BDS action in Melbourne, Austrailia
In October 2010, Australian Palestine solidarity activists and supporters of human rights held their first national Boycott, Sanctions and Divestment (BDS) conference in support of Palestine. The Building Solidarity: Combating Occupation and Apartheid – activism in support of Palestine conference in Melbourne brought together more than 150 Palestine solidarity activists and supporters of human rights and represented a watershed moment in the Palestinian solidarity movement in Australia
At the conclusion of the conference, participants unanimously adopted a calendar of BDS activity and actions to be carried out over the next 12 months. In the month since the conclusion of the conference, Palestine solidarity groups around the country have begun to launch “Don’t Buy Israeli Apartheid for Christmas” actions in the lead up to Christmas as the first stage of the national campaign. So far a range of BDS actions have been held in most Australian capital cities, including Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.
BDS action in Perth
BDS action in Brisbane
Kim Bullimore is one of the organisers of the national Australian BDS conference held in October 2010. She is a volunteer with the International Women’s Peace Service in Palestine and writes regularly on the Palestine-Israeli conflict for the Australian newspaper, Direct Action. She has a blog at: www.livefromoccupiedpalestine.blogspot.com. For more information on the Australian BDS campaign visit: http://australianbdscampaign.wordpress.com/.
