Resources to help you take action for Palestine
[ad_1]
Have you spent the past few years feeling increasing despair at that state of the world and the direction our governments are taking us? Me too. Which is why I have been putting together lists of resources to help you take action in a variety of areas. This time it is to help Palestine.
I can’t quite believe this is the third such resources post I have written this year (the first two being about disability benefit reforms in the UK and the rise in transphobia both sides of the Atlantic Ocean). And it joins this post I wrote back in 2021 providing resources to educate yourself on Israel and Palestine.
If you follow me on social media, particularly instagram, you will have seen that I share a lot of posts about the genocide in Gaza. But it’s high time I pulled together more resources to help us all take collective action. Because our governments are not listening, and we desperately need to stay engaged and take action until they do.
Please note that I am based in the UK, so whilst I will try to find resources for the US as well (given a large percentage of my audience is based in the US), I cannot guarantee it will be as extensive. I encourage you to do your own research for other actions you can take. I am just one very poorly person putting this list of resources together, so it will not be exhaustive.
Petitions
UK
Call for a permanent ceasefire (Oxfam)
Define Anti-Palestinian Racism (APR) and launch an inquiry into APR (UK Parliament)
Recognise Palestine as a State and seek immediate ceasfire in Gaza (UK Parliament)
Stop the war on children (Save the Children)
Set up an independent inquiry into the UK’s involvement in the war in Gaza (UK Parliament)
US
End the siege on Gaza now (Action Network)
Permanent ceasefire now: protect civilian lives in Israel and Gaza (Oxfam)
International
#CeasefireNow: Open Call for an Immediate Ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and Israel (change.org)
Demand a ceasefire by all parties to end civilian suffering (Amnesty International)
Protect the Protest (Amnesty International)
Contact your political representatives
UK
The United Nations Association – UK (UNA-UK) put together a template letter and tips for writing to your MP about Palestine which you can find here. Please note that it was created in 2023, so you will need to update certain aspects to reflect the situation now. However it gives a great basis to start from.
US
Action Network have created a tool to help you write to Congress about the genocide in Gaza here. I am sure there are others, but I simply don’t know where to look for this in the US. If you know of any others, please let me know.
International
Template letter to write to your political representatives (from Medical Aid for Palestinians)
Write to the UN General Assembly President – suspend Israel from UN
Protests to attend
If you plan to attend a protest, please make sure you are aware of your rights and how to stay safe. Amnesty International has a great breakdown of all of this here. Liberty has provided more information specifically for if you’re in the UK, and Human Rights Campaign has put together information for those in the US.
UK
US
US Campaign for Palestinian Rights
Places to donate
Please note: I have listed as many places as I could find, focusing specifically on large organisations with specific Gaza appeals. However I have not had contact with all of these charities, so please use your own research to decide where you think your donation will help the most.
UK
British Red Cross
Disasters Emergency Committee
Medical Aid for Palestinians
Oxfam
UNICEF
US
International
Connecting Humanity (eSims for Gaza)
International Rescue Committee
Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders
Operation Olive Branch (note: this is a spreadsheet full of donation links)
UNWRA
World Central Kitchen
World Food Programme
Social Media accounts to follow
Please note, most of these links are to instagram as that is where I am most active. Many of these accounts will exist on other social media platforms too, so if you don’t use instagram please search for them wherever you spend your time.
BDS Movement
Bisan Owda
Gaza Freedom Flotilla
Global Sumud Flotilla
Humaniti Project
The IMEU
Islamic Relief UK
Jewish Voice for Peace
Land Palestine
Middle East Eye
Operation Olive Branch
The Slow Factory
Translating Falasteen
Wear The Peace
Books to read
Please note: there are many books about Palestine, but I am not familiar enough with them to make recommendations. So the only ones listed here are by or recommended by people I have come to trust who know a lot more about this than I do. I really hope to read more and add others in time. Please feel free to reach out and let me know of any you think should be included here.
Genocide Bad: Notes on Palestine, Jewish History, and Collection Liberation by Sim Kern
The Hundred Years War on Palestine by Rashid Khalidi
Other lists
Haymarket Books has a Free Palestine reading list which you can find here
Leeds Palestinian Film Festival has created a resources and reading list which you can find here
Pluto Press has a Free Palestine reading list which you can find here
One final note
It is important in all of this to also look after your own physical and mental health. So whilst taking action on these causes, also take action to keep yourself as safe as possible.
For my fellow chronically ill friends, this will likely mean choosing to do a lot less than you would like, because you simply aren’t well enough to do more. I feel you on this. As much as I would love to attend a protest, I can’t. Which is why I expend my energy on online action, such as making this post and sharing on socials.
For others this may mean turning up to a physical protest, but making sure that they know their rights, and making sure they have prepared for as many eventualities as possible. This is especially true since the UK government proscribed Palestine Action and have been arrresting hundreds of peaceful protestors. Or it might mean writing to their political representatives repeatedly. Or donating larger quantities of funds because you have the means to do so. Whatever action is possible for you, take it. Leave the rest for others who are better able to do so. We cannot do this alone – we must all work together, doing whatever we each individually can.
And remember, it is perfectly okay to simply block people online and refuse to engage with people in real life who don’t want to acknowledge what is happening. Whilst we put as much effort as we can into getting those in power to take action, there is very little to be gained from arguing with someone whose opinion won’t impact much at all. That doesn’t mean don’t engage with people who are simply uninformed, that’s important. I just mean you’re never going to change the opinion of someone who just wants to argue with you. Even if that is someone you previously respected (I had that exact same experience when I had to block someone who was DMing me on instagram trying to get me to take down my Stories about Gaza).
Choose your battles – do what you can with whatever means you have in the places which will have the most impact.
[ad_2]
Source link
About Post Author
