ei: Third Annual Palestine Solidarity Conference, Ohio, Nov 7-9

November 7-9
Ohio State University @ The Ohio Union

The Palestine Solidarity Movement is a coalition of student and community based activist organizations that work to promote justice, human rights, liberation and self-determination for the Palestinian people. Among other things, participants of the conference will gather to network, educate and strategize ways in which to build support for an already existing divestment campaign, designed to put an end to the Israeli occupation and stop military and financial aid to Israel in all its forms. In addition to featuring a series of educational workshops, activist training sessions, panel discussions, and speakers throughout the weekend, community members are encouraged help celebrate the will and spirit of resistance characteristic of the Palestinian people by experiencing the music, poetry and art that will be featured during the social and cultural events on Friday and Saturday evening. Learn more and register on line now! http://www.palestineconference.com

Note: *Snacks for Iftar will be available for those fasting during this holy month of Ramadan and facilities for prayer throughout the weekend have been arranged.*

Friday, November 7th
2:00: Registration Begins
5:00-6:00: Opening Ceremony and rally in Solidarity with Indigenous People
6:00-7:00: Memorial for Edward Said
7:00- 7:15: Welcome from OSU's Committee for Justice in Palestine
* Yucel Demirer, Eyad Khalaf, Barry Liandrios
7:15-8:30: "Towards a Global Intifada"
Building Palestinian Solidarity with Other Liberation Struggles
* John Ross, Ashanti Alston, Vernon Bellecourt, Rania Masri, Rafeef Zaidah)

8:30-11:00: Cultural and Social Event

*Art gallery exhibition featuring pieces from the League of Palestinian Artists in Ramallah. (100% of the funds from the sales of those pieces will go directly back to Ramallah) * Scheduled Arabic poetry readings by Serin Atiani, Hassan Alsherifi and others.
* Open mic for contributing poetry

Saturday, November 8th
9:00-12:15: General Body Meeting *Report-backs and Assessment (5-minute reports from all organizations present and facilitated discussion about the state of the movement.)

Action Workshops:
I. 1:15-3:00 - Building the Caterpillar Campaign: Developing a National Structure
II. 3:15-5:00 - National Day of Action
III. 5:15-7:00 - Building a Campaign Around Palestinian Child Prisoners

Skill Share/Discussion:
I. 1:15-3:00
1. Conceptualizing Your Divestment Campaign
2. Mainstreaming the Divestment Campaign
3. Palestine Solidarity in the Anti-war/ anti-occupation (in Iraq) Movement
4. Deconstructing Zionist Responses on Your Campus
5. Jewish support to the Palestinian Struggle: A Strategy Session

II. 3:15-5:00
1. Divestment Research
2. Organizing for Divestment on a Small Campus
3. The Right of Self-Determination
4. Hosting and Organizing Educational Events that Empower for Action
5. Divestment within the University--Methods and Tactics

III. 5:15-7:00
1. Linking to the Environmental Movement
2. Community Divestment - City Councils, Unions, Churches
3. Effectively Using your Campus Newspaper
4. Facing Repression on campus

Education:
I. 1:15-2:00 - Media Strategies and Public Relations: Getting Your Message Out
II. 2:15-3:00 - Report back from Palestine
III. 3:15-4:00 - A Workshop on Racism Within the Movement
IV. 4:15-5:00 - Divestment at Wayne State University and University of Mass
V. 5:15-6:00 - Creative Action
VI. 6:15-7:00 - Public Speaking

8:00 Cultural Event
* Featuring traditional Palestinian dance and music with a oud performance by Eyad Khalaf, debkeh performance by OSU debkeh group, followed by music and open dance.

Sunday, November 9th
9:00-3:00 Organizing Session
Palestine Film Festival
I. 9:00 am -2:00 pm - Film Screening
II. 2:00-3:00 pm - Organizing a Palestine Film Festival Workshop

Panels/Presentations:
I. 9:00-10:50 - Women in the Palestine Solidarity Movement
Rafeef Zaidah, Rania Masri, Odile Hugonot Haber

II. 11:00-12:30 - Africans Against Zionism
Bob Brown, Macheo Shabaka

II. 12:30-1:30 Lunch Break

III. 1:30-3:15 Internationals in Palestine
Adam Shapiro

3:30-6:00: Closing Session
6:00-7:00: Rally

Learn more and register on line now! http://www.palestineconference.com