Meeting Procedures

Gavel for meetings

There is a need for respect, comradely behaviour and democracy in decision-making.

This summary lists accepted meeting practice.

1. Elect a Chairperson.
One task from the outset is that there is a quorum present, being a majority of the active members of the coordinating committee.

2. Apologies for Non Attendance
Advance apologies for non-attendance at the next meeting.

3. Minutes of Previous Meeting
a. Motion – “That the minutes be confirmed.”
b. Seconder
c. Amendments or alterations to minutes as read
d. Vote by members
Business arising from minutes. It is important that the Chairman is familiar with any matter, which
may arise.

4. Correspondence
No motion is normally required, although if it is desired to approve the sending of letters/emails then the
appropriate motion is “That the correspondence be endorsed”.

6. Reports
Unless just making an announcement about a future happening, each person should conclude their
report with a motion “That the report be received (or adopted)” as appropriate.
a. Motion – as above
b. Seconder
c. Discussion on content of report
d. Vote by members

7. General Business
While it is preferable for motions and amendments to be submitted in writing to the Chairman, this is
not essential. Motions may be accepted directly from a speaker.

Note. The following is the method of obtaining a decision on a motion:

CHAIRMAN: I will now put the motion “That…………

“All those in favour ….” Those against ….”

“I believe those for/against have it (Pause in case someone disagrees and requests a show of hands) and I declare the motion/amendment carried/lost.”

If a motion is carried people may be delegated to perform any tasks required in the spirit of the motion.

8. Collection of membership dues.
Rather than the current practice of taking a collection to pay for hire of the meeting room, the membership should consider having dues (say $25/$15 that can be collected on say a 6 monthly basis.

Ian Curr
November 2009

Capital refined

by Humphrey McQueen

Introduction

Developing policies in the interests of working people calls for the precision about our enemy that Marx offered throughout Capital. For Marx, the practice of science required penetrating beyond appearances to specify the structured dynamics in the accumulation of capital. His critique isolated the forms and stages through which capital expands.

This sequence on ‘Capital refined’ introduces most of the distinctions that Marx drew. The material will be split into eight items:

1. capital-in-general and capital-within-capitalism;

2. individual capitals and their aggregation;

3. individual, aggregate and social;

4. competitive, yet monopolising, and 4a. Lenin’s Imperialism;

5. money-capital, production-capital, and commodity-capital;

5a. lessons from their different mobilities;

6. variable and constant;

7. fixed and fluid;

8. production and productive.

After unpeeling these layers, the sequence wraps up by asking ‘what is capital?’ and ‘who can become a capitalist?’

The manifestations of money capital as merchants’, usurers’, finance and fictitious will be presented in a separate sequence, as will be more about value, surplus value, profit, turnovers and their rates.

The present items provide no more than a checklist for activists embarking on Marx’s investigations. Introductory remarks are no substitute for hard reading, pen in hand. More importantly, Marx’s distinctions carry a political significance. Without his insights, we are more likely to be misled about manoeurvrings by our enemy. Only the keenest understanding of capital will let workers develop the policies needed to advance our interests. Chatter about greed drags us under.

The objective of our inquiries will be the actuality of capital. That is what Marx went after. Yet, it is also worth knowing what Marx wrote and what his words mean. But materialists do not engage in bibliomancy. Hence, the items do not push any of the versions of Marx enshrined by this cult or that grouplet.

Before going on, three cautions need to be sounded:

A. The distinctions sketched below are only first approximations of the richness that Marx brings to his account of the forms through which capital passes to expand. The following pages will have served their purpose once activists can bridge the gulf between this schematic treatment of Marx’s categories and the structured dynamics of the current crisis in accumulation.

B. Memorising definitions of capital is no guarantee of understanding what is happening in any given situation. The distinctions between the forms of capital are not set by any intrinsic qualities. On the contrary, knowing how to identify each form of capital depends on recognising its function in the social patterns of exploitation.

C. The particularities of capital change. They have kept shifting since Marx and Lenin wrote. New things happen. That rule is how capital-within-capitalism appeared. That is what keeps socialism possible.

Justice for Palestine (Melbourne) – Newsletter

Palestinian Film Festival Thursday 29 October – Sunday 15 November 2009

Click here to view the full program online

Sydney: Thursday 29 October – Sunday 1 November

Melbourne: Thursday 12 November – Sunday 15 November

Adelaide: Friday 13 November – Sunday 15 November

Gaza Freedom March 

Imagine hundreds of thousands of peaceful international and Palestinian marchers, led by Noam Chomsky, Ralph Nader, Diana Buttu, Norman Finkelstein, Noami Klein, Arun Gandhi, George Galloway, and other prominent opponents of the siege. Imagine them, approaching the Erez crossing under the eyes of the international media, breaking the siege for once and for all. This is the Gaza Freedom March! The Gaza Freedom March Campaign plans to take thousands of international marchers to Gaza on Jan. 1, 2010, and challenge once and for all the Israeli blockade at the Erez crossing. Go with them, or support someone else who’s willing to go.  Visit the website for more information.

Support Olive Kids Visit the WEBSITE to see how you can help.

Join Justice for Palestine and Women in Black at our Saturday Vigil in the city of Melbourne

Corner Bourke & Elizabet St

Sat Nov 07

11am to 1pm

 

Forced Removal – how it was done

Back to the Future - Refugees on the Tampa (2001)

FORCED REMOVAL- how it was done

-Lest we forget

by Pamela Curr

“…it is not their violence, it is ours, which turns back on itself and rends them; and the first action of these oppressed creatures is to bury deep down that hidden anger which their and our moralities condemn and which is however only the last refuge of their humanity.”

—John Paul Sartre in the preface to
“The Wretched of the Earth”
by Frantz Fanon

In 2001 when the Australian ship Manoora sailed to Nauru with its cargo of asylum seekers, it was anticipated that the Iraqis on board would resist embarkation.

These people knew only too well that while they were on the ship, they were Australia’s responsibility. Once off the boat they had no idea what lay in store.

‘The Chili technique’ used on refugee childrens’ rice

The Australian Navy laced the food with chili and limited water for 3 days prior to arrival in Nauru.  Iraqi Mothers told me later that they begged the Navy to at least not put the chili through the childrens’ rice.  The Mothers told me that their children were so hungry that they cried as they tried to eat the rice through cracked lips.

Review of Palestinian Days Film Festival, Brisbane

“What is my life worth?” asks a child standing in the rubble of Jenin, Palestine.

Palestinian Days Film Festival was held in Brisbane’s Schonell theatre at the University of Queensland over the weekend 16-18 October 2009. It was organised by the Queensland Palestinian Association and Justice for Palestine.

Opening Night of Palestinian Days Film Festival, Brisbane. Photo: Carolyn Stubbin

The festival consisted of films made by Palestinian and other filmmakers who support the Palestinian people in their struggle for self determination. In the period between 2002 and 2006 there was a burst of documentaries produced — an intifada of Palestinian cinema. Films like Frontiers of Dreams and Fears and Arna’s Children are contemporary documentaries of a high technical standard that should be shown on prime time TV. A young person, when asked what she thought of Arna’s Children shown on opening night, said that it put the violence (of the conflict) shown on TV in context. Yet the films have not been shown on Australia TV for political reasons. For example, SBS – TV is not permitted the use of the term “Palestinian land” in news reports about the Middle East. The SBS ombudsman said: “The land concerned remains the subject of protracted and deep dispute and therefore the reasonable viewer could consider that the use of the term “Palestinian Land” indicates a lack of impartiality as required under the Codes.” The triennial funding of SBS would not be in question on this issue, management have toed the position of the Australian government perfectly: ‘No Justice for Palestine’.

Opening night of the festival was a spectacular affair with the theatre booked out. People were treated to felafel rolls, dabke dancing, singing and music followed by a speech by the special representative of the Palestinian Authority in Australia, Izzat Abdul Hadi. He spoke about the films and the strong culture that they depict. In all, 421 people saw the films and over $5,000 was raised to support the Palestinian people through organisations like Apheda – union aid abroad, Australians for Palestine, Qld Palestinian Association, Muslim Aid Australia and Justice for Palestine.

Prior to the festival the films were reviewed and classified and submitted to the censor. Many were rated R 18+ and MA 15+ because they depict violence done to Palestinians, many of them children. Palestinian children at the cinema were unable to see violence on film that they had encountered in their daily lives on the West bank.

One film, The Iron Wall, sets out the main cause of the conflict between the Palestinians and Israel – the occupation of Palestinian lands, villages and houses by settlers. Both Jewish and Palestinian commentators like Jeff Halper[1], Samaan[2] and Hind[3] Khoury and Ismail Daiq[4] explained how Israel was trying to create ‘facts on the ground’ to deprive Palestinians of their land. The film shows the building of the wall by Israel by which means ‘Zionist colonization can develop[5]’. It demonstrates the failure of the two state solution advocated (previously, at least) by the people interviewed in the film.

Other festival films show the humanitarian crisis and the courage and determination of the Palestinian people. Of these, the award-winning Jenin Jenin[6] by Mohammed Bakri is particularly powerful because it shows how ordinary people resist the occupation. Banned in Israel, Jenin Jenin is dedicated to Lyad Samudi, the producer of the film, who returned home to Yamun after the shooting of the film was completed. On 23 June 2002, as Israeli forces besieged Yamun, Samudi was shot and killed as he was leaving a militarily-closed area with three friends. The devastation of the village of Jenin by Israeli caterpillar bulldozers inspired inquiries, songs, reports, and films. Finally the United Nations appointed a commission of inquiry, but Israel refused to let its members visit Jenin. Will prosecution of Israeli war crimes in Gaza in December/January 2009 be thwarted as well? Jenin Jenin has a scene with a small girl standing on the rubble of her town saying that when she heard that Sharon was coming to the Camp she was so angry she burst into tears because she had a great desire to take revenge on him. She told us how legendary was the cowardice of the Israeli soldiers who hide inside their tanks when children throw stones and who dropped bombs that fell like rain on her family’s house and nearby houses for two weeks during the devastation of Jenin. “What is my life worth?” she asked as she stood there in the rubble and then tells us that she and all her people will resist and win the struggle for their homes and their lives.

Since the Madrid conference in 1991 there has been a promise of peace through negotiation with Israeli governments. Yet, in the years that followed, hundreds of settlements have been built, housing for economic refugees lured there by cheap accommodation, duped by economic incentive. In Hebron, violent and fundamentalist settlers tried to drive Palestinian residents from their homes. Settlement building increased after the Oslo Accord was mediated by President Clinton at Camp David in December 1992. Not a single settlement has been dismantled in the West bank in the 17 years since. The failure of the peace process was confirmed when Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, went to the temple mount with many troops and provoked the Al-Aqsa Intifada (Arabic: انتفاضة الأقصى‎ ). Since that time Israel has invaded Gaza and Lebanon (Palestine, Summer 06) and placed a wall around Palestinian towns and villages on the West Bank. All this to contain the Palestinian resistance! These events are depicted in films like ‘Arna’s Children’, ‘Gaza Strip’, ‘Jerusalem – the East Side Story’ and ‘A Letter from Sarah’.

During the festival, filmmakers John Mandelberg and Janice Abo Ganis spoke about how the films were made including the making of their own ‘Watani Habibi – My beloved homeland’. After the screening of ‘Frontiers’ and ‘Jerusalem’ on Saturday, Michael Shaik from Australians for Palestine spoke about the current situation in Gaza and the occupied territories.

Thanks to all the many people helped organise the event. We are amateurs all, but made the festival a success through solidarity and practical sense. The mainstream media were contacted and some reference to the festival appeared in the Courier Mail, Quest newspapers, the ABC and some community radio stations. The alternative media and the web played their part in making sure people knew about the festival. The people at the Schonell theatre were supportive and the University of Queensland Student Union provided an excellent venue. A photographer provided beautiful shots of the festival like the one shown above of Amber dancing the dabke in front of the opening night crowd.

Thanks to all those who made the festival possible and to all those who came to see this touching human narrative of Palestinian struggle and determination.

But how to break down The Iron Wall?

There is a march on Gaza planned for 5th December 2009. Justice for Palestine, like many other groups around the world, intends to send a representative on that march.

But what if all the solidarity groups worldwide were to organise a March of Return – this time to Gaza, the West Bank and the occupied territories – a Return to Palestine from Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria? This would take a lot of organisation but it is not impossible.

The convoys to Gaza earlier in 2009, Viva Palestina, proved that.

Ian Curr, October 2009

More photos of the festival can be found at www.flickr.com/photos/memsahib1.

References:

For the program of the PDFF in Brisbane click here

---

[1] Prof. Jeff Halper founded Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD) which resist Israeli demolition of Palestinian homes in the Occupied Territories.

 

[2] Peace and Democracy Forum.

[3] Minister of State in the Palestinian Authority in early 2005.

[4] Ismail Daiq is the General Director of the Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committees (PARC)

Vladimir Jabotinsky, leading intellectual of the Zionist movement, wrote: “Zionist colonization must either stop, or else proceed regardless of the native population. Which means that it can proceed and develop only under the protection of a power that is independent of the native population – behind an The Iron Wall , which the native population cannot breach.”

[6] 2002 – Best Film – Carthage Film Festival, Tunisia; 2002 – The Critics Prize – Ismalia Film Festival, Egypt

‘Scandalous? Absolutely!’ – CD launch

It’s the moment you might have been waiting for.   You are invited to the launch of Absolutely Scandalous’ new CD, ‘Scandalous?  Absolutely!’

In fact, even your friends and relatives are invited too.  Well, at least those with taste.  All you have to do is send or show them this invitation.  And then RSVP.  You’ll laugh till you stop.

Thursday 19 November
6 for 6.30pm, 12 Lounge Bar,
The Melbourne Hotel,
10 Browning Street, West End, QLD.

RSVP: abscandal@gmail.com
by 9 November 2009
Invitation attached.

Justice for Palestine October/November 09

Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions campaign planning meeting

This meeting will hear reports about the international Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions campaign and plan building support for the campaign in Brisbane. Discussions will include the campaigns against Caterpillar and L’Oréal and the campaign to build support amongst trade unions for the BDS.

Wednesday October 28, 6:30pm
TLC Building (2nd floor), 16 Peel St, South Brisbane

Foco Nuevo in October

				We are at the Kurilpa Hall again, which last month provided a very welcoming space for Foco Nuevo. For next week’s event we will again have a diverse range of music.The Goodwills: Bob and Laurel Wilson (aka The Goodwills) know the importance of harmony – in life and music! They have been singing together since they first met in the late 1970s, with an emphasis on performing Bob’s songs, ranging from droll humour to poignant ballads. But a variety of covers, done in ‘Goodwills’ style, are also in the mix. Bob plays six and 12-string guitars and harmonicas and provides harmonies to Laurel’s strong lead vocals. Watch out for her kazoobugle too… [website]   Celtic Fyre came together in 2003 in order to perform and record on the University of Queensland pipe band’s CD “The White and the Blue”. Since then they have continued playing and evolved. With some line-up changes since their formation, they continue to explore many facets of traditional and contemporary Celtic music. Jumping Fences: Jumping Fences, the song-writing partnership of Lachlan Hurse and Sue Monk, will be playing their energetic mix of original and Latin American songs. While Ross Gwyther is away overseas, they will be accompanied by Robbie Stewart (lead guitar), Dan Simpson (drums) and James Harper (percussion) along with special guest Leonor Orellana. Their songs extend the folk tradition, and give new insights into the breadth of contemporary life. [website] We are pleased to have Nayita and Manoli offering their tempting Latin American food as well as Maggie’s wonderful cakes. Tea and coffee available. Foco Nuevo is a reference to Brisbane’s FOCO Club, a lively and alternative performance space which ran on a weekly basis during the late 1960s. Looking forward to seeing you there, Lachlan and Sue THE GOODWILLS CELTIC FYRE JUMPING FENCES with Leonor Orellana Friday 30th October 8.00 p.m.KURILPA HALL 174 Boundary Street, West End Hot Latin American meals, cakes, tea and coffee available $10 / $7 concession N.B. BYO web www.foconuevo.org.au email enquiries: lachlan@foconuevo.org.au

AFP ADVOCATE MICHAEL SHAIK GETS OP ED IN THE AUSTRALIAN 23 Oct

www.australiansforpalestine.com

We are very pleased to say that AFP’s public advocate for Palestine Michael
Shaik has had another opinion piece published in The Australian. This is
the second one in two weeks and given its virulent pro-Zionist stance,
publishing Michael’s pieces shows at least a willingness to create some
controversy. We urge people to write to the Letters Editor of The
Australian in support of Michael’s piece. That will show the newspaper that
some of its readership does want to hear a voice for Palestine.
You can read the article on our website by clicking on the link below. READ MORE … LINK: http://australiansforpalestine.com/shaik-israel-apologists-shoot-messenger#more-10931

Please write to letters@theaustralian.com.au

- SK

US, Israel and Australian Governments try to bury Goldstone Report on War Crimes in Gaza

Despite the best efforts of Western democracies the UN human rights council has supported the Goldstone Report on Gaza. The significance of the Goldstone report is that it  focussed on possible war crimes committed by the Israel Defence Force (IDF) when it invaded Gaza in January 2009.

Some of the findings were as follows:

1. There were deliberate attacks against the civilian population in Gaza by the Israeli defence force
2. Israel used white phosphorous, heavy metal weapons, and depleted uranium against the people of Gaza
3. Israeli Defence forces made attacks on the foundations of civilian life in Gaza: destruction of industrial infrastructure, food production, water installations, sewage treatment and housing

Obama, where art thou?
Of course, both Israeli  and its main supplier of weapons (the US government) tried to delay any action on these findings.  We should question what effect this report will have on the ground while settlements continue to be built by Israel in the occupied territories and Palestinians remain imprisioned by the IDF in refugee camps in Gaza and elsewhere.

Even though so called democracies like Israel, Canada, and Australia did not have a vote on the human rights council they did their best to prevent any action being taken on the war crimes in Gaza by the UN or by the international court in the Hague.

English Police revoke bail for anti-war activists

by Ciaron O’Reilly

English Police revoke bail on 3 EDO Decommissioners – Trial set for May 17th. 2010 – Solidarity Needed!

The EDO Decommissioners http://decommissioners.co.uk/ are 6 anti-war activists who decommissioned EDO in Brighton/England and 3 others who arrested following the non-violent disarmament action.

EDO supplies components for Israeli F16 Bombers. The decommissioning action took place on January 16th. 2009 during the Israeli bombing of Gaza when the body count stood at 1400 (300 children) slain Palestinians.

We can do better than Italy’s warehousing on Lampedusa

By Pamela Curr

“They did not drown. They died of thirst”, the UN worker on Lampedusa told me. In the busy shipping lanes of the Mediterranean, 75 Eritrean men, women and children died of thirst in an open boat.

Lampedusa is the small island south of Sicily in the Mediterrean sea and not far from North Africa

The five survivors told this UN worker who cared for them that 10 ships witnessed their plight and sailed away. This is the dark side of dehumanising asylum seekers. The result is that civilised nations can avert their gaze as asylum seekers die. Maybe Australians need to recall our history in this game as our politicians begin the anti-refugee war games again.

In 2008 when Australia had 179 boat arrivals to Christmas Island, Lampedusa, an island off the coast of Sicily but closer to Africa had 31,500. Unlike the current boat arrivals in Australia, not all these people are asylum seekers and many, such as the 7000 Tunisians who came in 2008 to Italy, do not want asylum. They want to land in Italy and then go to France to work so that they can send money home to their families. The Tunisian Government refuses to take back its citizens preferring the dollars they send from abroad.

Local Musos at the Step-Inn

Hello,

Ruby Blue is playing with Kingfisha at the Buddha Bar, the Arts Factory, Byron Bay, tomorrow night, Fri Oct 9 from 8.30pm.  entry is free.
Also,  Nicky Bomba from melbourne is fronting a band of local musos including myself, Georgia Potter, Paulie B and Charles Wall on this Sat Oct 10 at the Step-Inn (see below).  The Step-Inn is on the cnr of Brunswick and St Pauls Tce.

Peter Hunt

The Letter Q

Brisbane Lesbian and Gay Pride Choir
presents its stage show

Letters between lovers, family and friends and

Australian songs of the city and country

With special guests, Dawn Daylight and Mary Jane Carpenter

and featuring Chris Pye and the choir’s song ‘Dear Me’

Brisbane, Saturday 31 Oct 09, 7:00pm
Old Museum Concert Hall
Gregory Terrace, Bowen Hills
Book tickets on line at: www.qtix.com.au

Sustainable Homes Program – Oct, 2009

Location:         69 Thomas St., West End

Dates/Time:     Saturday, 17 Oct, 9am to 3.30pm

Sunday, 18 Oct, 9am to 1pm

Cost: $120 per person (cash only)

tberrill@powerup.com.au

Ph. 07 3207 5077 or Mob 0400 177 283

Sustainable Homes Course

Sat 17 & Sun 18 Oct 09

Solaris Sustainable Home

Presenter: Trevor Berrill (M. Env.Ed., Dip. Mech. Eng., Cert. Energy Manmgt.) – an award winning educator and systems consultant with over 30 years experience in renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Course Content:

• Energy efficient internal fittings/appliances & energy auditing,
  
• Energy efficient building design,
  
• Solar electricity and solar water heating,
  

• Rain water harvesting and grey water reuse.
  

Feedback from previous course attendees

“Brilliant! Very practical.”

Time: Sat. 9am to 3:30pm, Sun. 9am to 1pm

Cost: $120 per person

Please register at: tberrill@powerup.com.au Ph. 07 3207 5077

Sustainable Energy-Myths and Realities

By Trevor Berrill
What does sustainable energy living really mean? How can we put It into practice In our own community
here on Stradbroke Island?

What are Australia’s options for renewable energy and how
quickly do we need to act?

These are just some of the questions Trevor will answer. Trevor has worked in the sustainable energy field for 30 years a an educator~ consultant, government advisor and aca emlc. He will guide us through the basics with a big picture view of the state of the planet’s energy situation.

Then he will focus down to the here and now in our own lives; what it means for our homes, businesses and community.
Learn how Trevor has put theory into practice at his own home In Wellington Point.

This is an opportunity to gain sound knowledge and be inspired by what we can do in practicalcost effective ways.
Admission is free.
Children are welcome, but must be
accompani ed by an adult.
Date:Thursday, October 8th, 2009
Time:6:00-7:30 pm
Place:Corner of Flinders Ave and Fraser S1,
Dunwich, North Stradbroke Island

The Origins of Marijuana Prohibition in Australia

A talk by John Jiggens

The Ellen Taylor Community Centre (formerly Ahimsa House)
26 Horan Street, West End,
Wednesday, October 14 (7pm for 7.30 start).

The Paradigm Shift on Food, Conflict …

The Paradigm Shift on Food

eliza, thomas and sarah
September 22nd, 2009

This week ‘The Paradigm Shift’ looked at food, production and consumption generally. We spoke a bit about the current food system and went on a dumpster diving tour with a Food Politics class. We also spoke to Robina McCurdy who is, among other things, a food self-reliance consultant. She told us a bit about how food self reliance can be achieved and what it might look like in a urban environment like Brisbane.

We also played some wicked songs which we can’t include here because of copyright restrictions! See our playlist http://www.4zzzfm.org.au/nowplaying/index.cfm?action=dsp_show&showID=194&day=6

To Listen Now:

The Paradigm Shift

The Paradigm Shift on Conflict

• September 19th, 2009

Eliza and Thomas present The Paradigm Shift’s debut show on Brisbane’s community radio station 4zzz. This show features discussion about violence and conflict resolution; the ways they are dealt with and different ways they can and are being dealt with. Features interviews with Rachel Herzing from U.S. based group Creative Interventions and Heather Millhouse from the Queensland chapter of the international Alternatives to Violence Project.

Music has been removed due to copyright restrictions.

FOCO NUEVO in September 09

Sue Monk & Lachlan Hurse from Jumping Fences - at this foco nuevo they played with Robbie Stewart (lead guitar), Dan Simpson (drums) with special guest Leonor Orellana

Click here to listen to:

Jumping Fences play “The Other Side of the River”

Migill - Gillian Smith (fiddle, mandolin and vocals) and Michael Bourne (guitar and vocals)

Migill

“Wild” by Ichabod’s Crane

Ichabod's Crane plays "Wild" - c.carleton - vocals, guitars, keys s.adamus - cello m.laidlaw - drums

Apologies for the high sound levels on the recordings.

They may take a while to load.

Ian Curr
Sept 09

KURILPA HALL
174 Boundary Street,
West End
Hot Latin American meals, cakes, tea and coffee available

$10 / $7 concession

N.B. BYO
web
www.foconuevo.org.au
email enquiries:

lachlan@foconuevo.org.au

sue@foconuevo.org.au

With a cloud over the future of the Ellen Taylor Community Centre we have changed our venue to the Kurilpa Hall in Boundary Street, West End (next to the West End library).

The Kurilpa Hall has been the venue for many wonderful functions in the past, and we’re sure that it will be a welcoming space for Foco Nuevo.

Reviews of Palestinian Days Films

The Palestinian Days film festival, Brisbane,

6pm Fri to Sunday, October 16-18, 2009
Schonell Theatre, University of QLD
Sponsored by Justice for Palestine and the Palestinian Association of QLD

Reviews

by Pam Rosengren

‘Lemonade’ , a short film which came out of a storytelling workshop for the children of a refugee camp. Inspired by a girl who takes flowers from her grandmothers garden to the people in the camp every day, one of the boys began to make lemonade to sell in the camp. It is a simple yet profound story of transcending limitations. Although the other films at the festival are not really for a child audience, children feature prominently in the festival overall.
Arguably the masterpiece of the Palestinian Days film festival is “Since You Left” directed by Mohammad Bakri. It is a literary, performative reflection on the filming of “Jenin Jenin” and the events in the directors life subsequent to that. The film is structured around a soliloquy at the grave of Bakris former creative mentor. The philosophical conversation between Bakri and his Israeli lawyer, who donated his time to try to reverse the order banning “Jenin Jenin” had me wishing I could obtain a transcript of the movie. The film explains, but does not explain away.  This is particularly the case when unexpectedly a member of Bakris extended family becomes involved in terrorism. It documents the reaction of the family which might not be what you think.

“Watani Habibi, My Beloved Homeland” is a documentary of Palestinian  protest music by John Mandelberg and Janice Abo Ganis. It ranges from traditional music with no political message other than that is is  Palestinian culture with its roots in antiquity, through traditional  works with a message strong enough to have the musician exiled, to  lyrical contemporary pieces and even Palestinian rap.
Singer Rim Banna says she is unable to take up arms in the struggle,  so uses her voice to convey it. As well as having an exceptional  voice, Rim has exceptional insight into the creative process and its  relationship to society. (She has a Facebook page.)
“Watani Habibi – My Beloved Homeland” will be screened at 6pm Sunday  18th at the Schonell Theatre, along with “The Iron Wall” which maps  both the history of this vision from its inception in 1923 (yes, 1923)  and the tortuous path of the wall which not only divides Palestinians  from Israelis, but divides Palestinians from their farmlands and water supply.  Although the other films at the festival are not really for a child audience, children feature prominently in the festival overall. One script, “Letter from Sarah”, was written by a twelve-year-old girl.