Youth Against Normalization

Jul 23, 2011

#BDS: Make A Dream Come True : Just Once, Please – for Nader K.

Make a Dream “Just Once, Please…” Come True!

On June 19 we reposted a touching blogpost (see below) of Nader aka @imNadz from Gaza about the difficulties Gazans are facing in education, and his hope and his despair on chances for a scholarship abroad.

All his and our prayers have been heard because Nader – unless the highly competitive demands – has reveived an unconditional offer for an MCS Business Intelligence & Analytics at the University of Westmister in UK!

The full time 1 year course is starting in September 2011 so time is limited for arrangements for the Confirmations of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) only is issued after the years tuiton fees. This means the University only isssues the CAS after payment of £4000 which is obligatory as well to be able to apply for a student visa to travel even out of Gaza. So a very limited time to arrange all especially for as almost all students and especially even talented ones like Nader in Gaza are jobless and without any income at all. Hence, over 70% of Gazans are even dependant on food aid for staying alive.

This blog does not fundraise for itself. We sometimes fundraise for special occassion, mostly when urgent surgeries are needed for children in Gaza with severe diseaseses, cancer, born with heart-diseases and so on. This time, knowing Nader and his endless fights for being able to study we want to post this appeal to make his dream come true and ask you all for a little help because together we can change someone’s life and opportunities.

Needless to say, for almost anyone else in the world education or traveling abroad for education is something obvious and nothing special. But for someone in Gaza it is almost impossible without some help from others.

So our appeal is: Let’s Make His Dream “Just Once, Please… ” Come True!

The total fees for academic year 2011/12 starting in September 2011 according to tuitionfees spreadsheet published on the website of the University of Westminster the costs for the expenses are:

Estimated Monthly Expenses in GBP

Type	Estimated Cost
Tuiton Fees	10,785*
Accomodation	650
Bills	50
Transportation	70
Living Expenses	400

* Total fees for academic year 2011/12 starting in September 2011 according to tuition

Given the financial opportunity with some help of us all makes Nader able to complete an MSc Business Intelligence and Analytics degree would mean his dream of becoming an Advanced Data Analyst could be realized.

For more information contact @imNadZ, or to make a direct donation via his weblog and be part of making this dream and once in a lifetime chance into reality go to the weblog of Nader : Sleepless in Gaza

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June 19, 2011 | Nader K | Sleepless in Gaza

Just Once, Please - by Nader K.

It was Thursday when Ziyaad, Mohammed, Mr. Refaat and I met in the evening to watch the sunset and converse, as we left the plan for rest of the night to be decided later. The usual conversation then went from about life to almost all aspects; whether be it social, economical, political, educations, or anything you could possibly think of.

We then started talking about education once again. Mohammed is going to London School of Economics (LSE) to do his Masters in Global Politics, Mr. Refaat is going to Kent University to do his PhD in Comparative Literature, while I was still not sure about what should happen next. My mind starts to wonder off to three weeks ago, when I received an unconditional offer from the University of Westminster for a Masters degree in Business Intelligence and Analytics.

It was a sunny Friday when I received an email from the admissions office in the University of Westminster, telling me that the University has made an unconditional offer, for the previously mentioned course, starting in September 2011. This very email was the first ever to put me in tears. I was very happy that I’d finally made it half way through to the UK!

Three hours later, I applied to the scholarship, without which, I won’t be able to continue my education! All required papers were submitted. TOEFL and IELTS, full transcript, Résumé, etc. The scholarship sent a confirmation receipt by email a few hours later. I lean back and grab my cup of coffee with a wide smile. I felt so close to leaving Gaza for the first time in my life.

All of this flashed in front of my eyes in a fraction of a second, and I am back to reality when Mr. Refaat asked me: “So, Nader, for which scholarship did you apply?” With utmost courage I replied: “PEACE”. As soon as I said that, the whole atmosphere changed to absolute silence, which, in fact, terrified me a little bit and made me feel a bit uncomfortable, as I sensed something wrong. “What’s wrong?” I asked, breaking the silence, wanting to bring the old atmosphere back. “Nothing!” Mr. Refaat replied, stopped for second and continued, “Did you know that this is one of the highly competitive scholarships?”

Once again, my feelings were right. I knew something bad wass going to happen because nothing has ever gone right so far. Then Mr. Refaat continued, “I know many who have applied to this very scholarship and I believe that it is going to be highly competitive this year”, “Yeah, right” I said to myself and the topic changed somehow and we ditched this topic as it was time for Maghrib.

I spent fifteen minutes thinking of what Mr. Refaat had said over and over again and the more I thought about it, the more that creepy feeling got me. So I just decided to leave and go to the gym to release the depression and clear my mind at least for an hour.

It took me two whole days to recover from that shock. Also, thanks to my friends who have helped me through this. Without them, I wouldn’t have come to realize that I am a competitor and I deserve to get it for my rich work experience and academic excellence. I am not depressed anymore, but not getting the scholarship will be totally devastating.

If you happen to be or know someone in the scholarships office in the university, talk to them about my case please. Otherwise, just pray I get it. Help me help make the world a better place.

Nader K.

Source and more Stories, Poems and Diaries from Nader at SleeplessInGaza

#BDS: Paul Simon violates the boycott call and performs in Tel Aviv

"It didn't matter where you sat, stood or danced at Thursday night's Paul Simon concert in Tel Aviv, the music swirled around you and swept you up. For such a large venue, there was an intimacy normally associated with club gigs, which emanated directly from the artist and extended right to the very back of the stadium, where the crowd danced, cheered and sang along just as enthusiastically as the lucky few at the very front."

#BDS: Coop #Sweden stops all purchases of Israeli Soda Stream carbonation devices

"On July 19 the Swedish News Agency (TT) reported that Coop has decided to terminate all purchases of Soda Stream carbonation devices after it was revealed that they are still produced in the occupied Palestinian territories (oPt). Selling products from occupied territories disputes Coop’s own ethical standard as well as Global Compact, the UN ethical guidelines for businesses.

The Palestine Solidarity Association of Sweden (PGS) welcomes Coop’s decision. It means that Coop has finally heeded the call for a boycott of Soda Stream as long as the company contributes to crimes against international law. The fact that Coop stops its purchases of Soda Stream is an important precedent for other retailers of Soda Stream, says Anna Wester, Information Officer at PGS."

"In June 2011, campaigners gathered for the first ever European Forum Against Agrexco. The following declaration was agreed upon by organisations from across Europe.

Political declaration after the Forum against Agrexco

We, Palestinian and Europeans together, affirm our determination to put an end to Agrexco’s presence in Europe. Our actions are taking place within the framework of the Palestinian-led global Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement."

#BDS: So sue us: #Israel’s outrageous law will not deter boycott movement

"The Israeli government has long touted itself as “the only democracy in the Middle East.” This mantra ignores the fact that following the ethnic cleansing of Palestine, which paved the way for the creation of Israel, over 4 million people under occupation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip have no access to a civil judicial system and are under nearly complete military control.

While the “democracy” in Israel—much like the “democracy” of the United States—is nothing but a farce, the façade is crumbling with the recent passing in the Israeli legislature, the Knesset, of several extremely oppressive laws.

Among them is the Law for Prevention of Damage to State of Israel through Boycott, commonly known as the “Boycott Law,” which was approved by the Knesset on July 11."

Jul 21, 2011

#BDS: Hello Kitty Now in #Israel

hello+kitty+israel Hello Kitty says hello to Israel; BDSers unhappyelder of ziyon

#BDS: Despite opposition, #Finland proceeds with Israel arms deal

"Despite an unprecendented public outcry, Finland’s Ministry of Defense is set to go ahead with a controversial collaboration with Israeli arms companies deeply involved in Israel’s occupation of Palestinian land. Finland is turning to Israel for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) — commonly known as a “drones” — in a deal with more than 17 million euros.

On 10 October last year, the main Finnish daily and the largest subscription newspaper in the Nordic countries Helsingin Sanomat published in its Sunday edition a full page article titled “Israel, Our Brother-in-arms” (“Aseveljemme Israel“ [PDF])."

#BDS: Boycott the state, not just the settlements

"Recent legislation passed in the Israeli Knesset, which many people call the "Anti-BDS" bill, has raised a number of questions about a rising tide of "fascism" in Israel. This language is not only used by Palestinian critics, who have long borne the brunt of Israel's undemocratic policies. Now, many Israeli and Jewish-American writers can no longer ignore the trend.

If something good has come out of the passage of this legislation, it is two things: First, a growing number of people are recognising that the Zionist aim - the imposition of an ethnocentric majority by force in a territory where the majority of the native inhabitants are disenfranchised - is fundamentally and inherently undemocratic. Second, the passage of this bill has brought discussion of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement to the foreground.

While increased discussion about BDS will only strengthen the movement, a troubling trend has become apparent in some of the commentaries on BDS written in response to the passage of the "Anti-BDS" bill. This is the assertion that boycotting colonies or settlement goods is acceptable, while boycotting the Israeli state or Israeli products outside of the occupied territories is somehow unacceptable."

#BDS: Two Open Letters: #Riverdance should not go to #Israel

"See below for two Open Letters concerning Riverdance’s planned tour of Israel in September 2011. The first is from Irish artist Robert Ballagh who was the set designer for Riverdance, and the second is from Raymond Deane, Cultural Boycott Officer of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign.

Riverdance in Irsael: Robert Ballagh’s Open Letter

26th April 2011

As the designer of Riverdance I am personally disappointed to learn of the decision to perform the show in Israel at this time.

Many years ago I was honoured to meet Nelson Mandela when he was in Ireland. I took the opportunity to ask his opinion on the cultural and sporting boycott of South Africa. He replied by saying that the boycott was an essential weapon in the struggle against apartheid. His forceful words came back to me last year when I, along with many other Irish creative and performing artists, signed a cultural boycott pledge not to visit Israel (www.ipsc.ie/pledge). This was a positive response to the call by Palestinian film-makers, artists and cultural organisations for a cultural boycott of Israel. I believe that this non-violent cultural boycott will contribute to the struggle for justice for the Palestinian people."

#BDS: Protesters gather outside TIAA-CREF shareholder meeting

"With organized chants and giant signs, dozens gathered outside TIAA CREF's annual shareholder's meeting in Charlotte Tuesday.

The group, Jewish Voice for Peace, is calling on the Fortune 100 financial services company to cut ties with companies in its investment portfolio they say are profiting from the Israeli occupation. They referenced companies like Caterpillar Inc. and Veolia.

"It's so important what we do with our money, especially money that's for people's retirement," said Jerry Markatos, who came all the way from Pittsboro to attend the demonstration."
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#BDS, #LGBT, and Why You Should Care about Pinkwashing

(...)

"“Pinkwash” is the term we, LGBT (Bisexual, Transgender, Lesbian and Gay) activists, use in order to describe the way in which the Israeli government makes cynical use of both the Palestinian and Israeli queer communities in order to market Israel to the international public as a “liberal” “progressive” “gay haven,” while demonizing Arabic Middle Eastern cultures and presenting them – and Palestine in particular – as inherently homophobic (an Islamophobic notion whose goal is to further justify Israeli war crimes in Gaza, the occupied territories and against Palestinian citizens of Israel). The Israeli government, through the Ministry of Tourism and with kind help from the Tel Aviv municipality, makes use of the relative tolerance and meager rights given to Jewish gays and lesbians (but not bisexuals and transgenders), as a way of diverting attention from the many Israeli war crimes performed in Gaza, the occupied Palestinian territories and inside Israel itself."

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Video: Omar Barghouti - #BDS - The Global Struggle For Palestinian Rights

#BDS Alert: Reggae star Ziggy Marley rejects calls to boycott #Israel

"Online pressure to boycott Israel didn’t dissuade reggae star Ziggy Marley from performing in Tel Aviv Tuesday night or on Thursday at the Return to Zion festival at Sacher Park in Jerusalem.

“People say, don’t disgrace your father’s name by going to Israel and all these type of things,” the eldest son of the late musical icon Bob Marley said at a press conference Tuesday at the Sheraton Hotel in Tel Aviv, referring to the negative responses he saw on Facebook and other sites upon publication of his Israel tour dates."

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#BDS: Normalizing Israeli apartheid through international sporting events

"The use of sport to unite children divided by street violence and traumatized by war is a compelling idea. 'Serious Play: The Goal is Peace' is the title of a 7 July Huffington Post article by Alison Craiglow Hockenberry. It opens with the anecdote of a young Jürgen Griesbeck overcoming the murder of his friend in Colombia in 1994 by founding a program called Football for Peace, which brings at-risk kids together to play in Medellín, “one of the most dangerous and violent cities in the world”. Next up is the story of Palestinian children, of whom interviewee Hani Qattan of PACES - the Palestinian Association for Children's Encouragement of Sports is quoted as saying, "are exposed to drugs, smoking, and... extremism that may result in violence" if they are left idle in the street. Looking at the PACES website homepage, these young girls do not look like potential terrorists, but never mind, they are Palestinian. That is why the Peres Centre for Peace, established in 1996 by current Israeli president Shimon Peres, who has played a prominent role in successive Israeli wars of choice, inflicting death and suffering on countless children, has stepped in with its ‘Twinned Peace Sport School’ to bring over 2,000 Palestinian and Israeli kids together on teams to play and compete."

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