Subject: AL-AWDA: POLL/PETITION & GUIDE FOR EFFECTIVE ACTION
Date: Sat, 14 Oct 2000 05:51:01 -0400


(please read, act & forward)

Take a moment to view and vote - TIME/CNN POLL:
Whose fault is the violence?

http://www.time.com/time/daily/poll/0,2637,mideast,00.html

___________________________

Please View and Sign this PETITION:

http://www.petitionpetition.com/cgi/petition.cgi?id=862

___________________________

AL-AWDA GUIDE FOR EFFECTIVE ACTION
Stop Israeli Violations of Palestinian human rights


DEMONSTRATIONS:

Please announce any demonstration around the world on al-awda-AT-egroups.com or
send to PRRC-AT-mail.com or arjan-AT-al-awda.org to get it included on the UPDATES
we send out to a huge outreach. Send pictures and reports (including links
to audio/video
files) of past demonstrations to hanthala-AT-usa.net (for a reports and
pictures/video/audio see http://hanthala.virtualave.net). This site is
linked to Addameer's and vice versa.

TIPS:

Our primary audience is the public in the cities in which these events are
held.  We do this by working with the Media (TV, Radio, and newspaper),
writing to politicians and making the public aware of these contacts,
protests (e.g. at  the Israeli embassies and consulates, in front of city
hall, the white house etc.).

Every action aimed at altering public opinion must have a dedicated media
coordinator, whose job is to ensure that the activists' point of view
reaches the wider world.

In your comments at rallies and to the press, please be cordial and tell the
truth.  There is no need to exaggerate as there are an abundance of
documented injustices, the human rights abuses, murders and other violations
taking place.

Please stress that even if the leaders reach a cease-fire, the apartheid
remains, and the Palestinian people are still being oppressed and ethnically
cleansed. Any agreement to come out of the current diplomatic activities
cannot change the reality on the ground until refugees are allowed to
return, and Israel implements democracy, equal rights, and ending the
occupation.

Have good public speakers; read the list of martyrs; include a two-minute
silence; don't be provocated by police or bystanders (negative media might
be the result); try to hold your event at times that include as much as
possible people; preferably after office hours around 5 pm; make sure you
have people who know the chants with megaphones.

If you have relatives in the area who are in danger, do share their stories
with the media (making it more personal).

Make sure that you have a statement including demands for civilian
protection etc and appropriate links (Addameer's site) handy for media
persons. Assign someone to pass these demands out to journalists. Assign
eloquent speakers as spokespersons to the press. The presence of a lawyer or
two at the rally will be a big plus to insure that the police do not try to
violate our rights and try to confine the protest.

Make signs with short, powerful slogans. Do not write too many things on
them, for you will lose the effect. See list of slogans included in this
list. Be firm, loud, proud, but not arrogant or disruptive. Don't let your
protest be run by an emotional mob. Make sure that it is organized and under
control at all time so that your goals are achieved.

Along with timing your rallies for optimal coverage, get in touch with the
media to bring about coverage.  Determine the key media contacts in your
area and send  press releases, (preferably by fax, followed by a telephone
call). For contact addresses check the major media-sites listed below. Ask
supporters  to call including during the demonstration to ask why the media
is not there.

For a list of media contacts see: http://emedia1.mediainfo.com/emedia/

Talking points:

The international community (US, Europe) must take up political, moral, and
legal obligation by the US, Europe under international law and human rights
conventions to condemn Israeli violations of human rights and international
law.  The International community condemns Israel for indiscriminately
killing Palestinian civilians including children.  We need international
protection to Palestinian civilians and to enforce UN resolutions, in
particular, UNSC 242, 338 and UNGA 194. Israel should be suspended from
participation in United Nations System until it complies with its conditions
to admission and until it complies with basic principles the UN has set
forth, in particular the right to self-determination, the prohibition
against acquiring territory by force, and allowing refugees to return to
their homes and lands.  Europe must suspend the EU-Israel Association
Agreement, until Israel complies with the human rights clause (article 2) of
the agreement.  The US should suspend military and economic aid to Israel
until it respects the Fourth Geneva Convention on Human Rights.

SLOGANS:

* Hey, hey, ho, ho, the occupation must go
* Sharon MURDERER; Barak MURDERER
* Stop Israeli Massacres of Palestinians
* Stop Israeli murders of children
* Stop the ethnic cleansing
* Muhammad al-Durrah, why were you killed?
* Palestinians have the right to life
* NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE
* Sharon, war criminal; Barak, war criminal
* Protect Palestinian civilians NOW!
* Israel must obey international law!
* Stop killing in Palestine
* Sharon & Barak = Child killers
* Stop Israeli State Terrorism
* Israel, Stop Killing the children
* What do you want - Stop the killing - When do you wan it - Now
* No more war, No more war
* Clinton, Clinton you must act, Israel apartheid is a fact
* Hay Hay, Ho Ho, Apartheid has got to go
* No Aid to Apartheid Israel
* No Return, No Peace
* Hay Hay, Ho Ho , Back to Haifa we will go

MEMORIAL SITE

Set up memorial sites in capitals for all Palestinian martyrs. Pictures can
be taken from Addameer's website (use US-mirror for quick download) at
http://nigelparry.com/september2000/ click on "martyrs" to get the pictures
(not all are available but most).

Call the media and tell them to cover it. Tell the media why you have set up
the memorial. Calls could be made to every mosque and church about the site.
You can organize a silent march; or hold candle vigils at the site.
Publicize the place of the site and we can post it around. Send the exact
place to prrc-AT-mail.com (or post it on al-awda-AT-egroups.com) and we can
mass distribute it and have the list of sites added to Addameer's website..

Please add the following at the memorial: 1. A big sign that says "in memory
of the more than 80 palestinians who have been killed by israelis this
week"; 2. flowers (many many flowers) each person coming should bring a
flower; 3. candles; 4. notes of support and acknowledgment- prayers and
notes; 5. pictures of the victims, especially the 12-year-old boy shot in
his dad's arms; 6. volunteers who are ready to talk to the media about the
memorial.

PICKETING

You can picket in front of every Israeli embassy or consulate. For the right
address check: http://www.embassyworld.com/embassy/israel1.htm

TIPS FOR NON-VIOLENT ACTIONS

This deals with tips for non-violent actions such as sit-ins in front of
UN-buildings; government buildings; Israeli embassies.

Be clear about the objectives, to attract attention to the demands (see
above), it must be clearly understood by participants and clearly
articulated to passerby, media, police etc. It must be clear who is
responsible for what (coordination of action, communication with media, with
police, etc.) Provide written guidelines such as: not to provoke police; no
violent actions; etc.

Make a sign-up sheet, it should be distributed including name, etc., phone
(preferably take your mobile with you), someone to notify (family, friends,
lawyer), special needs (medical care). A buddy system is recommended, in
particular in a "crowd scene". If intent is to challenge an order to leave
an area (in front of an Israeli embassy) the possible legal, financial, and
physical implications should be known (e.g. lawyer should be consulted
beforehand and preferably "on call") and if possible, thoroughly discussed
and considered by participants at a pre-action preparation session;
Reason(s) for challenge must be clear: e.g.. "we intend to stay until X is
done or Y stops being done". Those without preparation for being dragged,
should walk with arresting person.

Affinity groups should be formed beforehand - at preparation sessions, with
one or two members of each not risking arrest; these should be responsible
for follow up if arrests occur (contact family, lawyer, media, visiting
prison, etc.) Importance of these roles should be stressed.

SIGN THE PETITION:

Send a request to hold A Special Session to Mary Robinson (UNHCR):

UN Human Rights Commission, Mrs. Mary Robinson, High Commissioner,
Representatives of Member States, Fax: 0041-22-917 9018, Email:
webadmin.hchr-AT-unog.ch.

Sign also the online petition for protection of the Palestinian citizens in
1948-Palestine. This petition will be sent to United Nations Secretary
General Kofi Annan to Demand International Protection for Palestinian
Citizens of Israel. The URL is
http://www.petitionpetition.com/cgi/petition.cgi?id=862

CONTACT THE MEDIA:

For good tips on media see http://www.fair.org/activism/activismkit.html
Monitor the media. For good sites on the media check:
http://www.journalismnet.com
US Editorials: http://www.opinion-pages.org/united_states.htm
   International Editorials: http://www.opinion-pages.org/international.htm
   Search US News: http://www.journalismnet.com/searchnewsus.htm
   UK media: http://directory.mediauk.com
   Europe news searches: http://www.journalismnet.com/searchnewseurope.htm
   World news searches: http://www.journalismnet.com/searchnewsworld.htm
Write letters to the editor: http://www.mrsmith.com/
Media contacts: http://emedia1.mediainfo.com/emedia/
For best news source on latest developments in Palestine check
   http://www.addameer.org/september2000/ or its US-mirror
   http://nigelparry.com/september2000

CONTACT POLITICIANS/CONGRESSMEN
   Write to your government; representatives; party members etc.
   Government addresses: http://www.trytel.com/~aberdeen/#a2
   US Congress, see http://congress.org/congdir.html
   US Senators: http://www.senate.gov/contacting/index.cfm
   US Representatives: http://www.house.gov/writerep/
   Good source: http://www.e-thepeople.com
   Parliaments on the Web: http://www.ipu.org/english/parlweb.htm
   Foreign Affairs Ministries: http://www.trytel.com/~aberdeen/foreign.html
   Heads of State: http://www.trytel.com/~aberdeen/#a2
   European Union: http://www.politicalresources.net/eu.htm
   Political Parties: http://www.artsci.lsu.edu/poli/polpart.html
   Political Parties (Australia, US, UK):
   http://www.aph.gov.au/library/intguide/pol/polparti.htm
   Embassies around the world: http://www.embassyworld.com/

BOYCOTT

   If you're working for an import-company refuse to import Israeli goods
and tell your seniors why. Consumer boycotts can also be done, for an
overview of Israeli products exported to Europe and the US check

http://www.export.org.il/iei/company_search_tree.php3?NewNameMade=0&InitialE
   ntry=1&from=112

OTHER POSSIBLE ACTIONS:
Teach-ins, public lectures, silence, strike, fast, hunger strike, sit-in,
stand-in, pray-in.

(Author: Arjan El-Fassed and other members of Al-Awda media committee)

Al-Awda, The Palestine Right to Return Coalition's listserve, is a moderated
forum for any individual active in the Palestine right to return campaigns
regardless of organizational affiliation if any.  Al-Awda develops,
coordinates, supports and guides, as needed, global and local grassroots
initiatives for action related to the Palestine refugee right to return
campaigns.  To subscribe, send a blank message to
Al-Awda-subscribe-AT-egroups.com. Al-Awda's website may viewed at
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