Johannesburg Israeli Apartheid Week

Welcome to Johannesburg Israeli Apartheid Week

March 5 to March 11 2012

The University of the Witwatersrand

• Art Installation

Hanging Israel's Dirty Laundry Out To Dry

Hosted by: Kaleidoscope Youth Network, Wits World Active Student Orgainisation, Wits Palestine Solidarity Committee

Date: 5 - 9 March 2012

Venue: Library Lawns

Pinkwashing and Greenwashing - Organised by activists from LGBTIA, environmental, and Palestine solidarity groups, this event brings students engaged in different social justice issues together to expose the atrocoties of  the Israeli regime: revealing how this state tries to cover up and detract from apartheid - it's own 'dirty laundry' - through the promotion of so-called progressive 'green technology' and 'gay -friendly' politics.

• South African Artists Against Apartheid - Cultural Boycott

Be Moved - Don't Entertain Apartheid

Date: Tuesday 6th March 2012

Venue: Library Lawns

Time: 13h15

Move, spray, engage...everyone get up and get busy!

As artists of conscience we say no to apartheid - anywhere. We respond to the call for international solidarity and undertake not to avail any invitation to perform or exhibit in Israel. Nor will we accept funding from institutions linked to the government of Israel. This is our position until such time as Israel, in the least, complies with international law and universal principles of human rights. Until then, we too unite with international colleagues under the banner of "Artists Against Apartheid."

• Documentary Film Screening (World Premiere)

Roadmap to Apartheid

Date: Wednesday 7 March 2012

Venue: Umthombo Building (U2)

Time: 13h00

Directed by Ana Nogueira (South Africa) and Eron Davidson (Israel)

Narrated by acclaimed author Alice Walker

"Roadmap to Apartheid explores in detail the apartheid comparison as it is used in the enduring Israel-Palestine conflict. As much an historical document of the rise and fall of apartheid, the film shows us why many Palestinians feel they are living in an apartheid system today, and why an increasing number of people around the world agree with them."

• Group Dialogue

Opposing Apartheid Together:
"No to Discrimination/ Separation/ Segregation at our University "

Date: Thursday 8 March 2012

Venue: Library Lawns

Time: 13h15

Those taking part in the conversation will include Zanele Matebula, COSATU Deputy International Relations Secretary,  Mbuyseni Ndlozi, International IAW Speaker and chairperson of Wits PG Association, as well as representatives from South African Students Congress, Young Communists League, Kaleidoscope Youth Network, Wits World Active Student Organization, Wits Workers Solidarity Committee, and Wits Palestine Solidarity Committee. 

• University of Johannesburg (UJ)

1. Screening of “Roadmap to Apartheid”

Date: Tuesday 6th of March

Time: 12:30

Venue: C-Ring 315

2.  100 Years of Struggle - Lessons for South Africans in solidarity with Palestinians resisting Israeli Apartheid

Denis Goldberg (Rivonia Trailist and ANC MK Member) and Steven Friedman (UJ academic and public intellectual)With a message from: Ahmed Kathrada (former Robben Island political prisoner)

Hosts: South African Students Congress (SASCO), UJ Palestine Solidarity Forum (UJ PSF) and BDS in South Africa (BDS South Africa)

Date: Thursday 8th March
Time: 18h30
Venue: Council Chambers, Madibeng Building, Auckland Park Campus, University of Johannesburg

Contact: info@ujpsf.org 
   

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2011 Events

WEDNESDAY 9th March:  HAVE YOU HEARD FROM JOHANNESBURG SCREENING 

University of the Witwatersrand

Senate House Basement 2                 

13h15

THURSDAY 10th March:  HAVE YOU HEARD FROM JOHANNESBURG SCREENING 

University of Johannesburg

UJ Humanities Common Room (C-Ring 319)                

13h00

NATIONAL FILM TOUR

Have you Heard From Johannesburg:From Selma to Soweto      

The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Working Group (BDS Working Group), a part of the academic boycott campaign currently underway at the University of Johannesburg (www.ujpetition.com) will be coordinating a national film tour in conjunction with the Tri-continental Film Festival and campuses around the country.

From Selma to Soweto, is part five of the seven part series: Have you Heard From Johannesburg. This is an excellent movie about boycotts against apartheid South Africa that resonate very clearly with the growing boycott of Israel. The film deals with the boycotts that took places at campuses during the struggle to end South African apartheid. There will be a pamphlet with some FAQs that have come up regarding the boycott of Israel (it's not feasible, you end up hurting the oppressed, we should be involved in constructive engagement etc.). The movie, by using the South African struggle as a case example, answers many of these questions. 

THURSDAY 10th March: STOP SHOP

Assemble @  Wits Great Hall steps

16h30

Transport provided

A stop shop involves going into a shop that is known to sell Israeli goods, putting one or two in your trolley together with other items and then refusing to pay for all the products at the till, because trading in Israeli/settlement goods means the shop is profiting from and supporting the Israeli occupation and this is politically offensive. Through blocking as many tills as possible, generating negative media exposure and generally disrupting the day to day running of the shop, this form of action aims to send the message that selling Israeli goods will not be accepted as 'business as usual'. This form of action serves as a great awareness-raising platform, catching the attention of other shoppers,  the press  and serves as a way to demand that these supermarkets essentially stop selling Israeli products altogether.

To get some hands on experience, become a YouTube star, and for a better idea of what this action might look like, come along and join in!

email: witspsc@gmail.com