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News :: Miscellaneous |
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Packing Bags for the Middle East |
Current rating: 0 |
by Sandra Ahten
Email: spiritofsandra (nospam) hotmail.com (unverified!)
Phone: 217-367-6345 |
14 May 2002
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UC-IMC's own stringer is currently in the Middle East. This report contains some infornation of his current status as well as details on events that will happen upon his return. At least some of these events will be in conjunction with a visit from Dr. Rob Lipton as he reports on his April trip to Israel and the Occupied Territories with the International Solidarity Movement. |
With the intention of providing solidarity with the Palestinian people, organizing human aid, being a "human shield", forcing mainstream media coverage, and providing the actual coverage in the spirit of Indy Media, two men have recently spent time in Israel and the Occupied Territories. They will be coming to Urbana Champaign to share their experience.
Dr. Rob Lipton is a poet, a scientist, a long time activist, and a co-cordinator of an organization called Jewish Voice for Peace. Lipton joined a group of 100 activist with the International Solidarity Movement as they set forth for the Middle East to show solidarity with the Palestinians. The group was there during Israel’s week long invasion in the West Bank, near Bethlehem, during April. The activist decided to go into various refugee camps, hoping their presence would deter the bombing of the area. Lipton, 43 spent two nights in the Aida refugee camp, where he witnessed the invasion. "The first night in the camp there was heavy machine gun fire. The Palestinians did not return fire. They do not have heavy weapons, although I could hear the occasional pop-pop of some small guns and then the giant roar of tank fire." he said to an AP reporter. A group of 20 activist including Lipton had to be evacuated from the camps near Bethlehem by a consular convoy.
Andrew Kennis decided travel to the same area on his own. He has used his affiliation with the Indy Media network to make the necessary contacts there. Speaking with him this morning on his cell phone he reported that he was in a cab with a coordinator of the Palestine Indy Media website, on their way to a demonstration on the border of the Gaza strip. He had been in the area since Friday May 11. He will return on May 24.
Of his trip so far he reports "Although there is currently no curfew, nor is it under siege, it doesn’t escape me for a moment that I am in a war zone. The profound struggle is evident everywhere. This is the most political place I have been in my life. There is political graffiti in every square inch and everyone is affected by it. I went to a prayer service at the Church of the Nativity this morning. It was very somber -- how could it not be with this most holy place filled with bullet holes?" He also reports that he has conducted many interviews including a tearful interview with the founder of a Peace Center. The shell of the Peace Center still stands but the interior has been destroyed.
Andrew Kennis’ trip is being sponsored in part by the Urbana Champaign Independent Media Center (UC-IMC). In exchange for providing fundraising efforts, he will be reporting back via the newswire http://www.ucimc.org/. His audio reports will air on shows produced by UC-IMC. These programs will air locally on the IMC News Hour on WEFT 90.1 FM, Monday's 6-7pm. Local radio producers will also be submitting pieces to air nationally on Free Speech Radio News.
Kennis, 24 started his political/ activist career as a congressional intern in Washington. "I began to understand that you can’t help people through Capitol Hill. After watching the documentary movie "Manufacturing Consent" I was inspired to become an activist and primarily have chosen media activism. He has been active in the New York and Mexico City IMC. He currently lives in Mexico City, but may be moving here to study in the UIUC Communication Program in the fall.
Lipton and Kennis will be participating in an Palestinian/ Israeli Awareness Event on June 4 at the Channing Murray Foundation. The event is sponsored by AWARE (Anti War Anti Racism Effort), the Urbana Champaign IMC, and the Channing Murray Foundation. Besides a slide show and discussion of the activist’s trips, there will also be a vegetarian Middle Eastern dinner and music. The event begins at 7pm. This is a fundraiser for the International Solidarity Movement and for continuation of the IMC to sponsor reporters. Citizens who may be interested in traveling to this area will be provided with information.
Lipton will be featured on WILL Focus 580 at 10am on June 4. Other events are currently being planned for June 3 and 4. Please check the online calendar at http://www.ucimc.org/cal/ for updated information. You can also call Sandra Ahten at 217-367-6345 or email spiritofsandra (at) hotmail.com with any questions.
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See also:
http://www.palsolidarity.org/
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