[van-announce] Begin 2012 by Supporting Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions: Appeal from BIAC

[Charlotte Kates]

To friends and supporters of the Vancouver Boycott Israel Apartheid
Campaign (BIAC)

BIAC was formed in 2007 in response to a call from 170 Palestinian civil
society organizations to “international civil society organizations and
people of conscience all over the world to impose broad boycotts and
implement divestment initiatives against Israel”. Our goal is Israel's
compliance with international law and its recognition and implementation of
Palestinian rights. More details can be found on our web page at *
http://www.boycottisraeliapartheid.org*.
* *

*The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign is a non-violent way
to oppose occupation and oppression, refusing to be complicit in the
ongoing suppression of Palestinians. *

For the last several years, BIAC has instigated actions and programs to
support BDS. BIAC has organized two educational pickets against
Israeli-based Zim shipping at Deltaport and conducted information pickets
at Mountain Equipment Coop (MEC), Lavan and the Jersuleum Spring Quartet.
It has organized a BDS resolution for the MEC AGM, held a program on
Palestinian Statehood,, co-sponsored speakers such as Jon Elmer at UBC,
Jenny Peto at SFU, Michael Riordon at SFU and the labour tour of Amjad
Barham, President, Palestinian Federation of Unions of University
Professionals and Employees. Along with other groups BIAC worked to defend
our right to hold a public meeting at Vancouver Public Library. We are now
working with many groups to bring “A Child's View from Gaza” art exhibit to
Vancouver.

BIAC has worked with many organizations to accomplish this work including
Independent Jewish Voices, Seriously Free Speech Committee, Canada
Palestine Association, CanPalNet, Jews for Just Peace and UBC Solidarity
for Palestinian Human Rights. We have also participated in actions
initiated by these and other organizations including picket lines that
greeted hard line Zionists such as Alan Dershowitz and Avigdor Lieberman
when they came to speak in Vancouver.

Our work, along with that of other Palestinian solidarity organizations,
and most importantly the courage and resilience of the Palestinian people
confronting over 40 years of illegal and barbarous occupation have resulted
in a massive change of public attitude towards the Palestinian cause. Along
with this change in public attitude come greater opportunities to support
the Palestinians and greater push back from supporters of illegal
occupation.

*Throughout this work, BIAC has not asked its supporters for financial
support. We are now facing a situation where greater demands have resulted
in a small debt plus possible restrictions on our future work. We are
asking our supporters to make a financial contribution to paying off our
debt and sustaining our work. We are an advocacy group and do not have a
charitable tax number. Important political work to achieve a just solution
for Palestinians is not subsidized by the government. Only the work of the
oppressors of Palestinians is subsidized.*

*Please give generously.*

To donate, please send a cheque to BIAC at 2762 Trinity St., Vancouver, BC.
V5K 1E7. If you would prefer to donate online, please click
here<https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=23R47SMWDVF64>,
or use the "Donate" button on the BIAC site<http://boycottisraeliapartheid.org>
.

Thank you for your support and solidarity.
-- 
Charlotte L. Kates     charlotte.kates at gmail.com