16. We Are Each Other's Business.
Some thoughts on bearing witness and other things worth knowing.
“… We are each other’s harvest: we are each other’s business: we are each other’s magnitude and bond”
So says Gwendolyn Brooks in her poem Paul Robeson (you can read the rest here.)
For over a week these words have been going around and around in my head on a loop and I share them here because in a world that can feel so lacking in humanity, it is worth reflecting on the responsibility we have to safeguard, protect and care for one another.
I stand firmly for a Free Palestine and I stand firmly against its occupation and the ongoing genocide and ethnic cleansing of its people, and it astounds me that despite everything we are witnessing, and have witnessed for over seventy years, this is still being debated.
For those of us outside of Gaza who are desperately, frantically looking in, every day astounded that the current Israeli bombardment has been allowed continue with the full backing of some of the world’s most powerful governments, it is so easy to begin to despair, and the exposure to images which will (and should) haunt us to the end of our days feels almost unbearable, such that it might be tempting to look away.
However, for almost two weeks (this time around) the people of Gaza have had to expose their pain, their grief, their injured and their dead in ways neither they nor any one of us would ever choose to because this is the only way they can show the world- in ways that are undeniable -what is being done to them. It is so easy to feel helpless and, quite frankly, useless but what is being asked of us is that we continue to bear witness and we continue to amplify those voices crying out from within and so we have a responsibility to do so.
In addition, while it is so easy to become distracted by those who remain silent, those who disagree, those who spew blatant lies, and those whose prejudices have blinded them to the fact that the death and destruction we are all witnessing can only ever be wrong, I’d encourage us all to focus instead on those who concern themselves with the truth and those truly concerned with our collective freedom.
Below, I have attempted to collate a range of resources for those looking to show solidarity. I hope they’ll prove useful and offer a sense of direction to anyone who is unsure which way to turn.
Voices
So many Palestinians are sharing what is happening on the ground in Gaza and I’d recommend listening to them first and foremost. Below are links to their Instagram pages and you’ll find additional information and resources from there:
Events
Black Women Radicals Presents: Black Feminist Writers & Palestine with Clarissa Brooks, Angela Y. Davis, Breya Johnson, Briona Simone Jones and Jaimee A. Swift. Register here.
Poets for Palestine Online Fundraiser. An online evening of poetry raising funds for Medical Aid Palestinians. Register and/ or donate here.
Teach-In on Gaza for Palestine Relief Funds Saturday 28th October. An online event with speakers Isabella Hammad, Tareq Baconi, Noura Erakat, Ahmed Eldin and Dianna Buttu, moderated by Fatima Bhutto. Registration is free but attendees are asked to make a contribution to Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors without Borders) or the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund if they are able to. Register here.
Books
A number of independent publishers have produced reading lists, made books available for free instant download and/ or have offers on a range of Palestinian titles, with proceeds going to various charities and organisations.
Verso Books Free Palestine: A Verso Reading List for a list of useful texts, many of which are currently discounted, as well as a number of free e-books.
Haymarket Books: Free Ebooks for a Free Palestine and Free Palestine! A Reading List
Saqi Books are offering 25% off Palestine titles until the 31st October with proceeds going to Medical Aid for Palestinians. The discount code is ‘SaqiPalestine’ and you can find a list of titles here.
City Lights Books are offering a free e-copy of Mosab Abu Toha’s poetry collection, Things You May Find Hidden in My Ear. It is a powerful, moving and incredibly beautiful collection and I’d highly recommend downloading a copy/ buying one if you’re able.
Solidarity Protests
There are protests happening in a number of cities this weekend. Trippin World and Amaliah have put together a very useful posts with information on protests happening all around the world.
I’d also highly recommend you check out Amaliah’s Palestine: Resource and Activism Guide.
To Donate
Palestine Children’s Relief Fund
Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors without Borders)
Actions
UK residents/ citizens can sign this petition for the UK government to urge the Israeli government to allow fuel, electricity and food into Gaza.
Email your MP. There are a number of templates through which you can do this very easily. If you are a resident of the UK, US, Canada or Australia, Yalla! Let’s Talk have collated existing a number of existing templates so this is a great place to start.
Islamic Relief also has a very easy to use template. These templates can be edited so you can send them as they are or add information if you wish.
Call and/ or email repeatedly- it is easy to forget that it is the job of our MPs and representatives to address the concerns of their constituents.
And because we have seen that advocating for Palestine is not without risk, if you, or anyone you know has been penalised for supporting Palestine at school, work or university, you can contact CAGE for support. Helpline number: 0300 030 2243; email: helpline@cage.ngo
Lastly, a reminder to myself first and foremost that although it might feel almost impossible to pay due attention to all the struggles and disasters happening around the world- Afghanistan, Haiti, Libya, Maui, Morocco, Sudan, Syria, Yemen, Palestine and too many others- we really have no choice but to try.
“Keep in motion. Stay steady. Hold hope. Move with love. Remain persistent. Take breath. Take breath again.
Pause.
Imagine this:
Us,
free.”
Keep well,
Tasnim
Brilliantly articulated 🇵🇸🇵🇸🍉💔🍉
<3