Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2004 08:30:12 -0800 From: Steven Feuerstein <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: You are invited to Break Through 2004, an RSN conference List-Subscribe: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Update and request for action from the Refuser Solidarity Network Dear friend of the Refuser Movement:
Below you will find an announcement of an upcoming conference organized by the Refuser Solidarity Network. It is going to be an exciting and important weekend and I hope you will be able to attend. Please pass on this invitation to anyone and everyone you know who is engaged in organizing to end the Occupation. We believe that the Refusers offer one of the most powerful and persuasive voices on this issue; this conference will help you take advantage of the Refusers to strengthen your own efforts!
Warm regards, Steven Feuerstein President, Board of Directors Refuser Solidarity Network www.refusersolidarity.net
BREAK THROUGH 2004: Carrying the Refuser Message into the Mainstream A conference for anti-Occupation organizers sponsored by the Refuser Solidarity Network March 13-14, 2004 at DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois
Break Through 2004 will gather together official representatives of all the Refuser groups, other refusers living in the United States, leaders and volunteers of the Refuser Solidarity Network, and anti-Occupation activists from around the country. Through discussions, workshops and sharing of ideas, we will develop concrete plans for using the courageous stand and sacrifices of the Refusers to increase the effectiveness of our own anti-Occupation organizing. The information below will give you a solid overview of Break Through 2004. For much more detailed information and to register, please visit www.refusersolidarity.net
Who should attend Break Through 2004?
You should make it a priority to attend Break Through 2004 if you....
** Plan to bring a Refuser to your community for speaking events or would like to organize support activities for Refusers. Not only with you learn about the Refuser Movement at BT2004, but you will meet with and establish personal relationships with key Refuser leaders. You will also learn concrete skills and take back materials to help make your events extremely successful.
** Are actively organizing to end the Occupation now and want to figure out how to increase the effectiveness and impact of your work. The Refuser message should be a key part of everything you do; the story of an Israeli soldier or conscript rejecting Occupation open doors and minds in a way that few other voices from the region can.
** Would like to help the Refuser Solidarity Network get bigger and stronger in 2004 and beyond. We are growing quickly and expanding our capacity, but we still need many volunteers to help increase our effectiveness.
For more information: www.refusersolidarity.net
Representatives of all the Refusers groups (Ram Rahat-Goodman of Yesh Gvul; Ruth Hiller of New Profile; Asaf Shtul-Trauring of the Shministim; Chen Alon of Courage to Refuse; Noam Kaminer of the Parents Forum), Refusers living in the United States, leadership of the Refuser Solidarity Network and activists from around the country will be in attendance. For more details on our speakers and attendees: www.refusersolidarity.net
Why focus on the Refuser Movement?
The Occupation is possible only through the presence, threat and actions of the Israel Defense Forces. In the territories, the IDF cannot enforce the Occupation without soldiers. When enough courageous Israelis refuse to serve the Occupation (either by direct public refusal or through more private means), a new direction in Israel must and will take hold. A growing Israeli Refuser Movement directly threatens Sharon and the continuation of the policies of his government. For more information: www.refusersolidarity.net
More information about the conference agenda
The agenda will provide you with an opportunity to hear from all the Refuser groups, attend workshops that offer concrete skills and time for sharing of ideas, develop exciting new program ideas, and help RSN develop its program for the coming year. With all of that, however, we are still leaving lots of time free for you to network, get to know on a personal basis the Refusers, find out who else around the country is doing similar work and can work with you, and share meals. Here is the outline of the agenda:
Saturday morning: registration, welcome, keynotes from Refusers, discussions with them
Saturday afternoon: two sets of workshops, separated by an hour break; plus the Imagine Ten Million program (see below and on website for more details).
Saturday evening: Celebration dinner
Sunday morning: two sets of workshops; RSN program planning; Closing comments
Sunday lunch: post-conference opportunity to network and plan future activities with attendees and Refusers.
Sunday afternoon: RSN Board of Directors meeting (open to conference attendees)
For more info: www.refusersolidarity.net
Exciting and practical conference workshops
Here is a partial listing of the Break Through 2004 workshops...
After the Refuser leaves: how to organize ongoing Refuser activity in your community This workshop will explore ideas and program for sustaining the momentum after the Refuser leaves, including adoption groups and regional networks. We will discuss ways to involve people in our communities in ongoing work to support the Refusers -- and use their message to strengthen local anti-Occupation organizing.
Women and Refusal: Feminist Perspectives on Ending the Occupation This workshop will focus on feminist perspectives on ending the Occupation and in particular on the voices of women refusers. Although largely ignored in Israeli society, as well by many of their male comrades, these refusers' feminist perspectives are critical to the movement. In this workshop we will also explore development of a plan for publicizing the voices of the women refusers and promoting their work.
Bringing the Refuser message into the Jewish community: A strong movement in the United States to end the Occupation requires a strong presence within the Jewish community that is ready to publicly criticize Israel's policies. Refusers can speak to and within this community in a way that few other voices of peace, even Israelis, can. This workshop will explore messages, activities and paths we can follow to greatly increase the visibility and impact of Refusers in Jewish communities across and beyond the United States.
Bringing the Refuser message into the peace and justice movement: The growing and increasingly vocal Refuser Movement is developing momentum and support all over the world as it uses Refusal as a powerful tool in its anti-occupation work. This workshop will discuss ways in which Refusers can be more effectively utilized to strengthen the anti-occupation work of community based peace and justice organizations in the United States and also build increased awareness of and support for the Israeli refuser movement as well. We will develop specific strategies for bringing this work to the peace and justice forces in the communities in which we live.
We will also hold workshops on media and fundraising. Visit our website, www.refusersolidarity.net, for the latest details.
Imagine Ten Million
"Imagine Ten Million" is a special, extended workshop that will bring together a small group of conference attendees, including Refusers from Israel and around the US, with Chicago-area actors, artists, community organizers and media/public relations professionals. This group will brainstorm creative, daring program ideas that have the potential to reach ten million Americans with the message of the Refusers. For more information and to sign up for participation in Imagine Ten Million: www.refusersolidarity.net -- Yoshie
* Bring Them Home Now! <http://www.bringthemhomenow.org/> * Calendars of Events in Columbus: <http://www.osu.edu/students/sif/calendar.html>, <http://www.freepress.org/calendar.php>, & <http://www.cpanews.org/> * Student International Forum: <http://www.osu.edu/students/sif/> * Committee for Justice in Palestine: <http://www.osudivest.org/> * Al-Awda-Ohio: <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Al-Awda-Ohio> * Solidarity: <http://www.solidarity-us.org/>
