Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario Affiliates to Right to Education Campaign
January 2009
The Canadian Federation of Students (Ontario Division) passed the following motion, affiliating the CFS-Ontario to the Right to Education Campaign.
The R2E campaign raises awareness about the conditions that students and academic workers learn and teach under in Palestine. You can learn more about it at http://right2edu.birzeit.edu
MOTION
Local 68/Local 24
Whereas the Federation works to defend the basic human right to an accessible system of post secondary education for all, regardless of race, colour, creed, sexual orientation, ability, class status, nationality, place of origin , or personal or political beliefs
Whereas on the 27th of December, 2008, the Israeli state launched a massive military attack against Gaza, code-named "Operation Cast Lead," and as of January 19, 2009, over 1200 Palestinians had been killed and infrastructure including hospitals, schools and civilian homes had been destroyed; and
Whereas the state of Israel's military has attacked educational institutions in Gaza including:
- on December 27, 2008 an air missile hit the Gaza Training Centre in downtown Gaza City killing 8 students and wounding 19;
- on December 29, 2008 an F-16 fighter plane bombed the Science Laboratory and Library of the Islamic University in Gaza, just a few hours before some of its 20,000 students were to enter the campus to conduct exams;
- on January 3, 2009 a jet levelled the private 'progressive' American school in Gaza, killing its security guard and denying some 200 students their education for the foreseeable future;
- Later the same day, the Agricultural School in Beit Hanoun was damaged by 4 artillery shells; and
- 4 more schools were damaged throughout the Strip; and
Whereas as a direct consequence of the ongoing attacks by the Israeli military, the Gazan education system has been unable to function for the last three weeks; and
Whereas 27 of UNRWA's installations - almost all of which are schools - are being used to shelter 45,000 desperate Gazans who have fled their homes in response to ultimatums by the Israeli army; and
Whereas this recent attack is the single largest massacre in Gaza since Israel illegally occupied the area in 1967, and despite the current cease fire, Israel's current occupation of Palestine and siege on Gaza has dramatic negative implications on how Palestinian youth and their families
access basic human rights including, but not limited to, clean water, food, health care and education; and
Whereas this humanitarian crisis requires an international call from students to demand that we work towards building an environment free of systemic societal oppression including one that is free of military occupation and war; therefore
Be it resolved that a public statement be issued by the Federation condemning the Israeli attacks on civilian and humanitarian targets in Gaza that have lead to the bombing and mass destruction of educational institutions and caused over 1,200 civilian deaths, over 4,000 casualties and the severe erosion of infrastructure; and
Be it further resolved that member locals be encouraged to do the same; and
Be it further resolved that the Canadian government be called upon to pressure the government of Israel to adhere to its international legal obligations to end attacks on civilian infrastructure and to allow unimpeded access for all Palestinians to their educational institutions; and
Be it further resolved that member locals be encouraged to do the same; and
Be it further resolved that Human Rights Watch's call for an unbiased, independent investigation of human rights violations and any violations of the Geneva conventions occurring during the conflict be supported; and
Be it further resolved that the Federation affiliate to the RIGHT TO EDUCATION campaign to defend the right of Palestinian students to access education and educational institutions in the Palestinian territory, and seek to raise awareness about the issues facing Palestinian education, students and teachers under Israeli military occupation; and
Be it further resolved that undertake campaign efforts around the RIGHT TO EDUCATION which should include information on the need to protect and ensure access to education for all students in Palestine and such things as: a reprinting of the education not occupation button and /or a sticker design, fact sheets and/or information on the need to protect and ensure access to
education for all students in Palestine and any student living under war and/or occupation.
Hampshire College Divests from Israeli Apartheid
From: http://www.bdsmovement.net/?q=node/301
Hampshire College in Amherst, MA, has become the first of any college or university in the U.S. to divest from companies on the grounds of their involvement in the Israeli occupation of Palestine.
This landmark move is a direct result of a two-year intensive campaign by the campus group, Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP). The group pressured Hampshire College's Board of Trustees to divest from six specific companies due to human rights concerns in occupied Palestine. Over 800 students, professors, and alumni have signed SJP's 'institutional statement' calling for the divestment.
The proposal put forth by SJP was approved on Saturday, 7 Feb 2009 by the Board. By divesting from these companies, SJP believes that Hampshire has distanced itself from complicity in the illegal occupation and war crimes of Israel.
Meeting minutes from a committee of Hampshire's Board of Trustees confirm that 'President Hexter acknowledged that it was the good work of SJP that brought this issue to the attention of the committee.' This groundbreaking decision follows in Hampshire's history of being the first college in the country to divest from apartheid South Africa thirty-two years ago, a decision based on similar human rights concerns. This divestment was also a direct result of student pressure.
The divestment has so far been endorsed by Noam Chomsky, Howard Zinn, Rashid Khalidi, Vice President of the EU Parliament Luisa Morganitini, Cynthia McKinney, former member of the African National Congress Ronnie Kasrils, Mustafa Barghouti, Israeli historian Ilan Pappe, John Berger, Nobel Peace Laureate Mairead Maguire, and Roger Waters of Pink Floyd, among others.
The six corporations, all of which provide the Israeli military with equipment and services in the Occupied West Bank and Gaza are: Caterpillar, United Technologies, General Electric, ITT Corporation, Motorola, and Terex (see attached info sheet for more information on these corporations.) Furthermore, our policy prevents the reinvestment in any company involved in the illegal occupation.
SJP is responding to a call from Palestinian civil society for Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) as a way of bringing non-violent pressure to bear on the state of Israel to end its violations of international law. SJP is following in the footsteps of many noted groups and institutions such as the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education in the UK, the Israeli group Gush Shalom, the Congress of South African Trade Unions, the Canadian Union of Public Employees, and the American Friends Service Committee.
As well as voicing our opposition to the illegal occupation and the consistent human rights violations of the Palestinian people, we as members of an institute of higher education see it as our moral responsibility to express our solidarity with Palestinian students whose access to education is severely inhibited by the Israeli occupation.
SJP has proven that student groups can organize, rally and pressure their schools to divest from the illegal occupation. The group hopes that this decision will pave the way for other institutions of higher learning in the U.S. to take similar stands.
For More Information:
http://bdsmovement.net/files/PressKit-Hampshire_College_Divestment.pdf
http://www.hsjp.org/
http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/641/t/2439/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=26737
Hampshire College in Amherst, MA, has become the first of any college or university in the U.S. to divest from companies on the grounds of their involvement in the Israeli occupation of Palestine.
This landmark move is a direct result of a two-year intensive campaign by the campus group, Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP). The group pressured Hampshire College's Board of Trustees to divest from six specific companies due to human rights concerns in occupied Palestine. Over 800 students, professors, and alumni have signed SJP's 'institutional statement' calling for the divestment.
The proposal put forth by SJP was approved on Saturday, 7 Feb 2009 by the Board. By divesting from these companies, SJP believes that Hampshire has distanced itself from complicity in the illegal occupation and war crimes of Israel.
Meeting minutes from a committee of Hampshire's Board of Trustees confirm that 'President Hexter acknowledged that it was the good work of SJP that brought this issue to the attention of the committee.' This groundbreaking decision follows in Hampshire's history of being the first college in the country to divest from apartheid South Africa thirty-two years ago, a decision based on similar human rights concerns. This divestment was also a direct result of student pressure.
The divestment has so far been endorsed by Noam Chomsky, Howard Zinn, Rashid Khalidi, Vice President of the EU Parliament Luisa Morganitini, Cynthia McKinney, former member of the African National Congress Ronnie Kasrils, Mustafa Barghouti, Israeli historian Ilan Pappe, John Berger, Nobel Peace Laureate Mairead Maguire, and Roger Waters of Pink Floyd, among others.
The six corporations, all of which provide the Israeli military with equipment and services in the Occupied West Bank and Gaza are: Caterpillar, United Technologies, General Electric, ITT Corporation, Motorola, and Terex (see attached info sheet for more information on these corporations.) Furthermore, our policy prevents the reinvestment in any company involved in the illegal occupation.
SJP is responding to a call from Palestinian civil society for Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) as a way of bringing non-violent pressure to bear on the state of Israel to end its violations of international law. SJP is following in the footsteps of many noted groups and institutions such as the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education in the UK, the Israeli group Gush Shalom, the Congress of South African Trade Unions, the Canadian Union of Public Employees, and the American Friends Service Committee.
As well as voicing our opposition to the illegal occupation and the consistent human rights violations of the Palestinian people, we as members of an institute of higher education see it as our moral responsibility to express our solidarity with Palestinian students whose access to education is severely inhibited by the Israeli occupation.
SJP has proven that student groups can organize, rally and pressure their schools to divest from the illegal occupation. The group hopes that this decision will pave the way for other institutions of higher learning in the U.S. to take similar stands.
For More Information:
http://bdsmovement.net/files/PressKit-Hampshire_College_Divestment.pdf
http://www.hsjp.org/
http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/641/t/2439/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=26737
South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (SATAWU) Refuses to offload a ship coming from Israel to South Africa
CAIA Message of Support and Solidarity
To: South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (SATAWU)
For: Refusing to offload a ship coming from Israel to South Africa carrying Israeli Goods.
The Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid (CAIA) in Canada commends the members of the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (SATAWU) in Durban for making history by being the first group of workers to refuse to offload a ship coming from Israel and carrying Israeli goods (statement from union and South African Solidarity Organizations below). This act is not surprising. As workers who have lived under apartheid in South Africa, they understand the miseries of apartheid and the importance of international solidarity work in the struggle against apartheid regimes. In doing so, the workers are taking a strong position, refusing to accept racism, oppression and apartheid as acceptable norms. Today, South Africa is leading the world in the struggle against Israeli apartheid, and giving a clear message, that unless Israel ends
the apartheid system it imposes on the Palestinian people, it will be boycotted by the rest of the world.
This act comes at a time when Israel has increased the level and intensity of its crimes against the Palestinian people in Gaza. The brave South African workers are showing the world that Israel should, and could be held accountable for its crimes. At the time when the UN and the “international community” have repeatedly letdown the Palestinians, the South African workers have shown everyone that it is not only up to the governments, but also individuals, groups and unions and have the power to hold Israel to account.
This act is part of the growing Boycotts Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign against Israel that was called for by 171 Palestinian civil society organizations in 2005. This campaign was inspired by the struggle against apartheid in South Africa, and today, South Africans are inspiring the world again by making breakthroughs in the Palestinian BDS campaign. Members of SATAWU are not alone in this struggle. In the past month alone, a number of unions from different parts of the world, including Australia, New Zealand and Norway joined the struggle against Israeli apartheid by adopting the BDS campaign. In Canada, two major labour unions have joined the BDS campaign. In 2006 the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Ontario decided to adopt the campaign, and in 2008 the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) joined the campaign.
The Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid (CAIA) is a Palestine solidarity organization based in Toronto (Canada) and is part of a growing global movement against Israeli apartheid. CAIA was formed in January 2006 and is active in different levels including among students, faculty, labor unions and high schools. For more details, please visit the website www.caiaweb.org or send an
email to endapartheid@riseup.net.
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Statement from South Africa
FREE PALESTINE! ISOLATE APARTHEID ISRAEL!
COSATU and PSC launch Week of Action for Palestine supported by YCL and other progressive organisations
Media Conference, COSATU House, 3 February 2009, 11am
In a historic development for South Africa, South African dock workers have announced their determination not to offload a ship from Israel that is scheduled to dock in Durban on Sunday, 8 February 2009. This follows the decision by COSATU to strengthen the campaign in South Africa for boycotts, divestment and sanctions against Apartheid Israel.
The pledge by SATAWU members in Durban reflects the commitment by South African workers to refuse to support oppression and exploitation across the globe. Last year, Durban dock workers had refused to offload a shipment of arms that had arrived from China and was destined for Zimbabwe to prop up the Mugabe regime and to intensify the repression against the Zimbabwean people. Now, says SATAWU’s General Secretary Randall Howard, the union’s members are committing themselves to not handling Israeli goods.
SATAWU’s action on Sunday will be part of a proud history of worker resistance against apartheid. In 1963, just four years after the Anti-Apartheid Movement was formed, Danish dock workers refused to offload a ship with South African goods. When the ship docked in Sweden, Swedish workers followed suit. Dock workers in Liverpool and, later, in the San Francisco Bay Area also refused to offload South African goods. South Africans, and the South African working class in particular, will remain forever grateful to those workers who determinedly opposed apartheid and decided that they would support the anti-apartheid struggle with their actions.
Last week, Western Australian members of the Maritime Union of Australia resolved to support the campaign for boycotts, divestment and sanctions against Israel, and have called for a boycott of all Israeli vessels and all vessels bearing goods arriving from or going to Israel.
This is the legacy and the tradition that South African dock workers have inherited, and it is a legacy they are determined to honour, by ensuring that South African ports of entry will not be used as transit points for goods bound for or emanating from certain dictatorial and oppressive states such as Zimbabwe, Swaziland and Israel.
COSATU, the Palestine Solidarity Committee, the Young Communist League and a range of other organisations salute the principled position taken by these workers. We also take this opportunity to salute the millions of workers all over the world who have openly condemned and taken decisive steps to isolate apartheid Israel, a step that should send shockwaves to its arrogant patrons in the United States who foot the bill for Israel’s killing machine. We call on
other workers and unions to follow suit and to do all that is necessary to ensure that they boycott all goods to and from Israel until Palestine is free.
We also welcome statements by various South African Jews of conscience who have dissociated themselves from the genocide in Gaza. We call on all South Africans to ensure that none of our family members are allowed to join the Israeli Occupation Forces’ killing machine.
In celebration of the actions of SATAWU members with regard to the ship from Israel, and in pursuance of the campaign for boycotts, divestment and sanctions against Israel, and our call on the South African government to sever diplomatic and trade relations with Israel, this coalition of organisations has declared a week of action beginning on Friday, 6 February 2009. The actions will be organised under the theme:
FREE PALESTINE! ISOLATE APARTHEID ISRAEL!
To: South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (SATAWU)
For: Refusing to offload a ship coming from Israel to South Africa carrying Israeli Goods.
The Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid (CAIA) in Canada commends the members of the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (SATAWU) in Durban for making history by being the first group of workers to refuse to offload a ship coming from Israel and carrying Israeli goods (statement from union and South African Solidarity Organizations below). This act is not surprising. As workers who have lived under apartheid in South Africa, they understand the miseries of apartheid and the importance of international solidarity work in the struggle against apartheid regimes. In doing so, the workers are taking a strong position, refusing to accept racism, oppression and apartheid as acceptable norms. Today, South Africa is leading the world in the struggle against Israeli apartheid, and giving a clear message, that unless Israel ends
the apartheid system it imposes on the Palestinian people, it will be boycotted by the rest of the world.
This act comes at a time when Israel has increased the level and intensity of its crimes against the Palestinian people in Gaza. The brave South African workers are showing the world that Israel should, and could be held accountable for its crimes. At the time when the UN and the “international community” have repeatedly letdown the Palestinians, the South African workers have shown everyone that it is not only up to the governments, but also individuals, groups and unions and have the power to hold Israel to account.
This act is part of the growing Boycotts Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign against Israel that was called for by 171 Palestinian civil society organizations in 2005. This campaign was inspired by the struggle against apartheid in South Africa, and today, South Africans are inspiring the world again by making breakthroughs in the Palestinian BDS campaign. Members of SATAWU are not alone in this struggle. In the past month alone, a number of unions from different parts of the world, including Australia, New Zealand and Norway joined the struggle against Israeli apartheid by adopting the BDS campaign. In Canada, two major labour unions have joined the BDS campaign. In 2006 the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Ontario decided to adopt the campaign, and in 2008 the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) joined the campaign.
The Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid (CAIA) is a Palestine solidarity organization based in Toronto (Canada) and is part of a growing global movement against Israeli apartheid. CAIA was formed in January 2006 and is active in different levels including among students, faculty, labor unions and high schools. For more details, please visit the website www.caiaweb.org or send an
email to endapartheid@riseup.net.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Statement from South Africa
FREE PALESTINE! ISOLATE APARTHEID ISRAEL!
COSATU and PSC launch Week of Action for Palestine supported by YCL and other progressive organisations
Media Conference, COSATU House, 3 February 2009, 11am
In a historic development for South Africa, South African dock workers have announced their determination not to offload a ship from Israel that is scheduled to dock in Durban on Sunday, 8 February 2009. This follows the decision by COSATU to strengthen the campaign in South Africa for boycotts, divestment and sanctions against Apartheid Israel.
The pledge by SATAWU members in Durban reflects the commitment by South African workers to refuse to support oppression and exploitation across the globe. Last year, Durban dock workers had refused to offload a shipment of arms that had arrived from China and was destined for Zimbabwe to prop up the Mugabe regime and to intensify the repression against the Zimbabwean people. Now, says SATAWU’s General Secretary Randall Howard, the union’s members are committing themselves to not handling Israeli goods.
SATAWU’s action on Sunday will be part of a proud history of worker resistance against apartheid. In 1963, just four years after the Anti-Apartheid Movement was formed, Danish dock workers refused to offload a ship with South African goods. When the ship docked in Sweden, Swedish workers followed suit. Dock workers in Liverpool and, later, in the San Francisco Bay Area also refused to offload South African goods. South Africans, and the South African working class in particular, will remain forever grateful to those workers who determinedly opposed apartheid and decided that they would support the anti-apartheid struggle with their actions.
Last week, Western Australian members of the Maritime Union of Australia resolved to support the campaign for boycotts, divestment and sanctions against Israel, and have called for a boycott of all Israeli vessels and all vessels bearing goods arriving from or going to Israel.
This is the legacy and the tradition that South African dock workers have inherited, and it is a legacy they are determined to honour, by ensuring that South African ports of entry will not be used as transit points for goods bound for or emanating from certain dictatorial and oppressive states such as Zimbabwe, Swaziland and Israel.
COSATU, the Palestine Solidarity Committee, the Young Communist League and a range of other organisations salute the principled position taken by these workers. We also take this opportunity to salute the millions of workers all over the world who have openly condemned and taken decisive steps to isolate apartheid Israel, a step that should send shockwaves to its arrogant patrons in the United States who foot the bill for Israel’s killing machine. We call on
other workers and unions to follow suit and to do all that is necessary to ensure that they boycott all goods to and from Israel until Palestine is free.
We also welcome statements by various South African Jews of conscience who have dissociated themselves from the genocide in Gaza. We call on all South Africans to ensure that none of our family members are allowed to join the Israeli Occupation Forces’ killing machine.
In celebration of the actions of SATAWU members with regard to the ship from Israel, and in pursuance of the campaign for boycotts, divestment and sanctions against Israel, and our call on the South African government to sever diplomatic and trade relations with Israel, this coalition of organisations has declared a week of action beginning on Friday, 6 February 2009. The actions will be organised under the theme:
FREE PALESTINE! ISOLATE APARTHEID ISRAEL!
Jewish Women Occupy Israeli Consulate in Toronto
January 7, 2009 - Toronto, ON
A group of 8 Jewish–Canadian women successfully occupied the Israeli Consulate in Toronto today. They were arrested, held in a police wagon for about an hour and then released with no charges. Despite some physical violence on the part of the Israeli Consulate security staff, the protesters left uninjured. At least 50 supporters rallied outside the consulate in a show of solidarity. The action was in protest against the on-going Israeli assault on the people of Gaza.
Most of the women had never been arrested before. "We felt so strongly about protesting this terrible violence against the Palestinian people" said Smadar Carmon, "that we decided to take extraordinary action. We hope others, Jews and non-Jews will follow our lead and speak out against the Israeli massacres, the on-going siege and in solidarity with the people of Gaza."
The group carried out this occupation in solidarity with the 1.5 million people of Gaza and to ensure that Jewish voices against the massacre in Gaza are being heard. They entered the consulate to demand that Israel end its military assault and lift the 18-month siege on the Gaza Strip to allow humanitarian aid into the territory. The occupation was peaceful, but disrupted the work of the consul for the day.
Israel has been carrying out a full-scale military assault on the Gaza Strip since December 27, 2008. At least 700 people have been killed and over 3000 injured in the air strikes and ground invasion that began on January 3, 2009. Yesterday, the Israeli army attacked a UN school, killing at least 30 people, including several children. Israel has ignored international calls for a ceasefire and is refusing to allow food, medical supplies and other necessities of life into the Gaza Strip.
Protesters and their supporters are outraged at Israel's latest assault on the Palestinian people and by the Canadian government's refusal to condemn these massacres. They are deeply concerned that Canadians are hearing the views of pro-Israel groups who are being represented as the only voice of Jewish Canadians. The protesters occupied the consulate to send a clear statement that many Jewish-Canadians do not support Israel and its violence and apartheid policies. They join with people of conscience across the world who are demanding an end to Israeli aggression and justice for the Palestinian people.
A group of 8 Jewish–Canadian women successfully occupied the Israeli Consulate in Toronto today. They were arrested, held in a police wagon for about an hour and then released with no charges. Despite some physical violence on the part of the Israeli Consulate security staff, the protesters left uninjured. At least 50 supporters rallied outside the consulate in a show of solidarity. The action was in protest against the on-going Israeli assault on the people of Gaza.
Most of the women had never been arrested before. "We felt so strongly about protesting this terrible violence against the Palestinian people" said Smadar Carmon, "that we decided to take extraordinary action. We hope others, Jews and non-Jews will follow our lead and speak out against the Israeli massacres, the on-going siege and in solidarity with the people of Gaza."
The group carried out this occupation in solidarity with the 1.5 million people of Gaza and to ensure that Jewish voices against the massacre in Gaza are being heard. They entered the consulate to demand that Israel end its military assault and lift the 18-month siege on the Gaza Strip to allow humanitarian aid into the territory. The occupation was peaceful, but disrupted the work of the consul for the day.
Israel has been carrying out a full-scale military assault on the Gaza Strip since December 27, 2008. At least 700 people have been killed and over 3000 injured in the air strikes and ground invasion that began on January 3, 2009. Yesterday, the Israeli army attacked a UN school, killing at least 30 people, including several children. Israel has ignored international calls for a ceasefire and is refusing to allow food, medical supplies and other necessities of life into the Gaza Strip.
Protesters and their supporters are outraged at Israel's latest assault on the Palestinian people and by the Canadian government's refusal to condemn these massacres. They are deeply concerned that Canadians are hearing the views of pro-Israel groups who are being represented as the only voice of Jewish Canadians. The protesters occupied the consulate to send a clear statement that many Jewish-Canadians do not support Israel and its violence and apartheid policies. They join with people of conscience across the world who are demanding an end to Israeli aggression and justice for the Palestinian people.
'Jafa - A Bulletin in Solidarity with Palestinian Workers and Unions'
Labour for Palestine is proud to launch:
-------------------------------------------------------
'Jafa - A Bulletin in Solidarity with Palestinian Workers and Unions'
--------------------------------------------------------
** available for download at www.caiaweb.org/labourcommittee **
As an initiative coming out of the first Labour for Palestine conference, held in Toronto May-June 2008, we are pleased to bring you the first issue of 'Jafa: A Bulletin in Solidarity with Palestinian Workers and Unions'.
Jafa will be published quarterly and aims to bring together news and analysis on the situation of Palestinian workers and unions wherever they are - in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, citizens of Israel, refugee camps and across the diaspora.
We stand in solidarity with the 2005 call from Palestine for a campaign of boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israeli Apartheid. This call was signed by all major Palestinian trade union
federations, including the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions.
Jafa takes its name from the Arabic acronym for the Palestinian Arab Workers Society (Jame'yat Alomal Al Falestiniya Alarabiya), the first Palestinian labour federation founded in Haifa in on March 21, 1925. As part of our mandate, we hope to help in the rediscovery of the history of Palestinian trade unionism and workers struggles in the region.
The first issue includes articles on the deaths and harassment of Palestinian workers in the West Bank, Palestinian date-pickers in the Jordan Valley, the Palestinian Reform and Development Plan, and updates on solidarity initiatives globally.
We encourage you to download Jafa at www.caiaweb.org and take copies to labour events, union offices and your workplace. Bulk hard copies can be ordered for a small cost from labour@caiaweb.org
We also encourage submissions, letters from rank-and-file workers and unionists across the globe.
In solidarity
Labour for Palestine, Toronto
labour@caiaweb.org
-------------------------------------------------------
'Jafa - A Bulletin in Solidarity with Palestinian Workers and Unions'
--------------------------------------------------------
** available for download at www.caiaweb.org/labourcommittee **
As an initiative coming out of the first Labour for Palestine conference, held in Toronto May-June 2008, we are pleased to bring you the first issue of 'Jafa: A Bulletin in Solidarity with Palestinian Workers and Unions'.
Jafa will be published quarterly and aims to bring together news and analysis on the situation of Palestinian workers and unions wherever they are - in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, citizens of Israel, refugee camps and across the diaspora.
We stand in solidarity with the 2005 call from Palestine for a campaign of boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israeli Apartheid. This call was signed by all major Palestinian trade union
federations, including the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions.
Jafa takes its name from the Arabic acronym for the Palestinian Arab Workers Society (Jame'yat Alomal Al Falestiniya Alarabiya), the first Palestinian labour federation founded in Haifa in on March 21, 1925. As part of our mandate, we hope to help in the rediscovery of the history of Palestinian trade unionism and workers struggles in the region.
The first issue includes articles on the deaths and harassment of Palestinian workers in the West Bank, Palestinian date-pickers in the Jordan Valley, the Palestinian Reform and Development Plan, and updates on solidarity initiatives globally.
We encourage you to download Jafa at www.caiaweb.org and take copies to labour events, union offices and your workplace. Bulk hard copies can be ordered for a small cost from labour@caiaweb.org
We also encourage submissions, letters from rank-and-file workers and unionists across the globe.
In solidarity
Labour for Palestine, Toronto
labour@caiaweb.org
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Petition for the Creation of a Special Tribunal to try Israeli War Criminals
Please Sign Petition for the Creation of a Special Tribunal to try Israeli War Criminals
http://www.petitiononline.com:
THE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR THE ELIMINATION OF ALL FORMS OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION (EAFORD)
5 route des Morillons, CP 2100. 1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland
Telephone: (022) 788.62.33 Fax: (022) 788.62.45 e-mail: info@eaford.org
PLEASE SIGN PETITION
To President and Member States of UN General Assembly
The Creation of a Special Tribunal to try Israeli War Criminals
Israeli TV Broadcast
The videos posted, show the effects of indiscriminate firing by the Israeli Defense Forces. The home of a doctor, working in the Gaza Strip as medical aid and informant/reporter for an Israeli Television station, was bombed, killing his daughters and fatally injuring other family members. This was aired on Israeli Television.
Here are two links to the story:
Here are two links to the story:
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