Check Out UEL Demo...

The latest pictures from UEL show their demonstration. Check out their blog for more information on their Occupation...

Viva Palestina!

Watch this Video...

Check out this video on the Cagliari University (Sardinia, Italy) blog. The text is in Italian, but its not really important as the actual footage is good. It really illustrates the plight of the Palestinians in terms of the Israeli controlled checkpoints and the illegal wall.

http://gruppofalastin.wordpress.com/

Viva Palestina!

Cardiff University & Plymouth University in Occupation!

Cardiff and Plymouth have both gone in to Occupation is solidarity with the people of Gaza. Check out their blogs- the links are on our Solidarity section.

Send them messages of support...

Viva Palestina!

Victory at Extraordinary General Meeting!

At an EGM Yesterday, (Tues 24) at 6pm, we successfully passed a list of 9 motions with a complete majority! Thank you to all the students who turned up to vote. The full is shown below...

Again thank you for all your support, and don't forget to attend our weekly meetings on Monday, at 4pm in FB113.


VIVA VIVA PAESTINA!


THIS UNION RESOLVES
1. To support a day of fundraising for humanitarian relief for Gaza, with all proceeds to be given to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC).
2. To pressure the university to send surplus equipment and to organise, through the Union, to provide logistical support for the collection of this aid.
3. To join the global Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement by
divesting from Israel and boycotting all companies that support or benefit from
the Israeli occupation and lobbying the University to adopt a similar BDS policy
towards Israel, and to build links with student unions and other trade unions who
adopt a BDS policy.
4. To condemn the University for its lack of progress in divesting from arms
companies and ending all research in weapons manufacturing. And to adopt a
stronger approach with the university on this issue.
5. To send a letter to the BBC condemning their refusal to air the DEC appeal for
Gaza, and to place the appeal advert in Cub, QM Messenger and on the home
page of the QMSU website, until the appeal is closed.
6. To send a message of support to occupations around the country that have
shown solidarity with the people of Gaza, condemned the Israeli attacks and
opposed the siege of Gaza.
7. To send a public message of solidarity to the Islamic University in Gaza, whose
campus has been virtually destroyed, and publish it in Cub and QM Messenger.
8. To pressure the university to provide 5 fully paid scholarships for Palestinian
students in recognition of the complete destruction of many educational
facilities in Gaza as a result of the Israeli bombing campaigns.
9. To declare unequivocal support for the occupation and Queen Mary Stop the
War Coalition so far as it keeps the current demands, remains non-violent and
maintains its intention not to disrupt the education of peers. To support and aid
Queen Mary Stop the War Coalition in its negotiations with the university. To
support all students and staff so far as they face any repercussions.

Letter of Solidarity

Greetings to Queen Mary Students Occupying in solidarity with the struggle of Gaza!

We are writing to you as a Collective of Artists, Activists and Organizers called the 'Friends of CAIS Maloka and the International School for Bottom Up Organizing' (ISBO) - sending you a message of solidarity and congratulations on the success of your Occupation!
We are moved and encouraged by your radical organizing and occupations and would love to come and meet with you!
Our Collective is comprised of young Radicals from a Latin American Experimental Arts & Activist group - 'New Generation' . Two of our comrades have returned to Colombia to set up a Social Action and Research Centre (CAIS Maloka) in the rural areas close to Cali. CAIS Maloka is also part of the 'International School for Bottom Up Organizing' (ISBO) as we are, which trains Young Activists in Radical Organizing - working with the people 'on the bottom' to take charge of their own lives and struggles.
We're attaching our info leaflet to share with you who we are, what we are doing, and why. We are busy organizing solidarity and support for our comrades in Colombia and the Organizing School; to support the work in the ground in Colombia, to send resources to the School for its next Organizing School in May in Jamaica enabling folks to Activists to fly up from Colombia, Bolivia, Mexico and Venezuela, and to raise funds for a delegation of us to go on a solidarity visit to Colombia in November.

Sending Solidarity and good energy!
the Friends of CAIS Maloka and ISBO Collective

UEL Occupation Pictures...

UEL Goes into Occupation!

After a meeting today, with speakers including Lindsey German from Stop the War Coalition and other academics, students from the University of East London went into occupation in solidarity with Gaza. Queen Mary Occupation has pledged its support. All help is welcomed by UEL Occupation. Check out their blog for more info and a listof their demands...

http://ueloccupation.blogspot.com/

Viva Palestina!

UK University Occupations Reported in the Guardian

Occupations accross the country have been covered in Saturday's edition of the Guardian. Read the article by Alexandra Topping using the link below.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/feb/14/gaza-student-protests

Victory For Goldsmiths Uni Occupation!

Students from Goldsmiths University have left their Occupation as victors. They left today at 10 o'clock after being promised 2 scholarships for Palestinian students. Read more about it and check out the photos on their blog...

www.goldsmithsoccupation.blogspot.com

Goldsmiths University Occupied!

Students at Goldsmiths University have now gone in to Occupation. They are demanding two MA scholarships for students from Al-Quds Open University, Nablus. Send messages of support to goldsmithsoccupation@gmail.com and check out their blog: goldsmithsoccupation.blogspot.com

Suspended for supporting Gaza!

Sheffield Hallam Students' Union is victimising Matt Vicary, Equal Opportunities officer for supporting the protests and occupations against the siege of Gaza. Matt is a dedicated and committed activist trying to force his Union to take up political campaigns and has been suspended by dictat of the President without being informed of the complaints or charges against him. Stand in solidarity with Matt and the students by protesting:

DEMONSTRATION AGAINST THE VICTIMISATION OF STUDENTS TAKING PART IN SOLIDARITY ACTION OVER GAZA CRISIS: Assemble 2:30pm Thursday 12th Feb at the HUBS, Sheffield Hallam Students Union, Paternoster Row.

You can also email Russ Swannack, the union president, to express your sentiments: r.swannack@shu.ac.uk, uuspresident@shu.ac.uk

Also join the 'FREE GAZA; Stop victimisations at Sheffield Hallam!' Facebook group and send messages of solidarity: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=54289401540&ref=mf

DEC Gaza Fundraiser Tomorrow in Library Square

We're fundraising this week for the Disasters Emergency Committee Gaza Appeal. We need all the help we can get, so come at any time and give us a hand with the fundraising. And also it would be great if you can bring any cakes, food ect to sell at our stall. Remember- all the money raised by Friday 12th will be doubled!

See you there...

Edinburgh Occupied!

Congratulations and solidarity.

Students at the University of Edinburgh have this afternoon occupied a lecture theater in solidarity with the oppressed of Gaza.

Please send message of support.

http://edinburghunioccupation.wordpress.com/

Israel Refuses Textbook Paper In To Palestine- read the article

Paper for textbooks that would teach human rights to Palestinians of all ages has been refused entry in to Gaza by the Israeli state. UN official, John Ging, head of Gaza operations has expressed his outrage. Go to the link to read the article in full.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3669379,00.html

BBC DEC Cartoon (Thanks to Oxford)

Glagow University Occupied!

Congratulations and solidarity.

Please check out their blog and send messages of support:

http://glasgowunioccupation.blogspot.com/

Before and After Photos of the Islamic University of Gaza

The President of the University in Gaza has sent us these images illustrating the damage of the Israeli attacks on the building. The University, like all others is an educational establishment and we fully condemn all attacks on any such institution. See this link for more images on the Islamic University Of Gaza website:

http://www.iugaza.edu.ps/external/images/After.jpghttp://www.iugaza.edu.ps/external/images/mkhtabarat.jpg

President Of Gaza University Supports Campaign

A letter from Dr Kamalain Sha'ath in regards to our campaign:

Dear fellow students of Queen Mary University,

We would like to express our sincere thanks and deep appreciation for all your conscious efforts, endeavours and demands to support the right to education, justice and freedom in Palestine.

We wholeheartedly support your peaceful protests against the blanket bombing of Gaza in general and the Islamic University of Gaza (IUG) in particular which suffered extensive destruction and damage to all its buildings, academic facilities. Additionally more than 20,000 students, whose families have been agonizing from the suffocating siege of Gaza, have lost some members of their families and many others have lost their houses.

With great respect and admiration, we have been following all activities taking place in 19 British universities. Your brave campaign has strengthened both our hope and will that we are not alone in this just battle against unprecedented blatant injustices and flagrant violation of human in Palestine.

We are absolutely proud of you all and proud of your solidarity and support campaign for the right to education in Palestine which gives us bright light in the heart of the military occupation darkness.

We wish you full success in your supportive campaign and in achieving all your sensible demands which show a high level of awareness and commitment to defend basic human rights in Gaza at a time of obvious media bias and hypocrisy of many governments.

We hope to cooperate with you soon to establish mutual academic cooperation between our academic institutions. In this regard, we confirm our high interest and strong willingness to provide you with any information, facts, plans, courses, etc related to your practical demands.

In solidarity with Queen Mary students in Occupation

Dr Kamalain Sha'ath
President, The Islamic University of Gaza
Tel: 970 8 282 3310
Fax: 970 8 286 3552
Website: http://www.iugaza.edu.ps/en/
http://www.iugaza.edu.ps/album/attack-dec-2008/Flash01/index.html

http://www.iugaza.edu.ps/external/images/After.jpghttp://www.iugaza.edu.ps/external/images/mkhtabarat.jpg

The Independent on Sunday Reports on Occupations

The national press is taking notice of the wave of student revolts across the country as students demonstrate in solidarity with the oppressed in Gaza.


http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/students-are-revolting-the-spirit-of-68-is-reawakening-1604043.html

Victory for University of Rochester, USA !

The University of Rochester, in the US has claimed victory after nine hours of occupation. The New York University was occupied after being inspired by the wave of occupations in the UK. Congratulations and solidarity! Check out their blog for more info!

http://www.thesitch.com/occupation/

Success For Strathclyde!

At 2pm today, students from Strathclyde University ended their Occupation chanting, "Students united will never be defeated." Check out their blog to see their success!

http://pulsemedia.org/

Manchester University - IN OCCUPATION

The students of this country have spoken. Manchester University has just gone into Occupation, show your support for them and the oppressed of Palestine.

If your university hasn't occupied yet, do not wait around because you are the change you've been waiting for.

Occupation Ends. The Fight Goes On

After being in Occupation for eight days, we have been victorious in achieving most of our demands. You can view the demands the Principle agreed to in full below. We would like to thank everyone who has come to support us, sent us messages and helped this cause and our success overall. Also a big thank you to all the academics and speakers who contributed greatly to our open debates, which in turn spread the word of the suffering of the people of Gaza.

Please don't forget why we went in to Occupation- it was for the people of Gaza. Though the Occupation has ceased, the cause has not. We will still fight for freedom for Palestine. Join us in this- we will keep you updated through this blog and our facebook group, and e-mail.

VIVA VIVA PALESTINA!!!

Final Proposals From Principal Accepted

This is a clarification of the statement issued to you on Friday 30th January 2009. Please note that this provides further information on College investments in addition to that given in that statement and addresses your concerns in a manner similar to that at other institutions (such as Kings College) where occupations have ended.

We now ask that the occupation in room 113 should end: College authorities have been very willing to enter into a dialogue over the issues raised, but we are concerned that the occupation is now disrupting other staff and students to an unacceptable degree.

1. The Acting Principal on behalf of Queen Mary fully endorses the statement on Gaza issued by Universities UK and therfore supports calls for an end to the conflict in and beyond Gaza. We are particularly aware that many of the civilian casualties have occurred in educational establishments. The UK’s universities are resolutely committed to the right to education, enshrined in the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Higher education, in particular, is a global activity and we value our academic links with universities all over the world. The international nature of higher education means it is a force for understanding, tolerance and respect between peoples.

2. We have now received from our investment advisors information about current investments. The College does not currently hold any direct investment in GKN and will be disposing of its small Cobham holding as soon as it can practically and sensibly do so. The College will not acquire any further direct investment in these companies and will review its investment policy. There is an invitation to representatives of your group to present its case with respect to ethical investments to the Chairman of the Investment Committee (who is the College Treasurer) for due consideration in the course of this review. We are happy to give an absolute undertaking that the group’s spokespersons will be able put their case freely to the Treasurer and that its views will be taken into consideration in any changes of ethical investment policy.

3. Queen Mary is always happy to donate any surplus equipment or books to universities in need of aid and we feel that would most effectively be done through the Disasters Emergency Committee Gaza Appeala. In addition, we are happy to facilitate the collection of funds for the Disasters Emergency Committee Gaza Appeal.

4. We welcome applications from Palestinian students for support under our scholarship schemes, as we do to students from many other countries with severe humanitarian crises. The College has an excellent record in this respect, for example during the Bosnian crisis in the 1990s. We are happy to discuss with the QM Students Union any future changes to our scholarships policy. We will play an active role in the national initiative, encouraged by UUK, to increase scholarships for Palestinians to study in this country.

5. We can confirm that we will not take action against the protestors provided that all action has been within the law and no damage has been done to the room.

6. We are keen to continue the dialogue on items 2, 3 and 4 after the occupation has ended.


Signed,
Professor Phillip Ogden
Acting Principal
4th February 2009

VICTORY

Occupation is drawing to a finale, more details to follow, mood is definitely positive, high and the guitars are coming out!!! Ole Ole Ole!!!

CNN Reports on UK Occupations

Aside from a negative introduction to the piece which seems to forget that most students on campus support the occupations, CNN International have carried a story on the UK student occupations in solidarity with Gaza, including that by Queen Mary. The British press, as ever has, apart from one artice in the Guardian, failed to grasp the significance of this wave of student activism unseen in this country for over 30 years.

The CNN Article:

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/01/30/uk.students.gaza/?iref=mpstoryview

Students Still in Occupation on Seventh Day

An article by Tahmeena Bax on the occupation. http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/02/421146.html

Keep emailing the Principal

Keep sending your emails to the principal in support of the demands we have proposed so that we can get the best possible result! p.e.ogden@qmul.ac.uk

GEORGE GALLOWAY MP CONFIRMED TO SPEAK TOMMOROW

George Galloway is confirmed to speak in FB1.13 tomorrow at 2pm. Please however all come to the meeting at 1pm to discuss our response to the Principal's statement.

See you there!

PS - George Galloway at his best: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=249JaIaubVw

Message of Support from Jacqueline Rose

Dear Occupation,

I share your dismay at the recent events in Gaza and see your action as a political statement by each of you as citizens wishing to register that dismay.
I also share your wish that the University have an ethical investment policy and that no University funds be directly or inadvertently used to finance the actions of the Israeli army in Gaza. I believe this concern is also shared by our Acting Principal and that the clarifications you seek in this regard will be forthcoming.
In relation to your other demands, notably for condemnation of Israel’s actions, I would strongly advise you to add to your statement a condemnation of the Qassam rocket attacks on Israeli civilian areas by Hamas. There is of course no symmetry between the two, and you can state this clearly. Israel is the power, planned and took the offensive, using indiscriminate and disproportionate violence against a mostly unarmed and defenceless people who had been under siege for more than a year. I for one do not accept that the actions were precipitated solely by the need of self-defence nor that self-defence can justify them. Nonetheless, failure to mention the rockets leaves you vulnerable to the charge that you are indifferent to the deaths of Israeli civilians – which I am sure is untrue - even if these are so dramatically less in number than the Palestinian casualties.
I would also like to support you as students who are using this Occupation as part of your education. As the brilliant late Edward Said said, there is an urgent need for understanding on the part of both parties to this conflict. His paper `Bases for Co-existence’ is a strong statement to this effect. You could perhaps discuss it as part of the programme of events and discussions which are so dynamically and imaginatively part of what you are doing.
Above all, I would advise you never to forget that you are students, as indeed we all are – I certainly include myself here - and to use this occasion to educate yourselves as fully as possible about the complex history of this seemingly intractable and dreadful conflict which is having such a profound and deleterious effect on your lives and which is of such profound import for all of your futures.

With my very best wishes,

Jacqueline Rose
Professor of English
QMUL
Teacher of `Palestine-Israel, Israel-Palestine: Politics and the Literary Imagination.’
Co-founder Independent Jewish Voices

New proposals from the Principal

The Principal has sent us a revised set of proposals which appear below. We are calling a large meeting to discuss the proposals and we want the decision to be as democratic as possible. Because the weather means it is difficult for people to get in the meeting is on Wednesday at 13.00 in FB113.

New Proposals:

1. Queen Mary fully endorses the statement on Gaza issued by Universities UK:
“Universities UK supports calls for an end to the conflict in and beyond Gaza. We are particularly aware that many of the civilian casualties have occurred in educational establishments. The UK’s universities are resolutely committed to the right to education, enshrined in the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Higher education, in particular, is a global activity and we value our academic links with universities all over the world. The international nature of higher education means it is a force for understanding, tolerance and respect between peoples.”

2. We have now received from our investment advisors information about current investments. The College does not currently hold any direct investment in GKN and will be disposing of its small Cobham holding as soon as it can practically and sensibly do so. The College will not acquire any further direct investment in these companies and will review its investment policy. There is an invitation to representatives of your group to present its case with respect to ethical investments to the Chairman of the Investment Committee (who is the College Treasurer) for due consideration in the course of this review. We are happy to give an absolute undertaking that the group’s spokespersons will be able put their case freely to the Treasurer and that its views will be taken into consideration in any changes of ethical investment policy.

3. Queen Mary is always happy to donate any surplus equipment or books to universities in need of aid and we feel that as in other humanitarian crises that would most effectively be done through a scheme operated by a charity recognised by the Department for International Development. In addition, we are happy to facilitate the collection of funds for the Disasters Emergency Committee Gaza Appeal.

4. We welcome applications from Palestinian students for support under our scholarship schemes, as we do to students from many other countries with severe humanitarian crises. The College has an excellent record in this respect, for example during the Bosnian crisis in the 1990s. We are happy to discuss with the QM Students Union any future changes to our scholarships policy. We will play an active role in the national initiative, encouraged by UUK, to increase scholarships for Palestinians to study in this country.

5. We can confirm that we will not take action against the protestors provided that all action has been within the law and no damage has been done to the room.

6. We are keen to continue the dialogue on items 2, 3 and 4 after the occupation has ended.

More expressions of solidarity from Queen Mary academic staff

We have received the following statement by email. The list is growing:

Professor Donald Sassoon

'I share your sense of outrage for the unjustifiable Israeli onslaught on the people of Gaza. I hope that a settlement similar to that reached at Kings (and, I think, at the LSE) can be reached also at QM. I will try to visit FB113 on Wednesday if the occupation is still on.'


(Full list available here: http://queenmaryoccupation.blogspot.com/2009/01/debate-today-30.html)

OCCUPATION - FIRST SUCCESS!

On the 29th of January the College added the 'Palestinian Territories' to the Scholarship list. This was not present before the Occupation took place and we are glad that the University has partially fulfilled this demand.

However, since the University in Gaza has been destroyed we believe that Queen Mary should provide all expenses paid scholarships for students specifically from the Gazan University for the coming Academic year 2009 - 2010. For all future years the number of overall scholarships should be increased by 10 so that students from other parts of the world are not placed at a disadvantage, with the Palestinian Territories remaining on eligible scholarship lists.

http://www.qmul.ac.uk/international/scholarships/index.html#se

Gaza University - President Speaks of Destruction

Imagine if this was Queen Mary. We call upon our University to condemn Israel's bombardment of Gazan institutions of education.

In a press release, Dr Kamalain Sha'ath, the President of the Islamic University of Gaza announced to the world the extent of Israel's destruction of his University from the air on December 28. He pleaded that his message be 'spread wide and far', that:

'We therefore call upon all academics, faculty associations, student unions, professionals and colleagues at large to show their support and solidarity to the right of the Palestinians to education. Several positive worldwide steps have already been taken including boycotting Israeli academic cultural institutions and activities.

'Your solidarity and support for the right to education in Palestine is vital and highly appreciated.'

The shocking image he shows the world of destroyed University buildings jarring against another sunny photo showing how they would have appeared intact only a short month ago can only demonstrate yet further how pertinent, urgent, and necessary is campaigning in solidarity with the oppressed of Gaza. We stand with the President in his call.

-Cambridge Gaza Solidarity.

Here is a link to the entire press release:

http://www.nabble.com/Press-Release-td21761047.html

The President provided a return point of contact at:

extr@iugaza.edu.ps

Children in Gaza Under Threat Once Again

Israel threatens 'disproportionate' response to Palestinian rocket fire

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/feb/01/gaza-israelandthepalestinians

Half of Gaza’s 1.5m population is under 15 years of age

Planning Meeting at Ten

Hello all,
Planning meeting at 10am tommorow. Followed by a talk at 1pm with Jeremy Corbyn, debate at 2pm and a demonstration out front the Francis Bancroft building at 3pm.
See you all there!

NOTTINGHAM OCCUPTION FORCEFULLY REMOVED

It has just come to our attention that the Nottingham University authorities have violently and brutally removed the peaceful student protesters from the lecture theater they have been occupying in solidarity with the people of Gaza. The protesters resisted peacefully by sitting down in the back of the lecture room but the security guards took no heed and proceeded to drag them out of the buiding.

Not only does this represent a draconian and vicious overreaction from the University but also raises many legal issues surrounding the forced eviction.

More details to follow.

Fridays Demonstration

This friday a group of about 100 people demonstrated through library square to the Principals office... and then around campus. Due to its success, after the series of talks and debates starting at 1pm tommorow, we are planning a follow up demonstration, of which we hope to be at least twice the size. All those that are available to attend please meet outside the front of the Francis Bancroft building from 3pm!