SOCIETY/ GLOBAL

On October 17th, Potawatomi botanist Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer gave a talk at Centennial Hall on how Indigenous languages hold a worldview where land and all beings are relatives, morally disallowing destruction of the Earth. Dina Dwairi, a third-year Western University student researching agricultural resistance in the Gaza Strip - where 70% of crop fields have been destroyed by Israeli forces as they commit genocide in Gaza - met Kimmerer after her talk and offered her gifts of tatreez and za’atar.

Published in THE ANTLER RIVER MEDIA CO-OP

SOCIETY

On October 24th, abortion rights group London Reproductive Justice organized a protest against the Hellenic Community Centre’s hosting of a fundraiser featuring American anti-abortion advocate Abby Johnson. The fundraiser yielded $41,520 that could be poured into lobbying politicians into overturning abortion rights. Deanna Ronson, founder of London Reproductive Justice and a member of the Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada board of directors, explains why abortion rights in Canada may be under threat, and emphasizes intersectionality when advocating for reproductive justice. In March 2024, The Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada released a statement titled “Reproductive Justice Requires a Free Palestine”.

(*artwork by Incé Husain)

Published in THE ANTLER RIVER MEDIA CO-OP

Republished in THE NB MEDIA CO-OP

SOCIETY/ GLOBAL

Community members with ties to Lebanon share lush memories of oceans, trees, family, and city life in south Lebanon, the Beqaa Valley, Dahiya, and Tripoli - all areas that have been bombed during Israel's ongoing attacks on Lebanon. A community member close to the Lebanese community describes the beauty of Lebanese culture and his attempts to support friends with family in Lebanon. Their accounts are threaded with descriptions of the historical interconnections between Lebanon and Palestine.

(*artwork: From the river to the sea, from the cedar to the olive tree by Incé Husain. A peace dove flies over a sea full of keffiyeh patterns, her left wing full of branches from a cedar tree, her right wing full of branches from an olive tree, and her chest bearing a tatreez coffee bean motif from Gaza)

Published in THE ANTLER RIVER MEDIA CO-OP

Republished in THE NB MEDIA CO-OP

SOCIETY / GLOBAL

Authoritarian? Draconian? Muzzling free speech? Learn about Western University's “Procedure 1.1: Obtaining Authorization to Hold a Demonstration” and the perspectives from students, faculty, and legal scholars that criticize its restriction of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. Faculty discuss the ideological roles of universities, protests, and freedom of speech; a legal scholar offers a thorough analysis of the procedure's legality and how to best challenge it. All view the procedure as a direct response to recent campus activism for human rights in Palestine.

(*artwork: The boot by Incé Husain)

Published in THE NB MEDIA CO-OP

SOCIETY/ GLOBAL

August 1 marks Emancipation Day, a commemoration of the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 that led to the freeing of slaves across the British Empire. This year, the University of New Brunswick's Human Rights Office organized a panel discussion about the meaning of Emancipation Day. The panelists shared their personal interpretations of Emancipation Day, how Black history should be taught in Canadian education systems, how journalists should report on stories about Black communities, and distinguished emancipation, liberation, and resistance.

(*artwork: The loosening of shackles by Incé Husain)

Published in THE NB MEDIA CO-OP

SOCIETY/ GLOBAL

On June 21st, the night of the pink “strawberry moon”, King’s University College sociology professor Jess Notwell shared traditional “strawberry teachings” about forgiveness, vulnerability, and renewal. Hosted by students at the Western University encampments, Notwell also contemplated the meaning of strawberries in Gaza.

(*artwork by Incé Husain: “Strawberry”, called ode'imin in Anishinaabemowin, means “heart berry”)

Published in THE NB MEDIA CO-OP

SOCIETY/ GLOBAL

On Saturday, June 22nd, Ahmed Abu Shawish - a Nakba survivor who served 30 years in the Palestinian Liberation Organization - recounted the history of Zionism. The talk was hosted by Western University students at the encampments. Sources for further reading on the history of Zionism are provided at the end of the article.

(*artwork: Rajieen by Incé Husain. ‘Rajieen’ means ‘return’ in Arabic)

Published in THE NB MEDIA CO-OP

SOCIETY/ GLOBAL

On June 12th, Western University students at the encampments held a vigil honouring the Palestinian university students who have been killed by Israeli forces. Israeli forces have destroyed all eleven universities in Gaza; more than 5,479 students, 261 teachers, and 95 university professors have been killed; over 7,819 students and 756 teachers have been injured; and the studies of over 90,000 university students have been disrupted. The vigil coincided with Western University’s graduation convocations.

(*artwork: Under the rubble of our dreams by Incé Husain)

Published in THE NB MEDIA CO-OP

ANALYSIS/ GLOBAL

On May 29th, Western University’s President and Vice-Chancellor Alan Shepard released a public statement addressing the divestment demands of the student encampments for human rights in Palestine. The response rejected students’ divestment demands. The reasons given for the rejection appear to be inconsistent with international law and past decisions taken by Western University. Four major inconsistencies are detailed here in reference to international law and past actions by Western University.

(*artwork: Order in the court by Incé Husain)

Published in THE NB MEDIA CO-OP

SOCIETY/ GLOBAL

On May 1st, Western University students launched encampments on a campus lawn demanding that Western University divest from its 33.6 million dollar investments tied to Israel. The protest demands that Western University condemn Israel’s illegal occupation and the ongoing genocide in Gaza. It demands that Western University abolish courses and course programs that discriminate against Palestinian students. It demands students’ rights to protest oppression. In the first seven days of the encampments, students, faculty, and community members share conviction, joy, grief, food, books, music, art, and peace. They raise their voices in marches, speeches, and poetry for Palestine. Israel continues its onslaughts on Gaza; the number of martyrs exceeds 35,000.

(*artwork: Students have the power to change the world by Incé Husain. The title of this artwork is a quote by Western University hung on a banner in a campus building)

Published in THE NB MEDIA CO-OP

SOCIETY/ GLOBAL

University students in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Italy, and France occupy campus lawns in “indefinite encampments”. They demand that their universities divest from companies complicit in Israel’s international law violations in Palestine. Violent arrests ensue; more encampments rise. Bisan Owda, a journalist reporting live from Gaza, says the student encampments give her unprecedented hope for a free Palestine and a just world. At Western University, a divestment rally on March 28th united eleven student groups and nine community groups. They demanded that Western university divest from firms enabling the genocide in Palestine and the fossil fuels industry - vowing to “shut it down” if their demands are not met. Speeches at the rally were about scholasticide and violence in Gaza; attacks on Muslim and Palestinian students on campus; the hypocrisy of Western University's investments; environmental racism and the interconnectedness of capitalism, racism, and the climate crisis; and rage, sadness, hope, and solidarity.

(*artwork: Goodbye, Ivory Tower by Incé Husain)

Published in THE NB MEDIA CO-OP

SOCIETY

On the evening of February 16th, community members Breagh Christie and Shinaid Jane Grace organized a Meditation and Creation Circle that offered a space to grieve freely for Palestine. Filled with guided meditation, poetry, and crafts, the event strived to relax the body and transmute emotions. It also fundraised for United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), raising $426 across the eleven attendees. The organizers share what it means to create a safe space for grief, and attendee Shiona McIntosh describes how she was marked by the story of a young Palestinian woman who attended the circle.

(*artwork: I’ll hold you by Incé Husain)

Published in THE NB MEDIA CO-OP

SOCIETY

Since the brink of the genocide in Gaza in fall 2023, Fredericton has become home to six active Palestine solidarity groups. Collectively, these groups organize protests, fundraisers, and educational events about Palestine; communicate with local politicians; and hold vigils for the martyred Palestinian people. Learn about the groups’ establishments, actions, ideologies, and how to stay up to date with their community events.

(*artwork: Can I unravel it? by Incé Husain)

Published in THE NB MEDIA CO-OP

ARTS/ GLOBAL

“Tatreez” is traditional Palestinian embroidery distinguished by unique motifs that embody Palestinian culture, history, and resistance. Traditionally, it is found on thobes, pillowcases, napkins, and headpieces. Baraa Abuzayed, an embroiderer and PhD student at Queen’s University, began recreating a traditional Palestinian thobe for her Master’s thesis, which argued that the creation of thobes is inseparable from Palestinian survival. She discusses the historical, political, and cultural significance of tatreez; her workshops on tatreez; how the practice of tatreez has evolved; and invites everyone to learn tatreez to deepen their understandings of Palestine.

(*artwork: Tatreez motifs drawn by Incé Husain)

Published in THE NB MEDIA CO-OP

SOCIETY

Established in 2020, Connect the Thoughts (CTT) is a student-led competition at UNB that invites students to think critically about current issues in New Brunswick’s healthcare systems. CTT co-chairs and faculty describe the competition and its scope for driving new ideologies to approach healthcare issues. Last year, the topic of the competition was opioid misuse and harm reduction, featuring a case where a man was prescribed opioids for back pain and then became addicted. Past CTT competitors share their thought processes for devising solutions to the barriers to care exemplified in the case.

(*artwork: Connections by Incé Husain)

Published in THE NB MEDIA CO-OP

GLOBAL COMMENTARY

On the evening of December 30th, 2023, a vigil to remember, honour, and grieve the children of Gaza was held outside the New Brunswick Legislature in Fredericton. Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor reports that over 11,000 Palestinian children have been killed since October 7th. The United Nations calls Gaza “the most dangerous place in the world to be a child.” This is a version of a speech I gave at the vigil.

(*artwork: From the river to the sea by Incé Husain)

Published in THE NB MEDIA CO-OP

GLOBAL

David Heap, a professor of linguistics at Western University and an advocate of universal human rights, offers his insights on effective activism. He believes that all forms of activism are important, that the risks lessen as more people advocate, and that sustaining activism relies on strong support networks that embrace and heal. His activism for Palestinian human rights ranges from signing petitions to sailing to Gaza in protest of the sea blockade - a life-threatening act that had him kidnapped and imprisoned by Israeli forces in 2011.

(*artwork: Peace dove by Incé Husain)

Published in THE NB MEDIA CO-OP

ARTS

Artist John Gilmour - known as Wolfchef0 in the art community - makes drawings of schizophrenic states marked by hallucinations and paranoia. His drawings are hung in Isaac’s Way, and his other art endeavours have found homes in shops across Fredericton. Gilmour shares how drawing helps him find clarity in his schizophrenic states, and how he hopes his art will spark discussion that will nurture empathy for those with mental illness.

(*artwork: Wolfchef0 by Incé Husain)

Published in THE NB MEDIA CO-OP

GLOBAL

Michael Lynk, former United Nations Special Rapporteur for the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, explains why Israel has not faced consequences for its consistent violations of international law in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Some of these violations include the incessant bombing of civilians, the use of starvation as a means of control, Israeli settler expansion in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and the annexation of Palestinian territories under occupation.

(*artwork: Scales of justice by Incé Husain)

Published in THE NB MEDIA CO-OP

GLOBAL COMMENTARY

Hear the voices of Palestinian resistance that span generations. May they awaken whoever reads them.

(*artwork: Palestinian Resistance by Incé Husain)