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Books not Bombs, A Rally for Gaza, University of Nottingham : Pics 2

Tash [alan lodge] | 08.02.2009 18:08 | University Occupations for Gaza | Palestine | Repression | Social Struggles

On Friday 6th Feb, a massive rally took place on the University of Nottingham main campus. Meeting at 2pm on Portland Hill, the rally aimed at expressing solidairty with the victims of the recent conflict and the population of Gaza and to launch an initiative entitled “Books not Bombs” that aims at getting the University of Nottingham to donate educational equipment to children and students living in Gaza.


























On Friday 6th Feb, a massive rally took place on the University of Nottingham main campus. Meeting at 2pm on Portland Hill, the rally aimed at expressing solidairty with the victims of the recent conflict and the population of Gaza and to launch an initiative entitled “Books not Bombs” that aims at getting the University of Nottingham to donate educational equipment to children and students living in Gaza.

It was a well attended event, with members of the local community, students and staff came together to urge the University administration to re-focus its connections to the Israel and Palestine conflict.

Earlier this week, the universities response included the violent eviction of an occupation of a lecture room in the Law and Socail Science Building.

 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/02/421082.html
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/02/421103.html

I believe the hope of the rally organisers, is that the University of Nottingham will begin to build academic bridges between itself, and those whose lives and educations have been affected by the ongoing violence in the region. They ask the University to provide academic aid to universities and schools in the Gaza strip, in the form of donating old books, computers or other surplus teaching/administrative/educational resources, and that the shipping of these resources be paid for by the University of Nottingham. In conjunction with this they ask the establishment to instigate a twinning programme with universities in Gaza, in solidarity with their plight.

This rally was an example of the academic freedoms enjoyed within this university, and it is contended that these freedoms should be shared with as many of the affected Gazian’s as possible. In the spirit of this notion students suggested to the the University administration that it grant a minimum of ten fully-funded scholarships to Palestinian students from Gaza University -which was bombed by the Israeli military. This will give students from Gaza the opportunity for the education and academic environment which we enjoy, and which this latest attack and the continuing blockade has denied them.

Speakers again included Alan Simpson MP, for Nottingham South, and Hicham Yezza from Nottingham University (recently wrongly imprisoned under the terrorism laws).


Nottingham University in Solidarity with Gaza
 http://occupationnottingham.wordpress.com

Free Gaza Campaign
 http://www.freegaza.com

Feature: Nottingham Gaza solidarity occupation violently evicted
 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2009/02/420975.html

Nottingham Gaza Emergency Protest
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/12/416449.html
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/12/416470.html

Gaza Public Meeting at Bobbers Mill Community Centre
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/418048.html

Nottingham Responds to Gaza Massacre [Feature]
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2009/01/418376.html

Nottingham Gaza Protest 'candle-lit' Vigil
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/419206.html
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/419227.html

Nottingham Gaza Protest March Through Nottingham to Market Sq
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/419251.html
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/01/419272.html

Nottingham University Students Occupation in Solidarity with Gaza
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/02/420886.html
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/02/420907.html

Nottingham University Gaza solidarity occupation violently evicted
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/02/421082.html
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/02/421103.html

Gaza support protest at Nottingham BBC
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/02/421124.html

Tash's actions 2009
 http://www.flickr.com/photos/tash/sets/72157612428569847

____________________________________________
ALAN LODGE
Photographer - Media: One Eye on the Road. Nottingham. UK
Email:  tash@indymedia.org
Member of the National Union of Journalists [No: 014345]
____________________________________________
"It is not enough to curse the darkness.
It is also necessary to light a lamp!!"
___________________________________________

Tash [alan lodge]
- e-mail: tash@indymedia.org

Additions

To Professor David Greenaway, Vice Chancellor of the University of Nottingham

10.02.2009 21:05

The letter delivered to Professor David Greenaway on Friday the 6th of February by the members of the Books not Bombs Campaign.

To Professor David Greenaway, Vice Chancellor of the University of Nottingham

Over the past weeks, we have been appalled to see the devastation wrought on Gaza by the Israeli military. With over 1,300 dead, of those more than 300 children, and tens of thousands now homeless, Gaza is in a situation of humanitarian crisis.

In a conflict which has claimed so many innocent lives, the road to peace lies in promoting knowledge, education and understanding. But due to the combined effects of the occupation, severe poverty and violence, the educational infrastructure in Gaza is collapsing.

The University of Nottingham has received millions of pounds in sponsorship from weapons development companies such as BAE Systems and the Smiths Group, both suppliers of equipment to the Israeli military. Just a small proportion of this sum could be used to make a huge difference to students whose chance at education is being destroyed by just such weapons.

For this reason, as staff and students of this university we ask that you provide funding for scholarships for Gazan students, and academic aid in the form of books, computers and programmes of exchange.

Whatever monetary costs might be paid are more than compensated for by the moral standing earned in supporting those who are in need of help, and upholding the fine principles of universal dignity and human rights to which the University and indeed the entire academic community aspires.

In solidarity with Gaza,

Members of the Books Not Bombs campaign.

Members of the Books Not Bombs campaign


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