Italian Women in Black Join the BDS Campaign

We are part of the international network of Women in Black, our action in the world is to oppose war and every kind of violence, in the conviction that every conflict can be dealt with by dialogue and respect for human, social, and political rights.

For more than twenty years, we have been committed to a just peace in the Middle East, a peace that applies international law, putting an end to the Israeli colonial policies and to the continuing violence, suffering and collective punishments that have been imposed on the Palestinian population by the Israeli government, by settlers and by the Israeli army in the framework of the illegal occupation of Palestinian territories , apartheid policies and the siege of Gaza.


We have travelled many times to that land and we have listened to Israeli and Palestinian women, we have worked with them to try to create or strengthen relationships.

The Israeli Women in Black was formed at the very start of the first Intifadah, opposing the occupation that their government was determined to continue, and at the same time founding our movement. In Italy, we have supported their struggle and that of the Palestinian women.

We have been to checkpoints to protest with them, we have taken part in international delegations in support of the peace movement and of the non-violent struggle of the Palestinian population. After the massacre in Gaza in 2008/09, in which the Israeli army were involved in very serious war crimes (1400 dead, including 400 children), the situation became much more serious.

For this reason, we have decided, after a long, considered and often painful discussion, to join the world BDS campaign (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions). Launched in 2005 by Palestinian civil society, the Boycott National Committee (BNC) is made up of more than 170 Palestinian organisations, committees, parties and trade unions. The campaign is supported by associations, movements and even some governmental institutions in Europe and the rest of the world.

We also support the Palestinian Authority's campaign "Your conscience, your choice" for a boycott of products within the occupied territories, enacted by a law that prohibits the distribution and consumption of products from the illegal Israeli settlements and by the mobilisation of thousands of young women and men with whom the BNC collaborates.

Lastly, we support the campaign “Boycott from Within”, launched in support of BDS by a large range of non-violent associations in Israel, including the Coalition of Women for Peace and the Israeli section of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom.

• Boycott is a non-violent practice of non-collaboration with injustice.
  


• Economic boycott is practiced against goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements and on goods produced by firms or multinational companies that support the occupation. Citizens and consumers refuse to buy certain goods produced without respect for human rights, labour rights, or environmental norms, and demand the full application of the terms of commercial agreements between the EU and Israel and respect for international law.
  


• Cultural boycott denounces agreements of universities, local authorities and other Italian institutions for technological, scientific and cultural collaboration with Israeli institutions who are involved in the occupation. The government of Israel actually uses universities, film, literature and tourism to promote an image of a normal country, living in peace, happy and democratic, which seeks to hide the image of an occupying power that oppresses and systematically violates the rights of the Palestinian people. Of course, cultural boycott should not be applied to those who support the application of international law and the non-violent struggle against military occupation.
  


• As Italian citizens, we call for the abrogation of the military agreements with the State of Israel. The current collaboration of the Italian state with an oppressive regime is a green light for further crimes and violations of the rights of the Palestinian people.
  

The boycott is not directed against the Israeli population and certainly not against Jews as a whole, but against the Israeli government, against the occupation of the Palestinian territories, against the ever growing colonial settlements, against the war economy. We also link the boycott to initiatives for the right to study for young Palestinians. We are determined to maintain are links with Palestinian and Israeli women who support the BDS campaign and to promote interventions by them in Italy.

We believe that BDS is necessary instrument to stop the colonial expansionist Israeli policies, a means of holding Israel and the international community responsible for the violations of international law and human rights. We believe it is also a means of communication for spreading the work about what is happening in the West Bank and Gaza.

A race against death for Nasrin Sotoudeh

The Italian Women in Black support the appeal to the Iranian government launched by the Iranian Nobel peace laureate, Shirin Ebadi, for the release of Nasrin Sotoudeh, lawyer and human rights activist, who has been in prison for more than three months and who has now started her third hunger strike.

For the Iranian regime, Nasrin Sotoudeh is 3 times guilty:


Guilty of being a woman of conviction


Guilty of being a human rights lawyer.


Guilty of daring to speak out against the regime

Shirin Ebadi and another six signatories of the appeal for Nasrin Sotoudeh's release, among them well known Iranian women's rights activists, have stated that on 20th December, they will start a vigil outside the offices of the UN in Geneva and remain until their colleague Nasrin Sotoudeh is released from Evin jail where she is being held in solitary confinement.

The life of Nasrin Sotoudeh, lawyer, defender of human rights and activist for women's rights, is in grave danger. Nasrin Sotoudeh was arrested by the Iranian authorities on September 4th 2010 for her human rights work and she has now been in prison for more than 103 days. The prosecutor has accused this courageous lawyer of propaganda against the state and activities against national security. According to the Iranian penal code, charges should be brought within a maximum of seven days after the conclusion of the preliminary investigations.

In addition, according to the Iranian penal code, it is illegal to hold a detainee in solitary confinement after charges have been brought and after the start of the trial. But Ms Sotoudeh has been in solitary confinement since the first day of her imprisonment and repeated requests by herself and her lawyer have been ignored. As a consequence Ms Sotoudeh decided to start a hunger strike to protest against the non-application of the law and has been on dry hunger strike since December 4th.

However, in addition to ignoring her requests, the judicial authorities have brought new charges against her, accusing her, for example, of not respecting the islamic veil.

We, a group of women's rights activists, signatories of this communique, who have either had the honour of working with this courageous lawyer for many years or have been helped by her, in order to express our solidarity with Nasrin and in protest at the violation of her rights, will start a vigil at the headquarters of the UNO in Geneva on December 20th.

We appeal to all who love freedom, to women's rights activists, to members of the universal family of human rights, inviting them to join us in calling for the immediate release of Nasrin Sotoudeh, in any possible way - by joining our vigil, sending emails and protest letters to the Iranian government, holding protests at Iranian embassies. We ask for your help in reaching the whole world with the voice of justice for our friend in prison.

Signatories: Shirin Ebadi, Khadijeh Mogaddam, Mansoureh Shojaee, Parvin Ardalan, Shadi Sadr, Asieh Amini, Mahboubeh Abbasgholizadeh

Nasrin Sotoudeh: Lawyer, Activist, Mother

Shirin Ebadi has also called for an avalanche of letters to be sent to the Iranian authorities and to our own governments. You can send a letter from here:

http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/6160/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=4638

Meeting with Martha Giralda from Ruta Pacifica

We were five women of Women in Black from Bologna, two from Ravenna, three from Padova, one from Turin, and one from Verona, in addition to Martha. We are all very happy to have been in this meeting and to have met Martha: she is a calm but determined woman with whom we felt immediate sympathy. She does not hide problems but addresses them with clarity, looking for a solution.

In the introduction, made by Patricia, some points were outlined, that were later taken up again by Martha, setting out the situation in Colombia from the women’s point of view:

• The women from Ruta are trying to rebuild the relationships with the Organización Femenina Popular, even while acknowledging some persistent differences in point of view: Ruta is deeply opposed to all the armed actors (military, paramilitary, guerrilla), while O.F.P. has met with men of both the guerrilla and paramilitaries.

• The former President Uribe tried to involve some representatives of women’s organizations in his politics. Two women accepted to be part of the governmental commission on the Justice and Peace Law that deals with war crimes, while Ruta refuses such involvement.

• Some women’s organizations do not want to put violence against women, practised by all the armed actors, at the core of their politics.

Martha communicated immediately that the International Encuentro will be in Bogota from 15-10 August 2011. Ruta will organize, after the Encuentro, a tour of the 9 regions in which Ruta has a presence. It will be an inexpensive tour so that women coming to the Encuentro will be able to gain a better knowledge of the country and of the places where the armed conflict most damages the lives of women and people.

Ruta wants to take advantage of every journey women make in order to prepare the August international Encuentro, to understand why, till now, the response has been so weak, and to stimulate participation.

Martha in her thanks defined Italian WiB as a pillar of the women’s movement against war. That is the reason the Colombian women expected a lot of Italian women (as also women from Spain) to participate in the encuentro planned for this November (2010). Women living in conflictual countries (Palestine, Afghanistan, Sahrawi, Congo, Colombia….) especially need support for their struggle through initiatives of political pressure and protection. The support should aim to make more visible the problems experienced by women in those difficult places (for example, we should not forget what is happening to Palestinian women) and to amplify the value of their actions.

Political pressure and initiative in our countries can give them the strength to acquire more political influence in their country and can produce a “humanitarian corridor” that gives them protection. For example, the women of Ruta, being secular, have no protection – not even by the Church. So it is important that a large number of international women will attend the Encuentro they are organizing. Their actions expose them, and increase the risk to their safety and their lives. If the number of the international participants is low, their position is weakened; if it is high, it affords them protection, strength and recognition. This is why it was necessary to postpone the International Encuentro from November until August. It is also the reason this one in August cannot and must not fail.

They hope that international initiatives will involve creative non-violent direct action against war, actions that will be carried out in different cities worldwide, every month, after we have decided together the contents and the schedule. There are some very creative young women in the Ruta to whom they give the space to do NVDA. Sometimes the young women find it difficult to understand why we fight against war and not for peace, and this can be interpreted as a feminist interpretation of war.

Martha gave two examples of non-violent direct action. One was performed by themselves in Colombia when, taking advantage of a curve in the road, they inserted into a military parade a tank covered with flowers and firing flowers, pictures of which were conveyed worldwide. Another was realized in Spain and in Belgium, in which a group of women went with children into the toy department of a big store (in a shopping centre). The children fired with a red water pistol, ‘shooting’ the women who fell on the ground.

We need to generate shared thoughts and actions if we are to give more visibility and strength to the movement. With this aim it should be possible to announce a competition of ideas for non-violent direct action and performances and to organize workshops on non-violence and its practice. We should commemorate certain historical events when freedom and dignity were won without bloodshed, incidents that are little known, especially by young people. In this way we can transmit values to them.

About the XVth International Encuentro of Women in Black, Martha stressed above all that it is the first time that the Encuentro is to be held in a country outside Europe (or not directly linked with Europe, like Israel), but rather in a Latin American country that has seen the maximum of violence and war, and where the human rights defenders suffer continuously from aggression against them.

She then set out the five thematic strands proposed for the Encuentro:

• First Strand: Militarized security, armaments and women’s protection. How feminism interprets the security politics in the current world (militarisms, arms race, wars in the global south, arms in the global north, protection of women).

• Second Strand: Justice for war crimes and human rights violations against women. Experiences in “ad hoc” Courts and International Criminal Court.

• Third Strand: Reading of actual conflicts by feminisms. Armed conflict; religious conflict; illegal economies; sexism and xenophobia.
  

• Fourth Strand: Transforming actions or practices of women in response to challenges. Meeting of the participants to discuss the strategies that move women and transformative actions by women.

• Fifth Strand: The challenge of Women in Black. How do we interpret ourselves and how do we answer. Balance of Women in Black.

For each strand there will be: an introduction done by a woman (for the first one they are thinking of Luisa Morgantini, who has already been informed and has accepted); then workshops; and finally a report-back to plenary.

The fourth strand is designed to help us to get to know each other, to recall different historical memories, to discover how we are each interpreting our own realities, and the external realities of other countries. We are interested in the achievements of women, and particularly of WiB, in each country. We should accord full value to our practices and initiatives. About this, Martha said that when she goes to another country, she notices the importance of WiB in that country, while the WiB women themselves cannot perceive it. She said, “Unfortunately you Europeans think Europe as a country for old people!”.

The work and related conclusions of all themes should merge in the fifth one and in the final plenary, when we will take decisions.

We must ascribe value to the non-violent actions that we undertake: war takes away dignity and freedom, while the non-violent actions can by contrast add to freedom and dignity.

Women from OFP will be invited to the Encuentro because they are members of the Women in Black network.

In preparation for the Encuentro, the Colombian women ask that we discuss, both at local and national level, the proposed five thematic strands, and send our findings out on the international e-mail network. For them, the worst thing about their initiative last November was the silence: Ruta now ask us to break this silence, to write, even as individuals, expressing our difficulties (economic difficulties, difficulties related to the relationships between the Colombian women, or any others) and to state our intention to participate.

Ruta have pinpointed twenty women whose participation in the Encuentro they consider to be very important, but who cannot afford the expense of travel and registration. They should be “adopted” by international women (indeed some already have been). Ruta are prepared to manage the money involved in that.

Deadlines:

We WiB present in Bologna decided to start a fund raising to adopt some women coming from “difficult places”; we should send what we collect to Ruta by February.

Registration for the Encuentro must be done by March and will be published on the international network in order to attract others to participate – they call this “animar la fiesta” – livening up the party.

Women say No to NATO

An anachronism of the Cold War

NATO was founded by the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and 9 other European countries, among them Italy, as an alliance against the countries of the soviet bloc. The Soviet Union collapsed in 1990, but NATO is still around, in fact it has expanded, adding countries from central and eastern Europe and from the Balkans.

… that's getting bigger all the time

Currently, NATO has 28 members, and there is an attempt to add Finland, Sweden, and some Mediterranean, North African, and Arab states. The middle east, including Israel is on its horizon.

… contrary to the spirit of the United Nations

The Secretaries General of the NATO and of the UN have signed a joint statement of cooperation, without the authorisation of the UN assembly. This puts the independence of the UN and its capacity to support international law at risk. I

… a force that is ever more prepared for war

NATO has fought wars outside its borders in Kosovo and now in Afghanistan and it is becoming an ever greater threat to world peace. Three quarters of all military spending is made by members of NATO.

...a nuclear bunker
NATO controls more than 11,000 French, British, and US nuclear warheads, deployed in different parts of Europe, including Italy with 90 nuclear warheads, in contempt of the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty (1975). A collection of signatures for a popular initiative law that would make Italy a nuclear free zone was ignored by our parliament.

Why women are protesting against NATO

In our country, military spending for NATO is growing all the time while there is a serious reduction in spending for goods and services that are really needed. This has a heavy impact on the lives of women. In a country of catastrophes, earthquakes, foods and neglect - Italy - there is a continual growth of militarisation instead of investment for a civilisation worthy of the name.



The war which is coming is not the first one. There were other wars before it. When the last one came to an end There were conquerors and conquered. Among the conquered the common people starved. Among the conquerors the common people starved too. Bertolt Brecht

With the bases and the military presence, sexual exploitation and violence against women increase. For example, the wars in the Balkans produced an enormous industry of sex and of trafficking women.

Women suffer more the effects of war. They are the majority of the civilian victims, of the refugees and displaced. Thousands are deprived of the means of survival, as has happened in Afghanistan where, in addition to the waste of resources for a war without sense or end, war has brough destruction and death

But women do NOT accept the role of VICTIMS. Rather, women have and can always have a key role in the prevention of conflicts, in reconciliation and the construction of peace processes.

As women, we do NOT recognise any role for NATO in our security, whihc can be achieved only by peaceful negotiation and nonviolent resolution of conflicts.

Why women are protesting today

At the NATO summit in Lisbon from 19 to 21 November, a new strategic concept is to be adopted. it will commit NATO more and more to strategies of militarisation. Among other things, the decision will be ratified to transfer all US nuclear war heads currently deployed in Europe to Aviano in Italy and to Turkey. While the Turkish government has at least imposed some conditions, the Italian government accepts in silence.

In tens of cities, in Italy and in Europe, in these days there are protests against NATO and its ever more threatening policies. Export of arms, nuclear weapons, military bases and subjection to the interests of the US are all a part of NATO.

Knowing the suffering caused by war from the Afghan women, we demand wthe withdrawal of Italian troops and all other troops from Afghanistan.

Bodies and Territories without War or Violence

Dear Friends of Women in Black all over the world.

First of all, we want to send you our greetings, always with the conviction that in every corner of the planet members of the Network are opposing the buildup of armaments, militarism, war and also all violence, convinced that any violent action against other human beings and nature, as well, is an affront to humanity and the planet, and this is why we are determined to eradicate violence from our lives and bodies. We know that this policy position keeps us united as sisters.

This letter is to communicate to you that, most unfortunately, conditions are not auspicious to have our Gathering of Women in Black in November of this year. We have had to make this decision because just a month and a half from the date of the event only six women had registered. After we sent out an SOS, the number rose to 16. We would have liked to receive a response from a significant number of women, but it didn’t work out that way.
We are aware of the difficulties that resulted from this decision, especially for the women who had purchased their ticket and we sincerely hope that they are able to obtain a new reservation. But after careful consideration, we felt that a gathering with 16 international women who are part of the movement, was not enough to carry out a task of this nature, as we understand that these gatherings are to redefine, exchange ideas, maintain the movement active in the world and, at the same time, for us, the women of Colombia, it was an act of international accompaniment against war, an internal armed conflict that has lasted for more than 45 years in Colombia and has left more than 4 million victims and great human degradation and social injustice.

With regard to the concerns expressed by some members of the Network on our ability to carry out this gathering, we want to tell you that it not for lack of ability, rather for lack of participation of the members of the Network that we have made this decision, as has been well expressed by some colleagues who have written that the situation should be analyzed from the point of joint responsibility, because in this process we have felt great silence from many. We were hoping for more support from the Network, especially with regard to encouraging women to come to the Gathering, so that it would take place with an appropriate representation of members of the Network.

Ruta Pacifica of Women has been part of the Network of Women in Black since 2001, and our participation was assured with approximately 300 women; we could have had more. But it really wasn’t a matter of an event for Ruta Pacifica but to carry out arrangements for the XV INTERNATIONAL GATHERING OF WOMEN IN BLACK and for that we need the backing and participation of all.

We had carried out the activities necessary to prepare for the Gathering. We just about had everything ready, a web page, pictures, strategy for publicity. We have conducted multiple negotiations, reserved places to accommodate you, proposed themes, methodology, symbolic proposals, translations, among other things, and because of that we reiterate our disposition and desire to undertake the Gathering for the third week of August 2011, the Network being in agreement, of course.

If, however, there is another proposal we ask that you let us know as soon as possible. Likewise, please let us know how you feel about coming for the date proposed in 2011, as you will surely understand that it would be very costly for us, at every level, to repeat this situation next year.
In addition, we would love to see materialize the proposal of the women of London that those who already have their tickets come to Colombia in November. It would be a great help if we could get together and contribute to the preparation of this Gathering, which is very important for us, and to participate in some activities on 25 November, Day of Non-violence Against Women.

We will return the registration fee to the women who ask for it. If you decide to postpone your trip, please let us know.

We reiterate that the postponement date for the XV International Gathering of Women in Black is 15-20 August 2011.

Please receive a sisterly embrace from Colombia.

Dear friends,

also we Italian Women in Black are really very sorry that the International meeting of Women in Black network had to be postponed to 2011.

We realize that it must have been a difficult decision for you, but we believe you have been brave and wise considering that the participation from the other continents was too low for the date of November 2010. We keep convinced that in Valencia the best choice was taken, therefore it is good to remain engaged for the Bogota meeting.

We have also praised how you were organizing it, both on the logistics level anf for the agenda you sent us, which looked very well structured and productive.

In an Italian national meeting at the end of October, we discussed the reasons why so few Women in Black enrolled for participation, in particular from Europe and we considered that it was a collective responsibility: we have not exchanged our minds, information and proposals on time, so the news that so few women had enrolled came totally unexpected. We must absolutely bear that in mind for the planning of the next meeting.

For August 2011 we need a much better and frequent coordination. It is true that the economical crisis has increased the constraints and difficulties, but we have a history of an active solidarity, for which more privileged women support women in more difficult situation. That must continue in a better organized way, circulating in the network not later than in spring 2011 both a sort of pre-enrolment to the meeting from the various countries and more information about the financial support that some group can provide to the organizing country and to other Women in Black from "difficult places" who wish to come to Colombia.

We also thank you for suggesting the month of August for our next meeting, as it is easier for women living in the north hemisphere to have time free from work engagements.

However, we believe that the participation of many women from the whole Latin America is very important, as we are all looking forward to such a great opportunity of exchanging and sharing your realities, the peculiarities of your movements, your visions and your modalities of action.

We appreciate Rebecca's suggestion and we hope that the women who have already purchased their flight tickets for this November can meet in Bogota for a first exchange with you, Colombian Women in Black and Ruta Pacifica, in view of the 2011 gathering. We are convinced that this can be a very useful preparation for all of us.

Hoping that from now onwards we are having a good way to Colombia next August, we are grateful to what you have done so far and you will be doing in the future. Please let us know what you expect from the international network so that we will be able to support you in the best direction you show us.

We all send you our love, friendship and solidarity

The Italian Women in Black network

No to War, Yes to Culture

Saturday 6th November, in front of Novara prefecture, from 3pm onwards, the committee of teachers and teaching assistents with non-secure contracts and the students union held a protest with the slogan:'No to war, yes to culture', opposing the cuts to schools, universities, and research made by Minister of education Gelmini, at the same time as the ministry of defense is planning to buy 131 F35 fighter bombers and annual military spending amounts to 20 billion Euro.


In the midst of an economic crisis, the Berlusconi government has launched the greatest attack that any government in the history of the republic has made on the future of young people.

7,3 billion euro - thats the figure that the Minister of Education wants to cut. One billion, six hundred million in 2010 alone.

The same fate awaits universities and research, which must reduce spending by 810 million euro this year.

And then there are the 232 cultural institutes for which the ministry of culture has already cut funding.

And while savings are made on the backs of students and workers, the 2010 budget for the ministry of defense will be 20 billion, while in the coming years 13 billion will be spent on buying 131 F35 fighter bombers.


All this despite the fact that according to our constitution: “Italy repudiate war”.

The start of assembly work on the F35s just at the beginning of this difficult year of new cuts is a curious coincidence. The area of Cameri airport, near to Novara, is only one of the places designated for this work.

What future do we want?

To oppose all of this, the committee of teachers and teaching assistents and the union of students state firmly:

• NO to the teaching of use of weapons and the military culture, as poposed by the protocol of ministers Gelmini (education) and La Russa (defense)

• Yes to quality schools with: laboratories, safe classrooms, classes that are not overcrowded, modern teaching methods.
  

• NO to the purchase of the F35 fighter bombers and to every other useless military expenditure;

• Yes to quality universities and to funding of research;

• NO to the culture of fear and to the false rhetoric of security that creates useless armies;

• Yes to an army of conscious citizens who are educated in the culture of legality and non-violence;

• NO to theatres of war that leave behind them dead and displaced people and ruins;
  

• Yes to theatres, to music, and to all that nourishes the civil consciousness of society and the people;

• NO to schools that cut off support abandoning disabled students and their families;

• Yes to schools that teach the value of integration and of dialogue between peoples.
  

Are we at war?

This is the question that was posed in parliament following the latest deaths of Italian soldiers in Afghanistan. An though since 2003 it's been called a “peacekeeping mission”; in reality the mission was always under military command, in particular under NATO command, and the logic with which it was carried out was always the logic of war; and we are seeing the effects of it.
	Drawing by a 12 year old Afghan

One very significant piece of information is how the Italian involvement has grown over the years in terms of men and monex: from the contingent of 1000 soldiers in 2003 we arrived at 3900 in 2010, and 4500 are planned for 2011, while the costs have gone from 100 million Euro in l 2003 to 675 million Euro in 2010. Between 2003 and the present day, 90,000 men have served in the theatre of operations and tours of duty have gone from four to six moths. Since the start of the mission, the total cost has been 3 billion 100 million Euro.

To get an idea of what would happen if we reversed the logic, as the coordinator of the Italian Disarmament Network writes, “Military spending is a disadvantage... disarment and peace are not only right for thouse who believe in them, but also sensible: in ten years global military spending has grown by 50%, from 1000 to 1500 billion, but employment in the arms industry has decreased", while the same money invested in society would bring “a doubling of jobs and growth 1.5 times the average economic growth”.

In addition to the exorbitant costs, we know that the information that we are given hides the reality of what is happening, and those like Emergency, who expose the truth, are subject to censure, criticisms, and attacks. Now, documents are emerging - kept secret until now - about the tens of thousands of civilian victims and about the responsiblity of troops from different countries, including Italy.

For years, they told us that the aim of the mission was to bring democray and peace to Afghanistan to promote women's rights. Only because of our direct relationships with Afghan women's associations have we been able to follow the situation that faced them and to recognise the capicit for active, non-violent resistence of the population and the courage of the women that permits them to say openly that they want the end of the war, of the military occupation, and of the war lords and opium lords who are clearly supported by the US.

These women are a point of reference for the entire population because of the capacity that they have demonstrated to interpret their pain and provide for their own needs: from this has come the founding and operation of women's associations for education of girls and boys, which were already clandestinely active under the Taleban regime - a political and humanitarian commitment full of difficulties and grave risks.

With fighting in progress, women are robbed of the possibility to express themselves. Together with children they are the target of massacres, which they know to be cruel and useless.

We must support the Afghan women and the civil society and determinedly demand the end of the occupation of Afghanistan and the withdrawal of Italian troops and those of other countries.

Set Peace Free

On October 11, Abdallah Abu Rahmah was sentenced by an Israeli military tribunal to 12 months in prison for his involvement in the non-violent popular struggle against the wall and the settlements in Bil'in.

Abdallah Abu Rahmah, the coordinator of the Popular Committee for non-violent resistence was arrested last year by soldiers in a night raid at his home. He was then arraigned in an Israeli military court on charges that were without any basis, including having thrown stones at soldiers during a demonstration and possessing weapons.

Abu Rahmah was cleared of both these charges but found guilty of having organised illegal demonstrations and having incited people to participate. Abu Rahma's case is an example of the Israeli military legal system that operates in the West Bank, and which has the clear aim of silencing the legitimate political dissent of the population.

The conviction has been strongly criticised at international level: Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative for Foriegn Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission, expressed her concern "the possible imprisonment of Mr Abu Rahma is intended to prevent him and other Palestinians from exercising their legitimate right to protest against the existence of the separation barriers in a non violent manner."

EU diplomats were present at all the hearings of the trial. Catherine Ashton's statement was followed by a similar statement from the Spanish parliament.

Unfortunately, the Italian government has not made any such declaration. The American group , Jewish Voices for Peace, have organised a letter writing campaign aimed at many governments, including Italy.
Click here to send a letter to Franco Frattini.

"Freedom' - Without Walls, Without Borders"

....is written on the banner held by activists during a protest in the centre of Tel Aviv for the liberation of all political prisoners.

Solidarity with the mourning mothers in Iran

The Italian Women in Black extend their solidarity to the Mothers of Laleh Park (the mourning mothers in Iran) who are supporting Zhila Mahdavian, mother of Hesan Tarmasi and Akram Neghabi, mother of Saeed Zeinali, who have been imprisoned for defending their sons, held in the terrible Iranian prisons. They demand that they be freed as soon as possible and that the Iranian government respect human rights, women's rights, and the right of mothers to defend their children.

Akram Neghabi is the mother of Saeed Zeynali- a student who was arrested 11 years ago. Since then, his mother has not had any news of him.

Zhila Mahdavian is the mother of Hesam Tarmasi; Hesam was arrested by security forces during the protests following the elections. He was releasted, but since then has been in hospital with serious problems of the kidneys and liver.

These mothers and families are trying to find the truth about the killing, imprisonment and disappearance of their loved ones. They want answers from the government and they demand the liberation of all political prisoners and prisoners of conscience.

Military spending from our pockets

Hardly a day passes withot demonstrations by students and staff from every type of school, protesing against indiscriminate cuts in educational resources and staff (the biggest ever mass redundancies in Italy: 140,000 jobs and 7.5 billion euro in three years.

Students, teachers, and other staff are fighting the dismantling of the state school system that plays a fundamental role in the development not only of individuals but of the society as a whole.

Unfortunately, serious as they are, these are not the only cuts that are crippling the welfare state this year. In addition there are: 271 million euro less for social policies,127 million less for the civil service, 90 million less for families, 14 million less for equal opportunities, 58 million less for youth. Funds for immigration support have been wiped out.

Within three years, there will be more than 5 billion less for health and 9.2 billion less for local authorities, which will therefore be forced to reduce services to citizens.

The Italian government, however, chooses to continue its immense investment in military resources. We thing that instead we could:

• withdraw troops from Afghanistan with an annual saving of 500 million euro.


• Not sign the contract for the production and purchase of the F35 bombers with a saving of 15 billion over 16 years. ( 207. 6 million in 2010)


• Save an annual three billion euro reducing the armed forces to 120 thousand.


• End the military presence in our cities, with asaving of 31.2 million euro. ,

These are economies that could be used to avoid a significant part of the cuts in social spending.

As feminists and pacifists we have always opposed military spending on ethical grounds, but it's obvious that in this phase of crisis, this spending has a heavy impact on all or lives.

Resources must be used to improve the standards and quality of life of people not to build and buy weapons whose only use is to kill.

SOS Rebuilding of L'Aquila

On July 7, 20, 000 citizens of L'Aquila arrived in Rome to protest against the government programme, to break the silence imposed by the media on popular initiatives in the area devastated by the earthquake, and to demand equality and rights.

The Request:

A law that includes:

• Freezing of payments on mortgages and loans, the suspension of taxes for 5 years followed by an interest free period of 10 years.
• Security for the unemployed and those without stable jobs
• Measures to restart the economy
• A reconstruction plan for the city and villages by way of efficient processes
• All the necessary economic resources, possibly requiring a solidarity tax.
  

L'Aquila, in the midst of thousands of difficulties, has been able during the past months to show an iron will to not lie down and die, to resist - giving life to numerous forms of protest and proposals, from the experience of citizens committees to the wheelbarrow movement, from participative planning to the citizens assemblies within the Permanent Protest at Piazza Duomo.

Despite this, a mode of handling the emergency, unheard of in Italy, has excluded the participation of the people from any participation in the definition of their future, imposing choices and cultural models that have redefined the zone, favouring the depopulation and speculation and leaving all the problems unresolved, above all the reconstruction of our city and surrounding villages, that has never been started.

We were among the first to denounce transformation of the Civil Defence, which - in a similar way to the treatment of the garbage issue in Campania - has used a modus operandi made up of large tenders, big events and little or no transparence. Thanks to the network that we have established together with other Italian organisations and movements, we have organised mobilisaions against its transformation into a public limited company.

Article 39 of the finance bill that the government is rushing through is only the latest blow that the Italian establishment has dealt our area.

We are asked to start paying tax and mortgages again, starting on 1st July 2010 and to repay all the contributions that were suspended in a very short time and in a way that has not been made clear.

At present, it is simply impossible for us to comply with this demand, because in our territory there are 16000 who have lost their jobs and ofthese many are now on benefits.

Because nothing has been considered or done by the government or the various commissions to favour the relaunch of the economy, if we exclude the ridiculous contrbution of 800 euro for three months paid to shopkeepers and artisans -which is insufficient to even pay their debts to suppliers.

We are not asking for particular privileges, just for our rights. After the earthquake struck Umbria the affected population were only asked to repay 40% of the suspended taxes 12 years after the earthquake.

We are asking for an integrated law that can set up funds and fixed timelines for reconstruction. In June 2009, when they protested against the Abruyyo decree, the people already knew that the funds that had been set aside were completely insufficient. Now even the local institutions are telling us that even funds for confronting the emergency that hasn't finished have run out (for example, money to pay for hotels where thousands of citizens are still forced to live, and part payments to those who managed to find a place to stay - these have been suspended since January, and the costs of repairing buildings with slight damage).

We want to escape from the continual uncertainty dictated by a system of emergency regullations and last minute postponemnts. We want to rebuild and we believe that this battle concerns others outside our territory.

L’Aquila will not surrender,it will try to resist. More than 20,000 of us marched through the city streets and occupied the motorway for two hours on 16th June. The news was censored by the mainstream media. Unfortunately we are accustomed to information about our territory that favors propaganda and emphasises the shows put on by politicians, systematically ignorign the real conditions in which we are living.

The Response

The demonstration in Rome finally ripped aside the papermache scenary that the Berlusconi government had erected to make Italians believe that that a miracle had been achieved in L'Aquila. We hope that at least this message has been heard.

Returning from Palestine and Israel - Marianita and Giuliana

We took part in the visit to Israel and Palestine with Luisa Morgantini from 19 to 27 April organised by the Association for Peace.

A long time had passed since our last visits (Giuliana in 2005 for the international meeting of the Women in Black, Marianita between il 2000 e 2001 at the start of the second Intifada).

It was a very busy week, during which we were able to take part in important events like the fifth international conference for the non-violent popular resistance in , and meet significant people, groups, and places.

In the document below, you can read a detailed account of our journey. Now we just want to tell you able the things that most impressed us.

Above all, one impression disturbed us: Palestine doesn't exist any more, it's been chewed up, swallowed, devoured by the wall, by roads, by checkpoints but most of all by the colonies that dominate the landscape of the West Bank, where towns and villages - isolated from each other - emerge like islands in a sea of occupation. Jerusalem too - the holy, the city of peac - is strangled in a grip of arrogance made up of cement, the wall, demolished and stolen houses and new settlements.

But if Palestine is disappearing, Palestinian men and women exist and resist: in Bil’in and in the popular committees of the other villages that have chosen the path of unarmed resistance, of the struggle for their rights carried forward with tenacity despite arrests, beatings, the violent reaction of the Israeli army that isn't ashamed to fire on unarmed civilans, wounding and sometimes killing them. In the Jordan valley, surrounded by colonies that steal the land, the water, life itself, they continue to try to farm the little land that still has not been taken from them. In Nablus - in the Balata refugee camp or in the city itself - activities are organised to give hope of a future to the children who still dream of a normal lfe. In Hebron - strangled by settlements that penetrate the heart of the city - they are restoring old houses and trying to bring the old market back to life.

And alongside the Palestinian women and men, those Israeli women and men continue to resist and every Friday, together with the palestinian popular committees, the confront the soldiers of the Tsahal in Bil’in and other villages, or they protest in East Jerusalem, to the rhythm of drums in front of houses stolen by settlers and protected by the police.

We dedicate this account to all of them

to the people of Bil’in, Nil’in and the other villages

to the families of i Sheik Jarrah left homeless and to the young Israelis who support them

to Fathy Khdirawt wh accompanied us along the Jordan valley

to the animators of the Yafa Cultural Center in Balata e and of the Human Supporters Association of Nablus

to Rauda Basir who continues to struggle for and with the women

to the girls and boys of Nablus and its surrounding area who danced and played for us.

to Nurit Peled an Rami Elhanan of Parents Circle who out of the knowledge of pain have drawn the strength to listen to the other and to build together the long and tortuous road of peace

to Nayla Ayesh who came with us to Haifa after 15 years absence

to the activists of the Massawa Center for the rights of Palestinian citizens of Israel in Hafa and to the women of Isha Isha and Aswat also in Haifa

to the Combatants for Peace who we met in Jaffa and in particular to Liri who dreams of getting married at a check point

ai responsabili dell’Hebron Rehabilitation Committee che con determinazione cercano di ricostruire il tessuto sociale del vecchio centro di Hebron

to the women who work and who have found refuge at the Mehwar Center in Beit Sahour

to Nidé, Tariq, Sahaladdin and all those whose names we don't remember but whose faces, voices, and message we will not forget.

To Luisa for the passion with which she continues to live all of this despite the pain that it brings and to Cecilia for her kind help.

Viaggio in Palestina

Solidarity with the Gaza Freedom Flotilla in Israel

From the Coalition of Women for Peace (CWP)

In the early hours of the morning on Monday 31 May, we awoke to the horrible news of the Israeli raid against pacificists on board the Gaza Freedom Flotilla, which killed more than 10 people and wounded dozens.

The flotilla was carrying 10.000 tons of food, medicines and other products to Gaza, which has been under Israeli siege since 2005 (with even harsher restrictions since June 2007). The siege, designed to isolate and weaken Gaza, is a collective punishment of the civilian population of 1.5 million people.

The Coalition of Women for Peace is in solidarity with the Palestinian people and with the heroic members of the Freedom Flotilla. In spite of the attempts by the Israeli media and autorities to present a picture of unanimous support for the illegal assault on international pacifists, thousands of Israelis have demonstrated against it in recent days.

Spontanous demontration were held immediately after the news of the brutal assault on the flotilla - in Haifa, Nazareth, Shefa-'Amr at other cities in Israel. At the same time, 250 Israelis arrived at the port of Ashdod, in an action organised by the Coalition of Women for Peace and other Israeli organisations to demonstrate against the brutal massacre and to express there solidarity with the flotilla and with the Palestinian people. On Monday evening, there were demonstrations in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa and Um-El-Fahem. Demonstrators called for an international effort to lift the siege of Gaza. Other demonstrations will be held during this week in Palestine and Israel.

We would like to share with you some of the voices of the CWP following the raid:

«Despite this attempt to silence criticism, there are many Israeli citizens who are protesting against this massacre and calling on those responsible to give an account of their actions. The official version from the army and the government is not credible, especially since they imposed an electronic blockade on attempts to provide information about the raid. The international community has done very little to bring to justice those responsible for crimes against the palestinian people. Will other countries make more take it on themselves to intervene now that crimes have been committed against their own citizens?

Inna Michael, CWP Resources and Development Coordinator

The massacre of more than j10 militants is the exclusive responsibilty of the State of Israel, which could certainly have avoided the useless bloodshed. The siege of Gaza and the piratical attack on the flotilla by the Israeli armed forces are real provocations. This atrocity must open the eyes of the international community to the crimes committed by Israel. .
Eilat Maoz, CWP General Coordinator

If this is what Israel is capable of doing to pacifists, defenders of human rights and members of parliament, what more are they capable of doing to civilians under military occupation? The time has arrived to reawaken the international struggal against the siege of Gaza and the occupation.

Areen Hawari, Balad, member of the CWP



From the beginning of the siege, the CWP has publically denounced it and called for its immediate end. The international community cannot continue to do nothing – it must use all diplomatic means to put pressure on Israel to end the siege of Gaza and to punish those responsible for war crimes.

Frida 4 June, the coalition of organisation against the occupation and the Palestinian popular committees took part in a joint action to commemorate 43 years of occupation since June 1967. 43 years of domination, of oppression, of segregation, of construction of settlements, of theft of water and land, of military government, of restriction of movement, of demolition of houses, of political arrests, of torture, of war crimes and colonial expansion.

With this action we want to tell Israel to lift the siege of Gaza, to put an end to the occupation and to end the separation between Palestinians and Israelis and between Palestinians and their lands.

We appeal to our friends in the international community to hold vigils of solidarity throughout the world - demonstrating against the siege of Gaza, the endless occupation of Palestine and the deadly attack against innocent civilians who were trying to break the siege.

Massacre at sea

The high seas shall be reserved for peaceful purposes. No State may validly purport to subject any part of the high seas to its sovereignty. United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea

In the early hours of this morning, the Israeli navy attacked the Freedom Flotilla. According to the Israeli lawyer of the Free Gaza Movement, 10 passengers have been murdered.

With few exceptions, governments of the world are complicit in these murders and in this act of piracy because of the many occasions when they have turned a blind eye to illegal acts by the Israeli government during the 42 years of the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. The Israeli government believes in its impunity - and our governments have given them every reason to do so.

Today and in the next days, demonstrations and vigils will be held in our country and elsewhere to protest against the illegal attack on the six ships that the Israeli navy carried out in international waters against the six ships of the Freedom Flotilla, which were carrying materials that are urgently needed for the survival of the population of Gaza driven to the brink kby the siege that Israel, with the support of the international community has imposed for more than three years, during which time, operation Cast Lead killed more than 1400 people including 400 children.

The ships that made up the flottilla were completely:

• PEACEFUL
• LEGAL
• HUMANITARIAN

Because the aim was only

• To contribute to the reconstruction of Gaza and to restore normal life in the strip.
  

• To press Israel, Egypt, Italy and the international communtiy to end the embargo.

• To show the people of Gaza that they are not alone.
  

• To call on Israel to respect the norms of International Law and the charter of the Human Rights.
  

We invite all to send letters of protest to foreign minister Frattini and to the under secretary Letta who had been asked to ensure the intervention of the Italian government and who did not do so.

Demonstrations in Italy

31 May

• Rome, 17.00 piazza San Marco.
  
• Milan, 17.30 in piazza San Babila;
  
• Bologna: 17.00 in piazza Maggiore;
  
• Genoa: 18.00 in front of the Prefecture
  
• Turin: 17.00 in front of palazzo Nuovo;
  
• Naples: 17 piazza Plebiscito;
  
• Grosseto: 18 in front of the Prefecture;
  
• Parma: 18 in piazzale della Pace;
  
• Bergamo: 18 in front of the town hall;
  
• Venezia: 17 ponte di Rialto;
  
• Siena: piazza Duomo;
  
• Livorno: 18 piazza Grande;
  
• Firenze: 17 davanti Prefettura;
  
• Padova: ore 17 davanti Prefettura;
  
• Lecce: ore 17.30 piazzetta De Pace;
  
• Pesaro: ore 18.30 davanti al Comune
  
• Treviso: 18.00 davanti alla Prefettura;
  
• Savona: 18:00 piazza Mameli;
  
• Varese: 17 in front of the Prefecture
• Viareggio: 17in front of the town hall
  
• Vicenza: 18.30 in front of the Prefecture
• L'Aquila: 18 in front of the offices of the Guardia di Finanza;
  
• Modena :17 at the Ghirlandina;
  
• Reggio Emilia: 19 piazza Prampolini;
  
• Empoli:18 piazza della Vittoria;
  
• Mantova: 18, in front of the Prefecture in Via Principe Amedeo;
  
• Arezzo : 19 in front of the Prefecture;
  
• Novara: 17.30in front of the Prefecture.
  

1 June

• Catania 18 in front of the Prefecture;
  
• Cagliari 18:00 sit-in at Bastione Saint Remy;
  
• Brindisi, 17.30 in piazza Santa Teresa.
  

We Support the Freedom Flotilla

In these days, a fleet of eight ships is setting sail from ports in Ireland, Turkey and Greece for the port of Gaza City. They are carrying building materials, desalination plant, photovoltaic cells, generators, scholastic materials, and pharmaceuticals for the Palestinian civil society.

It is an action planned and carried out by solidarity organisations and networks and is necessary for the survival of Gaza's population, living under siege for the last three years, deprived of basic necessities and of the materials needed to rebuild a land crushed by the Israeli armed forces' operation Cast Lead, which left more than 1400 dead and more than 5000 injured. Arms that are prohibited by international law were used, including depleted uranium and white phosphorus.


The Israeli government has stated that it will use all necessary means, including force, to prevent the arrival of the ships and the delivery of the cargo. If this happens, the 600 passengers from 40 different nations will be put in danger.

To avoid this happening and to permit the ships to deliver the materials, we ask :

• All political forces, members of parliament and people of culture to take a clear position to prevent yet another action by the Israeli government in contempt for the laws that regulate the civilized life of the peoples sharing this planet.
  
• That Italy should bring political and diplomatic pressure to bear on the Israeli government so that they do not prevent the arrival of the fleet in the Port of Gaza city, repeating, in international waters the actions of piracy already committed in similar circumstances in recent years.
  

The silence in our country that surrounds the suffering inflicted on the population of Gaza and the absence of attention to the humanitarian initiatives of solidarity committees is unacceptable and blameworthy.

Free Market?

In May 2007, Israel was invited to join the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Supposedly, the OECD rules define certain conditions of membership for states wishing to join - respect for human rights, a commitment to democracy and to the free market.

In the meantime, Israel has been credibly accused of war crimes (in the Goldstone report among others) during the attack on Gaza and of violations of international humanitarian law not only in Gaza but also in the West Bank.

So much for respect for human rights. And democracy? Can a government that controls the lives of millions of people who haven't been able to take part in elections be called "a democracy"? Can militarily governing a civilian population be considered anything other than a dictatorship?

As for the free market, we aren't so convinced about the reality of this concept in our own country or in the other countries that are already members of the OECD - but using the word "free" in a context that includes the occupied Palestinian territories is simply absurd.

Israel is driving an economy of military occupation. The statistics that it presented to the OECD include the West Bank - or rather they include the settler economy. But the calculations of medium income don't include the Palestinians who work in the settlements - for very low wages - and in the account of social services, the exclusion for these services of Palestinian workers who have paid their contributions is not mentioned.

There is no mention at all of the crushed and suffocated economy of the Palestinians under occupation. And the OECD accepts this. The problem of the inclusion in the statistics of illegal settlements is resolved as a technical rather than a political problem, and the Palestinians are once more made invisible. In the words of Israeli economist Shir Hever

"The OECD treats Israel as a country of 7 million citizens, rather than as a state that has 11 million subjects, of whom 4 million are Palestinians who live under occupation. "

There are only a few days left until the 11th May, the date on which the decision of the OECD on Israel's membership is expected. At least if there isn't a strong mobilisation to make them change their minds. !

One vote against is enough to block the entry of a new member state!

It has emerged that the European Union will take a common position, so that the countries that have doubts such as Norway and Turkey are afraid to express their dissent. Belgium and Ireland have shown themselves open to our arguments, but we need to push them to question the bureaucratic EU decision making process.

Let's let them know they are not alone and that they should oppose the membership of Israel without fear. Israel must not be rewarded with the legitimation of war crimes. The OECD would contradict to its own stated principles by accepting Israeli membership. We are asking for coherence!

Sign the letter to the Secretary General of the OECD and to all member states, calling on them to vote against Israeli membership.

Rewarding Israel for human rights violations will not bring peace or justice.

More information on the Economy of the Occupation