In Context: 5 Web Perspectives On A Story In The News

Student protesters

(The Guardian) Students in 16 universities in the UK have taken part in sit-ins on campus, protesting Israeli’s actions in the war with Gaza. Many are occupying classrooms and have released demands to their schools. While none of the schools have condemned Israel, a few of them have agreed to the protestors demands, such as fundraising for Gaza residents.

1.

Social justice networking

Facebook
As The Guardian article mentions, today’s activists have an advantage over their forefathers of the 60s: the internet. Social networking sites such as Facebook make it easier than ever for students with interests in the same causes to meet and plan events. For example, the Halifax branch of ‘Palestine Solidarity’ is organizing a teach-in this Saturday at Dalhousie University. Information about the event is open to anyone with a facebook account.

2.

A divided campus

City on a Hill Press
This article from the University of California, Santa Cruz’s student paper talks about two different protests held on campus at the same time: one pro-Israel and one pro-Palestine. The article has some great sources, such as a student who’s half Israeli and half Palestine. On the main page (www.cityonahillpress.com) there is also a photo slide show of the protests.

3.

Putting Gaza on the map

Google Maps
Not an article, but a Google map showing where Gaza is located within Israel. The Gaza strip has a population of around 1,500,000 and covers 360 square kilometers. Halifax Regional Municipality in comparison stretches across 5,577 square kilometers (15 times the size of Gaza) and a population of roughly 400,000.

4.

Anti-Israel = Anti-Semitic?

Change.org
Jewish leaders have taken issue with the anti-Semitic nature of many of the pro-Palestine protests held around the world. Blogger Charles Lenchner goes to a protest in New York City as a citizen journalist and takes pictures of the many anti-Semitic signs he sees there. Rather than just blast the protestors for being offensive, he lays out in a very neat, clear list why such protests are detrimental to all sides.

5.

Tips for Activists

Perc.ca
This list of ’13 Lucky Tips for Activists’ won’t tell you how to other throw the man, but it will give you advice like treat people as individuals instead of masses, and be aware that the world isn’t going to change overnight. Protestors on all sides should give it a read.