Journal of the mental environment
Collectively Punished
Israeli blockade leaves the Gaza Strip in the dark.
- Mon, 10 Nov 2008 5:35 pm — Posted by Staff
- | 16 comments
Much of the Gaza Strip is in darkness tonight as Israel continues to block shipments of industrial diesel fuel into the besieged territory. Israel began the blockade last week, in retaliation to Palestinian rockets fired from within Gaza. In a statement issued today, the Israeli Defense Ministry claims that despite the blockade, Gaza is receiving enough power from Israeli and Egyptian grids to operate at 75 percent capacity.
Within Gaza, however, the story is different. Most of the strip has been hit with “a total power blackout,” according to Sameh Habeeb, a photojournalist and peace activist living in Gaza. He adds that Israel has also announced a comprehensive closing of already-blocked borders, making any delivery of fuel to Gaza’s sole power plant impossible.
Habeeb describes the collective mood within the territory as “an amalgamation of fear, sadness and frustration.” He goes on to say that within Gaza, “no one is allowed to move or travel. We are always awaiting another bad day.” Despite efforts by the Free Gaza Movement with the cooperation of the Popular Committee Against Siege (PCAS), an international committee of activists and politicians that has been sending siege-breaking boats into the territories, Israel has refused to end its policy of collective punishment. It was only at the behest of Tony Blair, former British prime minister and present envoy of the Middle East Quartet, that Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak agreed to allow for a “limited resumption” of supplies into Gaza. Article 33 of the Geneva Convention explicitly forbids collective punishment, yet Gaza’s 1.5 million citizens are in darkness, paralyzed with fear at this very moment. When is the world going to organize in support of the millions of innocent Palestinians held captive by Israeli policy? When are Americans going to demand that our government stop bowing to lobbies, and revoke Israel’s carte blanche in the Middle East?
Remembering Edward Said
Edward Wadie Said (1 November 1935 – 25 September 2003) was a Palestinian American literary theorist, cultural critic, political activist, and an outspoken advocate of Palestinian rights.
- Thu, 25 Sep 2008 10:28 am — Posted by Abdul
- | 2 comments
Today marks the 5 year anniversary of Edward Said’s passing. A true activist for peace and conflict resolution between Israel and Palestine, now more than ever his efforts must be remembered.
Said was passionately against Palestine being turned into an isolated prison wherein Israel repeatedly attacked mostly defenseless civilians with tanks and F-16s. Born in West Jerusalem in 1935. Exiled in December 1947. Said was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia in 1991, a malignant cancer of the bone marrow and blood. At 6:45AM on September 25, 2003, he succumbed (at age 67) after a painful courageous 12 year struggle. Tributes followed and resumed a year later. In a testimony to his teacher, Professor Moustafa Bayoumi called him “indefatigable, incorruptible, a humanist and devastatingly charming… leav(ing behind) legions of followers and fans in every corner of the world. I am lost without him… I miss him so.”
Chomsky called his death an “incalculable loss.” A year later, Ilan Pappe said “his absence seems to me still incomprehensible. What would have happened if we still had Edward with us in this last year… another terrible (one) for the values (he) represented and causes he defended.” Tariq Ali referred to his “indomitable spirit as a fighter, his will to live, (my) long-standing friend and comrade,” … [more by Stephen Lendman]
Here are some of the articles about Edward Said published since his death:
- Remembering Edward Said by Tariq Ali in New Left Review.
- The Rootless Cosmopolitan by Tony Judt in The Nation.
- Intellectual guns fire salute to Edward Said by Waqar Gillani in The Daily Times (Pakistan).
- Edward Said: An Appreciation by Daniel Barenboim in Time.
- Said’s Legacy in Mother Jones.
We are going to add to this list as we go along so if you’ve got any other suggested reading please comment below.
