Dear Friends,
In less than three weeks Israeli Apartheid Week (5-11 March) will officially kick-off in South Africa. Here is a quick update...
Israeli Apartheid Week (IAW) is an annual international series of events (including rallies, lectures, film screenings etc.) held in cities and campuses across the globe. IAW seeks to raise awareness about Israel's apartheid policies towards Palestinians and to mobilize support for the growing Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel.
THE DVD DISC IS ON ITS WAY
The Tri-Continental Film Festival (www.tcff.org.za), IAW South Africa Team and BDS South Africa have secured permission to premiere the film, Roadmap to Apartheid (www.roadmaptoapartheid.org). The movie will be screened at several South African universities, schools and community centers as an official 2012 Israeli Apartheid Week event. 'Roadmap to Apartheid' is a full-feature film that explores the comparison between former South Africa and current Israel.
'Roadmap to Apartheid' involves some interesting people: Ana Nougeira (a South African woman) and Eron Davison (born in Israel but now living in USA) are the directors, and Alice Walker (the acclaimed author of, "The Color Purple") is the narrator. The movie also features never seen before interviews with people such as the legendary sports boycott organizer, Dennis Brutus and the former SA Council of Churches General Secretary, Eddie Makue. Archbishop Desmond Tutu has seen the film, and commented: "Roadmap To Apartheid is very powerful and compelling, and the visuals of house demolitions [by Israel] are appalling."
If you would liked to screen this movie (for and as part of IAW), please be in touch with us at iawsouthafrica@apartheidweek.org. Full schedule and screening details will be available at www.apartheidweek.org and www.bdssouthafrica.com
SPEAKERS INVITED FOR IAW EVENTS IN SOUTH AFRICA
Several people have been invited to participate in rallies, protests, lectures, seminars and other speaking events as part of IAW. Some of the invited speakers are: South African Minister of Education, Dr Blade Nzimande; General Secretary of COSATU, Zwelinzima Vavi; Rivonia trialist, Denis Goldberg; Robben Island prisoner, Ahmed Kathrada; ANC NEC member, Dr Pallo Jordan; South African struggle stalwart, Ronnie Kasrils; and public intellectual, Professor Steven Friedman.
SA STUDENT LEADER OFF TO EUROPE FOR IAW
HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED DURING IAW
IAW offers ordinary people around the world an opportunity to partake in something truly global. If you would like to get involved and organize your own IAW event or action let us know so that we can share with you the IAW Basis of Unity and organizing principles. Here are some ways that you can actively get involved:
1. Organize a film screening
Consider hosting the film, 'Roadmap to Apartheid', for your organization, community, school etc. For more info you can contact us at iawsouthafrica@apartheidweek.org
2. Arrange a lecture, workshop, rally or protest
There are many competent speakers and senior comrades that we can suggest for you to host. Be in touch with us (iawsouthafrica@apartheidweek.org) and we can put you in contact with them. IAW South Africa Team members can also make themselves available.
3. Join the graffiti initiative, "Paint for Palestine"
The Durban based, GangsOfGraffiti, have called on fellow street-artists and graffiti-writers to participate in IAW by creating works with "FREE PALESTINE" as the theme. You too, with friends, comrades and activists can create your own painting/mural/graffiti. Remember to send us footage. Find more info here:
4. Assist with posters and flyers
5. Join us online
6. Be creative
7. Want to assist us financially or donate?
IAW organizing and events rely solely on community contributions. If you would like to donate to this initiative, please contact us at iawsouthafrica@apartheidweek.org
IAW SOUTH AFRICA TEAM and BDS SOUTH AFIRCA
BOYCOTT, DIVESTMENT AND SANCTIONS in SOUTH AFRICA (BDS SOUTH AFRICA)
Office 915 | 9th Floor | Khotso House | 62 Marshall Street | Johannesburg
PO Box 2318 | Houghton | 2041 | Johannesburg
T: +27 (0) 11 241 7813 | F: +27 (0) 86 650 4836
BDS South Africa is a registered Non-Profit Organization. NPO NUMBER: 084 306 NPO
BDS South Africa is a registered Public Benefit Organisation with Section 18A status. PBO NUMBER: 930 037 446
THE IAW SOUTH AFRICA TEAM IS MADE UP OF 25 MEMBERS STRETCHED ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
PARTNERS AND PARTICIPATING GROUPS INCLUDE:
Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), South African Students Congress (SASCO), Young Communist League of South Africa, South African Council of Churches EAPPI program, Kairos Southern Africa, Kaliedoscope Youth Network, SA Artists Against Apartheid, GangsofGraffiti, Palestine Solidarity Alliance (Gauteng), Palestine Solidarity Alliance (Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University), Palestine Solidarity Campaign (South Africa), UKZN Action Group on Palestine (University of KwaZulu-Natal), UJ Palestine Solidarity Forum (University of Johannesburg), Wits University Palestine Solidarity Committee (Wits University)
If your organization would like to participate or endorse Israeli Apartheid Week send us an email at: iawsouthafrica@apartheidweek.org
