Fred Fuentes
Students across Australia are organising against Israel's barbarous war on the people of Lebanon and Palestine. Anti-war activists have hit campuses with speak-outs, public meetings, stalls and petitions, resuscitating and broadening anti-war networks among students.
The student unions at Wollongong and La Trobe universities have passed motions condemning the Israeli and Australian governments' actions, and supporting Students Against War (SAW) on their respective campuses, as well as off-campus anti-war initiatives.
There was a 150-strong speak-out at Sydney University on August 3, one of the largest protest actions on that campus this year, according to SU's global solidarity officer and Resistance member Simon Cunich. Another protest was held on August 10, following the decision to hold weekly speak-outs on the campus. The next speak-out is planned for August 17 outside the Fischer Library at 1pm.
At the University of NSW, Resistance had a victory against the Zionist Australian Union of Jewish Students (AUJS) by holding a speak-out on August 9. AUJS has in the past managed to prevent criticisms of the Israel state from being expressed on campus.
Resistance member at UNSW Shua Garfield reports that more than 30 students took part in the protest. "The AUJS encouraged university security to stop the speak-out by shutting down the sound system. However, in a victory for free speech, activists managed to thwart this attempt and heard from speakers condemning the Israeli military's massacres of civilians, while other activists petitioned against the Howard government's support for Israel." He said Resistance, which initiated the action, received a great deal of support from Arab and Islamic students.
Amber Pike reports that at the University of Technology, Sydney, almost 50 students gathered on August 8 to hear Rihab Charida and Nick Hanna speak about the occupation of Palestine and Lebanon. The UTS SAW group was also relaunched.
At Melbourne University, Students Against War and Racism (SAWAR) has vowed to continue campaigning and not be silenced by Zionists on campus. Elie Khalil, the public relations officer of the Melbourne University Lebanese Students Association said, "After the death of over 1000 civilians and the displacement of around a million people, it is time for Australian students to stand up and be heard. Lebanon is a sovereign nation being bled to death."
The Lebanese Students Association and SAWR have planned a cross-campus action on August 17. Students will gather at 1pm at Melbourne University and march to the State Library to meet students from other campuses at 2pm. RMIT SAW is organising a speak-out at 1pm and will join the city-wide march. Student unions, trade unions and community organisations have been invited to get involved.
As well as demanding an unconditional cease-fire, students are calling for Israel's immediate withdrawal from Lebanon and Palestine, and for the Australian government to officially condemn Israel's offensive. Actions against the war are planned in Melbourne and Sydney on August 17. The aim is to make it a national day of protest.
The Federation of Muslim Students Australia is supporting the call for student actions against the war. Mohammed Helmy from FAMSY told 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ Weekly: "The anti-war movement in Australia is asserting its place at the heart of society, and is starting to have an impact on the discourse of war and peace, conflict and reconciliation, and discrimination and equality in our difficult times.
"The fact that the Muslim community is now starting to shed off the layers of fear and is joining forces with other peace organisations is in itself inspirational and is adding weight to the anti-war movement. FAMSY is playing a significant role in this process. Together, we need to reach out and engage the broader Australian community."
Students at the University of Tasmania are hosting James Crafti, who recently visited Palestine, on August 14 at a forum to kick off an anti-war campaign group there. Former Guantanamo Bay detainee Mamdouh Habib will be speaking at a SAWAR meeting at the University of Queensland on August 15 at 1pm.
On August 16, Resistance is hosting a meeting with Crafti at Deakin University, Waurn Ponds campus. The right-wing student union there is ripping down the event posters and Resistance has arranged with the construction union for a banner to be hung on a building site on campus to publicise the event.
Students and academics at Flinders University, Murdoch University and Curtin University, among others, are also organising anti-war activities on campus.
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