Category Archives: TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY

The Peace Vibe Fest brings youth from 20 communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina

. TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY .

An article from the Official Website of the European Union

More than 130 citizens, young people from 20 communities across Bosnia and Herzegovina participated in the first Peace Vibe Fest, that started on September 21, the International Day of Peace, and ended on October 2, the International Day of Nonviolence. The Peace Vibe Fest contributes to better mutual understanding and celebrates efforts and initiatives for a peaceful and stable future for all.

“Although peacebuilding in BiH at first sounds like something complicated, through this Festival we wanted to show that even the small steps that each of us takes can grow into something big and contribute to strengthening trust in our communities,” said 18-year-old Lamija from Vareš. Together with her friends, Lamija organized music workshop as part of the festival, where they created a song about peace. “It is one of our contributions to spreading positive messages and peaceful vibrations.”

Festival was organized with the support of the project „Empowering Trust and Cohesion in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Communities“ (“Možemo bolje”) that is jointly implemented by the European Union in BiH, the United Nations in BiH, the OSCE Mission to BiH and the Council of Europe – Office in Sarajevo.

Theater workshops, film screenings, street actions, dialogues and musical events were held during the festival, where citizens from numerous communities throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina connected in fostering a culture of peace, within and between communities.

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Question related to this article:
 
Youth initiatives for a culture of peace, How can we ensure they get the attention and funding they deserve?

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Radoslav Tokić, president of Croatian Cultural Society „Napredak“ from Jajce, that organized workshop of applied theatre during the festival, said: “Knowledge of history and culture helps in better understanding of others and respect for diversity. Through this workshop, we want to offer our fellow citizens theater as a great tool for working in the community, especially with young people”.

In addition to the activities in local communities, the central event of the Peace Vibe Fest gathered 60 young people in Sarajevo for creative and educational workshops with an aim to empower young people to recognize their role in fostering a culture of peace. Through dialogue on peacebuilding, discussions on the role of young people, analysis of social messages, and theatrical play and improvisation, the participants of the Festival developed new skills and messages of peace that they want to spread in their communities.

“I haven’t been to a more interesting workshop in a long time. Where there were tricky topics, we saw that everything can be resolved through talk and dialogue in order to understand the other side”, said Jasmin from Maglaj.

One of the participants, Aleksandra from Ugljevik, also shared her positive experience: “I really liked the interaction between all participants, that there is no judgment, that everyone is accepted, and that we can all express our opinion. The workshops were phenomenal”.

The project “Možemo bolje” continues to work with local communities, citizens, government representatives and other important partners to strengthen and promote trust and cohesion within and between communities.

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Europe, TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY

From Paris to Caracas, thousands march in support of Gaza around the world, one year after October 7

. TOLERANCE AND SOLIDARITY . .

An article from Le Parisien (translated by google)

“Freedom and justice for the Palestinians!” Thousands of people demonstrated in support of Gaza across Europe and South Africa on Saturday for the first anniversary of the bloody conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas.

Holding placards and Palestinian and Lebanese flags, several thousand protesters marched through the centre of the British capital late in the morning. Leading the march were former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn (now an independent) and former Scottish Prime Minister Humza Yousaf.


London, October 5, 2024. Many protesters wore keffiyehs, symbols of the Palestinian struggle. Reuters/Chris J Ratcliffe

“Stop the bombing”, “Free, free Palestine” and “Stop bombing hospitals” were among the most popular slogans chanted in London by protesters, who marched peacefully. “We need a ceasefire now. How many more innocent Palestinians or Lebanese people have to die?” asked Sophia Thomson, 27, who was demonstrating with friends. “The fact that there are so many of us shows that the government is not speaking for the people,” she added.

A demonstration in memory of the 1,205 people killed in the unprecedented Hamas attack in Israel on October 7 is also due to be held in London on Sunday.

In Dublin, the Irish capital, several hundred people demonstrated in support of the Gazans, shouting “freedom and justice for the Palestinians”.

In Berlin, a pro-Palestinian demonstration brought together more than a thousand people and another pro-Israeli demonstration brought together around 650, according to the police. Outside the procession of this last demonstration, 26 people who had accosted the demonstrators were arrested, a police spokesperson told AFP.

In Rome, pro-Palestinian youth clashed with the police, with bottles thrown, firecrackers, tear gas and water cannons used, after a demonstration that brought together thousands of people. “Italy must stop selling and sending weapons to Israel”, “Free Palestine” and “Israel, a criminal state”, the demonstrators shouted.

During the offensive led in response by Israel, at least 41,825 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, the majority of them civilians, according to data from the Hamas government’s Ministry of Health, deemed reliable by the UN. In Lebanon, according to the authorities, more than 2,000 people have been killed since October 2023.

Representatives of LFI at the Paris demonstration

In France, several thousand people marched in Paris and several other cities to show their “solidarity with the Palestinian and Lebanese peoples” and to ask the French government to do more.

In Paris, 5,000 demonstrators, according to the police, marched from Place de la République to Place de Clichy, shouting “Palestine will live, Palestine will win”. At the head of the procession were several political figures from the radical left, including representatives of La France Insoumise Jean-Luc Mélenchon and Manon Aubry. Among them, MP Thomas Portes, interviewed by AFP, once again asked President Emmanuel Macron to “recognise the State of Palestine”.

At the microphone of a truck present in the procession, Jean-Luc Mélenchon reiterated his call for students to “flaunt the colors of Palestine” and “Lebanon” from October 8, in response to a ministerial circular on maintaining order in universities on the eve of October 7, the anniversary of the Hamas attack in Israel.

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(Click here for the original article in French.

Question related to this article:

Presenting the Palestinian side of the Middle East, Is it important for a culture of peace?

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But for Mohammed Ghili, 52, a member of the association Solidarité Palestine, if “it’s good news, it comes far too late” in the face of what he calls “genocide”. In the crowd, Maya, 37, a French-Lebanese physics researcher who arrived from Beirut a week ago, said she was “stunned by the media coverage” of the escalation in Lebanon. “We don’t hear about the bombing of civilians”.

Among the thousand people who also marched in Lyon according to the prefecture, Jérôme Faÿnel, president of a local collective supporting the Palestinian people, said that it was an opportunity for him to denounce the anniversary of “one year of unheard-of brutality”.

In Toulouse, 300 demonstrators chanted the name of “Georges Abdallah”, in reference to the Lebanese pro-Palestinian activist Georges Ibrahim Abdallah, imprisoned for 40 years for complicity in murder. His 11th request for release is to be examined on 7 October. “How can a court decision be issued on 7 October?” exclaimed Soraya, 50, who did not wish to give her last name. She denounces “a bias” on the part of the justice system, one year to the day after the unprecedented attack by Hamas.

Flo, 22, an unemployed resident of Vienne (Isère), who did not wish to give his last name, came to demonstrate as he has been doing for a year, and for him, it is a “fight”: not a “symbolic fight”, but a “fight for justice” for the Palestinian and Lebanese people.

In Nantes, two marches bringing together some 350 people in total, according to an AFP journalist, marched through the streets of the city center. In Strasbourg, there were 200 demonstrators, as in Bordeaux, where they observed a minute of silence “in homage to the martyrs” before walking peacefully, chanting “Palestine will live, Palestine will win”.

Gatherings in Switzerland and South Africa

In Basel, Switzerland, thousands of people also gathered in a park near the train station for a national pro-Palestinian demonstration called by the Swiss-Palestine Federation and a hundred or so organizations.

In Madrid, 5,000 people, according to the authorities, demonstrated at the call of the Solidarity Network against the Occupation of Palestine (RESCOP), with placards saying “Boycott Israel” or “Humanity is dead in Gaza”. The demonstrators called on Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who has taken a number of critical positions against Israel in recent months, to break off diplomatic relations with the country.

In Venezuela, hundreds of supporters of the government of Nicolás Maduro and members of the Arab community demonstrated in front of the UN headquarters in Caracas. Carrying a 25-metre-long Palestinian flag and shouting “Long live free Palestine” or “Iran, Iran, strike Tel Aviv”, the Chavistas presented the UN with a document calling for an end to the “genocide” of the Palestinian people and for “concrete actions” against Israel.

In South Africa, in central Cape Town, hundreds of people demonstrated, waving Palestinian flags and chanting anti-Israel slogans at a pro-Gaza rally. Holding placards accusing Israel of genocide and racism, the protesters – many wearing keffiyehs, a symbol of the Palestinian struggle against Israel – marched toward the South African parliament.

“Israel is a racist state” and “We are all Palestinians,” protesters chanted. Some of them said they supported South Africa’s complaint to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Pretoria maintains that Israel’s offensive in Gaza violates the 1948 UN Genocide Convention.

Many South Africans compare Israel’s stance toward the Palestinians to apartheid, the segregationist regime imposed by the white minority in the country until the first multiracial elections in 1994.

(Editor’s note: The video of the rally in New York City is especially impressive.)

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Africa, Europe, Mideast, TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY, ,

Speech from Birmingham, UK, for Solidarity and against Racism

. TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY .

An article from the website of We are BRIG

The recent far-right riots and violence in the UK, particularly following the tragic attack in Southport, have sparked outrage and concern among anti-racism groups and community leaders. Here’s a summary of the key statements from BRIG, Kings Heath United Against Racism, and Patrick Vernon, which collectively address the issue of ongoing racial injustice and the rise of far-right extremism in the UK.

Speech by Mukhtar Dar on behalf of Kings Heath United Against Racism

Brothers, Sisters, Comrades—

Firstly, I extend my deepest condolences to the families and friends of the three young girls murdered in the horrific knife attack, and to those who are critically injured. I also wish to pay special tribute to the heroes who confronted the attacker. My solidarity goes out to the people of Southport, particularly the Muslim community whose mosques came under siege, to the refugees who were attacked in their hotels, and to all those communities across the country—White, Black, Asian, African, Caribbean—who are standing firm against those who seek to exploit these tragic murders.

We gather here not merely as individuals, but as a force of history—a moral majority that stands unwaveringly on the side of justice, truth, and equality. We are the embodiment of hope, love, and unity. Our hearts beat as one, and in this dark hour, we stand resolute against the forces that seek to tear us apart, to make us forget our shared humanity.

We are confronted by those who thrive on division, who feed on hatred. These forces—whether driven by fascism, nationalism, or populism—seek to drive a wedge between black and white, Muslim and Christian, gay and straight, able and disabled, migrant and native. But let us remind them, let us remind the world: we are all migrants. Every single one of us. Our DNA tells the story of our ancestors’ journeys out of Africa, weaving the tapestry of migration that has shaped human civilization across Asia, Europe, Australasia, and the Americas.

The United Kingdom itself is a living testament to this migration, a vibrant mosaic of dreams and struggles from across Europe and beyond. The story of Birmingham, like that of many cities, is a story of migration—of people moving from hamlets and villages, of the Irish, of our parents from the former colonies, who came here to rebuild the ‘motherland’ after the ravages of war. We, together, built this city—a city of resilience, of hope. And when the likes of Tommy Robinson and his band of bigots speak of Christianity, let us remind them: Jesus was a migrant seeking refuge, a symbol of compassion and solidarity for all humanity.

Brother and sisters, this is not a race war. This is not a religious war. This is not merely a struggle for the Muslim community, or for refugees. No, this is a righteous struggle that calls upon each of us to take our positions in the ranks of our people’s struggle. This is a battle against the far-right forces rising across Europe, against the spectre of fascism, against the insidious seeds of bigotry, racism, and Islamophobia. This is a battle against the most reactionary, divisive, and backward forces humanity has ever faced—and yes, defeated.

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Question related to this article:
 
Are we making progress against racism?

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We have defeated them before. Our movement’s history is rich with victories over these forces of darkness. We defeated them at the Battle of Cable Street, where ordinary British workers stood shoulder to shoulder with the Jewish community and said, “No pasaran—they shall not pass.” We defeated them in the ghettos of Walsall, where unity and resilience sent a powerful message. Our communities, the African Caribbean and Asian communities alongside our white comrades from the labour and trade union movement fought them in the streets of Lewisham, in Brick Lane, in Manningham, in Southall, in Handsworth. Each time, we stood together, and each time, we prevailed.

But, my friends, the struggle is far from over. Today, the far-right, emboldened by the likes of Reform UK and Tommy Robinson’s Street brigade, offer no solutions aside from scapegoating, creating divisions, and preaching death and destruction. We must oppose them with every ounce of strength we possess. We must confront them in the streets and in the battle of ideas. Our arguments must be rooted in justice, in compassion, in our shared values, and in the truth that we are all one.

Yet, let us not forget those who empower these forces with their reckless racist rhetoric. We must challenge and expose the politicians who speak of ‘stopping the boats’ and other dog-whistle tactics that create fertile ground for the far-right to grow. Their words fan the flames of division and fear, providing a veneer of legitimacy to those who march through our streets with hate in their hearts. It is not enough to denounce the far-right; we must also hold accountable those in power who enable their rise.

From Southport, Rotherham, and Middlesbrough, to over 60 cities and towns, the far-right and their supporters openly rampaged, terrorising our communities, attacking our homes, our mosques, setting alight our cars, setting up roadblocks, singling out Asian, African, and Caribbean taxi drivers, pulling them out of their vehicles. In many places, the police stood by indifferent and allowed it to happen. This was not just violence; this was a pogrom. There are no legitimate grievances here, no excuses of deprivation. These were not race riots but racist riots by violent, lying racists who demonise Muslims while hiding behind a false patriotism and reactionary nostalgia for a bygone all white era.

History teaches us an unshakable truth: we must organise, we must unite, we must mobilise. Across cities, towns, and villages, let us bridge our divides to build a massive united front to defeat both state racism and fascism. Let us forge a coalition so strong, so determined, that it will consign the likes of Nigel Farage, Tommy Robinson, and their poisonous ideologies to the dustbin of history.

We are not alone, for history is on our side. We stand as the embodiment of hope, the champions of love, and the bearers of justice. We are the light that will drive out the darkness, the voices that will speak for the voiceless. So let us, united as one, reclaim our streets and our future. In our unity, there is strength; in our diversity, there is beauty; and in our solidarity, there is hope.

Together, we will rise above hate. Together, we will build a brighter tomorrow for all. We will invest the fruits of our labour not in wars, but in progress, ensuring that the wealth we create is shared by the many, not hoarded by the few. We are the defenders of the dream that all people—regardless of race, religion, gender, or background—can live in harmony and equality. Let us show the world that our unity is our strength, that our diversity is our power. Together, we will rise. Together, we will resist. Together, we will prevail.

“Make them gwan, make them run—Chase the fascists out of Brum!”

(Editor’s note: Thank you to Joe Yannielli, the CPNN reporter for this article.)

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Europe, TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY

Youth Summit on Peace and Sustainable Future Wraps Up Successful Week in Montpellier, France

. TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY .

A press release from Open PR

The Institute of Public Policy, and Diplomacy Research (IPPDR) today announced the conclusion of its Youth Summit on Peace and a Sustainable Future, which took place from July 22 to 26, 2024, in Montpellier, France. The Summit was hosted by Montpellier Mayor Michael Delafosse and Dr. Andrise Bass, Founder of The Institute of Public Policy and Diplomacy Research. Also attending and mentoring were Prince Jean Louis Bingna, Dr. Bruno Mpondo-Epo, and Hawa Taylor-Kamara Diallo from the IBTK Foundation, which was founded to inform students about public policy as it pertains to the international community.

“The message from the Summit was unequivocal, ‘This is our time, this is our day, this is our future,'” said Dr. Bass. “The young people implore those with influence to ‘Help us lead, because we are ready to be leaders.'”

The Summit provided a platform for young people from more than forty countries to explore and debate the merits of issues related to global peace and sustainability. Views and conclusions about what actions should be taken were decided upon by the students, and the findings will directly contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).

Summit participants were expected to understand, clarify, and give legitimacy to the young people’s voices and opinions regarding the greater global conversation. Lively discussions around peace and sustainability were the most interesting topics that aligned with guidelines of the United Nations’ Security Council Resolution 2250, which was adopted in 2015. Resolution 2250’s encourages member nations to set up mechanisms to enable young people to participate meaningfully in peace processes and dispute resolution.

Delegates collaborated and made recommendations meant to strengthen youth participation in the peace building movement, and the young people advocated for an observation role at the UN Security Council. Because the younger generation will inherit what their elders leave, or do not leave them, it was critical to ensure that that their voices would be heard.

(Click here for an article in French on this subject)

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Question related to this article:
 
Youth initiatives for a culture of peace, How can we ensure they get the attention and funding they deserve?

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Those attending the event look to people in the highest levels of government and industry to examine the ramifications of decision-making, which affects the globe along with everything on it and in it.

The Institute of Public Policy and Diplomacy Research is a not-for-profit organization that focuses on human rights, public policy, sustainable development, human trafficking awareness, diplomacy protocol, leadership etiquettes and peacebuilding The organization offers hybrid courses on a range of topics, including:

– Diplomatic protocol

– National security

– Finance and economics

– Consular affairs

– Etiquette and acceptable behavior

– Employment

– Regulations

The summit concluded with the young attendees publishing a Declaration on peace and the sustainable future that will be shared with the Secretary General of the United Nations. The ambitious Declaration, representing the youth of more than 40 countries, seeks to include youth in the worldwide peacemaking process and efforts to build sustainable societies.

Bass commented, “As we ended the Summit, we all felt that it was not an ending, but rather a beginning. The momentum continues. Young people were so passionate regarding insights and recommendations going forward that will be presented to global leaders.”

For more information visit www.ippdr.org [http://www.ippdr.org/]
Media Contact
Company Name: The Institute of Public Policy, and Diplomacy Research
Contact Person: Media Relations
Email: Send Email [http://www.universalpressrelease.com/?pr=youth-summit-on-peace-and-sustainable-future-wraps-up-successful-week-in-montpellier-france]
Country: France
Website: http://www.ippdr.org

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Europe, TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY

UNAOC Hosts Capacity-Building Workshop for the 7th edition of its Young Peacebuilders programme in Cáceres, Spain

. TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY .

An article from the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations

Aspiring leaders from Latin America and the Caribbean convened in Cáceres, Spain for a transformative capacity-building workshop as part of their participation in the 7th edition of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) Young Peacebuilders programme.

The in-person workshop took place from 24 to 28 June, following an extensive online training phase throughout the year. The Young Peacebuilders participated in a series of interactive sessions guided by facilitators, and were challenged to implement their newly gained knowledge by diving deeper into peacebuilding concepts and relevant skills. The participants are expected to leverage their newly acquired insights to implement the peace projects they designed during the workshop to address pressing challenges in their respective communities. These initiatives, which are an integral output of their participation in the programme, will aim to build bridges between diverse cultures and communities upon returning home from the workshop.

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Question related to this article:
 
Youth initiatives for a culture of peace, How can we ensure they get the attention and funding they deserve?

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The 7th edition of the UNAOC peace education initiative brings together young civil society leaders from Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela as well as local peacebuilders from Spain. The participants were selected following a rigorous and competitive process through which they demonstrated their commitment to peacebuilding and sustainable development.

About the programme


The UNAOC Young Peacebuilders programme is a flagship peace education initiative dedicated to nurturing the next generation of peacebuilders. The programme aims to enhance the positive role of youth in issues of peace and security and in preventing violent conflict by equipping young leaders with the necessary tools and knowledge to do so. The 7th edition, focused on Latin America and the Caribbean, is implemented with the generous financial support of the Agencia Extremeña De Cooperación Internacional Para El Desarrollo (AEXCID) of Junta de Extremadura.

For more information about the Young Peacebuilders programme, please click here.

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Latin America, TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY, United Nations,

Gaza protests at universities around the world

. TOLERANCE AND SOLIDARITY . .

A pictorial survey by CPNN

As of June 12 Wikipedia lists protests against the Israeli attacks on Gaza in more than 25 countries. “Twenty encampments have been established in the United Kingdom; across universities in Australia, beginning with the University of Sydney; and in Canada, including an encampment at McGill University. On May 7, protests spread further on European campuses after mass arrests at the University of Amsterdam campus occupation, including occupation of campus buildings at Leipzig University in Germany, Sciences Po in France, and Ghent University in Belgium. As of May 8, protests have taken place in more than 25 countries. On May 13, approximately 1,000 Dutch students and university staff took part in a national walk-out.”

Here are photos from the various countries. Click on the country name if you wish to see the source for the photo and caption.

AUSTRALIA


The pro-Palestinian student protesters who set up the camp at the University of Sydney want disclosure of and divestment from all university activities that support Israel, as well as a ceasefire and the end of government ties to Israel. Photograph: Jessica Hromas/The Guardian

BANGLADESH


Bangladeshi students wave Palestinian flags, as they march during a pro- Palestinian demonstration at the Dhaka University area in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Monday, May 6, 2024. Credit: AP/Mahmud Hossain Opu

CANADA


Pro-Palestinian supporters take part in a sit-in at the University of Ottawa, in Ottawa on Monday, April 29, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle

COSTA RICA


Estudiantes de la Universidad de Costa Rica (UCR) instalaron un campamento desde la noche del Primero de Mayo en el pretil de la Ciudad Universitaria Rodrigo Facio en solidaridad con Palestina

CUBA


Cubans rally in support of US students, Palestine (frame from video)

DENMARK


Pro-Palestinian protesters set up camp at the city campus of the University of Copenhagen in Denmark. Photograph: Thomas Traasdahl/AP

EGYPT


Students at American University of Cairo call for university to divest from corporations tied to occupation

FINLAND


Students began a pro-Palestinian demonstration on the University of Helsinki campus on Monday. The demonstration is organised by a group called Students for Palestine, which is demanding that the university cut ties with Israeli universities.

FRANCE


Students demonstrate outside La Sorbonne university with a huge Palestinian flag, Monday, April 29, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)”

GERMANY


Protesters attend a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Berlin. Photograph: Lisi Niesner/Reuters

GREECE


A woman shouts slogans during a protest against Israel’s military action in Gaza at Syntagma Square, central Athens, Greece, on May 11, 2024. People protesting at Athens Law School the following Tuesday were arrested [Michael Varaklas/AP]

INDIA


From Jatinangor, Unpad Students Support Pro-Palestinian Demonstrations in the US. Photo: ist

INDONESIA


The University of Indonesia academic community held a solidarity camp action at the University of Indonesia Campus, Depok, West Java, Friday (3/5/2024).

IRAQ


Iraqi university students carry Palestinian flags and placards during a rally at the Baghdad University campus. Photograph: Ahmad Al-Rubaye/AFP/Getty Images

IRELAND


A student encampment on the grounds of Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland, as seen from above. Photograph: Damien Eagers/Reuters

ISRAEL


Demonstrators protest calling to end the war in Gaza at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem on May 28, 2024.Yoatan Sindel/Flash90

ITALY


Pro-Palestine protests, the first Italian protest with tents at the University of Bologna: “Stop complicity with Israel” Frame from video.

JAPAN


Japanese students rally at the Waseda University in Tokyo on Friday (May 3, 2024). Pro-Palestine student rallies spread across other countries after it began at Columbia University in April. (Anadolu)

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Question related to this article:

Presenting the Palestinian side of the Middle East, Is it important for a culture of peace?

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KUWAIT


Faculty members and students of Kuwait University carry placards during a protest in solidarity with Gaza and Palestine on April 29, 2024. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat

LEBANON


Demonstrators hold Lebanese and Palestinian flags during a protest in solidarity with Gaza at the Lebanese American University (LAU), in Beirut, Lebanon April 30, 2024. REUTERS/Mohamed Azaki

MEXICO


Pro-Palestinian activists erect a tent in front of the rectory building of the Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). Photograph: Yuri Cortéz/AFP/Getty Images

MOROCCO


From the student movement in Morocco in solidarity with Gaza, May 8, 2024 (Al-Araby Al-Jadeed)

NETHERLANDS


Teachers from the University of Amsterdam (UvA) held a walk-out on the Roeterseiland campus on May 13. Image ANP

NEW ZEALAND


Students take part in a pro-Palestine rally at the University of Canterbury on Thursday. Iain Mcgregor / The Press

POLAND


Students from the Jagiellonian University are occupying one of the buildings of the Jagiellonian University. The protesters demand unequivocal condemnation of Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip and the severance of all contacts with Israeli companies and universities. Photo PAP/Art Service.

PORTUGAL


Occupation of the Faculty of Psychology of the University of Lisbon organized by the Student Climate Strike movement and several groups of students demanding justice for Palestine. Photo: Nuno Fox

ROMANIA


Several dozen young people are protesting at the University of Bucharest, where some of them have set up tents in the yard of the Faculty of Psychology, in a pro-Palestine movement, modeled on those in the USA. They say they will stay as long as it takes for the University of Bucharest to end any collaboration with Israel or institutions in Israel. The protesters put Palestinian flags around them, Photo: David Leonard Bularca / Hotnews

SOUTH AFRICA


Students have set up a “Wits liberated zone” solidarity encampment on the Wits University library lawns. Photo: Ihsaan Haffejee

SOUTH KOREA


Members of SNU Soobak, a student organization for solidarity with Palestine, carry out an anti-war sit-in on the campus of Seoul National University on May 8, 2024. (Kim Jung-hyo/The Hankyoreh)

SPAIN


Students camp at the University of Barcelona cloister to support Palestine on May 6, 2024 / Natàlia Segura

SWEDEN


Students all over Sweden are today joining the global student uprisings and are now occupying universities in Sweden, against the genocide in Palestine, for a permanent ceasefire and an end to the occupation. Photo from twitter of Greta Thunberg

SWITZERLAND


The hall of EPFL’s architecture building in Lausanne is currently (May 7) occupied by around 50 Pro-Palestinian protesters. KEYSTONE/© KEYSTONE / JEAN-CHRISTOPHE BOTT

TUNISIA


Since yesterday Monday (April 29), students of the Institute of Press and Information Sciences have observed an open sit-in day and night, boycotting classes and exams, setting up tents and launching a movement they called “ Camp Shirine Abu Aqla”, in support of the Palestinian people.

UNITED KINGDOM


Students gather outside Oxford University Museum of Natural History in the UK
Photograph: Hollie Adams/Reuters

UNITED STATES


CNN May 10:.As pro-Palestinian protests have erupted on college campuses nationwide, protesters — including students and faculty — continue to be arrested. Map: Where university protesters have been arrested across the United States. (click on map to enlarge)

YEMEN


DHAMAR April 29. 2024 (Saba) – Members of the Faculty of Education at Dhamar University organized a protest to denounce the massacres committed by the Zionist enemy in Gaza.

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global, TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY

6 ways you can support Palestinians in Gaza

. TOLERANCE AND SOLIDARITY . .

An editorial by Jennifer Bing for the American Friends Service Committee

Many people of conscience are looking for ways to support Palestinians in Gaza as violence continues to escalate. On Oct. 7, a Hamas-led attack on Israel killed at least 1,200 Israelis and took an estimated 200 hostages. Israel immediately launched attacks on Gaza. After months of bombardment, Israeli attacks have killed more than 37,000 Palestinians in Gaza and displaced nearly 2 million from their homes.

Now Gaza is facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis that grows worse by the day. People are dying of starvation and disease. The entire health care system has collapsed. Still, Israel continues to hinder the delivery of aid and maintains its total siege on the territory.


A Palestinian girl walks next to a Banksy mural of children using an Israeli army watchtower as a swing ride, on a wall in Beit Hanoun town, in the northern Gaza Strip. April 10, 2015. Sameh Rahmi

Gaza’s 2.3 million people have long faced suffocating conditions imposed by Israel and upheld by the international community. For 16 years, Palestinians in Gaza have lived under Israel’s brutal blockade, isolated from the rest of Palestine and the world. More than 50% of Palestinians were unemployed and over 80% relied on humanitarian relief to survive. They had limited access to clean water, electricity, and medical care.  

Previous Israeli military attacks on Gaza—including devastating bombing assaults in May 2021, August 2022, and May 2023—killed hundreds of civilians and destroyed critical infrastructure. Even before Oct. 7, 2023, the psychosocial well-being of children, young people, and their caregivers had declined to alarming levels, according to Save the Children.  

Today, we must renew and strengthen our efforts to change these realities. Here are six ways you can support Palestinians in Gaza today.  

1) Contact your member of Congress and call for an immediate cease-fire. 
 
Popular opinion polls show a majority of people in the U.S. favor of a cease-fire. Millions have joined protests around the globe. Yet only a few members of Congress have publicly called for a cease-fire. Our elected officials must keep hearing from us.  

° Take a few minutes today to call your representative using this online form. Then, send them an email.  

° Join AFSC online for our weekly Action Hour for a Cease-Fire. Every Friday, we’ll share updates from AFSC’s staff in Gaza, tips for advocacy, and then make calls and write letters to Congress. Register here. 

2) Help bring attention to what’s happening in Gaza.  

° Take part in protests. Marches, rallies, and vigils are a powerful way to publicly demonstrate solidarity with Gaza. To make your message loud and clear, download and print our free posters for Palestine. 

° Write a letter to the editor. This is an effective way to show support for Gaza, counter harmful media narratives about what’s happening, and add context that news outlets often miss out on. Use these letter-writing tips.

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Question related to this article:

Presenting the Palestinian side of the Middle East, Is it important for a culture of peace?

How can just one or a few persons contribute to peace and justice?

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3) Learn more about Gaza and lift up Palestinian voices. 

Read “Light in Gaza: Writings Born of Fire.” This anthology features work by 12 Palestinian writers who imagine the future of Gaza beyond the cruelties of occupation and apartheid.  For a limited time, you can download the e-book for free. You can also listen to online conversations with “Light in Gaza” contributors and organize a group in your community to read the book.  Use our study guide  to help facilitate discussions.  

Check out articles by AFSC staff, including: 

Yousef Aljamal’s articles on decimation of education in Gaza and impact of 200 days of genocide in Gaza.

Article by Firas Ramlawi on AFSC’s efforts in Gaza to bring relief to children. 

Article by Zoe Jannuzi on creating community on AFSC’s weekly Action hours for a cease-fire. 

Check out our list of resources about Gaza, including films, articles, books, and websites. Seek out news coverage from outlets with Palestinian journalists reporting from Gaza including the Electronic Intifada, Middle East Eye, Mondoweiss, and Al Jazeera. 

4) Hold corporations accountable for their role in violating the rights of Palestinians in Gaza. 

This war is enabled by the U.S. military industrial complex, as was the case with Israel’s previous attacks on Gaza. This short list includes large weapon manufacturers  that have been complicit in military attacks on Gaza. Here is the list of companies that are profiting from current attacks on Gaza, which will continually be updated by AFSC.

However, that is the tip of the iceberg. Many U.S. corporations are involved in Israel’s apartheid regime and other routine human rights violations against Palestinians. Ensure your money is not contributing to human rights violations—and call on these companies to end their complicity in apartheid and war crimes. 

Visit AFSC’s Investigate website to learn more about companies involved in the occupation, and how you can join efforts to divest or boycott them. 

5) Join us in working to dismantle Israeli apartheid. 

In 2023, AFSC and partners launched the Apartheid-Free initiative. Over 324 communities, groups, and organizations, have pledged to call themselves “Apartheid-Free” and join others in working to end all support to Israel’s apartheid regime, settler colonialism, and military occupation. Use the resources on the Apartheid-Free website and sign up to receive our monthly newsletter to get involved and help build a movement for a world where all people are equal and treated with dignity and respect.

6) Make a gift. 

Donate to support AFSC’s emergency relief in Gaza: Your donation will bring humanitarian relief and support efforts to stop the violence and build conditions for peace.

Support AFSC’s advocacy for Palestinian rights. Help fund our ongoing work with communities across the U.S. to bring about peace, justice, and human dignity for all people. 
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global, Mideast, TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY,

USA: Graduation speeches for the cause of Palestine

. TOLERANCE AND SOLIDARITY . .

Text from You Tube video (transcription by CPNN)

In California, Asna Tabassum, a graduating senior at USC, was selected as valedictorian and offered a traditional slot to speak at the 2024 graduation. She said she supports the pro-Palestinian cause that has grown at college campuses. After on-and-off campus groups criticized the decision and the university said it received threats, it pulled her from the graduation speakers schedule.

In Ohio, the graduating class of the University of Toledo were more fortunate. They were able to hear the speech of their valedictorian on behalf of the people of Palestine. Here is the text of her message.

“Salaam alaikum, meaning peace be upon you all.

“I was born in a beautiful city in Palestine. It is for this moment and this accomplishment that my parents decided to come here and build a life here. So to my mother and father, I’d like to begin by extending my deepest gratitude for their dedication, sacrifices, and love that were cornerstone to my success, as well as my brothers and sisters who have always been there for me. I am not alone in this gratitude. Every single one of you in the audience has sacrificed for a graduate here or contributed to their success in ways that we will never forget. So thank you all.

“Now, it is essential to understand and acknowledge the unique journey that has brought us all to this moment in our time here. In our time here, we have witnessed profound challenges and injustices that have shaken our world like never before. We witnessed and are still witnessing an unprecedented amount of loss of innocent life in Palestine. Over the last seven months, at least 40,000 human beings have been killed by the state of Israel. These people were not only innocent Muslims, but innocent Christians and innocent Jews, as well. These people were civilians, a majority of them children. We have witnessed the demolition of one of the oldest churches in the world, of mosques, of universities, and even of designated safe zones by the United Nations.

“Although today is a day of accomplishments and happiness, this is a difficult reality that we must acknowledge as we proceed to the next chapter of our lives. Why, you may ask? Because we, the people, are funding these horrors with our tax dollars. Every single one of you will continue into your professional lives and be impacted by this.

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Question related to this article:

Presenting the Palestinian side of the Middle East, Is it important for a culture of peace?

How can just one or a few persons contribute to peace and justice?

(continued from left column)

“Consider the following, the fact that teachers who quite literally shape our future are paid less than a full-time and then an average full-time employee or that 1.2 million veterans who put their lives on the line for this country that they live below the poverty line or that our top health insurance companies made nearly 69 billion dollars in profits the same year that 68,000 Americans died due to a lack of access to health care.

“We are the generation that must address these issues at home. We must ask why we have sent around 320 billion dollars in foreign aid to a state convicted of war crimes, countless violations of international law and who are on trial for genocide while Americans are dying due to lack of access to health care.

“This is the message that I want to leave you all with today that we are the generation. A testimony to that statement is the thousands of beautiful brave students, faculty, and administrators who are camping outside of universities demanding for a better use of our funds.

“If there are any of you here who feel as though you cannot relate or are uninterested in what I have said thus far, I would challenge you to consider this. Growing up we learned about the atrocities of the Holocaust, the horrors of slavery, and we wondered how on earth did these things happen. Well, there is a popular phrase that the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. So if you wonder what you would have done during those horrific times, I implore you to take a look at what you are doing right now.

“We are the generation that will not accept being divided based on religion or background. We will not accept unwarranted, uneducated, and hateful labels as we demand a better future for ourselves and for justice.

“I apologise that this is not a typical graduation speech, but there is nothing typical about the times that we are living in. There is nothing typical about 15,000 children live-streamed deaths being watched. And there is nothing acceptable about our institutional complicity, silence, or the gross misuse of police force nationwide.

“The world is in desperate need of change, and we must be the ones to do it. So this goes to everybody here today, my friends and family, professors, deans, and my fellow students. We must use every opportunity we have to make change, no matter how scary it is. As the graduates of today, we have an opportunity to be the heroes of tomorrow.

“If we look to history, we will see that the students have always been on the right side of history. The key to this is solidarity, accepting discomfort at the cost of truth, having difficult conversations to find common grounds, and working together towards Salaam, which if you recall means peace.

“Remember when I leave this stage that my calling was one for peace, so to not support that would not be a reflection of our UT values or our humanity. I will end by sending my Salaam to the struggling teachers and veterans, to my fellow Americans, to my family in Palestine, to the people of Gaza, and to all of those who are fighting for peace.

“Congratulations to you all, and Salaam.”

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Mideast, North America, TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY,

Bringing the Palestinian Message to Australia and New Zealand

. HUMAN RIGHTS . .

Excerpts with pictures of the tour in four installments/posts on the facebook page of the Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability

(Editor’s note: It is not in the headlines of the mass media, but there is a growing consciousness of people around the world that we need to stop the Israeli genocide, and work for a culture of peace. This may be seen in the reception of the people of Australia and New Zealand to the recent tour by Palestinians Mazin Qumsiyeh and his wife Jessie, as described in the following dispatches published on facebook.)

June 14. Prof. Mazin Qumsiyeh and his wife Jessie concluded a very important trip to Australia and New Zealand (Aotearoa). Their goals were to gain long-term support for a) Palestine, b) sustainable human and natural communities globally, and c) Bethlehem University and our Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability (palestinenature.org). The tour involved 53 days in 17 cities (Perth, Adelaide, Sydney, Wollongong, Brisbane, Melbourne, Geelong, Canberra, Hamilton, Napier, Palmerston North, Wanganui, Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, Queenstown, Auckland).

They held 212 events, including speaking at lectures, workshops, rallies, informal gatherings, radio interviews, and media appearances. They drew a wide circle and met with people of all backgrounds: students, scientists, Aboriginal and Maori people, churches, mosques, Rotary clubs, environmental groups, museums, members of parliament in both countries, and local and national officials. They also met with scientists and political, religious, and community leaders. They averaged four events a day. They reached a total of 22,000 individuals and collected more than 3,400 emails to add to our contacts. Furthermore, they initiated over 20 potential joint projects.

There was an urgency regarding the situation in Palestine, involving genocide and ecocide, leading to a regional war and potentially a global catastrophic war. There was also an urgency regarding the state of our planet (e.g., with climate change).

The events also highlighted the ten-year anniversary of our institute (see this video https://youtu.be/qt8OTGoS198 and this booklet https://www.palestinenature.org/annual…/10-Years-PIBS.pdf). Here is a recording of an event with Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa: https://youtu.be/SfeM10YV8kw.

June 14bis. Wrapping up our educational activities in collaboration with Caritas Jerusalem, where we conducted eight visits benefiting 500 children. The aim of this collaboration was to introduce students to the biodiversity of Palestine, particularly in the Al-Makhrour region, and emphasize its importance in the success of environmental agriculture practices. Today, we hosted children from the Latin Scout Beit-Sahour. More educational activities and programs ahead.

June 1. New Zealand’s lectures and talks continue. We have been honoured by the hospitality and care for Palestine everywhere we go: Auckland, Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, Queenstown, etc. We miss Palestine The talks in New Zealand are ongoing. We were honored by hospitality and interest in Palestine everywhere we went: Aukland, Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, Queenstown, but we miss Palestine.

May 23. Jessie and I have been simply overwhelmed with events (2 to 5 events daily plus travel around this southern hemisphere continent). This morning only we had time off (due to an unexpected cancellation) to catch up, enter emails, and write you this note thanks and brief reflection. In our one-month tour of Australia, over 15,000 people heard our message of environmental justice and human rights and our tour of Aotearoa (New Zealand) is just beginning and already had 10 events over the past two days.
 
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Question related to this article:

Presenting the Palestinian side of the Middle East, Is it important for a culture of peace?

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We and our old and new friends were inspired over the past month from these events:-Several university encampments where we are inspired by students and faculty who demand their universities disclose any ties to genocide and divest and call for boycotts like we did with South Africa under apartheid. For more on encampments, see https://www.palestineiseverywhere.com/ and https://www.aljazeera.com/…/mapping-pro-palestine…

-Several rallies like the one in Gadi (aka Sydney) with 10,000 people

-Dozens of lectures at public events like the two events booked solid (300 and 100 people) at the Australian National University (ANU) to many others around the two countries in this continent

-Consultative and welcoming gatherings of activists and aboriginal leadership planning meetings. Here in Aotearoa (aka New Zealand), the Maoris were equally welcoming and inspiring.

-Conferences and conventions like the one of Australia Palestine Action Network (https://apan.org.au/ ) and the Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (https://www.psna.nz/ )

-Many churches and seminaries of various denominations. As a Palestinian Christian, the message resonated of the need for christian communities to take a stand in line with what we Christian communities in the Holy Land have called for which is taking a moral and ethica stand in line with tenets of the faith (see https://www.kairospalestine.ps/ and https://sabeel.org/ )

-Other religious and secular community gatherings sympathetic to the Palestinian cause. I was especially inspired with the dedication of muslim communities from various backgrounds and the Arab communities (Chrisristan, Muslim, others). Their hospitality and kindness helped me feel at home and mitigated my feelings of “homesickness”

-Meeting with parliamentarians. Even during my brief visits over two days, I noted Zionist lobbyists who were not happy to see a Palestinian with a Kufiya in the parliament building. Outside activists organized a rally in front of the parliament building in commemoration of the ongoing Nakba. One MP from the labor party broke rank with her ruling party to say the truth (that it is a genocide and needs to stop). Other MPs show promise,

-Talks at high schools (the kids are amazing)

-Meeting with Rotarian Clubs (I am president of Rotary Club Bethlehem) to tell them of our humanitarian work and look for joint efforts.

-Meetings and talks at Botanic Gardens, seed banks, museums and other institutions doing similar work to ours (see palestinenature.org)

-Media appearances (social, TV, radio, newspapers, websites). Example:
St Mary’s Church/Anglican Cathedral Parnell
Green Left Television Show-1
Green Left Television Show-2
Podbean Climate Action Show

We had positive vibes in every one of these engagements and also grew ourselves with knowledge, new friends (thousands), and energy (spiritual and mental and physical- good food for heart, spirit and even stomach) and we thank all hosts and organizers for exceptional arrangements. We really feel the world changing but we must work hardeer to stop the genocide and decolonize globally. For me and Jessie, onward to more cities and then back to our beloved Palestine which we miss so much and then resume our volunteer and humanitarian work there. To support our collective work in Palestine (which has global reach),

PLEASE

See and act on our call for partnership: https://www.palestinenature.org/donations/PIBS-call.pdf

2) Volunteer (remotely or on site: https://www.palestinenature.org/volunteer

3) Donate https://www.palestinenature.org/donations

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East Asia, HUMAN RIGHTS, Mideast, TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY,

Norway, along with Ireland and Spain, to recognize Palestinian state

. TOLERANCE AND SOLIDARITY . .

An article by Nerijus Adomaitis and Gwladys Fouche from Reuters (reprinted by permission)

Norway will recognise an independent Palestinian state in the hope that this will help to bring peace with Israel, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere said on Wednesday (May 22).

Ireland  and Spain  will also announce the recognition of a Palestinian state, sources said on Wednesday.


Map from Wikipedia. Note the resemblance to maps of the American Empire.

European Union members Slovenia and Malta have also indicated in recent weeks that they plan to make the recognition, arguing a two-state solution is essential for lasting peace in the region.
 
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Question related to this article:

Presenting the Palestinian side of the Middle East, Is it important for a culture of peace?

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“In the middle of a war, with tens of thousands of dead and injured, we must keep alive the only thing that can provide a safe home for both Israelis and Palestinians: two states that can live in peace with each other,” Stoere told a press conference.

Before the announcement, some 143 out of 193 member-states of the United Nations recognised a Palestinian state.

European countries have approached the issue differently. Some, like Sweden, recognised a Palestinian state a decade ago, while France is not planning to do so unless it can be an effective tool to make progress towards peace.

The moves come as Israeli forces have led assaults  on the northern and southern edges of the Gaza Strip in May, causing a new exodus of hundreds of thousands of people, and sharply restricted the flow of aid, raising the risk of famine.

Non-EU member Norway has long said it would recognise Palestine as a country only if it could have a positive impact on the peace process, in step with what the United States has said on the issue.

Norway is a close U.S. ally, and the Nordic country has sought to help broker peace between Israel and the Palestinians on several occasions in recent decades.

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