“The Case for Academic and Cultural Boycott” – talk by Dr Sue Blackwell

Dr Sue Blackwell, of the British Committee for the Universities of Palestine as well as the National Executive Committee of the University and College Union, will be giving a talk on the reasons for and benefits of academic and cultural boycott. We have recently seen many artists and musicians, as well as academics, refusing to perform and work in Israel (such as Brian Eno, Ken Loach, Godard, Gil-Scott Heron, Pixies, etc), receiving a lot of backlash in the process.

Here’s the link to the event: https://www.facebook.com/events/303286286384024/

 

The details of the event are as follows:

Venue: Room MS.04, in the Maths and Stats Building, University of Warwick

Date: 24th January 2012, Tuesday.

Time: 6pm.

 
You might want to look at these websites to get some information about the boycott movement in its entirety:

http://www.pacbi.org/ — Based in Ramallah: Palestinian academics calling for cultural and academic boycott.

http://bricup.org.uk/

Hope to see you there!

Eden Spring’s Boycott Motion in the Warwick SU

We’ve passed the motion proposing the boycott of the Eden Springs water coolers from operating in Warwick campus. The motion will be up for a vow by the Warwick SU councils at the end of the month. We’ll keep you updated!

Just in case you are not aware, Eden Springs is a water company that sources water from illegal Israeli settlement in the Golan Heights called Katzrin. The Israeli captured the land in 1967, and displaced over 100000 of its native. This settlements are internationally recognised as illegal. So, Eden Springs (through it’s parent company in the UK) is technically providing campuses (including ours) with water coolers from these illegal water sources.

 

One Year On: Effects of the ‘Arab Spring’ on Palestine

Marwan Darweish, a Palestinian academic and senior lecturer from the centre for Peace and Reconciliation studies at Coventry University, specializing in peace and conflict reformation, will be with us to speak about the the effects of the ‘Arab Spring’ (one year on) on Palestine and its future, as well as on resistance.

Details are as follows:

Venue: Room S0.13, Social Studies Building, University of Warwick

Time: 6pm

The talk will be followed by a short question and answers session for those interested in either Marwan Darweish’s own work, or about the subject.

Here’s the link to the event: (https://www.facebook.com/events/230888113655834/)

See you there hopefully.

Warwick Friends of Palestine Society
(http://www.facebook.com/groups/fopal/)

Palestine under Israeli Rule (An Islamic Society event)

Brothers and sisters, we are proud to host brother Masud Ganaeim in the Islamic Society of the University of Warwick.

Masud Ganaeim was born in 1965 in Palestine and lives in Sekhneen. He is married and has got three children.
He has a B.A. in the History of the Middle East, University of Haifa.

PUBLIC ACTIVITIES

- Chairman of the Islamic Movement, Sakhnin 2000-2007
- Member of the People`s Commission, Sakhnin 1999-2001
- Member of the Shaura Council of the Islamic Movement – Southern Region
- Director General of Sakhnin Culture Center, 1999-2001
- Member of Sakhnin Municipal Council, 2003-2005

PUBLICATIONS

He wrote hundreds of articles in Arabic journals and press.
Textbook about the History of the Middle East, 1998

He speaks Arabic, Hebrew and English.

WORK

- Knesset 18:
Member of the Education, Culture and Sports Committee
Member of the Committee for the Authority of Television and Radio 2
Member of the Joint Committee of Economy and Education regarding part 15: the authority of the Radio, under the draft resolution supporting economy in 2009-2010.

‘Two Schools in Nablus’ film screening

Friends of Palestine society and Amnesty are collaborating to bring to you a film screening of ‘Two Schools in Nablus’ – a documentary produced by Tom Evans and George Azar, part of the ‘Witness’ project of Al Jazeera. This film examines the lives of students in Nablus, the ways in which they are affected by the occupation, as well as containing just stories from their lives in general.

Link to the program on Al Jazeera: http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/witness/2009/01/20091412114846748.html

There will, of course, be snacks as well. If you’d like to bring things feel free!

See you there hopefully.

“Israeli Protest and Palestinian Resistance; the Fight for Justice” talk

Joseph Dana talkThis is our first talk of the academic year, so show your support for the cause by attending it!

Speaker: Joseph Dana, a Ramallah based journalist.

Venue: Room S0.19

Time and date: 6pm on the 15th November 2011 (Tuesday)

Click this link (https://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=181693655250592) to confirm your attendance through facebook!

See you there!

PS: Here’s the flyer!

Joseph Dana talk

 

Freshers’ Meet and Greet!

Ahoy! Here goes our first event of the new academic year; THE INTRODUCTORY MEETING! The details are as follows:

Date: 12th October 2011

Time: 4pm

Venue: Warwick SU Lounge.

In this informal session, we will introduce the society, what it does and events we plan to organise throughout the whole academic year. Besides, this is the perfect opportunity for all of us to get to know each other. So, do come along and hope to see you there!

PS: There will be some refreshments =)

Welcome!

Welcome to the Friends of Palestine Society at the University of Warwick!

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” – Nelson Mandela

When the Palestinian people are liberated, it will have been through politics and diplomacy, not militancy. Too much blood has been spilt in the Occupied Palestinian Territories already, violent protests here will only undermine our cause. The Palestinians will always be outgunned, the IDF is one of the most effective and well-funded militaries in the world. We believe that the way to defeat anti-Palestinian Zionism is through engaging our enemies in the political arena, because we will win on the pure and simple facts.

We are working on a number of excellent projects that will keep us busy and you interested for the year to come so we always welcome a pair of hands-or even a single one-to come and help us. Unlike other societies, we place a huge emphasis on members’ support, collaboration and ideas. Ultimately, this is a society belonging to all of us, so it would be great if you all get involved beyond the freshers’ fair!

Support needed in Cairo

Hello all,

You can read the newest update (yesterday’s) from Marie and Katerina in Cairo in the blog at: http://studentlifelinetogaza.blogspot.com/ I am including it attached at the end of this message. As you can see from their own message, the most critical thing they need now is support from home. So please keep making calls, sending emails, and letting people know of what is happening.

There are two things I would like to ask you for your support:

1. First there’s another sample email and list of adresses below. Please either send an email or call.
2. Secondly and this is very important, I would like to ask you to send me any relevant contact adresses or telephones you can find. Everybody reads English, so most of the sample emails we have can be send to many more adresses. If you can find contact details for the Egyptian embassy in your own country, or in other countries around the world for example, to important politicians again, in your country or others, important (or not so important) media, please send them to me, and we’ll try to put together a more extensive list of contacts that people can use.

_________________________________________

Sample letter:

Dear Sir, Dear Madam,

I am writing to you to urge the Egyptian government to let Code Pink’s Gaza

Freedom March continue so that 1362 international delegates can join the

Palestinians of Gaza to march together on December 31, 2009.

Currently all delegates are stuck in Cairo and have been refused the right

to move towards Gaza.

The UK government and David Miliband have openly condemned the blockade.

This is a crucial moment for the UK to use its influence as an international

player to take responsiblity and act upon behalf of peace, justice and human

rights.

The Code Pink delegates will not stand for this oppressive ban. This

indirectly endorses war crimes and the inhumanity caused by the blockade

onto the Palestinians of Gaza.

The international peace marchers have aid and are ready to deliver it.

They have

raised tens of thousands of dollars for medical aid, school supplies and

winter clothing for the children of Gaza. But we realize that in addition to

material aid, the Palestinians of Gaza need moral support. The Gaza Freedom

March offers that support on the difficult anniversary of an invasion that

brought them so much suffering.

Sincerely,

__________

Contacts:

-Foreign & Commonwealth Office Ministerial support team email address

MSU.PublicIn@fco.gov.uk

-Egyptian Embassy in London

Tel: 020 7499 3304/2401

eg.emb_london@mfa.gov.eg

-Egyptian Consulate

consulate@egyptianconsulate.co.uk

Irini Pantelidou has also found these addresses (thanks!):

questions@cabinet.gov.eg

or …complaints@cabinet.gov.eg

Cabinet of Ministers

Address : 2 Maglas El Shaab

Phone : +202-2793-5000

Fax : +202-2795-8048

Email : questions@cabinet.gov.eg

ministry of international cooperation for the egyptian government

Mrs. Fayza Mohamed Aboulnaga

Address : 8 Adly street – Cairo

Tel : 23910008

Fax : 23908159

URL : www.mic.gov.eg/

Egyptian ministry of foreign affairs?

Mr. Ahmed Ali Aboul Gheit

Address : Kornish el Nile, Maspiro- Cairo

Tel : 25749820 – 25749821

Fax : 25748822

URL : www.mfa.gov.eg/

E-mail:

General Inquiries:  Info@mfa.gov.eg

Citizens’ Complaint Unit: Contact.Us@mfa.gov.eg

Foreigners and Legalization Affairs: foreign.legalization@mfa.gov.eg

______________________________________________________

6th update from Cairo from Katerina and Marie:

We demonstrated all day at the UN today, demanding that

1) the UN put pressure on the Egyptian government so that we can continue our march

2) help let all our aid through to Gaza

3) organise a small group of delegates to Gaza to at least represent all the countries and be in bloody Gaza!!!

Answer:

No

No

and No.

It was a really peaceful demonstration, with lots of music, dancing, chess playing, talks by Walden Bello and Anna Haas (journalist).

Led by the 85 year old holocaust survivior Hedy Epstein, 14 are now on hunger strike. We were barricaded by police however, not allowing to leave the area for a few hours. Lol, we made a makeshift pee area but the atmosphere was super awesome.

Also, Netanyahu is coming to Cairo, to meet with Mubarak about Gilad Shalit.

The French delegates, around 300, have been camping outside the French embassy for the last 2 days. We will be joining them tonight, but they managed to get the French ambassador to negotiate and talk. The ambassador has been talking to the Egyptian government as a result. However, there were over 1000 riot police and since today they have not allowed any of the French people to leave or enter.

Any attempts for smaller groups to get to Gaza have been stalled. People have either been detained, put under hotel arrest or been forced to return to Cairo.

We are feeling quite demoralised, since we have put so much effort into getting to Gaza as has everyone else here. We are relying on support from back home, so please keep writing.

At this point you have more power than we do.

Critical new update – Freedom March also blocked

Dear all,

First of all, apologies for the flood of emails and msgs the last few days. Unfortunately things are moving very fast right now, and we’ve now found out that the Freedom March to Gaza from Egypt, is also being blocked now, as is still the convoy which has yet to be allowed to enter Egypt. Hopefully we’ll be able to send fewer messages as things calm down.

I’m forwarding below the latest update from Sam from the ‘Can you help us end the Blockade of Gaza this december?’ group that was set up in facebook (join: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=188973921044 ), which inludes the message send from Cairo from Katerina and Marie, and also a sample letter to send to politicians and Egyptian embassies, together with relevant adresses.

________________________________________________________________

Dear Friends,

Sorry to be spamming your facebook inboxes but everything is proceeding quickly right now (hopefully it will calm down soon) and we do need your help!

Firstly, Katerina and Marie are now in Cairo, they sent this message today:

***********************************************************

Dear Friends,

Marie and I are both in Cairo and have bad news.

Like Viva Palestina, our Free Gaza March has also been banned by the
Egyptian government.
There are 1300 international volunteers in Cairo, who all want to go to
Gaza. We have aid and donations that will go to waste if we stay here.

The Free Gaza March have planned the following activities for the next 2
days:
Sunday
- small protest in the centre of Cairo
- protest at the French Embassy to pressure the European Commission
- public vigil at the Nile

Monday
- we will gather at the bus station to protest against the Egyptian’s ban on
our trip
- public protest in the main square of Cairo

Consensus is that we stay united and so that 1300 people demonstrate
together in Cairo to pressure Mubarak’s government to let us go. Small
individual groups have gone and we are waiting to hear what they encounter and how they get along.

The Egyptian government has put a ban on all freedom marchers meeting in groups of more than 6 people. This is oppressive and denies us the right to stand up to the Palestinians. Please protest against the Egyptian’s decision with us. By holding us back, their oppressive regime is as responsible for
the siege as is Israel’s.

*We need your help, you demonstrate the international spectrum of all of
this. *
*http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8425232.stm*

Sample letter to Embassies & MPs:

Dear Sir, Dear Madam,

I am writing to you to urge the Egyptian government to let Code Pink’s Gaza
Freedom March continue so that 1362 international delegates can join the
Palestinians of Gaza to march together on December 31, 2009.

Currently all delegates are stuck in Cairo and have been refused the right
to move towards Gaza.

The UK government and David Miliband have openly condemned the blockade.
This is a crucial moment for the UK to use its influence as an international
player to take responsiblity and act upon behalf of peace, justice and human
rights.

The Code Pink delegates will not stand for this oppressive ban. This
indirectly endorses war crimes and the inhumanity caused by the blockade
onto the Palestinians of Gaza.

The international peace marchers have aid and are ready to deliver it.
They have
raised tens of thousands of dollars for medical aid, school supplies and
winter clothing for the children of Gaza. But we realize that in addition to
material aid, the Palestinians of Gaza need moral support. The Gaza Freedom
March offers that support on the difficult anniversary of an invasion that
brought them so much suffering.

Sincerely,

***********************************************************

EGYPTIAN CONTACTS:
-Egyptian Embassy in London
Tel: 020 7499 3304/2401
eg.emb_london@mfa.gov.eg

-Egyptian Consulate
consulate@egyptianconsulate.co.uk

POLITICIANS:
-Jeremy Corbyn (Labour MP for Islington North)
corbynj@parliament.uk
Office phone:
020 7561 7488

-Clare Short (Independent MP for Birmingham Ladywood)
shortc@parliament.uk
020 7219 4264/4148

-David Miliband (Foreign Secretary/Labour MP for South Shields)
milibandd@parliament.uk
(0191) 456 8910

-Foreign & Commonwealth Office Ministerial support team email address
MSU.PublicIn@fco.gov.uk

-Nick Clegg (Leader of Lib Dems, MP for Sheffield Hallam, wrote this piece in the guardian the other day http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/dec/22/lift-the-gaza-blocade-nick-clegg)
nickclegg@sheffieldhallam.org.uk
cleggn@parliament.uk

-British Embassy in Egypt
Tel: (20)(2)27916000
information.cairo@fco.gov.uk

NB that MPs are not supposed to help UK citizens who live in other constituencies, but those listed above either have shown a personal interest in Gaza (Short, Corbyn, Clegg) or are the Foreign Secretary (Miliband) so you should perhaps make it clear that this is why you are contacting them, not in their formal duties as MP.

Secondly, a reminder of the vigil outside the Israeli embassy in London tomorrow: http://www.palestinecampaign.org/index9b.asp?m_id=1&l1_id=3&l2_id=62&Content_ID=976 Please come along if you can, this could be helpful for raising awareness of the Convoy and Freedom march inside the UK, which is really something we need to do right now.

I know we are sending out lots of messages but that’s because lots of important information is coming in quickly. We *will* take it easy again when things get back on track—which we hope they will soon. Thank you for your patience!

Season’s greetings,

Sam