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU), Palestinian NGO Network (PNGO), Palestinian National Institute for NGOs, Federation of Independent Trade Unions, Consortium of Professional Associations, Global Palestine Right of Return Coalition, Occupied Palestine and Syrian Golan Heights Initiative (OPGAI), General Union of Palestinian Women, Union of Palestinian Farmers, Grassroots Palestinian Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign (STW), National Committee for Popular Resistance, Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI), National Committee to Commemorate the Nakba, Civic Coalition for the Defense of Palestinian Rights in Jerusalem (CCDPRJ), Coalition for Jerusalem, Union of Palestinian Charitable Organizations, Palestinian Economic Monitor, Union of Youth Activity Centers-Palestine Refugee Camps.
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CONFERENCE PROGRAM
Second National BDS conference
Venue: Hayyat Conference Hall in Nablus
Date: Mondy, 31 May 2010
9:00- 10:00 – Registration
10:00 â 10:20 – Welcoming Note
Introducing the BNC and the conference objectives
Nasfat Khufash (On behalf of the BNC)
10:20 â 10:35 – Opening Address
BDS today: An effective and necessary form of resistance
Dr. Gabi Baramki ( On Behalf of the Palestinian Campaign for the
Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel – PACBI).
10:40 â 12:10 – First Panel
(including time for discussion)
Boycotting Israel internationally: successes, challenges and prospects for the future
Moderator: Mohanad Berekdar
Speakers:
Hugh Lanning (British Trade Unions supporting BDS)
Mahmoud Aloul (Council of National and Islamic Forces
(Jonathan Cook) (British Journalist and expert on Israeli apartheid)
(each speaker will be allocated 15 min, Q&A period will follow)
12:10 – 12:20 – Break (10 minutes)
12:20 – 1:55 – Second Panel
(including time for discussion)
Boycotting Israel Nationally: Nurturing the culture of Civil Resistance
Moderator: Iman Hammouri
Speakers:
Dr. Mustafa Barghouti, civil resistance and boycotts
Abed Anabtawi (Higher follow up committee), the boycott challenge in 1948 areas
Rifat Kassis, Kairos Palestine and prospects of BDS in world churches
Shaher Saâad (Secretary General of PGFTU) Activating BDS amongst trade unions
(each speaker will be allocated 15 min, Q&A period will follow)
1:55 – 2:30 – Lunch (including a video screening of BDS action clips in visual media)
2:30 – 3:45 – Parallel workshops
Applying and Expanding BDS on the level of seven mentioned categories.
1. Grassroots work (women, unions, youth) – Facilitators: Mohammad Elyas, Jamal Jumaâa
2. Civil society organizations – Facilitators: Issam Arouri, (Sahar Francis)
3. Public sector (municipalities, ministries, etc)- Facilitators: Tayseer Nasrallah, Waleed Assaf
4. Private sector – Facilitators: Salah Hanieh, Rania Elias
5. Palestinians in the Diaspora – Facilitators: Raneen Jeries, Husam Khader
6. Students – Facilitators: Hind Awwad, Fajr Harb
7. International BDS (in English) – Facilitators: Badil rep., Omar Barghouti
3:45 – 4:00 – Recommendations