Israeli Apartheid Week, Peterborough - March 1st to 8th, 2009

BACKGROUND
The fifth annual Israeli Apartheid Week is March 1-8, 2009 and Peterborough Coalition for Palestinian Solidarity will be hosting numerous events throughout the week. Last year 25 cities around the world participated in IAW events that recognized the 60 years that have passed since Palestinians have been expelled from their homes and land.

This year's IAW has significant importance in the wake of the recent attacks on Gaza. PCPS will be providing educational forums, films and workshops to provide Trent students, faculty and staff as well as the community of Peterborough an opportunity to learn and interact with each other.

Transportation will be provided by the TCSA for a rally hosted by the Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid in Toronto on Saturday March 7.

In the weeks leading up to IAW, aggression and pressure have been placed on student organizers on campuses around Ontario. Last week, Carleton posters advertising IAW were torn down and banned from the campus in efforts to silence students from engaging in events that promote open discussions and information gathering.

We encourage all interested community members to show their support and solidarity with campus organizers and efforts made to provide awareness, education and participation.

EVENTS

Monday March 2:
"Apartheid 101"

1:30-3:30 pm in the LEC Pit

Wondering why the term 'apartheid' is applied to Israeli state policies? Or what BDS and Right to Education means?
This is a workshop addressing the historical and current developments of apartheid Israel.
"A Caged Bird's Song", a film produced by students from Birzeit University outlining their experiences and obstacles to a right to education in Palestine, will be shown following the workshop.

Presenters:

Suha Jarrar
Suha is a first year student at Trent University. She was born in Jerusalem and came to Canada in September 2008. Suha is a member of the Peterborough Coalition for Palestinian Solidarity and studying Environmental and Women Studies.

Iftekhar Kabir
Iftekhar is a member of the Peterborough Coalition for Palestinian Solidarity. He is a Bangladeshi, currently enrolled at Trent University, as a M.A. candidate at the Centre for Theory, Culture and Politics. His research interests are Modernity and Contemporary Political Theory. He is also the Chief Steward of Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 3908, Unit 2; the union representing graduate students workers, undergraduate workers and contract faculty at Trent University.

Friday March 6:
"Indigenous Resistance to Apartheid Across Borders"

5-7 pm at Sadleir House in the Hobbes Library

Connections are made between the apartheid policies of Canada, South Africa and Palestine. Since these policies systemically oppressed and dominated indigenous groups, there has been resistance to them.
The panel discussion will include three speakers to address these regions and their inter-related experiences and resistance.

Moderator:

Chris Beyers from the International Development Studies at Trent University

Speakers:

Kole Kilibarda
Kole is a PhD student at York University and an organizer with the Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid (CAIA). He lives in Toronto.
Kole will speak on Palestine

Professor Tim Stapleton
Tim Stapleton is professor and chair of History at Trent University in
Peterborough, Ontario where he teaches African History, and is a
research associate with the University of Zimbabwe. His previous books
include Maqoma: Xhosa Resistance to Colonial Advance, 1798-1873
(Johannesburg: Jonathan Ball, 1994), Faku: Rulership and Colonialism in
the Mpondo Kingdom, 1780-1867 (Waterloo: Wilfrid Laurier University
Press, 2001) and No Insignificant Part: The Rhodesia Native Regiment and
the East Africa Campaign of the First World War (Waterloo: Wilfrid
Laurier University Press, 2006). Prof. Stapleton has also taught
history at Rhodes University and the University of Fort Hare in South
Africa.
Professor Stapleton will speak on South Africa.

Speaker on Canada TBA

Saturday March 7:
"Standing United With the Women of Gaza"

Rally in Toronto for International Women's Week

Buses leave Biko Library at 9am and will be back to Peterborough at 6pm. There will also be a pick-up/drop-off stop at Parkhill and George following the pick up from Trent.
No need to find your way up to campus that early.
Sign up at the TCSA office.

Sunday March 8:
"Leila Khaled: Hijacker"

7-9pm (Location TBA)

A film presented in conjunction the Trent Women's Centre about the true story of Leila Khaled a Palestinian woman hijacker. The film is noted for its "nuanced politics of nationhood and gender."

More information will be released over the weekend and if anyone has any questions about the events, please contact peterboroughcps@gmail.com.

Israeli Apartheid Week Peterborough is organized by:
Peterborough Coalition for Palestinian Solidarity. (http://peterboroughcps.blogspot.com)

Israeli Apartheid Week Toronto is endorsed by the following organizations:
CUPE Local 3908
Canadian Studies Department at Trent University

To ENDORSE Israeli Apartheid Week in Peterborough or to make a DONATION contact the organizers at peterboroughcps@gmail.com