I don't see that this boycott statement undermines my spirit of
communication and collaboration: a) it is full of pro-communicative
proposals: make a donation (economic communication), write a position
paper, do lobbying (political communication), call into radio shows
(communication in the media system), etc. b) the respective email is
definitely a call for collaboration in it self as well as a call for a
shift in our collaboration patterns.
Of course, this concrete call for shifts comes along in a very
chlichéd form (Guernica, Nazi, etc., cannot hear these forms of
shallow and old-school anti-faschist rhetoric anymore). Nonetheless,
against the background of the current events, we should consider to
take a second glance on its content: today, the current EU president
declared the Israeli land offensive (sic!) an act of self-defense
(sic!). I think that sociologists in particular are actually well
advised to afford a second glance on the amazingly high amount of
mostly paradox, biased, partisan confessions and information on the
conflict that are multiplied by the Western societies. What is the
function of all this pro-israeli communication? Isn't this a
sociological question?
In this spirit: Thanks to the boycotter for reminding us on a
sociological question! There's thus no need to be dismayed; rather we
should be happy ... ;-)
Best regards from Switzerland,
Steffen Roth
Research Associate
Berne University of Applied Sciences
Department of Business Administration
P.O. Box 305, CH-3000 Bern 22
[log in to unmask]
t/ +41 31 848 34 40
f/ +41 31 848 34 01
t/ +41 76 242 20 24
http://unternehmensfuehrung-en.bfh.ch
Le 3 janv. 09 à 22:15, Clive Gilbert a écrit :
> Don't messages such as these undermine the very spirit of this mailing
> list, which promotes communication and collaboration. As a non
> academic who retains a deep respect for the rigour and discipline of
> modern scholars, I am dismayed when swathes concede defeat by
> suggesting that boycotts on knowledge can do anything other than
> reduce understanding and exacerbate the problem.
>
> Clive Gilbert
>
> On Wed, Dec 31, 2008 at 3:46 PM, Ziyaad Lunat
> <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>> To add your name to this statement please
>> e-mail: [log in to unmask]
>>
>> A Statement of to Boycott Israel Sponsored by The British Committee
>> for the
>> Universities of Palestine (BRICUP)
>>
>> Gaza's Guernica
>> Enough is enough
>>
>> http://www.bricup.org.uk/
>>
>> The Israeli government is sending waves of F16 fighter jets to bomb
>> the
>> Palestinian population of Gaza, many of whom are already weak and
>> sick from
>> two years of siege and encirclement by Israel. Children, says an
>> Israeli
>> spokeswoman, are legitimate targets because if they inhabit a house
>> allegedly being used to manufacture home-made rockets to fire into
>> Israel,
>> they are 'terrorists' themselves. On Saturday December 27, Israel
>> says it
>> dropped 100 tonnes of bombs on Gaza.
>>
>> We say enough is enough. As long as the state of Israel continues
>> to defy
>> humanity and international law, we, the citizens of the world, commit
>> ourselves to boycotting Israel.
>>
>> When Nazi planes firebombed the Basque town of Guernica in 1937, to
>> advance
>> General Franco's revolt against the democratically elected Republican
>> government, Britain, France and other European powers continued to
>> refuse
>> military and political support to the Republic, and Franco and his
>> Nazi
>> allies prevailed.
>>
>> Since our governments decline to take action against Israel, we, as
>> citizens, must act.
>> We declare that, in solidarity with the bombed, maimed, tortured and
>> ethnically cleansed people of Palestine, we will, individually and
>> collectively:
>>
>> refuse to buy any fruit, vegetable, flowers, cosmetics, underwear,
>> swimwear
>> or piece of technology manufactured or produced in Israel or the
>> illegal
>> Israeli settlements in the West Bank, and we will inform shops that
>> we
>> object to them stocking Israeli products;
>>
>> we will not go on holiday to Israel;
>> we will research which brands of computer contain Israeli-designed
>> and
>> manuctured components, make the information public, and and press all
>> computer manufacturers to end research partnerships with Israel;
>>
>> we will boycott Israeli films, theatre companies, dance groups and
>> orchestras, and make known our objections to the management of
>> theatres and
>> cinemas;
>>
>> we will campaign actively for our governments not to allow citizens
>> of our
>> countries to serve in the Israeli army, navy, airforce and security
>> services;
>>
>> we will lobby in our professional organisations and trade unions
>> for Israeli
>> institutions to be boycotted unless they state publicly that they
>> oppose
>> their government's actions, will not co-operate with the state (for
>> instance
>> by teaching courses for the security services, which all Israeli
>> universities do), and support the establishment of a viable
>> Palestinian
>> state.
>>
>> Signed on behalf of BRICUP
>> Professor Jonathan Rosenhead, London
>> Professor Haim Bresheeth, London
>> Abe Hayeem, London
>> Mike Cushman, London
>> Professor Keith Hammond, Glasgow
>> Professor Ghada Karmi, Exeter
>> Jenny Morgan, London
>> Dr Robert Boyce, London
>> Dr. Sue Blackwell, Birmingham
>> 28 December 2008
>>
>> What you can also do:
>>
>> 1. Join or organize emergency protests and direct actions in
>> partnership
>> with Palestine solidarity and social justice organisations in your
>> area.
>> Send reports of actions you participate in so this information can
>> be shared
>> with people around the world.
>>
>> 2. Donate money through:
>> Medical Aid for Palestine
>> http://www.map-uk.org/
>>
>> Middle East Children's Alliance
>> https://secure.groundspring.org/dn/index.php?aid=1171
>>
>> to pay for desperately needed medical supplies and their delivery.
>> The
>> current conditions in Gaza medical facilities are dire.
>>
>> 3. Flood Israeli embassies and consulates with letters and calls
>> decrying
>> the attacks. Find contact info for Israeli embassies around the
>> world.
>>
>> http://www.learn4good.com/travel/israel_embassies.htm
>> 4. Shift the framing of Israel's actions in the media by phoning
>> into a talk
>> show or writing a letter to the editor.
>>
>> 5. Sign the petition in support of UN General Assembly President
>> Father
>> Miguel D'Escoto Brockmann
>>
>> http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/IJAN_Brockmann_BDS/
>>
>> He has spoken out to condemn Israeli Apartheid and called for
>> boycott,
>> divestment and sanctions.
>>
>> 6. Write to your member of parliament.
>> If you are in the UK, you can find your MP's details on this site:
>>
>> http://www.writetothem.com/
>> Just enter your postcode.
>>
>> 7. If you are in Europe write to you MEP
>> http://www.europarl.europa.eu/members.do
>>
>> 8. Write to members of the Israeli government and members of the
>> Knesset
>>
>> Download a list of e-mail addresses
>>
>> 9-12. If you are in the UK you can do the following (or the
>> equivalents if
>> you live elsewhere)
>>
>> 9. Write to:
>>
>> (a) the Labour Party using this online form:
>>
>> http://www.labour.org.uk/contact
>>
>> (b) the leader of the Conservative Party, David Cameron
>>
>> [log in to unmask]
>>
>> (You could mention you are appalled that he has been on the BBC
>> calling for
>> restraint on all sides when nearly 300 Palestinians have been
>> killed.)
>>
>> 10. British Consulate Jerusalem
>> +972 (02) 541 4100
>>
>> 11. British Embassy Tel Aviv
>> +972 (02) 3510 1167 / +972 (03) 527 1572
>> Call them.
>>
>> 12. Fax the office of the UK Prime Minister - Gordon Brown -
>> on +44 20 7925 0918
>>
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