Latest news with #DivestmentandSanctions
Otago Daily Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Student pub still wanted: referendum
A new student pub gets a big tick, but a boycott on products with ties to the Israeli government proved less favourable among the student populace. Those are the results of just two of the many questions the Otago University Students' Association (OUSA) asked its members over the past month. The results, which were published this week, could form the basis of student activism over the next year. OUSA president Liam White said he was very pleased with the level of engagement, with about 1900 people responding. "We got more students engaging with our referendum than we did with our executive election. So I can't be too disappointed with that. "I think having close to 2000 students voting is awesome." The referendum asked an array of questions, including "Should OUSA establish student-friendly bars and pubs in North Dunedin" which got a 70% favourable response. Meanwhile, only 53.5% of respondents believed OUSA should adopt a policy for its operations that aligned with the "Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions" movement (BDS) against the government of Israel. The latter question was asked after the OUSA received two formal complaints about its decision to bar Domino's Pizza from "Tent City" during O Week. Mr White said he was not surprised at the support for the student bar. "I don't think that one will go away anytime soon. "We've been talking about this for years, and I think I sat through for about two hours when it came out and read all the student comments and a lot of them were pretty harsh. "But I think it's a fair frustration for the student body that we've been trying to advocate for this for years, come close, then had to step away again, and it just kind of feels like they've gone round in circles on it." Asked about the BDS question, Mr White said the result was "clear as mud" and meant it probably needed to be sent back to the executive. He was more surprised there appeared to be just as much division over whether OUSA should receive alcohol sponsorship. "It's clear that there's not a particularly united front there." There was however "overwhelming support" (68%) to adopt a policy of educating students on affirmative consent. "It seems like the appropriate time for that." Meanwhile, Mr White's attempt to extend the president's reign to two years proved less popular — 62% voted against it. "There were a lot of Trump jokes [in the responses]. I'm not taking it personally."
The National
5 days ago
- Politics
- The National
Glasgow Film Theatre board members quit after Israel boycott decision
On Thursday, The National told how Glasgow Film – the company which runs the GFT – said it would not fully endorse either the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement or the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI). Glasgow Film said this was in order to retain "independent decision making" and uphold its "commitment to Cinema For All". READ MORE: 'Do something!': Question Time audience member in fiery row with Labour MP on Israel Now, three members of the GFT board have resigned, raising concerns about the processes leading to the decision. Dr Sarah Wishart, one of the members who quit, claimed the board had not signed off on any letters or statements regarding the decision before they had been sent to staff and the media. On Thursday, Wishart shared a statement on social media, which the three members read out during a board meeting on Tuesday. It reads: "Unfortunately, due to the decision making and processes leading up to this evening, we have no choice but to resign from the board of Glasgow Film Theatre, effective immediately. "This is a decision which we undertook with great thought, care and consideration. "We recognised our responsibility as board members, and wished to see issues related to BDS/PACBI through to their conclusion. "However, 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 towards our unionised workers. READ MORE: Gaza ceasefire talks continue as Israel issues forced displacement orders "We intend to follow this statement with individual written resignations to formally conclude our time on the board." Earlier this year, front-of-house and cleaning staff at the GFT staged a boycott on handling any goods connected to the BDS movement, which resulted in Coca-Cola products no longer being served. Campaign group Art Workers for Palestine Scotland then published an open letter to the GFT calling for the cinema to adhere to the BDS movement and endorse PACBI. The letter was signed by more than 1400 people and included the likes of Ghassan Abu-Sittah, rector of the University of Glasgow and filmmaker Ken Loach. Glasgow Film has been contacted for comment.
The Sun
16-05-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
More than 1,000 gather for peaceful rally to commemorate 77th Nakba Day
KUALA LUMPUR: More than 1,000 participants representing various non-governmental organisations (NGOs) today took part in a peaceful rally to commemorate the 77th year of the Nakba Day here. The participants started their march from the Tabung Haji Tower on Jalan Tun Razak here before gathering at the British High Commission Office and then continuing the march to the United States Embassy here. Chairman of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) Malaysia, Prof Dr Mohd Nazari Ismail, as the representative of the organizers, stated that they also delivered a memorandum to commemorate Nakba Day to the Political Counselor of the United Kingdom in Malaysia, Ruzina Hassan, at the British High Commission Office. The memorandum demands, among other things, that the British government terminate all military and economic cooperation with Israel until it complies with international law and support sanctions against Israel for violations of Palestinian rights, including ongoing massacres and the blockade of Gaza. The memorandum was signed by 31 NGOs including BDS Malaysia, the Malaysian Women's Coalition for Al-Quds and Palestine, the Palestinian Solidarity Secretariat, the Malaysian Islamic Youth Movement, Global Peace Mission Malaysia, the Association of Graduates of Malaysian Educational Institutions, and the Malaysian Islamic Organizations Consultation Council. Mohd Nazari stated that the organization of this gathering is to raise awareness among the public that the people of Palestine have been oppressed since the Zionist invasion in 1948.' 'We are holding this program today to remind about the Nakba event for 77 years to inform the world community and also the Malaysian community that the oppression occurring in Palestine has lasted for 77 years, which is a very long time... and hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have lost their lives. 'We also want to inform the Malaysian government and the Malaysian people that we can do something to stop this genocide. By boycotting companies that support the atrocities of Israel,' he told reporters here today. He said that gatherings like this will continue to be held from time to time as long as the oppression against the Palestinian people continues. The Nakba Day means the day of catastrophe, referring to May 15,1948, when more than 750,000 Palestinians fled or were expelled from their homeland by invading Israeli forces. They were forced to escape to neighbouring countries such as Jordan, Syria, and Iraq and were prevented from returning. This day is generally commemorated on May 15.
The Sun
16-05-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Over 1,000 rally in KL to mark 77th Nakba Day
KUALA LUMPUR: More than 1,000 participants representing various non-governmental organisations (NGOs) today took part in a peaceful rally to commemorate the 77th year of the Nakba Day here. The participants started their march from the Tabung Haji Tower on Jalan Tun Razak here before gathering at the British High Commission Office and then continuing the march to the United States Embassy here. Chairman of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) Malaysia, Prof Dr Mohd Nazari Ismail, as the representative of the organizers, stated that they also delivered a memorandum to commemorate Nakba Day to the Political Counselor of the United Kingdom in Malaysia, Ruzina Hassan, at the British High Commission Office. The memorandum demands, among other things, that the British government terminate all military and economic cooperation with Israel until it complies with international law and support sanctions against Israel for violations of Palestinian rights, including ongoing massacres and the blockade of Gaza. The memorandum was signed by 31 NGOs including BDS Malaysia, the Malaysian Women's Coalition for Al-Quds and Palestine, the Palestinian Solidarity Secretariat, the Malaysian Islamic Youth Movement, Global Peace Mission Malaysia, the Association of Graduates of Malaysian Educational Institutions, and the Malaysian Islamic Organizations Consultation Council. Mohd Nazari stated that the organization of this gathering is to raise awareness among the public that the people of Palestine have been oppressed since the Zionist invasion in 1948.' 'We are holding this program today to remind about the Nakba event for 77 years to inform the world community and also the Malaysian community that the oppression occurring in Palestine has lasted for 77 years, which is a very long time... and hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have lost their lives. 'We also want to inform the Malaysian government and the Malaysian people that we can do something to stop this genocide. By boycotting companies that support the atrocities of Israel,' he told reporters here today. He said that gatherings like this will continue to be held from time to time as long as the oppression against the Palestinian people continues. The Nakba Day means the day of catastrophe, referring to May 15,1948, when more than 750,000 Palestinians fled or were expelled from their homeland by invading Israeli forces. They were forced to escape to neighbouring countries such as Jordan, Syria, and Iraq and were prevented from returning. This day is generally commemorated on May 15.
Saba Yemen
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
"Israel's Red Card": Renewed Efforts to Expel Enemy from FIFA
Gaza – Saba: The global boycott movement continues its efforts to isolate Israel globally and expose its crimes, which it seeks to whitewash or conceal through cultural and sporting activities. The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI), an arm of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, seeks to expel the Israeli Football Association from FIFA and ban the enemy from representing it internationally, according to the Iranian Tasnim News Agency. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print more of (International)
