São Paulo – From November 29th to December 7th, São Paulo is hosting the 1st Week and Forum of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, featuring several lectures and a poetry recital about the Palestinian issue. The event is organized by the Brazilian pro-Palestine organizations Frente em Defesa do Povo Palestino and Comitê pelo Estado da Palestina Já.
“An aid campaign for Gaza will also be launched. We are publicizing the bank account number of the Unrwa (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) so people can help. We are also accepting clothing and non-perishables for a fundraising sale,” explains Soraya Misleh, the coordinator of Frente em Defesa do Povo Palestino and director of the Institute of Arab Culture (Icarabe).
The campaign will be launched on the 29th at São Paulo’s Olido gallery. The donations will be taken to Gaza by a delegation in March next year.
The event’s launch will also feature a screening of the Palestinian documentary Diaries and a debate. The film portrays the lives of three women in Gaza, their fears, memories, hopes and ideas for a better life. Released in 2010, the movie was directed by May Odeh and has never been shown in Brazil.
Throughout the week, lectures will be held at various locations in São Paulo on topics such as human rights, the history of Palestine, Arab women and the media’s portrayal of the Palestinian issue, among other subjects.
Speakers will include Maren Mantovani, from the international organization Stop the Wall; the Syrian-Palestinian activist Sara Sy; Arlene Clemesha, an Arab History and Culture professor at the Arabic Language and Literature course of the University of São Paulo (USP), Jamile Abdel Latif, director of the Palestinian Federation (Fepal), and other people involved with the Palestinian cause in Brazil.
“The date coincides with the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People,” says Ibrahim Alzeben, the Palestinian ambassador to Brasília and dean of the Council of Arab Ambassadors in Brazil regarding November 29th. “This is also the International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. Having Brazil’s support is of the utmost importance to us, because many countries mirror its actions,” the diplomat says.
According to Misleh, Brazilian people started seeking more information about Palestine after the Israeli attacks in Gaza, early in the second half of this year. “The images shown on social media have shocked people a great deal. Much is said about Palestine, but people know very little about it; they think it’s about religion. We have a long way to go when it comes to spreading information and raising awareness about the Palestinian issue,” the activist said.
According to Alzeben, pro-Palestine demonstrations will also take place in other areas of Brazil, such as the states of Acre, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, the Federal District, Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul. “This year, solidarity with Palestine is prevalent in all states of Brazil,” he asserted.
The full programme is available at http://migre.me/n7qtF. The activities are sponsored by the Icarabe and the São Paulo City Hall.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
