PALESTINIAN GROUPS NEED YOUR SUPPORT

By Mazin Qumsiyeh, PhD

Some of you received my emails for over 10 years and know that I share with you stories not found in mainstream media and then ask you to take actions.  Over 50,000 recipients are thus asked to write media or politicians, sign petition, or engage in Boycotts, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS).  Peace here is significant to stem the hemorrhage and distorted policies that led to wars in other parts of the world. Your previous actions made a difference and the tide is shifting.  We will continue to send you such action items as before that require only time and effort on your part.  But today, I wanted to break tradition by asking you to contribute also financially.  In particular, I listed below three organizations that are dear to my heart and that I believe your donation, however small or big, can make a significant difference on the ground.  If you decide to donate, please send me a note to let me know that you donated and how much so and so that I can follow-up and ensure your donation is received and where it was used. 
 1) The Palestinian Center for Rapprochement Between People (PCR) was where innovative acts of popular resistance started and continue to be molded. Its Media department, the International Middle East Media Center http://www.imemc.org ), produced excellent videos (for example http://www.youtube.com/abunimi#p/u/4/4he1vayLrfo ) and helped places like Bil’in and other villages harness the power of visual media in their popular resistance.  PCR was also the driving force behind development of International support on the ground in Palestine including being the incubator where the International Solidarity Movement hatched (co-founded by Ghassan Andoni, George Rishmawi of PCR, Neta Golan, Luisa Morgantini and others).  PCR and especially its IMEMC division could use financial support because there is a deficit that did not allow payment of the very small salaries or even office rent for several months. Please go to http://www.pcr.ps look around and then click on the donate button (there are tax-deductible options). 
 2) Al-Rowwad Cultural and Theater Society in Aida Refugee Camp does a tremendous work. It is an “independent, dynamic, community-based not-for-profit organization which strives to empower children and women by targeting behavior, knowledge, concepts and practices through beautiful and non-violent means.” When I lived in the US, we brought the theater group twice to perform to capacity crowds and all who attended came out touched by the humanity of Palestinians and by our suffering and many resolved to work for Palestinian Rights. Al-Rowwad’s units or divisions include: Art, Educational, Images for Life, Health and Environment, and Women. To donate go to http://alrowwad.virtualactivism.net/donate.htm or http://www.alrowwad-acts.ps/etemplate.php?id=19
 
for more information see
http://www.alrowwad-acts.ps
http://alrowwad.virtualactivism.net
http://www.amis-alrowwad.org/
http://www.imagesforlifeonline.com/
  3) The One Democratic State group is organizing to bring the most logical solution to the foreground. Your support can enhance the effectiveness of their outreach
http://www.odsg.org/co/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1570&Itemid=72 Finally to be inspired, there was amazing actions for Palestine to
protest naming a Paris street for war criminal Ben Gurion.  Watch and smile