Latest news with #CarolineTurner
Glasgow Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow Film Theatre praised by pro-Israel lobby group over BDS vote
The charity's trustees declined to back the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement and the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI), despite calls from employees and patrons to do so. Caroline Turner, director of UK Lawyers for Israel said: 'We are pleased that the Trustees of GFT have decided to reject these endorsements. These campaigns were part of a central Palestinian boycotting organisation whose aim is the destruction of the Jewish State. 'The film theatre had upset many of its regular Jewish film goers by its boycott of Coca Cola products earlier this year, and the anti-Israel statements made by some of its staff.' The BDS movement calls for a boycott of all Israeli goods. The BDS movement was set up by 170 Palestinian civil groups in 2005 as a form of non-violent "pressure" on Israel and has gained worldwide support, often being compared to the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa. The collective has called on Israel to 'end its colonisation and occupation' of Arab lands, recognise the 'fundamental rights' of Arab-Palestien citizens of Israel, and 'respect and protect' the rights of Palestinian refugees. Adherents of the movement advocate for a full economic and cultural boycott of Israeli goods and companies, and protest against international companies with close ties to the Israeli state. Three members of the GFT's trustee board resigned in protest over the cinema's decision. A joint statement reads: 'We cannot in good conscience continue to serve on the board of the GFT. In addition to our concerns related to governance and decision-making processes, we are also deeply concerned about the attitude the GFT has shown toward our unionised workers.' In February, Unite Hospitality union members, which make up 85% of front-of-house and cleaning staff at the cinema, announced they would refuse to serve Coca-Cola products due to the company's ties to Israel. This led to the removal of the brand from the GFT bar. Coca Cola was among the products to be banned at the GFT (Image: PA).The theatre was hit with a legal threat after UK Lawyers for Israel wrote a letter to charity regulator OSCR alleging the boycott breached the cinema's 'charitable objects'. The complaint was ultimately dismissed. In a statement published on Thursday evening, the charity said: 'As an independent charity, trustees are legally required to act in the best interests of the charity, and in line with its charitable objects which are, for Glasgow Film, principally to educate the public about film. 'To meet this obligation, we believe that all decisions, including those relating to ethical purchasing and programming, should be taken independently, and on a case-by-case basis, informed by robust internal policies and processes.' The cinema's board also said that a full review of their 'ethical policies and practices' would be carried out, including the sale of products in their bar, and that the work of Palestinian artists would continue to be platformed. UKLFI's Turner added: 'It is good news that the GFT is now considering ethical and inclusive programming and purchasing. We hope that their inclusive programming will also include Israeli films.' The GFT board voted against endorsing the BDS movement. (Image: Newsquest) However, angry patrons hit out as news of the decision spread online Thursday night. Ruth Gilbert, national campaigns chair for Living Rent, posted to X: 'This is pathetic and embarrassing. Against the will of your unionised staff, your customers, and members of your board, you can't even commit to the bare minimum of solidarity with the Palestinian people? Many will vote with their feet if you don't reconsider.' Similarly, Emma Diamond remarked: 'So disappointed to read this, as a long term member & supporter I really hoped for better. 'It's not enough to pledge to platform Palestinian voices, what voices will there be left to 'platform' if this genocide continues.' Andy Ashe added: 'Apart from the obvious ethical consequences, I think you have vastly underestimated your customers' commitment to Palestine.' In response to the decision, campaign group Art Workers for Palestine Scotland said: 'We ask audiences, film-workers and partners, to email the Chief Executive of GFT Allison Gardner to make your voice heard and demand a reversal to this decision which undermines GFT's very reason for existence as an independent cinema. "GFT directly benefits in numerous ways from the optics of screening radical anti-colonial films. We refuse to let them disguise their lack of ethics with a progressive veneer. GFT is publicly funded and we, the public, are here to assert that film is political. We will not back down.'
The Herald Scotland
3 days ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Pro-Israel lobby lauds Glasgow Film Theatre after BDS vote
Caroline Turner, director of UK Lawyers for Israel told The Herald: 'We are pleased that the Trustees of GFT have decided to reject these endorsements. These campaigns were part of a central Palestinian boycotting organisation whose aim is the destruction of the Jewish State. 'The film theatre had upset many of its regular Jewish film goers by its boycott of Coca Cola products earlier this year, and the anti-Israel statements made by some of its staff.' The BDS movement calls for a boycott of all Israeli goods. The BDS movement was set up by 170 Palestinian civil groups in 2005 as a form of non-violent "pressure" on Israel and has gained worldwide support, often being compared to the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa. The collective has called on Israel to 'end its colonisation and occupation' of Arab lands, recognise the 'fundamental rights' of Arab-Palestien citizens of Israel, and 'respect and protect' the rights of Palestinian refugees. Adherents of the movement advocate for a full economic and cultural boycott of Israeli goods and companies, and protest against international companies with close ties to the Israeli state. Three members of the GFT's trustee board resigned in protest over the cinema's decision. A joint statement reads: 'We cannot in good conscience continue to serve on the board of the GFT. In addition to our concerns related to governance and decision-making processes, we are also deeply concerned about the attitude the GFT has shown toward our unionised workers.' In February, Unite Hospitality union members, which make up 85% of front-of-house and cleaning staff at the cinema, announced they would refuse to serve Coca-Cola products due to the company's ties to Israel. This led to the removal of the brand from the GFT bar. Coca Cola was among the products to be banned at the GFT (Image: PA).The theatre was hit with a legal threat after UK Lawyers for Israel wrote a letter to charity regulator OSCR alleging the boycott breached the cinema's 'charitable objects'. The complaint was ultimately dismissed. In a statement published on Thursday evening, the charity said: 'As an independent charity, trustees are legally required to act in the best interests of the charity, and in line with its charitable objects which are, for Glasgow Film, principally to educate the public about film. 'To meet this obligation, we believe that all decisions, including those relating to ethical purchasing and programming, should be taken independently, and on a case-by-case basis, informed by robust internal policies and processes.' The cinema's board also said that a full review of their 'ethical policies and practices' would be carried out, including the sale of products in their bar, and that the work of Palestinian artists would continue to be platformed. UKLFI's Turner added: 'It is good news that the GFT is now considering ethical and inclusive programming and purchasing. We hope that their inclusive programming will also include Israeli films.' The GFT board voted against endorsing the BDS movement. (Image: Newsquest) However, angry patrons hit out as news of the decision spread online Thursday night. Ruth Gilbert, national campaigns chair for Living Rent, posted to X: 'This is pathetic and embarrassing. Against the will of your unionised staff, your customers, and members of your board, you can't even commit to the bare minimum of solidarity with the Palestinian people? Many will vote with their feet if you don't reconsider.' Similarly, Emma Diamond remarked: 'So disappointed to read this, as a long term member & supporter I really hoped for better. 'It's not enough to pledge to platform Palestinian voices, what voices will there be left to 'platform' if this genocide continues.' Andy Ashe added: 'Apart from the obvious ethical consequences, I think you have vastly underestimated your customers' commitment to Palestine.' Read more: Coca-Cola to be removed from Glasgow Film Theatre bar after staff boycott Glasgow Film Theatre could ban Disney films as staff push for Israel boycott Glasgow Film Theatre reported to charity regulator over Coca-Cola boycott In response to the decision, campaign group Art Workers for Palestine Scotland said: 'We ask audiences, film-workers and partners, to email the Chief Executive of GFT Allison Gardner to make your voice heard and demand a reversal to this decision which undermines GFT's very reason for existence as an independent cinema. "GFT directly benefits in numerous ways from the optics of screening radical anti-colonial films. We refuse to let them disguise their lack of ethics with a progressive veneer. GFT is publicly funded and we, the public, are here to assert that film is political. We will not back down.'
Daily Mail
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Union sparks criticism after urging teachers to bring Palestine struggle into schools
Critics have accused Britain's biggest teaching union of spreading pro-Palestine propaganda after coaching members on how to bring the 'Palestinian struggle' into schools. The National Education Union (NEU) encouraged teachers to hold a day of action at schools on Thursday to highlight 'the Palestinian struggle for freedom'. They are also holding a workshop next month to train members in how to 'advocate for Palestine in our schools'. However, critics have warned that the events could breach legislation banning the promotion of biased political views in schools. The workshop will be run by Makan, an educational group that works towards 'adopting educational approaches that capture the history of the Palestinian struggle'. Their workshops provide 'foundational knowledge on key issues like the Nakba, settler colonialism, imperialism, and apartheid'. Critics fear that teachers who attend the event in Liverpool on June 14, will be encouraged to spread one-sided information about the conflict in Gaza. The legal charity UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) has called on the Department for Education and local councils to crack down on what it says is the promotion of pro-Palestine and anti-Israel propaganda in schools. 'The NEU appears to be defying government guidelines on political impartiality in schools, by persuading teachers to brainwash children into supporting the Palestinian cause,' Caroline Turner, director of UKLFI, told The Telegraph. Liverpool city council responded saying it will remind teachers of the ban on the promotion of bias content. Reena Bhogal-Welsh, Liverpool's director of education and inclusion said she would be writing to all schools and academies in the city but added that 'teachers are free to attend protests outside of school'. The Nakba day of action on Thursday marked the 77th anniversary of what is regarded by Palestinians as the time they were driven from their homes by the founding of the state of Israel in 1948. The day encouraged teachers to organise lunch-time meetings and after-school film screenings 'to educate colleagues about the Palestinian struggle'. Several leading figures in the NEU are active members on the pro-Palestine movement. One of their executive members Louise Regan is director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign. A Department for Education spokesman said: 'For any pupil to feel unwelcome or intimidated in their school is completely unacceptable. At a time when Jewish students are experiencing a surge in appalling anti-Semitism, teachers should consider the message they are sending to children and young people when taking part in these activities. 'It is a legal duty for teachers to be politically impartial, and schools should be a place of safety for all children – no matter their faith or background.' The NEU defended its members taking part in actions of support of the Palestinian cause. The NEU said: 'The event in June is looking at equipping teachers with the confidence and resources to manage conversations or issues that may arise from the ongoing conflict in Israel and Palestine. 'It is aimed at supporting individual pupils or staff directly impacted or strongly engaged in the Israel/Palestine conflict. It also looks at how best to address any negative fall-out arising from the conflict among pupils or families such as anti-Semitism or Islamophobia. 'Teachers know when addressing any political or sensitive issues in school their professional obligation is to do so in an impartial, respectful, calm and balanced way.'
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Union tells teachers to bring ‘Palestine struggle' into schools
Britain's biggest teaching union is coaching its members on how to bring the 'Palestinian struggle' into schools. The National Education Union (NEU) is holding a workshop next month to train members in how to 'advocate for Palestine in our schools'. At the same time, the union encouraged teachers to hold a day of action at their place of work on Thursday to highlight 'the Palestinian struggle for freedom'. Critics have accused the NEU of spreading pro-Palestine propaganda and warned that both events could breach legislation barring the promotion of partisan political views in schools. They say the events could also go against rules requiring councils and head teachers to ensure pupils are presented with a balance of opposing views on political issues. The NEU-organised workshop, being held in Liverpool on June 14, is being run by Makan, an educational group that works towards 'adopting educational approaches that capture the history of the Palestinian struggle', which are 'aimed at strengthening the movement for Palestinian liberation'. Makan says its workshops are designed to provide 'foundational knowledge on key issues like the Nakba, settler colonialism, imperialism, and apartheid'. It has led critics to fear that teachers who attend the Liverpool workshop will be encouraged to spread one-sided information about the conflict in Gaza. The legal charity UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) has now called on the Department for Education and local councils to crack down on what it says is the promotion of pro-Palestine and anti-Israel propaganda in schools. It wants teachers to be reminded of their legal obligations in ensuring they do not promote 'partisan political views' in schools. Caroline Turner, director of UKLFI, said: 'The NEU appears to be defying government guidelines on political impartiality in schools, by persuading teachers to brainwash children into supporting the Palestinian cause. 'This is extremely concerning and we hope that the local authorities and head teachers will act to ensure this does not happen.' Many Jews say accusations of settler colonialism, apartheid and genocide levelled at Israel by some NEU activists are anti-Semitic – as defined by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance – since they compare its actions to that of the Nazis and the Holocaust. The union has rejected the claims, saying its members abide by their professional code of conduct to teach political subjects in a balanced manner. The NEU-backed Nakba day of action encourages teachers to circulate petitions calling for the boycott of companies 'complicit in Israel's illegal occupation of Palestinian land', including arms companies supplying Israel; and organise lunch-time meetings and after-school film screenings 'to educate colleagues about the Palestinian struggle'. Several British trade unions backed Thursday's day of action, which marked the 77th anniversary of the Nakba, or 'catastrophe', regarded by Palestinians as the moment they were driven from their homes by the founding of the state of Israel in 1948. A number of leading figures in the NEU are active in the pro-Palestinian movement, including Louise Regan, one of the union's executive members, who is also a director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign; and Daniel Kebede, its general secretary. He was due to address Saturday's national demonstration in London commemorating the anniversary of the Nakba. They also include Mat Milovanovic, a London teacher standing for election to the union's executive, who has also campaigned against Prevent, the government programme to tackle radicalisation. Liverpool city council has responded to UKLFI's call by saying it will remind teachers in the city's schools of the ban on the promotion of partisan political views in teaching, setting up a potential clash with the NEU. Reena Bhogal-Welsh, Liverpool's director of education and inclusion, said she would also be writing to all schools and academies in the city to remind them of the ban and to 'take steps to ensure the balanced presentation of opposing views on political issues when they are brought to the attention of pupils'. She added that 'teachers are free to attend protests outside of school' and that the council did not have the power to ban the June 14 workshop. A Department for Education spokesman said: 'For any pupil to feel unwelcome or intimidated in their school is completely unacceptable. At a time when Jewish students are experiencing a surge in appalling anti-Semitism, teachers should consider the message they are sending to children and young people when taking part in these activities. 'It is a legal duty for teachers to be politically impartial, and schools should be a place of safety for all children – no matter their faith or background.' The NEU defended its members taking part in actions of support of the Palestinian cause. A union spokesman said: 'The day of action is explicitly for school staff and is not for students to participate in. It is not accurate to say it's designed to indoctrinate children and young people. What needs to be under the spotlight is Israel's breaches of international law and the wholly disproportionate retaliation against a whole civilian population, including vulnerable children.' The NEU added: 'The event in June is looking at equipping teachers with the confidence and resources to manage conversations or issues that may arise from the ongoing conflict in Israel and Palestine. It is aimed at supporting individual pupils or staff directly impacted or strongly engaged in the Israel/Palestine conflict. It also looks at how best to address any negative fall-out arising from the conflict among pupils or families such as anti-Semitism or Islamophobia. 'Teachers know when addressing any political or sensitive issues in school their professional obligation is to do so in an impartial, respectful, calm and balanced way.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
29-03-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Lake District garden centre bans political symbols after complaints from Jewish customers
A Lake District garden centre has banned its employees from wearing political symbols after a Jewish family complained about a staff member sporting a pro-Palestinian badge. The family were left upset and claimed the garden centre had 'no regard for the feeling and sensitivity of visiting Jews or Israelis '. Following a complaint, Hayes Garden World, in Ambleside, has revised its employee policy to ban the wearing of all political symbols. It is the latest in a series of incidents which have led to businesses and institutions banning the wearing of pro-Palestinian badges and symbols, following complaints by members of the public who say they were left 'distressed and intimidated'. After they saw a member of staff wearing the Palestinian flag at Hayes Garden World earlier this month, the husband approached UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) to take up the case. 'No regard for sensitivity of visiting Jews' The man, who is in his late 60s and asked to remain anonymous, said: 'At the checkout, my wife asked the checkout lady a question and she called over her male colleague. He was wearing a Palestinian badge on the lapel of his green uniform. 'The badge was large enough not to be missed or confused with something else. I think it is also safe to say that he wasn't wearing this badge for language assistance purposes. 'I was stunned. This was not a badge I was expecting to see in the heart of the genteel Lake District. And while I kept my feelings to myself, I was absolutely raging mad driving home to Manchester that this man could express his political views in a public store in such a blatant way with no regard for the feeling and sensitivity of visiting Jews or Israelis.' In its complaint, UKLFI told Hayes Garden World that displaying a Palestinian symbol indicated support for the Palestinian cause and opposition to the State of Israel. 'Hostile act' Caroline Turner, director of UKLFI, stated: 'It is inevitable that your Jewish or Israeli customers will be intimidated by seeing a Palestinian badge, apparently authorised by your company, on display as part of the Hayes Garden World uniform, and will consider that it is a hostile act towards themselves.' UKLFI warned the garden centre that allowing an employee to wear the Palestinian flag could also be in breach of the Equalities Act 2010 'as it would harass Jewish and Israeli customers, in that it would create a hostile and intimidating atmosphere in the shop for them'. Following the complaint, Hayes Garden World carried out an internal investigation. The firm said it found that the member of staff who had worn the badge had not intended to 'create a hostile environment and was not intending to cause offence to any persons visiting the premises'. The firm, one of the largest garden centres in the North West, said it 'does not encourage or allow employees to wear any symbols or badges which demonstrate personal political views whilst they are working'. Nevertheless, it said it would update its dress code policy and ensure that 'all employees are aware of the expectations regarding dress code requirements'. The move came after staff at some of London's biggest NHS hospitals were banned from wearing pro-Palestinian symbols after complaints they were 'upsetting and intimidating' vulnerable patients. Barts Health NHS Trust confirmed the decision after UKLFI said growing numbers of Jewish patients were reporting their distress at seeing clinical and medical staff wearing provocative slogans and badges in Palestinian colours. The trust's ban applies to its five hospitals: St Bart's, Mile End, Newham, Royal London and Whipps Cross. It has also emerged that postmasters have been instructed not to wear Palestinian flags or badges while on duty. This followed a complaint by UKLFI after a Jewish customer in Hornchurch, east London, had an interaction with a sub-postmaster in her local branch wearing a Palestinian flag. A Post Office spokesman said: 'Post Office is here to serve people across the UK regardless of their race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, politics, age or whether they have any disability. As such, we provide guidance to all of our operators about the importance of Post Office being a politically neutral organisation. 'Our area manager has discussed the matter with the postmaster, who has agreed not to wear the Palestinian flag badge at his branch. We apologise for any offence that may have been caused to any customer.'
