Report Back from Lebanon – Palestinian Refugees in the 60th Year After Al-Nakba – 5/7, Peace Center

Union of Progressive Iranians & Women In Black Present

Report Back from Lebanon

Palestinian Refugees in the 60th Year After Al-Nakba

Wednesday, May 7th – 7:00 PM

The Peace Center

8124 West 3rd Street, Los Angeles

In May 2007 Nahr al Bared Refugee Camp, home to over 40,000 Palestinian refugees, became the site of a 4-month battle between the Lebanese Army and extremist group Fatah al-Islam. During this time over 40 civilians, 167 soldiers and over 200 Fatah al-Islam members were killed. 40,000 refugees were displaced.

Dr. Laila Al-Marayati traveled to Lebanon to visit Palestinian refugee camps in November 2007.  She witnessed firsthand the devastation of the Nahr el Bared Camp as a result of fighting between a militant group and Lebanese armed forces. Over 30,000 refugees had to flee yet again to escape the fighting and now are faced with even more dire living conditions.

Kelly Hayes-Raitt joined a delegation to Lebanon with the Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee in September 2007, commemorating the 25th anniversary of the massacres at Sabra and Shatilla, where 3,000 innocent refugees were slaughtered.  She interviewed survivors and victims’ family members, as well as displaced Nahr el-Bared refugees at the Beddawi camp.  Kelly will be leaving this week to join a delegation to Mindanao, Philippines.  She records her experiences at www.PeacePATHFoundation.org

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

7:00 p.m.

The Peace Center

8124 West 3rd Street

[The Peace Center is five blocks west of the intersection of

Fairfax and West 3rd Street.  Some parking in the only “covered

lot off the alley.  A map to the Peace Center is available at www.mapquest.com

by entering the address and zip code 90048.

For information call 323-660-1553 or 818-636-2844

Radio Intifada: The Deir Yassin Massacre, 4/10 3pm on KPFK

RADIO INTIFADA SPECIAL

intifada=shaking off – oppression/silence

Voices from Kolkata to Casablanca
Voices of struggle, Voices for change

Thursday, April 10, 2008 3-4pm PDT

KPFK/Pacifica Radio 90.7 fm, Los Angeles

streaming at kpfk.org and available on audio archive for 90 days

NOTHING TO CELEBRATE I:

COMMEMORATING THE DEIR YASSIN

MASSACRE OF APRIL 9, 1948

Sixty years ago, on April 9, 1948, over 100 men, women and children in the Jerusalem district village of Deir Yassin were murdered by the forces of the Irgun and Stern gangs. As Israel calls for its celebration of 60 years, we say, “There is Nothing to Celebrate.” Instead, Palestinians and Jews alike throughout the world are marking the 60th year of the Palestinian nakba (catastrophe).

Radio Intifada’s program this week marks the anniversary of the Deir Yassin massacre, both with a historical discussion of the events and a discussion of the Palestinian, Israeli and North American Jewish efforts to counter the predominant Israeli narrative and celebrations.

Guests:

Professor Naseer Aruri, noted author, Chancellor Professor (Emeritus) of political science, U of Massachusets, Dartmouth, chair of the board of Trans-Arab

Eitan Bronstein, Israeli founder of Zochcrot and organizer of “Nakbah in Hebrew” campaigns, including the ceremony at the village of Deir Yassin,

Omar Barghouti, independent Palestinian cultural and political analyst based in Jerusalem. He is a founding member of PACBI, the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel

Ari Lev Fornari, antizionist Jew currently living in San Francisco and member of No Time to Celebrate: Jews Remember the Nakba campaign

and Al Faris, Los Angeles-based actor, who will be reading from documents related to the Dayr Yasin massacre

Produced and hosted by Sherna Gluck of SWANA (South and West Asia and North Africa Collective) of KPFK

Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights Conference in Canada

“Bridge of Return”

Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights (SPHR) 10^th Anniversary Conference during the 60^th year of ethnic cleansing in Palestine

www.sphr.org

May 2-4, 2008 in Montréal, Canada

Call out to all persons working in Solidarity with the Palestinian people in North America. To all student, professional, and solidarity activists; please join us in our Annual Conference, May 2-5, 2008 in Montreal to confront the 60^th year of the Palestinian Nakbah.

SPHR this year will be 10 years old. We are calling on all student groups, professors and solidarity activists working for Palestinian Human Rights in North America to join us in Montreal for the weekend of May 2nd to 4th 2008, for more than just a debate. We are organizing for a genuine exchange between all members of our community so that we can better defend our common cause for justice in Palestine.

We are holding a series of roundtables, workshops, and direct action activities that run under three categories. Those categories are:

• Zionist Apartheid and the One State Solution.
• Indigenous Solidarity from Here to Palestine.
• Tools for Justice: BDS, Direct Actions, and Movement Building.

We will also be holding the General Assembly for SPHR members, including the elections of the 2008/09 SPHR Board of Directors and Executive team.

Registration details:

Conference Registration includes lunches, refreshments, free entree to evening public panels and for non students 1 year membership in SPHR-National.

Costs: $30/Students; $50 for non-students.

Location(s): May 2^nd “Opening Plenary” event will take place in McGill University. All other events/workshops will be held in Concordia University May 3^rd and 4^th.

Registration: email info@sphr.org or at the conference locations Starting May 2 @ 5pm.

Details: Evening events are open to the public with a minimum donation of $5.

CEIA-SC Al Nakba Event, Sunday 3/13 in Santa Monica

US Campaign “Expressions of Nakba” Commemoration

Last Chance for

“Expressions of Nakba” Entries

DEADLINE: Sunday, March 30, 2008 (Land Day)

The year 2008 marks the 60^th anniversary of the Nakba (“the catastrophe”): the expulsion and dispossession of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from their homes and land in 1948.

The US Campaign is soliciting entries for a commemoration of the Nakba through personal expressions in the form of visual arts, essays, poetry, music, video and digital media at: http://expressionsofnakba.org

“Expressions of Al-Nakba” is an international competition which seeks to present the extraordinary narrative of a dispossessed people through a diverse range of expressions that interpret the collective identity, historic struggle, and emotional experience of the Nakba for Palestinians.  The competition strives to highlight the ongoing effects of the Nakba on the contemporary life of Palestinian refugees along with a deeper exploration of the many emerging notions of being in “exile” today.

COMPETITION

The Competition accepts original entries pertaining to the themes of the Nakba in the following categories:

1. Written Work – Poetry and Short Essays (both no more than 1500 words)
2. Recorded Audio – Spoken Word and Music (less than 5 minutes)
3. Visual Arts – Illustration, Painting, Photography and Mixed-Media Work
4. Poster Design – Poster-quality Graphic Design for use in Public Awareness Campaign
5. Digital Media – Digital Video Shorts and Interactive Media (less than 10 minutes)

Entries from youth (age 18 or under) are encouraged for special recognition by the Competition. You may submit multiple entries in any category. There is no Entry Fee.

Deadlines and Awards

Submission Deadline: March 30^th, 2008 (commemorated as Land Day)

Gaza Siege/Ceasefire Demo, Sunday 3/27

Join LA Jews for Peace in a GAZA SIEGE/CEASE FIRE Protest

 

Sunday, March 30, 2-4 PM

 

Westwood Blvd at Weyburn Ave. in the heart of Westwood village.

Israel’s siege of Gaza continues. 1.5 million people are still being held at the brink of starvation.
A cease fire will stop the killing on all sides.

We will have signs that read:

• CEASE FIRE BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HAMAS
  
• END U.S. SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL SIEGE OF GAZA
• END U.S. SUPPORT FOR COLLECTIVE PUNISHMENT OF GAZA
• STARVING CHILDREN IS NOT A JEWISH VALUE
• STOP THE KILLING – GAZA CEASE FIRE NOW

Bring your own signs. No flags please. Our focus is humanitarian.

 

Information: info@LAJewsforPeace.org

www.LAJewsforPeace.org or call Jeff at 562-694-1637

Women in Black event Thursday, 3/27 at USC Campus

This Thursday, March 27th Students for Justice in Palestine and the Political Student Assembly presents Women in Black. Women in Black is a network of women who are “actively opposed to injustice, war, militarism and other forms of violence.” This event will focus on the politics that have allowed for the occupation of Palestine to go on unchallenged and that continue to be used to keep it alive.

What: Women in Black
When: 5 pm Thursday March 27th
Where: VKC 256
Why: To learn more about the politics surrounding the occupation of Palestine!

Free Papa Cristos will be served for dinner.

Radio Intifada, Thurs. Mar 20, Women’s Struggles in Palestine and Lebanon

RADIO INTIFADA

intifada=shaking off – oppression/silence

Voices from Kolkata to Casablanca
Voices of struggle, Voices for change

Thursday, March 20, 2008 3-4pm PDT

KPFK/Pacifica Radio 90.7 fm, Los Angeles

streaming at kpfk.org and available on audio archive for 90 days

 

Palestine and Lebanon: Women Struggling on Two Fronts

   
In honor of International Women’s Day (March 8th) and Women’s History Month, Radio Intifada is dedicating our March programs to the struggles of women in the SWANA region. This week we will focus on Palestine and Lebanon and explore how women struggle on two fronts – for their own rights/freedom and for democracy and self determination of their nations.

Guests:

Maha Nassar – Ramallah, Chair, Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees, veteran of Intifada I

Rania Elias –  Director, Yabous Productions, a Palestinian organization based in Jerusalem working mainly in performing arts. And a member of the PACBI “BOYCOTT CAMPAIGN”

Suheir Ismael Farraj – Palestinian filmmaker and director of TAM – Women Media and Development Assn, located in Bethlehem, working in all of Palestine

Zeina Zattari – Senior Program Officer for the Middle East and North Africa at the Global Fund for Women and a member of the National Council of Arab Americans.

Produced by Sherna Gluck and co-hosted with Rana Sharif

dedicated to the memory of Elias Ibrahim

Emergency Protest for Gaza: Friday, 12:30 pm, Los Angeles

EMERGENY PROTEST FOR GAZA

Friday, March 7th – Jumu`ah @ 12:30pm

Followed by Demonstration / March
Register NOW @ eMuslimEvents.com

6380 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles CA 90048

BE THERE..

Contact:

Mohammad Galal:949-394-5361
Amira Yousef : 714-913-5918

or Email  Mohammad.Harake@gmail.com

Women in Black Gaza Vigil–Tuesday, 2/26, 7pm at Wilshire Theatre

WHAT: A silent vigil in support of the people of Gaza

WHERE: Wilshire Theatre, 8440 Wilshire Blvd, SouthWest corner of Wilshire and Hamilton, near the man on the horse, Beverly Hills

WHEN:  Tuesday night, February 26, 7:00 pm

REASON: The pro-Israel group, Stand with Us, is “launching its 60th anniversary of Israel’s independence” with a concert for the children of Sderot at the Wilshire Theatre.

Yet, as Israel’s supporters celebrate the its 1948 declaration of statehood, 2008 also marks the 60th year of al Nakba (“the catastrophe”) when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were violently expelled from their homes and driven from their native land.

Today, the people of Gaza live in a prison, surrounded by 27-foot walls.  Supplies of food, fuel, electricity, potable water, medicine, water filters and much more are severely restricted by Israel.  The children of Gaza are at even more risk than the children of Sderot of being maimed or killed.

Why is the Stand with Us concert only for Sderot’s children and not for Gaza’s children as well?

Please join us in silent protest at 7 pm.  Our signs say:

SAVE THE CHILDREN OF GAZA AND SDEROT

KILLING ANY CHILD IS WRONG

STOP THE SEIGE OF GAZA

STOP ISRAELI WAR CRIMES IN GAZA

Signed by:

Women in Black Los Angeles
For more information, please contact 310-422-7242