Events
- 3 September to 5 October 2010: Tadamon Exhibition
Images of solidarity and strength in Palestine
Tadamon means solidarity in Arabic and these images show moments of strength witnessed in the Palestinian struggle for survival.
Moments following extra-judicial killings of beloved members of the community wanted by the Israeli government.
Moments in which people in the West Bank are forced to deal with their confusion and pain brought on by the Gaza war of 2008/2009 – combined with the Palestinian Authority clamping down on protest in the West bank at this desperate time.
Moments such as the bravery of children whose first language has become the politics of survival, out on the streets hurling stones at the wall following yet another bombardment of their cousins in Gaza.
Or moments of the villagers of Nilin and B’lin facing tear gas and stun grenades in their protests, held every Friday since 2004, resisting the illegal apartheid wall built on village lands.
There is a saying in Palestine that ‘to be Palestinian is to exist to resist’ and this essential stubbornness and refusal to disappear, this insistence on being continually present in the face of ongoing repression that interferes in every area of life, is a potent force in the demand for sovereignty.
The price of this is high, and people have been paying it since 1948. But there is no choice but to keep on paying it to resist is to survive.
I love and admire this Palestinian strength in the struggle for self-determination and the moments where dancing and joy overflow despite everything. I am proud to share some of these moments I was honoured to witness during my work in Palestine.
Tadamon Exhibition opens on the 3rd September 2010 at the Freedom Gallery, above Freedom book shop in Angel Alley off Whitechapel High Street. Nearest Tube Aldgate East. Map
The Tadamon Exhibition is open 12.00 – 18.00 Monday to Saturday and Sundays 12.00- 16.00 from 3rd September until October the 5th.
Freedom Bookshop
Angel Alley
84b Whitechapel High Street
London
E1 7QXPennie Quinton
- 11 September 2010, 16:00: PAL JAM – Palestine Direct Action Fundraiser Party and Workshops
Direct actions in support of Palestine, such as blockades of Ahava or Carmel Agrexco don’t pay for themselves, van hire, D-locks etc all cost cash money. Therefore a network of people who carry out such actions are putting on a fundraiser to pay for future actions. Come on down, with a banging line up and a great social centre to have a party in (the Ratstar comes with 2 rooms of music, a cinema room and even a roof terrace, oh yes), there has never been a funner way to support a great cause.
The day kicks off at 4pm, with workshops on direct action, Palestine related film screenings and a Palestinian cafe. Music kicks off at 8pm.
When: Saturday 11th September 4pm – 4am
How much: free before 8pm, £5 suggested donation afterwards, but pay what you can afford
Where: Ratstar Social Centre, 298 Camberwell Road, Camberwell, London, SE5 0DL (10 mins walk from Oval tube station, well serviced by local bus routes)
MUSIC
from banging techno to punk to hip hop to dubstep to drum and bass to accoustic, whatever you’re into we got you covered.
live bands
- Anarchistwood – punk with a very twisted twist
- 52 Commercial Road – Epic post-rock
- The Lightbulb Amnesty – Quirkyness aplenty
- Sarah Bear – Acoustic songs on a soulful/political tip
- Saul Wright - Psychedelic folk from the man that never really really left the 60’s behind
live hip hop
- Cross Bone T – Hard raps and sick beats with a serious message
- H.L.I. (thewhatsupreme and Sensei C) – two hip hop veterans collide showcasing new material. Expect heaviness
- Deir Yassin – Rising British Palestinian rap star Deir Yassin ain’t afraid to spit the truth about his homeland
- EDMC – EDMC AKA Ed Greens brings some politics for your ear
DJs
- We Are Dubbist – No intro needed, the legendary DJ/MC dubstep crew bless us with their presence
- Random – Bristols finest bringing the Techno/Breaks
- DJ Hamza – eclectic mash up to get you dancing
- Sammy B-Side – Cambridge’s veteran Hip Hop selector takes a break from his album to spin for us
- Krank – Banging, banging Techno
- DJ Deadlybuzz – Whomping Dubstep from the Dissident Island radio DJ
- Skanksta – Drum and Bass with a Reggae twist
WORKSHOPS
The workshop line up is now sorted. A Palestinian cafe will also be running from 5pm.
4pm – 5pm
- A History of Palestine/Israel with Asa Winstanley
- An overview of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanction (BDS) movement. The BDS movement was launched 5 years ago by a coalition of over 100 Palestinian trade unions, NGOs and community organisations with the aim of promoting a boycott of Israel until the right of return, an end to the occupation and full civil rights for Palestinian citizens of Israel are achieved. The last two years have seen a huge growth in support for the movement, Michael Deas will look at the history of the movement and its future.
5-6pm
- An overview of direct action campaigns against Israeli settler companies Ahava and Carmel Agrexco (what the fundraiser is for) with Matthew Richardson. Both companies trade in products originating on illegal Israeli settlements in occupied Palestine. Through the use of concrete, superglue, drain pipes, bicycle locks and even horse manure, time and time again these companies operations have been brought to a shuddering halt. This workshop aims to give an overview of the two campaigns, their objectives, and how they feed into the wider movement to free Palestine. It will look at of the kinds of techniques which have been used, and some of the difficulties and dangers which have been encountered. We will explore at the legal rational behind the actions and explain the recent victory of 4 protestors who were acquitted in court after having “locked-on” inside the Ahava shop. We will look at what’s next for the campaign, and most importantly, how to get involved!
- An overview of Brighton’s Smash EDO campaign, which recently saw campaigners who caused over £200,000 worth of damage to the EDO arms factory acquitted of criminal damages on the basis that they were preventing war crimes by stopping EDO selling arms to Israel.
6pm – 8pm
- Screening of Bil’in Habibti, a documentary about the popular struggle against the apartheid wall in the West Bank village of Bil’in, who have demonstrated against the theft of their land by the wall every Friday for over 5 years. Directed by Shai Pollack, activist with Israeli Palestine solidarity group Anarchists Against the Wall.
Asa Winstanley is an independent journalist who writes for Electonic Intifada, the New Left Project and others. He first went to Palestine in 2004 and spent two years living and working in the occupied West Bank. He wrote for and was managing sub editor of the Palestine Times, which was the first Palestinian English-language daily newspaper published from the occupied West Bank.
Michael Deas is the Eurpoean Co-Ordinator of the Palestinian National BDS Comittee.
Matthew Richardson is a human rights activist who has been involved in Palestine solidarity for the past 3 years. He has visited Palestine twice and has been involved in a direct action both in Palestine and also here in the UK.
- 16 October to 17 October 2010: ISM training in London
16-17 October, central London. Email training@ism-london.org.uk to register. See our training page for more information
