Bradford Palestine Solidarity Group
21 January 2010
As Palestinians continue to suffer in occupied Palestine, actions and events are being held in the UK and Europe. The University of Bradford Union (UBU), Palestine Return Centre and Let Palestinians Study are organizing Palestine Awareness Week (PAW) and remembrance in Bradford city. The week of actions coincides with the 1st Anniversary of Gaza War which has been commemorated worldwide. Events will run from 1st February to 5th February.
Palestine Awareness Week starts Monday 1st February with a live graffiti about Palestine. At 5pm there will be a film screening of Occupation 101 open to students and members of public.
The second day will be a day of cultural festivities where Palestinian food, traditional items, and free literature will be provided for people to take away. There will also be presentations of Palestinian cultural history and if possible a performance during lunch. A number of information stalls will be available featuring Interpal, PRC, PSC, United 4 Palestine, Viva Palestina Bradford, Friends of Al-Aqsa, FOSIS – Palestine, Ceasefire, NUS Black Students Campaign, CND, Amnesty International, UBU Peace Society and My Deen Today.
In the evening, we will be setting up a video link with Gaza and Viva Palestina members to talk about their experience while visiting Gaza. They are expected to provide a detailed description of the disastrous humanitarian conditions there.
On Wednesday, the event will start with a video link with IUG students from Gaza to celebrate and announce the twinning with Bradford University. This will be followed by speakers including Professor Paul Rogers and Dr. Mandy Turner from the Bradford Peace Studies department, Anas Altikriti, and other speakers. Their talks will be broken into different topics focusing on the history of the conflict and how it is affecting Palestinians lives and communities. It will end with a question and answer session.
In the evening of Thursday 4th February, an speak-out will be held where participants will be able to share poems and songs about Palestine.
On the last day of PAW we will be hosting a Friday prayer at the University Great hall followed by a fundraiser for Palestine.