Informative, moving, galvanising Palestinian Solidarity Campaign (#PSC) event here in Eastbourne last night. In a packed room of over 100 old and young, we heard Yara Hawari’s brilliant analysis from West Bank and Andrew Feinstein powerfully talk about apartheid and the pivotal, corrupting influence of the global arms trade on the world order and Western leaders.
As Yara said: “this is a moment of clarity”.
Wonderful to have this moment together, with your neighbours. #Gaza 1/6
#PSC#Gaza 2/6 It was particularly moving to hear Feinstein talk about his work with Nelson Mandela in the #ANC and all his magnanimous wisdom (I miss Mandela so much, and a world with Mandela in it). And to be reminded of Mandela’s words when he was released from prison in 1990:
“We know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians”
#Gaza 3/6 In case anyone German on here - maybe the people responding to my post about Abu-Sittah’s deportation saying: “it’s complicated” - is surprised to see white haired, respectable ladies in the Eastbourne audience (⬆️): this is what I’ve been trying to say. The consensus here in UK is not pro-Israel. The majority are appalled; and many of us are going through profound realisation at the extent of complicity of our governments. Germany needs this too.
#Gaza 4/6 I talked to the (also very respectable looking) lady sitting next to me about our learning journeys regarding Israel (my own in 🧵 here). She told me she worked in a Kibbutz when she was 18; at the time, like me, totally uncritical. One of their jobs was assembling plastic parts for bombs. When a group of German volunteers realised, they left. She and her UK group stayed.
#Gaza 5/6 Quick shout out here for Andrew Feinstein’s book, which i now really need to read. The arms deals between apartheid South Africa and Israel; the personal wealth gains of Tony Blair through the Iraq war, through BAE;: his talk brought home that yoi don’t really understand the world without understanding the industrial-military complex and the geopolitics it creates.
6/6 And another huge shout out for Dr Yara Hawari, who provided devastating but also inspiring, emoowering analysis of West Bank, Gaza and the global situation.
The Stone House, about intergenerational trauma and survival under Israeli occupation, is on my reading list:
@pvonhellermannn
Great to find you on here. Sounds like an excellent event and great to see stuff happening! Are there any other eastbourne people on Mastodon? Although i moved away i would like to still see whats happening in the town
@Alexlee oh, how nice to hear you have an Eastbourne connection! Sadly, very few Eastbourne people on here. Sad - Twitter played a key role for me for connecting with others in Eastbourne, set up real life climate action (eco action network). But mastodon just doesn’t havd that local connection functionality. Though mostly because everyone local i know stayed on X.
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