3 July 2018
Week 395 of AFOPA activism
Counting down to 400 weeks of Australian activism...
Approximately a month on from my last blog post and the excitement is building for our 400 week celebrations. It has been an interesting time with the boycott, divestment, sanctions (BDS) movement worldwide celebrating significant wins for our movement. Just a few of these notable steps forward:
- Early in June the Argentinian soccer team cancelled a match with Israel. As we know it was the sporting and cultural boycotts that eventually led to the end of South African apartheid so this will have had great impact in Israel.
- Our good friend, Sean Clinton, of Limerick, Ireland, is continuing to gain traction with his Israeli blood diamond campaign. More than a dozen Australian pro-Palestinian groups joined a growing list of international sponsors to endorse his call for the Kimberley Process to exclude Israel's blood diamonds.
- Our friends in the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign group recently contacted us regarding the Israeli L-E-V Dance troupe. We are pleased we could help out by sending our campaign leaflet. After reading it the Scottish Palestinian Solidarity Campaign group has decided to protest L-E-V performances and give them a welcome they won't forget.
- And, following the Palestinian call to boycott Eurovision 2019 in Israel, our friends in the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign group have launched their Eurovision 2019 campaign.
The weather here in Adelaide has been freezing cold for our protests these last five weeks but this has only slightly dented the numbers of protesters coming. Despite the smaller numbers and the winter weather keeping shoppers home, we still manage to distribute approximately 400 BDS information leaflets each week.
It has been exciting to note that we have attracted some new people to the group who have brought their energy and unique talents to our education campaign. AFOPA welcomes new members who have a passion for the Palestinian cause and a desire to enlighten our fellow citizens about the truth of the situation in Palestine. Please contact our secretary for more information.
Margaret Cassar, 3 July 2018
