Tag: Palestine

WERU News Report 8/5/14

Producer: Carolyn Coe

Segment 1: Farm/art exchange
Segment 2: Palestine

Reversing Falls Sanctuary in Brooksville has launched the 2014 farm/art exchange to investigate “how humans’ connection to the land is central to the restoration of the health of the earth and our own survival.” It pairs area artists and farmers.
In July, artist Patricia Wheeler and Tinder Hearth bakery owners Lydia Moffet and Tim Semler discussed song, local history, and some of the challenges in operating their business.
Then, from a recording in Beit Sahour, Palestine, in May, Dr. Mazin Qumsiyeh speaks about human rights, government hypocrisy and a failed Israeli military operation.

Guests:

Lydia Moffet, Tinder Hearth Bakery owner
Tim Semler, Tinder Hearth Bakery owner
Patricia Wheeler, multimedia artist, Deer Isle

Dr. Mazin Qumsiyeh, activist and biology professor at Bethlehem and Birzeit Universities

Reversing Falls Farm/Art Exchange: rfsfarmblogspot.com
https://www.facebook.com/tinderhearth
Video about 18 cows of Beit Sahour: http://indirvideo.gen.tr/zan-studio-the-wanted-18-trailer-870.html

WERU News Report 7/23/14

Producer: Carolyn Coe

Topic: Jordan Valley, Palestine

Key discussion points:
Israel’s occupation of Palestine has made life for Palestinians in the Jordan Valley very difficult. Palestinian farmers and herders struggle as Israel controls their water access, has implemented severe land use restrictions and export barriers, and has demolished their homes. As family debt rises, Palestinians often seek employment in the expanding Israeli colonial settlements.
The agricultural settlements lack enforcement of labor protections, so Palestinian workers receive less than the Israeli minimum wage, and they work without sick days or pensions. They are often recruited by a Palestinian go-between who takes a significant cut in the workers’ pay. Palestinian children comprise as much as ten percent of this workforce.

Guests:
Rashed Sawafta, organizer, Jordan Valley Solidarity
Feras Yousef Salam Abeyat, agricultural worker in Tomer settlement
Ivan Karakashian, advocacy unit coordinator, Defence for Children International, Palestine
Amjad Jaber, director, Palestinian Ministry of Labor, Jericho
Hamza Zbeidat, field organizer, Ma’an Development Agency
Taleb Ali Salam Abeyat, agricultural worker in Tomer settlement
Hamda Ali Masoud Ibdirat, agricultural worker in Massu’a and Tomer settlements
Ahmed Saeed, farmer, Palestinian Farmers’ Union
Jamal Juma’, coordinator, Stop the Wall campaign

Ma’an Development Center www.maan-ctr.org
Defence for Children International, Palestine, www.dci-pal.org/
Stop the Wall campaign, www.stopthewall.org
Jordan Valley Solidarity www.jordanvalleysolidarity.org

WERU News Report 7/9/14

Host: Amy Browne
Producer: Carolyn Coe

Topic: Palestine–child arrests

Key Discussion Points:
Israel tries and convicts hundreds of Palestinian children in military courts each year. Many of these children, between the ages of 12 and 17, experience abuse during their arrest and detention and about one-fifth are put into solitary confinement.

The long-term consequences of the systematic arrest and detention of children in Palestine include lifetime travel restrictions, unfinished schooling, disruptions within families, and a fear of future arrest and harm.

Organizations within Palestine are working to educate and advocate for children on their rights under international law.

Guests:
Ivan Karakashian, advocacy unit coordinator, Defence for Children International, Palestine
Suha Ziyada, public relations officer with Al Shoruq
Issa Suf, activist, Hares

FMI:
Defence for Children International, Palestine http://www.dci-pal.org/
Shoruq Organization http://www.shoruq.org/
info on the round-up of boys in Hares http://haresboys.wordpress.com/

WERU News Report 2/11/14

Host: Amy Browne
Producer: Carolyn Coe

Issue: Palestinian call for boycott– BDS movement for Palestinian human rights

Key Discussion Points:

a) Students for Justice in Palestine, a Bowdoin College student club, promotes on-campus dialogue by collecting petition signatures in solidarity with the American Studies Association’s decision to boycott Israeli academic and cultural institutions.

b) Some Israelis speak out in support of the Palestinian call for boycott, divestment and sanctions to pressure their own country, Israel, to end its oppressive policies.

c) The demand for human rights for Palestinians is linked to other social justice issues.

Guests:
Sinead Lamel, Bowdoin College student, member of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP)

Zohran Mamdani, Bowdoin College student, member of SJP

Yonatan Shapira, Israeli refusenik, active with Boycott from Within

FMI:
1-Bowdoin President Barry Mills’ statement re. the American Studies Association’s boycott of Israeli academic and cultural institutions: http://www.bowdoin.edu/president/speeches/index.shtml
2-Sinead Lamel and Zohran Mamdani’s Bangor Daily News editorial: http://bangordailynews.com/2014/01/08/opinion/bowdoin-should-join-academic-boycott-of-israeli-institutions/
3-To read/sign Bowdoin petition in solidarity with the American Studies Association:
http://bit.ly/KDdbUr
4-(Bowdoin) Students for Justice in Palestine on Twitter: @ Bowdoin SJP
5-Boycott from Within: http://www.boycottisrael.info/

WERU News Report 8/15/12

Producer/Host: Amy Browne
Contributor: Matt Murphy

Program Topics: Occupy Maine/Occupy Wall Street; Mainers Report Back From Palestine

*Occupy Maine statewide meeting will be held at Burdock Gathering in Starks on 8/19/12
*Mainers who recently returned from Palestine spoke about their experiences recently
*Efforts underway to organize a group in Maine to join the international BDS (boycott, divest, sanctions) movement for human rights

-Interview with David Smith, Occupy Waldo County
-Recorded audio from Palestine presentation: Sally Bowden-Schaible

FMI:
https://www.facebook.com/OccupyMaine
https://www.facebook.com/OccupyWallSt
http://www.burdockgathering.org
http://hamdiabu.tumblr.com/
https://www.facebook.com/LAMDI.PhotoGraPhy

WERU Special: Palestine/Israel 5/22/12

Producer/Host: Carolyn Coe

Key Discussion Points:
a) Framing: the political messaging in the language used about Palestine/Israel
b) Under-reported stories and voices of Palestinians and people in the Jewish Israeli human rights movement
c) “Brand Israel” and the push back against the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement

Guest:
Dr. Alice Rothchild, co-founder and co-chair of American Jews for a Just Peace-Boston and author of Broken Promises, Broken Dreams: Stories of Jewish and Palestinian Trauma and Resistance

Call In Program: no

WERU News Report 4/6/11

Producer/Host: Amy Browne
Contributing Producer: Carolyn Coe

Segment 1: The Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs heard testimony in Augusta today, on LD 1237 “An Act to Prohibit Bullying in Schools”. The legislation is sponsored by Representative Terry Morrison, who says that it would provide a clear definition of bullying, and guidelines for prevention that are consistent throughout Maine’s schools. Opponents, including the Maine Christian Civic League and representatives of some of the state’s school boards, spoke against the legislation. They say the legislation is unnecessary, removes local control and impedes free speech. The Maine Civil Liberties Union testified as neither in support nor opposed, citing concerns about the scope of the legislation, which they hope can be addressed in an upcoming legislative work session.
Everyone seemed to agree, however, that bullying IS a problem in Maine’s schools. Here is what the high school students who testified at today’s hearing, had to say.

Segment 2: Dr. Mazin Qumsiyeh, who lives in Beit Sahour in the West Bank. He teaches at Bethlehem and Birzeit Universities. He spoke at USM in Portland on March 27 during his book tour for his most recent book, Popular Resistance in Palestine: A History of Hope and Empowerment. His talk titled “Connections: The Palestinian Connection, Arab Popular Resistance, and the US” highlighted examples of sixty-two years of largely nonviolent Palestinian popular resistance and described US-Israel relations.

Weekend Voices 7/31/10

Producer/Host: Amy Browne

Contributors: Lawrence Reichard, Carolyn Coe

Segment 1: Lawrence Reichard concludes his series of reports on the 1 -year anniversary of the coup in Honduras

Segment 2: Produced by Carolyn Coe. As Israeli settlements continue to expand in the West Bank, the Palestinian farmers’ ability to grow food to support themselves has been threatened or made impossible. Farmers have responded with nonviolent resistance, replanting trees and making efforts to continue working on the lands declared by the Israeli Defense Force as closed military zones.
Speakers:
M’hamed Zagig, member of the Beit Ummar popular committee; Mousa Abu Maria, member of the Beit Ummar popular committee and cofounder of the Palestinian Solidarity Project;  Ala’ Abu Maria, resident of a house in Beit Ummar frequently occupied by the Israeli military; Souad, 63-year-old farmer in Saffa M’hamed (Awad) Abu Swai, farmer in Artas who works for the Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture; Nassima, interpreter Reem Al-Banna, singer at the Nakba remembrance event in AlMa’sara on May 14
FMI: www.palestinesolidarityproject.org  www.peacenow.org.il

Segment 3:  Carolyn Coe reports on the demonstration at AlMa’sara