Dear student,
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PSC are putting together a number of materials for student groups - if you would like PSC to send you a freshers' pack - please reply to this email with a name, phone number, postal address and the date of your freshers' fair.
Special offer: PSC are giving away free copies of Ben White's excellent book ‘Apartheid Israel: A beginners' guide' for students who join PSC (via a standing order) for only £12 a year. Join PSC today >>
(Please send an email from your student account once you have joined and we will post a copy of the book).
In solidarity,
PSC Student Officers
NUS leadership fails to condemn Israel's murderous attack on flotilla
The National Union of Students has failed to join the trade union movement and many world leaders in condemning Israel's murderous attack on the Gaza flotilla. It has also failed to call for an end to the siege on Gaza.
Find out how you can take action on this below.
Instead the NUS has called for an investigation into Israel's massacre to be conducted by Israel, in contrast to the United Nations Security Council Resolution that called for an impartial investigation. NUS' full statement is available here: http://www.officeronline.co.uk/news/277487.aspx
In stark contrast the NUS Black Students' Campaign has issued this statement:
"The NUS Black Students' Campaign is deeply concerned about the welfare of Tauqir Sharif, a student of Nottingham Trent University who is currently being detained against his will by Israel.
Tauqir is one of over 600 humanitarian activists who participated in the international flotilla to Gaza, which sought to deliver medicine, construction materials and other basic necessities to the Palestinian people who have lived under an illegal siege for 4 years.
We join the United Nations, the European Union and world leaders in condemning Israel's murderous attack on the flotilla, which has left over 15 civilians dead and many injured. It is utterly unacceptable to attack and kill civilians on a humanitarian mission.
We call on the Foreign Office to take all necessary steps to ensure Tauqir, and all British citizens from the flotilla mission to Gaza, arrive back to Britain safely and speedily.
The brutal siege on Gaza, which is causing the Palestinians intolerable suffering, must be lifted immediately. To this end we call on the government to apply maximum pressure on Israel to meet its obligations under international law."
NUS' statement is also in stark contrast to the TUC statement - ‘TUC condemns attack on Gaza aid flotilla' - which can be seen here: http://www.tuc.org.uk/international/tuc-18003-f0.cfm
This is part of a pattern: NUS refused to condemn Israel's massacre on Gaza which killed 1,400 Palestinian people in December 2008/January 2009; NUS also refused to call for a ceasefire during Israel's war on Lebanon in 2006.
We call on all students to email the NUS President, Wes Streeting, and NUS President-Elect, Aaron Porter, insisting that they join the NUS Black Students' Campaign and the overwhelming majority of the international community in condemning Israel's killing of civilians on a humanitarian mission, call for an immediate end to the siege on Gaza and to support the Palestine Solidarity Campaign's Emergency National Demonstration on Saturday 5th June.
Email Aaron: aaron.porter@nus.org.uk
Email Wes: wes.streeting@nus.org.uk
Please cc: students@palestinecampaign.org
Setting up a Palestine solidarity group at your university or college
A number of universities and colleges have Palestine societies and solidarity groups. If you have a solidarity group at your university or college, why not consider affiliating to PSC for 25 per annum? Download an affiliation form here or contact PSC for more information about affiliating.
PSC provides the following to student groups:
Free factsheets
Speakers on campaigning and the Palestinian issue
Merchandise at a special reduced branch rate (to affiliated student groups)
Loans of DVDs about Palestine
Conferences and organising meetings
Advice on campaigning
Palestine and Student work - Useful links:
Let Palestinians Study: www.letpalstudy.co.uk
Right to Education campaign (Berzeit University): http://right2edu.birzeit.edu/index
Action Palestine: http://www.actionpalestine.org/
FOSIS Palestine campaign: http://fosispalestinecampaign.blogspot.com/
Contact us:
E: students@palestinecampaign.org
T: 0207 700 6192
Join us on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=135055765083