A Compassionate Call for Action and Self-Care
As we plunge deeper into 2024, the resonating dissonance of global discord, notably the Israel-Gaza conflict, grips us all. At POW! Thanet, our hearts are tuned to the suffering emanating from these regions, recognising the profound impact of these events on global consciousness.
As a feminist arts organisation, POW! Thanet stands unwaveringly for freedom of expression, diversity, and human rights. We believe in the inherent right of all individuals to live in safety and dignity, free from fear and oppression.
The Importance of Self-Care and Rejecting Public Shaming:
The Radical Act of Rest:
In a world that often equates constant activity with productivity and success, choosing to rest is a subversive act. It is a declaration that our worth is not solely tied to our output or our capacity to endure stress. Rest is the cornerstone of resilience; it replenishes our mental and emotional reserves, enabling us to confront challenges with renewed vigour and clarity. As we commit to the theme of 'rest' in 2024, we are advocating for a balanced approach to activism, one that acknowledges the necessity of pausing, reflecting, and caring for oneself.
Self-Care in the Face of Adversity:
Engaging with the overwhelming issues of our time – be it the climate crisis, or social injustice – can take a significant toll on our well-being. The importance of self-care in these challenging times cannot be overstated. It's about creating a sustainable form of activism, one that understands the long-term nature of these struggles and prepares us for the marathon, not just the sprint. Self-care is about building a foundation from which we can continue to advocate, educate, and influence with effectiveness and compassion.
“We can best help you to prevent war not by repeating your words and following your methods but by finding new words and creating new methods.”
Rejecting Public Shaming as a Tool for Change:
It's crucial to address the counterproductive nature of public shaming. While it may offer immediate gratification or a sense of doing something, public shaming often entrenches attitudes, breeding defensiveness rather than openness to change. It can create an environment of fear, stifling the very dialogue and understanding necessary for transformation. As we embrace our 2024 theme of rest, we commit to engaging with the world's challenges through a lens of empathy. Let us seek to understand the complexities of these issues, and respond with actions that are informed, thoughtful, and grounded in a deep respect for our collective humanity. Alongside this commitment, we propose the following suggested actions:
Understanding the Context:
The current escalation in Israel and Gaza did not emerge in isolation. We encourage you to delve deeper into the history and the present circumstances of this conflict:
The History of Israel and Palestine: Explore a concise overview by Jewish Voice for Peace in a 6-minute video, offering essential historical context.
Life in Gaza: Understand the reality of Gaza, often described as "the world's largest open-air prison," through a virtual tour by the Green Olive Collective.
Current Situation in the West Bank: Acknowledge the surge in violence and the humanitarian crisis unfolding, as documented in detailed reports and analyses. Read eyewitness testimonies from human rights monitors in the West Bank for a thorough understanding of the issues.
Choose Your Media Wisely:
In the age of information overload, discerning the truth is crucial. We recommend: Balanced News Sources: We recommend subscribing to the joint Israeli-Palestinian online news outlet 972+ Magazine, or for televised / international coverage, Al Jazeera English, which has journalists in both Israel and Palestine.
Social media: In these digitally saturated times, where the swift currents of social media often carry unverified and misleading narratives, the responsibility to share information judiciously has never been more critical. To aid in our collective endeavour to remain accurately informed, here is our list of accounts that are actively shedding light on the situation:
B'Tselem (Israeli) - Recognised for its critical stance on human rights abuses in the region. Facebook / Instagram
Al Mezan Centre (Palestinian) - A key source for updates on the ground. Instagram
Defence for Children International (Palestinian) - Focused on the plight of the youngest victims. Instagram
Rabbis for Human Rights (Israeli) - Offering a unique perspective on the conflict. Facebook / Instagram
Palestinian Center for Human Rights - Documenting human rights violations. Facebook / Instagram
Gisha (Palestinian) - Advocating for freedom of movement. Facebook
Al Haq (Palestinian) - A legal perspective on the ongoing situation. Facebook
Breaking the Silence (Israeli) - Sharing firsthand accounts from Israeli Defense Forces veterans. Facebook / Instagram
We are not numbers (Palestinian) - Telling human stories behind the statistics. Facebook / Instagram
Center for Jewish nonviolence (Israeli) - Advocating for peaceful solutions. Facebook
MAKAN (Palestinian) - Providing insights into daily life in Palestine. Facebook / Instagram
Yesh Din (Israeli) - Monitoring legal issues and human rights. Facebook
Standing Together -a grassroots Jewish-Arab movement fighting for peace, equality and social justice in Israel/Palestine. Instagram
Full list of Palestinian and Israeli peace and human rights organisations
4. Donations
Charity Meals are reaching out to ask you to donate to Palestine to help provide urgent essentials like food and water.
Donate to Palestine Red Crescent Society PRCS is an officially recognised independent Palestinian National Society providing humanitarian assistance as well as health and social services to Palestinians whenever and wherever needed.
Palestine Children’s Relief Fund PCRF is the primary humanitarian organisation in Palestine, delivering crucial and life-saving medical relief and humanitarian aid.
Emergency Appeal by Medical Aid for Palestinians Emergency appeal by the UK-based charity/non-profit whose team is currently in Egypt working to procure medicines, disposables, lab reagents, and other lifesaving supplies, and get them into Gaza through the Rafah crossing.
Gaza Emergency Fund by Human Appeal Human Appeal has been providing vital humanitarian aid to the region since 1991 and every contribution to them is now automatically matched by their humanitarian partner.
Donate to Doctors Without Borders Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières is actively working on preparing medical and humanitarian supplies to be sent to Gaza when access is open.
Donate to the Palestine Solidarity Campaign The London-based activist organisation is pressuring UK leaders to call for an immediate ceasefire. The donations to PSC can be on-off or monthly and will help fund their ongoing response.
5. Get involved, stay informed, resources:
How to Talk to Children About Israel and Gaza How to address the specific issue of talking to children about what’s happening in Israel and Gaza. Website
Talking to Families What do we do with our families? How do we relate to our parents and grandparents or relatives who are supportive of and complicit in pogroms and genocide? Podcast
Artists for Palestine UK APUK is a growing network of artists and cultural workers standing together for Palestinian rights and for a just resolution for all in Israel/Palestine, including for Palestinian refugees. Website
Naomi Klein on BDS An article discussing broad boycotts and implement divestment initiatives against Israel similar to those applied to South Africa in the apartheid era Article
Palestine Solidarity Campaign The biggest organisation in the UK dedicated to securing Palestinian human rights. Website / Instagram
Jewish antizionist action A newly formed UK initiative for a liberated Palestine. Instagram
Na’amod Na’amod (‘we will stand’) is a UK-based Jewish group seeking to end the Jewish community’s support for apartheid and occupation, and to mobilise it in the struggle for dignity, freedom and democracy for all Palestinians and Israelis. Website / Instagram
Angels of History An initiative supporting Jewish people to process the impact of their collective history and gain insight into how this impacts them in the present. They are currently offering 90-minute online group sessions for up to 15 people to share and reflect. Website / Instagram
Workers in Palestine Palestinian trade unions call for immediate and urgent action from international trade unions. Website / Instagram
Download a bustcard from Green and Black Cross Bustcards are an essential item to take with you on a protest, providing key advice, information on stop and search and arrest, and the names and numbers of solicitors who can help you.
In these troubling times, remember the imperative of self-care in whatever course of action you choose to take. In the relentless tide of global challenges, your well-being remains paramount. For those near Thanet, I urge you to extend your support to Beyond The Page and their commendable United Mothers programme. POW, in collaboration with them on the "Born to Dream" project, has witnessed and contributed to their transformative work over the past three years. In this interconnected web of activism and support, your involvement can be a beacon of hope and change.
“Growing up, I never knew a relaxed woman. Successful women? Yes. Productive women? Plenty. Anxious and afraid and apologetic women? Heaps of them. But relaxed women? At-ease women? Women who don’t dissect their days into half hour slots of productivity? Women who prioritize rest and pleasure and play? Women who aren’t afraid to take up space in the world? Women who give themselves unconditional permission to relax? Without guilt? Without apology? Without feeling like they need to earn it? I’m not sure I’ve ever met a woman like that. But I would like to become one.
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